3. Catiline left the path of virtue, and plunged into every species of iniquity. 1. Charlemagne was a successful warrior, and a sound statesman, and an able monarch. 2. And he evinced incredible activity; he superintended the public improvements, and managed the affairs of the kingdom, and still found time to foster literature and the arts. 3. He is one that I cannot depend on. 4. Galileo made many discoveries in astronomy, but he was imprisoned on account of them. 5. Charity ought to exert an influence over all our actions, and regulate our speech. 6. The faith which Mahomet professed, and which he was the author of, soon spread over Arabia, and Turkey, and the northern part of Africa. 7. His conduct was disgraceful; it was unbecoming. 8. There are many mysteries which we cannot understand, yet which we must believe in. 9. His assistance I am sure of. 10. Robert Burns, although originally a poor ploughman, was one that men of letters were glad to be acquainted with, and associate with. 11. When one is out of health, life becomes a burden, and there is no pleasure in it. 12. His gross excesses, and indulgence in pleasure, cut him off at an early age. LESSON LX HARMONY. WHAT is the sixth essential property of a good style ? Harmony. In what does harmony consist? Harmony consists in that smooth and easy flow which pleases the ear. What words are, for the most part, inharmonious? 1. Such as are derived from long compound words; as, sobermindedness, shamefacedness. 2. Such as contain a great number of consonants; as, phthisic, asthma. 3. Such as are composed of a number of short syllables, with the accent on or near the first; as, primarily, temporarily. What combination of words is found to be inharmonious? A succession of words of the same length; thus, no kind of joy can long please us," is by no means as harmonious as, "no species of joy can long delight us." What other combination of words should be avoided? A succession of words that resemble each other in the sound of any of their syllables; thus, "a fair fairy," "a mild child," are less harmonious than "a handsome fairy," "a gentle child." As to the general arrangement of words and clauses, what is the best guide? The ear. Is not a strong style generally harmonious? EXERCISE. Correct the following sentences in such a way that their harmony may be increased. When any particular word causes the want of harmony, it is in italics. EXAMPLE. 1. Shamefacedness has been a characteristic of many distinguished men. 2. He went to Rome with a friend.* 3. This I consider to be a true union. Corrected. 1. Bashfulness has been a characteristic of many distinguished men. 2. He proceeded to Rome with a friend. 3. This I consider to be a true friendship. 1. All rich men have a sly way of jesting, which would make no great show were they not rich men. 2. Reason seldom governs passion, but passion often governs reason.† 3. The slow horse goes not to the race till it is done.* 4. Camoens lived temporarily in the East Indies. 5. Many men disregard their duty. 6. In India, innocent infants are thrown into the Ganges. 7. Peace should be sought for by us, and by all.* 8. The peaceableness of his disposition gained for him many friends. 9. He kept wriggling in a very uneasy manner. 10. Pope was accustomed to speak derogatorily of his friends. .1. Her cheerful temper and pleasant humor procured her general esteem.† 12. All that afflicts us here will pass away soon. 13. The seas shall waste, and rocks shall fall to dust." 14. The favorableness with which the Waverley novels were received is almost incredible. Too many words of one syllable. †Too many words of two syllables. 15. Seizing the first opportunity, I importuned him for his assistance. 16. The homely home of poverty is often the seat of greater happiness than the grandest mansion. 17. It is possible to possess wisdom without learning. 18. Some regard sobermindedness as essential to a good character. 19. He repressed the expression which was on his lips. 20. He conducted the business unsatisfactorily. LESSON LXI. UNITY. WHAT does every sentence contain? It may, if they are intimately connected with the leading one, and properly introduced. What do you mean by properly introduced? Introduced without too frequent a change of sub ject. Give an example. "My friends turned back, after we reached the vessel, on board of which I was received with kind ness by the passengers, who vied with each other in showing me attention." In this sentence we have no less than four nominatives, friends, we, I, who; and the frequent change produces great con fusion in the mind. What is the fault in this sentence called? A violation of unity. In what does unity consist? Unity consists in the restriction of a sentence to one leading proposition, modified only by such kindred ideas as are closely connected with it. Give an example of a sentence in which unity is violated by joining two propositions that have no connection. "Archbishop Tillotson died in this year. He was exceedingly beloved by King William and Queen Mary, who nominated Dr. Tennison, bishop of Lincoln, to succeed him." In the last sentence there is a gross violation of unity, in connecting the nomination of Dr. Tennison with the great love entertained by the King and Queen for Archbishop Tillotson. Give three rules that will conduce to the preservation of unity. Rule I. Introduce as few subjects as possible into a sentence. Rule II. Do not crowd into one sentence things that have no connection. Rule III. Avoid the introduction of long parentheses. Are parentheses as much used as they formerly were? No; good writers of the present day, for the most part, avoid them altogether. Are all parentheses inadmissible? No; short ones, when properly introduced, add o the strength of a sentence; but in long and com. plicated ones the mind is distracted from the leading proposition, and obscurity and weakness ensue. When a violation of unity occurs, how are we to correct it? I. If it proceeds from a variety of subjects, get |