for indeed they are infinite; they shine through his form, and speak in all his movements. Surely, he is more than a mere animal; we may almost say he is an angel, or a god." Middle Style: "Man, noble in reason, infinite in faculties, in form and moving express and admirable, in action like an angel, in apprehension like a god, is a wonderful piece of work." High Style: "What a piece of work is man! how noble in reason! how infinite in faculties! in form and moving, how express and admirable! in action, how like an angel! in apprehension, how like a god!-Shakspeare. A Period means a circle, and it is therefore applied to that kind of sentence of which the parts are grammatically dependent throughout. The former part of a period, corresponding to the semicircle which begins the circle, is called the Protasis; the latter, corresponding to the semicircle which completes it, is called the Apodosis. In the logical period, the Protasis is a nominative of the third person (or the subject), and the Apodosis is the verb agreeing with it (or the Predicate); e. g. "Thy seed-shall be as the stars." Every other form of period may be considered a rhetorical form; e. g. "As the stars, so shall thy seed be." In the short sentence. “Light appeared,” “light" is the Protasis, and "appeared" is the Apodosis. A period, even without taking a figurative character, does not always have for its protasis and apodosis a logical nominative and its corresponding verb. One of those parts must indeed always be an incomplete verb, but the other which completes it, may have the character of an adverb, or an adjective, or a noun-objective, or a verb infinitive; as in the following brief models: "Suddenly appeared-light." LESSON LXI. NON-PERIODIC AND PERIODIC SENTENCES. The following materials are quoted, to be formed into a Period, which may take any of the forms presented in the last lesson, beginning with the form in which the Protasis and Apodosis are a nominative and its verb. The materi als furnished are, as will be observed, in the Colloquial style, being distributed into several sentences: Some people think it a merit to be gloomy. Another part of their character, is intolerance of all opinion and practice differing from their own. Moreover, they refuse to join with others in pleasure, while, in their solitary enjoyments, they transgress the bounds of temperance without scruple. They have charity in their professions; but they rail habitually against their neighbors, and eagerly spread tales to their prejudice. We are surely justified in saying that such people cannot rightly arrogate for themselves alone the epithet religious. They may not be shut out from the favor and the mercy of heaven; but if not, neither will the same benefits be denied to those who refuse to join their sect or party. 1. Period whose protasis and apodosis are logical nominative and logical verb. People who think it a merit to be gloomy; who are intolerant of all opinion and practice differing from their own; who refuse to join with others in pleasure, while they transgress, without scruple, the bounds of temperance in their solitary enjoyments; who, with charity in their profession, habitually rail against their neighbors, and eagerly spread tales to their prejudice, are surely not entitled to arrogate for themselves alone the epithet religious, or to believe that they who join them not, are excluded from the favor and the mercy of heaven. 2. Period whose protasis and apodosis are logical adverb and logical verb. When people think it a merit to be gloomy; when they are intolerant of all opinion and practice differing from their own; when they refuse to join with others in pleasure, while they transgress, without scruple, the bounds of temperance in their solitary enjoyments; when, with charity in their professions, they habitually rail against their neighbors, and eagerly spread tales to their prejudice: they are surely not entitled to arrogate for themselves alone the epithet religious, or to believe that they who join them not, are excluded from the favor and the mercy of heaven. 3. Period whose protasis and apodosis are logical adjective and logical verb. Gloomy of mind, and making merit of their gloom; intolerant of all opinion and practice differing from their own; refusing to join with others in pleasure, while they transgress, without scruple, the bounds of temperance in their solitary enjoyments; professing charity, yet habitually rail ing against their neighbors, and eagerly spreading tales to their prejudice these are people who, surely without any just title, arrogate for themselves alone the epithet religious; and believe that they who join them not, are excluded from the favor and the mercy of heaven. 4. Period whose protasis and apodosis are logical verb and logical adjective. People too often manifest, as the fruits of their religion, while they unwarrantably claim for themselves alone the epithet religious, and believe that all are excluded from heaven's favor and mercy who join them not, a wilful and, as they think, a meritorious gloom; an intolerance of all opinion and practice differing from their own; a repugnance to join with others in pleasure, while they transgress, without scruple, the bounds of temperance in their solitary enjoyments; and a habit, notwithstanding their professed charity, of railing against their neighbors, and of eagerly spreading tales to their prejudice. 5. Period whose protasis and apodosis are logical verb and logical infinitive. It does not prove that people have an exclusive claim to the epithet religious, and are warranted in believing that all are shut out from heaven's favor and mercy who join them not, to enfold themselves in gloom, and think the gloom meritorious; to be intolerant of all opinion and practice differing from their own; to refuse all union with others in pleasure, while they transgress, without scruple, the bounds of temperance in their solitary enjoyments; and, with charity in their professions, to rail habitually against their neighbors, and eagerly spread tales to their prejudice. LESSON LXII. FORMATION OF PERIODIC SENTENCES. Form the materials of each of the following paragraphs into a Periodic Sentence, the protasis and apodosis taking the grammatical character which the materials most readily suggest or the exercise, though more difficult, will be more improving, if each paragraph be thrown into the five different forms of the Periodic Sentence exhibited in the preceding lesson. The examples here given are not faulty, if regarded as specimens of the Colloquial or plain Style. Model. There are four virtues, justice, prudence, temperance, and fortëtude. These are called the cardinal virtues. The same, changed into different forms of the Period. 1. Justice, prudence, temperance, and fortitude, are called the four cardinal virtues. 2. As there are four virtues eminent above others, namely, &c., they are called, &c. 3. Eminent above other virtues, justice, prudence, temperance, and fortitude, are called the cardinal virtues. 4. We all admit, as the cardinal virtues, justice, prudence, temperance, and fortitude. 5. We all admit justice, prudence, temperance, and fortitude, to be the cardinal virtues. Modesty sometimes keeps a person from making his way at first. In the end, however, it is almost sure to advance him. He was grateful for the favors he had received. Accordingly, he did his utmost to serve his benefactors in return. He forfeited the reputation he had gained through a life of honorable toil; and this, by one false step. There is a purpose which every one should keep in view. The purpose I mean, is, to gain the approbation of others, with the approval of his own heart. The sun rolls over our heads. Fool is received by us, and rest is enjoyed. These daily admonish us of a superior and superintending power. No one can fully enjoy prosperity, who never experienced adversity. Hence it follows that adversity is not to be always deemed an evil. The too complaisant man is averse either to contradict or to blame. On this account, he goes along with the manners that prevail. My friend secured at last the full rewards of his honorable perseverance. These were the complete restitution of his good name; the friendship of all worthy men; a competent fortune for himself; and a fair opening in life for each of his children. There are sure means of becoming peaceful and happy; and I think I do not err in stating them to be these: to be of a pure and humble mind, to exercise benevolence towards others, and to cultivate piety towards God. The three kingdoms of nature are animals, vegetables, and minerals. It is the business of zoology and physiology, of botany, of geology, and mineralogy, to explore these. But they are all subject to the further examination of chemistry. For this science is cognizant of the changes always taking place in the constitution of bodies, whether animal, vegetable, or mineral, and by whatever natural agents effected. LESSON LXIII. CHOICE BETWEEN NON-PERIODIC SENTENCES AND A PERIODIC SENTENCE. From the three preceding lessons it has been seen, that a period properly constructed, raises expectation to a certain point, and then fulfils it by giving a meaning to what precedes, this meaning coming round with the close of the sentence. The period, when completed, is one expression, with one meaning. But the meanings of detached parts do not always readily suggest the one meaning which is necessary to the perfection of a period; and, therefore, we have always to consider, before we form parts into a period, whether they are fit to enter into such a structure, or whether they had not better remain so many separate sentences, or at least only so far united as to form what is called a loose or non-periodic sentence. Take the following example : "Afterwards we came to anchor, and they put me on shore, when I was welcomed by all my friends, who received me with the greatest kindness." This is a loose sentence, having in it four subjects, we, they, I, and who (the last referring to friends), and four correspondent verbs. A little consideration will show that the whole may, with advantage, be moulded into one period, whose two parts shall have the same grammatical character as the two parts of the following miniature model, "I stayed there," namely, verb and adverb, only that in the sustained period, the verb and adverb will be a logical or constructed verb, and a logical or constructed adverb; as, "Having come to an anchor, I was put on shore, when I was welcomed by all my friends, and received with the greatest kindness." |