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“RHETORIC — FOR THE PORT FOLIO. LECTURE X, Of the peculiarities attached to the correct reading and recitation of Narration, Dialogue, Soliloquy, Address, and works of Sentiment and Imagination,” The Port Folio, vol. 3 [series 3] (June 1810), pp. 488–99; selection from pp. 488–90.
Anonymous
For the quotation from Hume, see History, vol. 3, pp. 165–6.
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GENTLEMEN,
The application of the essential principles of correct Elocution to the reading and recitation of the different species of Verse, constituting the subject of my last address to you, I shall, this evening, direct your attention to the application of the same principles to the various kinds of composition in Prose.
The principles of correctness both as to reading and recitation having been inculcated in my preceding lectures, this, and the two following, will of course chiefly consist of exemplifications of those principles, in extracts from some of our best authors, which, if judiciously effected, will not only exhibit specimens of varied Elocution, but also present to the mind some of the most brilliant beauties of English composition.
In the reading or recitation of every species of composition, Expression constitutes its life and energy; and that cannot be given, without a perfect comprehension of the author’s meaning, and at the same time such a degree of sensibility as to feel or awaken those passions which his sentiments are calculated to excite.
In Narration the field is very ample and diversified — from the calm recital of historical events, to the animated declaration of personal incident: in all of which, the reader or speaker, to express himself justly, must express himself naturally.
The degree of animation or expression in the reader, must be accommodated to the nature of the subject, and the style of the author. I will exemplify this position by contrasting two narratives of an interesting historical event, in which the diversity of style, as it must produce different degrees of emotion in the reader, must also produce correspondent effects in the hearer. One example will, I conceive, sufficiently exemplify and prove my position; particularly as it will be drawn from two of our most celebrated modern historians, Hume and Robertson.
The sack of Rome, by Bourbon, in 1527, is thus described by those two eloquent writers; and tho’ the recital of both is critically correct as to language, and highly descriptive of that interesting event, yet the glowing and animated style of the latter excites an interest in the mind of the reader, and of course gives a degree of energy to the expression and vivacity to the tones of the voice, which the former description neither requires, nor can awaken.
The following is Mr. Hume’s account:
“The duke was himself killed as he was planting a ladder to scale the walls; but his soldiers rather enraged than discouraged by his death, mounted to the assault with the utmost valour, and entering the city sword in hand, exercised all those brutalities which may be expected from ferocity excited by resistance, and from insolence which takes place when that resistance is no more. This renowned city, exposed by her renown alone to so many calamities, never endured in any age, even from the barbarians, by whom she was often subdued, such indignities as she was now constrained to suffer. The unrestrained massacre and pillage, which continued for several days, were the least ills to which the unhappy Romans were exposed. Whatever was respectable in modesty, or sacred in religion, seemed but the more to provoke the insults of the soldiery. Virgins suffered violation in the arms of their parents, and upon those very altars to which they had fled for protection. Aged prelates after enduring every indignity, and even every torture, were thrown into dungeons and menaced each moment with the most cruel death, in order to engage them to reveal their sacred treasures or purchase liberty by exorbitant ransoms. Clement himself, who had trusted for protection to the sacredness of his character, and neglected to make his escape in time, was taken captive, and found that his dignity, which procured him no regard from the Spanish soldiers, did but draw on him the insolent mockery of the Germans, who being generally attached to the Lutheran principles, were pleased to gratify their animosity by the abasement of the sovereign pontiff.”
Hume’s History of England.
How tame and uninteresting is this narration, compared with that given by Dr. Robertson!
“Bourbon’s troops, notwithstanding all their valour, gained no ground, and even began to give way; when, their leader, perceiving that on this critical moment the fate of the day depended, threw himself from his horse; pressed to the front; snatched a scaling ladder from a soldier; planted it against the wall; and began to mount it, encouraging his men with his voice and hand to follow him. But, at that very instant, a musket bullet from the ramparts pierced his groin with a wound which he immediately felt to be mortal. It was impossible to conceal this fatal event from the army. The soldiers soon missed their general whom they were accustomed to see in every time of danger: but, instead of being disheartened by the loss, it animated them with new valour. The name of Bourbon resounded along the line accompanied with the cry of blood and revenge. The veterans who defended the walls were soon overpowered by numbers; the unrestrained body of city recruits fled at the sight of danger; and the enemy with irresistible violence rushed into the town.
It is impossible to describe or even to imagine the misery and horror of that scene which followed. Whatever a city taken by storm can dread from military rage unrestrained by discipline — whatever excesses the ferocity of the Germans, the avarice of the Spaniards, or the licentiousness of the Italians could commit, these the wretched inhabitants were obliged to suffer. Churches, palaces, and the houses of private persons, were plundered without distinction. No age, or character, or sex, was exempt from injury. Cardinals, nobles, priests, matrons, virgins, were all the prey of soldiers, and at the mercy of men deaf to the voice of humanity. Nor did these outrages cease, as is usual, in towns which are carried by assault, when the first fury of the storm was over: the imperialists kept possession of Rome several months; and, during all that time, the insolence and brutality of the soldiers scarce abated. Their booty in ready money amounted to a million of ducats: what they raised by ransoms and exactions far exceeded that sum. Rome, though taken several different times by the northern nations, who overran the empire in the fifth and sixth centuries, was never treated with so much cruelty by the barbarous and heathen Huns, Vandals, and Goths, as now by the bigotted subjects of a Catholic monarch.”
Robertson’s History of Charles 5th.
Here all is activity, energy, and animation. The mind of the reader is hurried into the very scene of action; and the emotion excited by so vivid a description, of course requires a corresponding expression of tone, and vivacity of manner, which in reading the former account would appear bombastic and absurd. The elevation of language is admirably accommodated to the solemnity and importance of the event, and the harmonious construction of the sentences kindles a glow of enthusiasm that a reader of sensibility will instinctively impart to his enunciation.