CHAPTLR XIV. 6' 6. Make proper stops and pauses, according as the points direct; as the comma, semicolon, colon, and period; by which the hearers will better understand all that you read, and you will have time totake breath to continue in reading. But be sure to make no stops where the sense admits of none ; and take care to avoid that faulty custom of readingall the short little words quick, and the solid and longer words of a sentence very slow : for such a reader, by thejerks and starts of his voice, destroys the sense, and suffers no hearer to under- stand it. 7. As the accent, or stress of the voice, must be placed on the proper syllable in pronouncing each word, so a proper accent must be given to such words in a sentence, whereby the force and meaning of that sentence may best appear. This is called, the emphasis. The notes of interrogation, admiration, &c. are often useful to direct where the emphasis must be placed ; which shall be farther explained in the next chapter. 8. Consider what the subject is which you read, and let your voice humour the sense a little. Where the subject is merely historical, as a news-paper or a story, or any relation of what was done, there you should not vary the accents very much, nor affect so strong and passiohate a pronunciation, as you ought to do where the subject isaffecting or persuasive ; as in an oration, an exhortation, or the more practical parts of a sermon. Where the sense is grave . and solemn, especially if it be in the way of instruction, or explaining any" point of difficulty, let your voice be more slow, and pronounce every word very dis- tinctly ; but where the subject is somefamiliar, easy, and plea- sant matter, let your pronunciation be a little more speedy : But still remember, that to read too fast, is a greater fault, at all times, than to read too slow, supposing that the accents and em- phasis be well observed. 9. Attend with diligence when you hear persons who read well : observe the manner how they pronounce ; take notice where they give a different turn to their voice; mark in what sort of sentences, and in what parts of any sentence, they alter thesound ; and then endeavour to imitate them. Thus you will learn a graceful cadenceof voice in reading ; as you may learn the change of the notes in singing, by rote as well as by rule and by the ear, attending to the teacher, together with the eye axed upon the book of tunes. 10. Let in the presence of such desire s have an harmonious and under- stand good reading; and let them be willing and desirous to be corrected. l,,et.the master once or twice a week appoint his best ache- s
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=