A. D. Anno Domini, in the Year of our Lord, or since the Birth of Christ. A. U. C. Anno Urbis Condita, i. e. in the Year after the building of Rome. S. P. Q. R. Senatus Populusque Romanus, i. e. the Senate and People of Rome. A. E. A. Annus Erat Augusti. It was the Year of Augustus. On Monuments and Tombstones. J. H. S. Jesus Hominum Salvator, Jesus the Saviour of Men. M. S. Sacred to the Memory. S. V. Siste Viator, Stay Traveller. DIRECTIONS FOR PARSING. WHAT part of Speech? 1. An Article.-Definite or indefinite ? 2. Noun.-Is it proper or common? What Gender? Number? Case? Why? 3. A Pronoun.-What kind? What Person? Gender? Number? Case? Why? 4. An Adjective.-What degree of comparison? How is it compared? To what does it belong? Why is it an Adjective? 5. A Verb. 56 INTRODUCTION TO ENGLISH GRAMMAR. 5. A Verb.-What kind, Active, Passive, or Neuter? What Mood? Tense? Number and Person? Why? 6. A Participle.-Active or Passive? 7. An Adverb.-Why is it an Adverb? 8. A Preposition.-Why is it a Preposition? 9. A Conjunction.—Why? 10. An Interjection.—Why? 57 PART II. COMPOSITION. COMPOSITION consists in the beautiful and harmo nious structure of the periods in a discourse which adds unspeakable dignity and grace to a work, be it poetry or prose. OF PERSPICUITY. PERSPICUITY is the first ingredient of a good style. It requires that the reader should perceive the meaning, as fast as he can peruse the words.. For this purpose; three things are requisite :-That the writer possess clear ideas; that he employ the most significant words; and that he arrange diâ-tinctly those words in sentences. In the choice of words, he must attend to purity, propriety, and precision. Purity demands the use of classical words>> only. Which are to be ascertained by the autho-rity of the best speakers and writers. The errors to be avoided are: 1. The use of foreign words, particularly Latin. 2. The use of words, provincial, vulgar, antiquated, or recent.-2. Propriety requires, that the most pertinent words should be chosen. 3. And Precision, that no more words shall be employed than are sufficient to convey the sense. Perspicuity ought not to be sacrificed to any other beauty whatever. Nothing therefore in language ought more to be studied than to prevent all obscurity in the expression. EXAMPLES. 1. QF Words and Phrases, vulgar or obsolete, which violate the Rules of Purity. Inelegunt. Disquietness of mind. It repenteth me. Thy speech bewrayeth thee. I had as lief do it. The question was strenuously debated pro and con. He died of the hyp. ferior. Better thus. Inquietude of mind. I repent. I think that I am right. Thy speech betrayeth thee. I would as readily do it. The question was strenuously debated on both sides. He died of melancholy. inferior. Inelegant. Inelegant. It irks me. 1 wot not. 2. Of Words and Rules of Propriety. By dint of argument. He is not a whit bet ter.. He stands upon secu rity. He does not hold long in one mind. He had like to have gotten one or two broken heads. He was dextrous in smelling out the designs of others. I perceived it with half an eye. If I happen to have leisure to-morrow. He was seized with wonderment at all he saw. Better thus. I am weary. I know not. Phrases which violate the Better thus. By the force of argu ment. He is not in any de gree better. He insists upon secu rity. He does not continue long in one mind. He was once or twice in danger of having his head.broken. He was dextrous in penetrating the designs of others. I perceived it by a transient view. If I should have lei sure to-morrow. He was seized with, wonder at all he saw.. Inelegant. |