pointment of my friend (if he will permit me to call him so) gave me the greatest pleasure. Note.-Two Dashes often point off a parenthesis. 4. Inverted Commas are used to distinguish a Direct Quotation, or its several parts (if broken,) from the rest of a sentence; as, "Never," said he in a loud voice, was there a proceeding so shameless." 66 5. The Apostrophe marks the place of an omitted letter; as, o'er, man's, seem'd. 6. The Hyphen joins the parts of a newly formed or unusual Compound Word; as gun-cotton, ivory-limbed. Note.-In Compounds of greater age or more frequent use the Hyphen disappears; as, gunpowder; manslaughter. ANALYSIS OF SENTENCES. Analysis (Greek ana, up, and lusis, a loosening) means the separation of anything into its component parts. The opposite process is called Synthesis, (Greek sun, together, and thesis, a putting.) Synthesis of a sentence is more simply called by a Latin name Composition, (which exactly translates the Greek word.) There are two principal methods of displaying the Analysis of a Sentence-Tabular Analysis and Branch Analysis. Examples of both are subjoined. Sentence Analysed. Before Time had touched his hair with silver, he had often gazed with wistful fondness towards that friendly shore, on which Puritan huts were already beginning to cluster under the spreading shade of hickory and maple. Each plan has its own advantages. The Branch Analysis displays more clearly the relations of the single words to each other and to the whole sentence. SENTENCES FOR ANALYSIS. 1. When Richard Hooker gave to the world his work on the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity, English prose literature acquired a dignity it had not worn before. 2. John Scotus or Erigena, although not a Saxon, but, as his name shows, an Irishman, now claims our special notice. 3. Driving in his carriage one snowy day, the thought struck him, that flesh might be preserved as well by snow as by salt. 4. When the chase was over, and the Norman lords caroused in their English halls, flinging scraps of the feast to their weary hounds, that couched on the rush-strewn floor, the lays of French romancers were sung by the wandering minstrels, who were always warmly welcomed and often richly paid. 5. The notice you have been pleased to take of my labours, had it been early, had been kind; but it has been delayed till I am indifferent, and cannot enjoy it; till I am solitary, and cannot impart it; till I am known, and do not want it. Entering then, 6. Right o'er a mount of newly-fallen stones, 7. Oh! eloquent just and mighty Death! whom none could advise, thou hast persuaded; what none hath dared, thou hast done; and whom all the world hath flattered, thou hast cast out of the world and despised: thou hast drawn together all the far-stretched greatness, all the pride, cruelty, and ambition of man, and covered it over with these two narrow words-Hic jacet. APPENDIX ON PROSODY. Although such belongs rather to that higher department of the study of language, which may be called Criticism, than to Pure Grammar, some account of the Laws and Nature of Verse is now given. This branch of study is called Prosody (Greek pros, to, ode, a song,) and deals chiefly with accent, metre, and versification. I. Language assumes two forms: one, called Prose, for common use; the other, called Verse, more artificial, and reserved for the expression of higher thoughts. Note 1.-The prose of common every-day conversation admits the use of certain words, idioms, and grammatical laxities, which ought not to be found in written prose. Note 2.-The name poetry is commonly applied to the higher form of language. This word is also used to denote a peculiar grandeur or beauty of thought, which may find expression in prose as well as in verse. II. Verse differs from Prose chiefly 1. In possessing metre. 2. In its more elevated style, which arises from :-(1.) the use of less common words; (2.) a less usual order; (3.) and the abundance of Figures of Speech. Note. The inversion of order in Versified Language is a result of its metrical form. G |