There was one with ringlets of sunny gold, And eyes the reflection of heaven's own blue; And the pale mist hid him from mortal view. The gates of the city we could not see- My brother stands waiting to welcome me. To bid me good-night and be kissed; Oh, the smiles that are halos of heaven, OROTUND TONE. The orotund is a round, full tone, being the maximum of the pure quality, and is produced with the throat open and the cavity of the mouth enlarged. It is used in expressing the language of awe, sublimity, grandeur, and courage. EXAMPLES. 1. O righteous heaven! ere Freedom found a grave, Where was thine arm, O Vengeance, where thy rod, 2. O Thou eternal One! whose presence bright Whom none can comprehend and none explore; 32 Sublimity and Grandeur. 1. The sky is changed! and such a change! O Night, From peak to peak, the rattling crags among, 2. Oh! teach me who is God, and where his glories shine, Courage. 1. And the prætor drew back as I were pollution, and sternly said, "Let the carrion rot: there are no noble men but Romans." And so, fellow-gladiators, must you, and so must I, die like dogs. O Rome! Rome! thou hast been a tender nurse to me. Ay! thou hast given to that poor, gentle, timid shepherd lad, who never knew a harsher tone than a flutenote, muscles of iron and a heart of flint,- taught him to drive the sword through plaited mail and links of rugged brass, and warm it in the marrow of his foe; to gaze into the glaring eyeballs of the fierce Numidian lion, even as a boy upon a laughing girl. And he shall pay thee back until the yellow Tiber is red as frothing wine, and in its deepest ooze thy life-blood lies curdled! 2. Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; Aye, set the teeth and stretch the nostril wide, IMPURE TONE. Impure tone is the pure tone modified by the position of the organs of speech. PECTORAL TONE. The pectoral is a harsh, husky tone, produced by a rigid contraction of the muscles of the throat and chest. It is used in expressing horror, hatred and malice, or despair. EXAMPLES. 1. Oh! I have passed a miserable night, 2. So frowned the mighty combatants, that hell To meet so great a Foe: and now great deeds Had been achieved, whereof all hell had rung, Fast by hell-gate and kept the fatal key, Risen, and with hideous outcry rushed between Hatred and Malice. I loathe you in my bosom! I scorn you with mine eye! I'll taunt you with my latest breath, Despair. I shall despair! There is no creature loves me, And if I die, no soul will pity me: Nay, wherefore should they, since that I myself Methought the souls of all that I had murdered GUTTURAL TONE. The guttural tone is produced by a resonance in the throat, resembling the growling of wild beasts. It is used to express extreme anger, hatred, or contempt. EXAMPLES. Extreme Anger. 1. You common cry of curs! whose breath I hate That do corrupt my air - I banish you! 2. Burned Marmion's swarthy cheek like fire, And "This to me!" he said, "An 't were not for thy hoary beard, Hatred or Contempt. 1. How like a fawning publican he looks! He lends out money gratis, and brings down I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him! 2. Thou slave, thou wretch, thou coward! Thou cold-blooded slave! Thou wear a lion's hide? Doff it, for shame, and hang A calf-skin on those recreant limbs. TREMULOUS TONE. The tremulous tone is one in which the flow of the voice. is broken. The vowels, instead of being uttered smoothly, are made up of a succession of impulses. EXAMPLES. 1. Pity the sorrows of a poor old man, Whose trembling limbs have borne him to your door, Whose days are dwindled to the shortest span: Oh, give relief, and heaven will bless your store. 2. Farewell! a long farewell! to all my greatness. 3. Mother, the angels do so smile, and beckon little Jim; I have no pain, dear mother, now, but oh! I am so dry: Just moisten poor Jim's lips again—and mother, don't you cry. ASPIRATE TONE. The aspirate tone is a whispered utterance with little or no vocality. Its characteristic is distinctness, and what is lost in vocality is made up in distinctness. It is used to denote secrecy, fear, or revenge. This is the mouth o' the cell: no noise! and enter. 2. How ill this taper burns! Ha! who comes here? Cold drops of sweat hang on my trembling flesh, 3. The ancient Earl, with stately grace, Would Clara on her palfry place, And whisper, in an undertone, "Let the hawk stoop, his prey is flown.” |