Timotheus,* placed on high,

Amid the tuneful choir,

With flying fingers, touched the lyre:

The trembling notes ascend the sky,

And heavenly joys inspire.

The praise of Bacchus,† then the sweet musician sung,-
Of Bacchus, ever fair and ever young.

Soothed with the sound, the king grew vain;

Increase.

Fought all his battles o'er again;

And thrice he routed all his foes, and thrice he slew the slain!

Narrative.

The master saw the madness rise;

Increase

His glowing cheeks, his ardent eyes;

And, while he heaven and earth defied,

Ti-mo'the-us, one of the most celebrated lyric poets and musicians of antiquity. He flourished, both at the court of Philip, and of his son Alexander. ¡Bac'chus, in Greek mythology, the god of wine.

t Haut boys, (ho boys,) wind instruments somewhat resembling the flute.

With downcast look the joyous victor sat,
Revolving, in his altered soul,

The various turns of fate below;

And, now and then, a sigh he stole,
And tears began to flow.

Narrative.

The mighty master smiled, to see
That love was in the next degree;
"T was but a kindred strain to move;
For pity melts the mind to love.

Soft and smooth.

Softly sweet, in Lydian measures,
Soon he soothed his soul to pleasures.

Quick.

Now strike the golden lyre again!

Da-ri'us, the name or title of several Persian kinga.

Loud.

A louder yet, and yet a louder strain!

Break his bands of sleep asunder,

And rouse him, like a rattling peal of thunder

Soft and full.

Hark! hark! the horrid sound

Has raised up his head,

As awaked from the dead;

And amazed, he stares around.

Loud and quick.

Revenge! revenge! Timotheus cries, —

See the furies arise!

See the snakes that they rear,

How they hiss in their hair,

And the sparkles that flash from their eyes!

Slow and grave.

Behold a ghastly band,

Each a torch in his hand!

These are Grecian ghosts, that in battle were slain,

And, unburied, remain

Inglorious on the plain.

Loud and quick.

Give the vengeance due

To the valiant crew!

Dignified.

Behold, how they toss their torches on high!
How they point to the Persian abodes,
And glittering temples of their hostile gods!

Thus, long ago,

Narrative.

Ere heaving bellows learned to blow,

While organs yet were mute,

Timotheus, to his breathing flute

And sounding lyre,

Could swell the soul to rage, or kindle soft desire.

SECTION III.

PERSONATION.

PERSONATION implies those changes or variations of the voice necessary to represent two or more individuals as speaking.

Personation is employed in reading dialogues, and other collo. quial compositions. These writings derive much of their force and beauty from the skillful application of this principle. The pupil, therefore, should exercise his ingenuity and discrimination in studying the characters of the speakers, from their language and other circumstances, in the same manner as he would if they were actually before him.

RULE.

Consider the condition, the feelings, and the temperament of the characters to be represented, and vary the voice in such a manner as best to per

sonate them.

EXERCISE.

SCENE FROM "VIRGINIUS."-J. S. KNOWLES.

[Virginia was the daughter of Lucius Virginius, a Roman centurion, and was betrothed to Lucius Icilius, one of the tribunes. Appius Claudius, a Roman decemvir, smitten by her beauty, employed Marcus Clau

QUESTIONS. What is personation? In what kind of reading is personation employed? How may the characters of the speakers be studied? What is the rule for personation?

dius to seize her as a slave, and deliver her over to him. Virginius, her father, being unable to recover her, seized a butcher's knife, and plunged it to her heart, exclaiming, "This is the only way, my child, to keep thee free and unstained!"]

Lucius. Virginius! you are wanted

In Rome.

Virginius. On what account?

Luc. On your arrival

You'll learn.

Vir. How is it something can't be told

At once? Speak out, boy! Ha! your looks are loaded
With matter. Is 't so heavy that your tongue
Cannot unburden them? Your brother left
The camp on duty yesterday, hath aught
Happened to him? Did he arrive in safety?
Is he safe? Is he well?

Luc. He is both safe and well.

Vir. What then? What then?-tell me the matter, Lucius.

Luc. I have said

It shall be told you.

Vir. Shall! I stay not for

That "shall," unless it be so close at hand

It stop me not a moment, - 't is too long
A coming. Fare you well, my Lucius.
Luc. Stay,

Virginius; hear me with patience!
Vir. Well,

I am patient.

Luc. Your Virginia

Vir. Stop, my Lucius!

I'm cold in every member of my frame!

If 't is prophetic, Lucius, of thy news,

Give me such token as her tomb would, Lucius,

I'll bear it better.- Silence.

Luc. You are still