moderate jest of their commander keeping "Scor- | no passage of the Divina Commedia more excorum cohortem Prætoriam."

cursive than the description of evening in the
Purgatorio; yet the poet is content with some-
what enlarging on a single thought—the tender
recollections which that hour of meditation gives
the traveler, at the fall of the first night he is t:
pass away from home, when he hears the distart
knell of the expiring day. Gray adopts the idea
of the knell in nearly the words of Gray an exam
the original, and adds eight other ple of expan
circumstances to it, presenting a kind
of ground-plan, or at least a catalogue, an accu
rate enumeration (like a natural historian's) of
every one particular belonging to nightfall, so as
wholly to exhaust the subject, and leave nothing
to the imagination of the reader. Dante's six
verses, too, have but one epithet, dolci, applied
to amici. Gray has thirteen or fourteen; some
of them mere repetitions of the same idea which
the verb or the substantive conveys-as drowsy
tinkling lulls-the moping owl complains--the
plowman plods his weary way.
we contrast the simple and commanding majesty
of the ancient writers with the superabundance
and diffusion of the exhaustive method, we may
be tempted to feel that there lurks some alloy of
bitterness in the excess of sweets." This was
that of Judas Iscariot. The image is that of a knight
entering the lists of a tournament.

the general

to be a labored

ɔne.

extemporane

| the execution, to the feelings upon which it
to operate. These are great virtues: it is an.
other to avoid the besetting vice of modern ora
tory-the overdoing every thing-the exhaust
time to fall into, and he accordingly will take only
ive method-which an off-hand speaker has no
the grand and effective view; nevertheless, in or
atorical merit, such effusions must needs be very
inferior; much of the pleasure they produce de
pends upon the hearer's surprise, that in such
circumstances any thing can be delivered at all.
rather than upon his deliberate judgment, that
he has heard any thing very excellent in itself
We may rest assured that the highest reaches of
the art, and without any necessary sacrifice of
natural effect, can only be attained by him whe
well considers, and maturely prepares, and often.
times sedulously corrects and refines his oration
Such preparation is quite consistent with the in-
troduction of passages prompted by the occasion,
nor will the transition from the one to the other
be perceptible in the execution of a practiced
master. I have known attentive and skillful
hearers completely deceived in this matter, and
taking for extemporaneous passages which pre-

nounced without the variation of a particle or a pause. Thus, too, we are told by Cicero, in one of his epistles, that hav.ng to make, in Pompey's presence, a speech, after Crassus had very unexpectedly taken a particular line of argument, he exerted himself, and it appears successfully, in a marvelous manner, mightily assisted in what he said extempore by his habit of rhetorical preparation, and introducing skillfully, as the inspiration of the moment, all his favorite common. places, with some of which, as we gather from a

In forming the taste by much contemplation In addition to of those antique models, and acquirstudy of rheto ing the habits of easy and chaste comric each effort position, it must not be imagined that all the labor of the orator is ended, or that he may then dauntless and fluent enter upon his office in the public assembly. Much preparation is still required before each exertion, if rhetorical excellence is aimed at. I should lay t down as a rule, admitting of no exception, that Writing to be a man will speak well in proportion mingled with as he has written much; and that with us address equal talents, he will be the finest extempore speaker, when no time for preparing is allowed, who has prepared himself the most sedulously when he had an opportunity of deliver-viously existed in manuscript, and were proing a premeditated speech. All the exceptions which I have ever heard cited to this principle are apparent ones only; proving nothing more than that some few men of rare genius have become great speakers without preparation; in nowise showing that with preparation they would not have reached a much higher pitch of excellence. The admitted superiority of the ancients in all oratorial accomplishments is the best proof of my position; for their careful preparation is undeniable; nay, in Demosthenes (of whom Quintilian says that his style indicates more premed-good-humored joke at his own expense, Crassus *ation-plus cura-than Cicero's) we can trace, by the recurrence of the same passage, with progressive improvements in different speeches, how nicely he polished the more exquisite parts of his compositions. I could point out favorite passages, occurring as often as three several times with variations, and manifest amendment. I am now requiring not merely great preparation while the speaker is learning carried through his art, but after he has accomplish-runt, ut ego eo brevior sim, quod eos usque whole course ed his education. The most splendid isthine exauditos putem."--Ep. ad Att., i., 14. effort of the most mature orator will II. If, from contemplating the means of acbe always finer for being previously elaborated with much care. There is, no doubt, a charm in extemporaneous elocution, derived from the appearance of artless, unpremeditated effusion, called forth by the occasion, and so adapting itself to its exigencies, which may compensate the manifold defects incident to this kind of composition that which is inspired by the unforeseen circumstances of the moment, will be of necessity suited to those circumstances in the choice of the topics, and pitched in the tone of

This labor to be

out the orators

for life.

had interfered: "Ego autem ipse, Dî Boni! quomodo éveneprepevoúμŋv novo auditori Pompeio! Si unquam mihi ɛpiodor, si kaμmaì, si ¿vovμýμata, si Karaokɛvai, suppeditaverunt, illo tempore. Quid multa? clamores. Etenim hæc erat vnófcois, de gravitate ordinis, de equestri concordia, de consensione Italiæ, de immortuis reliquiis conjurationis, de vilitate, de otio-nosti jam in hâc materiâ sonitus nostros; tanti fue

14 This passage is a curious specimen of Cicero's habit of sportive boasting in familiar intercourse

with his friends.

But for myself, good Gods, how I launched out be fore my new auditor Pompey! Then, if ever, I had an abundant supply of rounded sentences, graceful transitions, striking rhetorical proofs, and amplifica tions to illustrate and confirm my sentiments. Why should I say more? Shouts of applause followed My subject was, the dignity of the Senate, the con cord of the Knights, the union of all Italy, the ex piring remains of the conspiracy-corruption de

On the same principle, Gray's minuteness of destroyed, peace established. You know how I car tail, when meditating in a country church-yard, is perfectly appropriate. Every one's heart tells him that it is the nice and delicate shading of the picture *hat forms its chief excellence.

raise my voice on these topics; and I now say the less, because it swelled so loud that I should think you might have heard it even at the distance you are off!

Part Second.

quiring eloquence, we turn to the noble purposes | whose genius, not their ancestry, ennɔbled them, to which it may be made subservient, we at whose incredible merits have opened to all ranks once perceive its prodigious importance to the the temple of science; whose illustrious exambest interests of mankind. The great-ple has made the humblest mulous to climb steeps no longer inaccessible, and enter the unfolded gates, burning in the sun. I speak in that city where Black having once taught, and Wat! learned, the grand experiment was afterward made in our day, and with entire success; tc

eats of soci

1

tion is perfectly compatible with the daily cares and toils of working-men; to show by thousands of living examples that a keen relish for the most | sublime truths of science belongs alike to every class of mankind.

tion and at

summoned to

The uses of est masters of the art have concurred, eloquence. and upon the greatest occasion of its display, 'n pronouncing that its estimation depends on the virtuous and rational use made of it. Let their sentiments be engraved on your memory in their own pure and appropriate dic-demonstrate that the highest intellectual cultiva tion. Καλόν (says Æschines) τὴν μὲν διάνοιαν | προαιρεῖσθαι τὰ βέλτιστα, τὴν δὲ παιδείαν τὴν τοῦ ῥήτορος καὶ τὸν λόγον πείθειν τοὺς ἀκούοντας—εἰ δὲ μὴ, τὴν εὐγνωμοσύνην ἀεὶ προτακτέον τοῦ λόγου [It is well that the intellect should choose the best objects, and that the education and eloquence To promote this, of all objects the most imof the orator should obtain the assent of his hear- portant, men of talents and of influ- Men of the ers; but if not, that sound judgment should be ence I rejoice to behold pressing for- highest sta preferred to mere speech.] EGT (says his il-ward in every part of the empire; but tainments lustrious antagonist) d'oux ó hóyos Toù þýτopos I wait with impatient anxiety to see the field of its τίμιος, οὐδ' ὁ τόνος τῆς φωνῆς, ἀλλὰ τὸ ταὐτὰ προ- the same course pursued by men of labors. apriolaι Tоiç noλhois [It is not the language high station in society, and by men of rank in of the orator or the modulation of his voice that the world of letters. It should seem as if these deserves your praise, but his seeking the same felt some little lurking jealousy, and those were interests and objects with the body of the people]. somewhat scared by feelings of alarm—the one It is but reciting the ordinary praises of the art and the other surely alike groundless. No man Multipled of persuasion, to remind you how sacred of science needs fear to see the day when scientruths may be most ardently promulga- tific excellence shall be too vulgar a commodity. ety. ted at the altar-the cause of oppressed to bear a high price. The more widely knowl innocence be most powerfully defended — the edge is spread, the more will they be prized march of wicked rulers be most triumphantly re- whose happy lot it is to extend its bounds by sisted-defiance the most terrible be hurled at discovering new truths, or multiply its uses by the oppressor's head. In great convulsions of inventing new modes of applying it in practice public affairs, or in bringing about salutary chan- Their numbers will indeed be increased, and ges, every one confesses how important an ally among them more Watts and more Frankling eloquence must be. But in peaceful times, when will be enrolled among the lights of the world, the progress of events is slow and even as the in proportion as more thousands of the working silent and unheeded pace of time, and the jars classes, to which Franklin and Watt belonged, of a mighty tumult in foreign and domestic con- have their thoughts turned toward philosophy; cerns can no longer be heard, then too she flour- but the order of discoverers and inventors will ishes-protectress of liberty-patroness of im- still be a select few, and the only material variprovement-guardian of all the blessings that ation in their proportion to the bulk of mankind can be showered upon the mass of human kind; will be, that the mass of the ignorant multitude nor is her form ever seen but on ground conse- being progressively diminished, the body of those crated to free institutions. "Pacis comes, oti- will be incalculably increased who are worthy ique socia, et jam bene constitutæ reipublicæ al- to admire genius, and able to bestow upon its umna eloquentia" [Eloquence is the compan- possessors an immortal fame. ion of peace and the associate of leisure; it is trained up under the auspices of a well-established republic]. To me, calmly revolving these things, such pursuits seem far more noble objects of ambition than any upon which the vulgar herd of busy men lavish prodigal their restless exertions. To diffuse useful information-ality and enlightened toleration. Whoso dreads to further intellectual refinement, sure forerun- these, let him tremble; for he may be well asner of moral improvement-to hasten the com- sured that their day is at length come, and n›ust ing of the bright day when the dawn of general put to sudden flight the evil spirits of tyranny knowledge shall chase away the lazy, lingering and persecution which haunted the long night mists, even from the base of the great social now gone down the sky. As men will no lon pyramid-this indeed is a high calling, in which ger suffer themselves to be led blindfolded in igthe most splendid talents and consummate virtue norance, so will they no more yield to the vils inay well press onward eager to bear a part. I principle of judging and treating their fellowknow that I speak in a place consecrated by the creatures, not according to the intrinsic merit pious wisdom of ancient times to the instruction of their actions, but according to the accidental of but a select portion of the community. Yet and involuntary coincidence of their opinions. Jom this classic ground have gone forth those The great truth has finally gone forth to all the

To those, too, who feel alarmed as statesmen, and friends of existing establishments, True knowl I would address a few words of com- edge and el fort. Real knowledge never promot- ducive to en ed either turbulence or unbelief; but stable gov its progress is the forerunner of liber

con

lightened and

ernment.

THE RND.