"They tell us, Sir, that we are weak, - unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot?" — Patrick Henry. "Of love that never found his earthly close, What sequel? Streaming eyes and breaking hearts? Not so. Shall Error in the round of time Still father Truth? O, shall the braggart shout If this were thus, if this, indeed, were all, The set gray life, and apathetic end. But am I not the nobler through thy love? O three times less unworthy! likewise thou Art more through Love, and greater than thy years. Will some one say, then why not ill for good? But then most Godlike being most a man." LOVE AND DUTY. -Tennyson. "When the great Ship of Life, What will then be the answer the helmsman must give? Any one of such questions? I cannot think.so! Not 'what is the last Bill of Health you can show?' - How fared the soul through the trials she pass'd? But, What is the state of that soul at the last?" The Rising Third is also used for interrogative expression and for emphasis; but its degree in both these cases is less than the fifth. It is the sign of interrogation in its most moderate form, and carries with it none of those sentiments, which, jointly with the question, were allotted to the Fifth and Octave. Examples. "What would'st thou have a great good man obtain? Wealth, title, dignity, a golden chain, Or heap of corses which his sword hath slain? Goodness and greatness are not means, but ends. The good great man? Three treasures - love, and light, And three fast friends, more sure than day or night— THE GOOD GREAT MAN. Coleridge. "Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!) Answered The names of those who love the Lord.' "The angel wrote, and vanish'd. The next night It came again, with a great wakening light, And showed the names whom love of God had bless'd- ABOU BEN ADHEM.-Leigh Hunt. "Passion is blind, not love; her wondrous might "And is there care in Heaven? And is there love - Coleridge There is: else much more wretched were the cace Of Highest God that loves his creatures so, To serve to wicked man, to serve his wicked foe! "How oft do they their silver bowers leave To come to succour us that succour want! O, why should Hevenly God to men have such regard!" The Downward Octave expresses the highest degree of admiration, astonishment, and positive command, either alone or united with other sentiments. Its expression is marked by a quaint sentiment of familiarity, or an excessive degree of violence. Examples. "I give you six hours and a half to consider of this; if you then agree, without any condition, to do everything on earth that I choose, why, confound you! I may in time forgive you. If not, don't enter the same hemisphere with me! don't dare to breathe the same air, or use the same light with me; but get an atmosphere and sun of your own: I'll strip you of your commission: I'll lodge a five-and-three-pence in the hands of your trustees, and you shall live on the interest. I'll disown you; I'll disinherit you; and nang me, if ever I call you Jack again!" THE RIVALS. Knowles. "Measureless liar, thou hast made my heart Too great for what contains it. Boy! O slave! - I was forced to scold."- CORIOLANUS. - Shakespeare. "Boy! false hound! If you have writ your annals true, 't is there That like an eagle in a dove-cote, I "Come, consecrated lictors, from your thrones; Banished from Rome! What's banished, but set free Tried and convicted traitor! Who says this? Who'll prove it, at his peril, on my head? Banished! I thank you for 't. It breaks my chain! I held some slack allegiance till this hour; But now my sword 's my own. Smile on, my lords! I scorn to count what feelings, withered hopes, I have within my heart's hot cells shut up, To leave you in your lazy dignities. But here I stand and scoff you! here, I fling Your consul's merciful.- For this, all thanks, Catiline to the Senate. - Croly. The Downward Fifth has in many respects a meaning, similar to the octave, but it clothes its sentiments of smiling surprise, admiration, and command with greater dignity. Its concrete, like that of the octave, may be modified in meaning by different applications of stress. Examples. "A thousand hearts are great within my bosom: King, in RICHARD THIRD. "Begone! run to your houses, fall upon your knees, Pray to the gods to intermit the plagues That needs must light on this ingratitude!" Marcellus, in JULIUS CÆSAR. |