In the first sentence, Romans is the grammatical subject of were, and the parenthetical participial clause between these words must be set off by a comma on each side. In the second, Romans, being used absolutely with the participle having conquered, must not be separated from it by a comma, but this point must be reserved for the termination of the entire absolute clause.

CAUTION V. When you are in doubt as to the propriety of inserting commas, omit them; it is better to have too few than too many.

MISCELLANEOUS EXERCISE.

Supply such points as are necessary in the following

sentences:

UNDER RULE I. Education if it can not accomplish every thing can nevertheless accomplish much-Achilles unquestionably was a puissant warrior but had not the poetry of Homer immortalized his name he would now in all likelihood have been as little known as the meanest soldier in the Grecian host

UNDER RULE II. By all that you hold dear on earth listen to my prayer-To accomplish these ends he left no means however insignificant untried-If I were not Alexander I would be Diogenes-If fortune has played thee false to-day do thou play true for thyself to-morrow-Never be discouraged however gloomy the prospect

UNDER RULE III. In every line of Dante's "Divine Comedy" we discern the asperity which is produced by pride struggling with misery -We designate as the mind that part of us which feels knows and thinks -A man renowned for repartee often sacrifices the feelings of his friends to his attempts at wit-The means by which men acquire glory are various

UNDER RULE IV. Hail Patience blest source of peace blest cure for every pain-Sisters and brothers how many may you be-Were I even déclared king or elected president of such a nation I should esteem it no honor-The genealogy of princes the field-book of conquerors history is well worthy of our attention

UNDER RULE V. Among the noblest attributes of a virtuous man is justice-Over the matchless talents of Washington probity threw her brightest lustre Of infancy childhood boyhood and youth we have been discoursing-Than pleasure's exaggerated promises nothing can be more alluring to youth

UNDER RULE VI. All that live must die-Apostles prophets and martyrs have proved the truth of the Christian faith--All the rules of eloquence the precepts of philosophy and the refined conversation of Athens to which place he was sent by his father for the completion of his education failed to make Cicero's son an orator or a man of talentWorlds above around beneath and on all sides arch thee about as a eentre

UNDER RULE VII. The ship having left her wharf a salute was fired from the shore-A habit of indolence once formed it is extremely difficult to shake it off-The campaign thus fairly opened both parties prosecuted the war with unprecedented vigor-Ye men of Rome shake off your sloth

UNDER RULE VIII. The sun sets but he will rise again-We obey the laws of society because it is expedient to do so-Art is long but time is fleeting-Great poets are rare while empty rhymesters can be counted by thousands-Must we submit to such indignities in order that we may have enough to eat

UNDER RULE IX. Man wants but little here below nor wants that little long-Sincerity is as valuable as knowledge and on some accounts more so-Cunning and avarice may gain an estate but can not gain friends-We are naturally inclined to praise those who praise us and to flatter those who flatter us

UNDER RULE X. English Grammar or the art of speaking and writing the English language correctly can not in this country be too much studied-The Persians or rather the survivors of them retreated from the field of battle with all possible despatch-Young ladies' seminaries or as they were formerly called girls' schools abound in this part of the country

UNDER RULE XI., XII. Modern times with all their boasted progress have never produced as strong a man as Samson as meek a man as Moses or as wise a man as Solomon-Life is short unsatisfactory and uncertain -Men women and children stare cry out and run-Cæsar came saw and conquered

UNDER RULE XIII. Deeds not words are the proper tests by which to try a man's character-Who is so beautiful who so graceful as the maid of Lodore-I beg of you beware of and avoid the evil-doer-How sweet the voice how blessed the words of him who offers consolation to the mourner

UNDER RULE XIV. Poverty and distress desolation and ruin are the consequences of civil war-Virtue without industry and idleness without vice are impossibilities-Generous but not prodigal frugal but not parsimonious brave but not rash learned but not pedantic this prince maintained a happy medium between all objectionable extremes

UNDER RULE XV. Onward onward strong and steady Blessed thrice blessed is the peace-maker-There we hope to enjoy rest neverending rest rest in which are concentrated all conceivable pleasures→→→ Suddenly there came a tapping as of some one gently rapping rapping at my chamber door-Lochiel Lochiel beware of the day

UNDER RULE XVI. We must respect ourselves to have others respect us-A man must be a genius indeed to say any thing new about Niagara-Eat to live do not live to eat-He is going to Europe to see whether travelling will benefit his health

UNDER RULE XVII. It was a principle of O'Connell's that no political advantage is worth a crime-When Xerxes sent a haughty message to Leonidas that he should deliver up his arms the Spartan warrior answered in true Laconic style "Let him come and take them""Language" says Talleyrand "was given us to conceal our thoughts"

UNDER RULE XVIII. Though Tycho de Brahe who lived near the close of the sixteenth century certainly recognized the correctness of the Copernican system at an early period yet his ambitious vanity and religious prejudices urged him to oppose it-Either you must confess your crime or I shall have to suffer unjustly

UNDER RULE XIX. To contemplate abstract subjects only disciplines the mind rarely if ever interesting it-A long course of conduct so entirely opposed to what honest men consider required by the great principles of truth and justice can not be passed over without the strongest reprobation

UNDER RULE XX. The loftiest mountain in the moon is said by astronomers to be 17138 feet high-The surface of the sun contains 1865312000000 square miles that of the moon 10350400 that of the earth 148512000

LESSON XXVI.

THE DASH.

§ 176. THE dash, a character of comparatively recent introduction, has of late, both by writers and printers, been very wrongly endowed with the functions of parentheses, comma, semicolon, colon, and even period; and is now extensively used by many, who find it a convenient substitute when ignorance prevents them from employing the proper point. Against this prevailing abuse the student can not be too impressively warned. The dash has its legitimate uses, and performs a part in which no other point can properly take its place; but it must not be allowed to overstep its proper limits. Use this point, therefore, only where it is strictly required by the following Rules :

:

RULE I.—BREAKS, SUSPENSIONS, TRANSITIONS, &c.

§ 177. The dash is used to denote a break in the construction, a suspension of the sense, an unexpected transition

§ 176. When was the dash first introduced? What is said of its use at the present day?

§177. Repeat Rule I., relating to breaks, suspensions, &c.

in the sentiment, a sudden interruption, and hesitation in the speaker.

EXAMPLES.

1. Nero, Domitian, Caligula, Heliogabalus-one and the same character belongs to them all.

2. Politicians are brilliant, versatile, profound, far-seeing-everything but honest.

He had no malice in his mind

No ruffles on his shirt.

4. "No one is aware of your imprisonment but Sir William, and he is

"Here!" interrupted a deep voice, as the door flew open.

5. "I would do it, but-but-to say the truth-I-
"To say the truth, you are afraid," broke in the earl.

RULE II.-AFTER OTHER POINTS.

§ 178. A dash may be used after other points, when a greater pause than they usually denote is required.

Hence it appears that the dash is a rhetorical as well as a grammatical point.

Under this rule, a dash is used in the following cases:

I. After a period, interrogation-point, and exclamation-point.

1. When a writer passes to a new branch of his subject without
commencing a new paragraph; as, "From this it is evident that
friendship had its origin in the social feelings which nature has
implanted in the breast of man.-Let us now look at its effects."
2. In dialogues, when in the same paragraph one person ceases
speaking and another begins; as, "Art thou not-'-'What?'-
'A traitor!'-'Yes.'-' A villain!'-' Granted.""

3. A dash is generally placed after the three points above men-
tioned, between a passage quoted and the name of the author or
book it is taken from; also, between a side-head and the subject-
matter to which it belongs; also, between sentences that have no
connection, when brought together in the same paragraph.

§ 178. Repeat Rule II., relating to the use of the dash after other points. What kind of a point does this show the dash sometimes to be? After what points is a dash sometimes required by a change of subject? In what case? When is a dash required after the period, interrogation-point, and exclamation-point, in dialogues? State the principle that applies to the use of the dash after these three points, in the case of quoted passages, side-heads, and unconnected sentences.

EXAMPLES.

ɑ. Men of humor are always, in some degree, men of genius.—COLERIDGE'S Table-Talk.

b. FORM OF THE EARTH.-Heraclitus supposed that the earth had the form of a canoe; Aristotle, that it was shaped like a timbrel; Anaximander, that it was a vast cylinder.

c. For dashes between unconnected sentences, see Exercise on p. 130. II. After a colon, when reference is made by this, these, following, or as follows, to several succeeding sentences or a new paragraph; as, "The cloth having been removed, the president rose and made the following address :

'Ladies and gentlemen, we have assembled, &c.'"

III. After a semicolon a dash is sometimes used, though not absolutely necessary, when the last member is placed in lively contrast with the first, or implies strong opposition to it; as, "He chastens ;but he chastens to save."

IV. After a comma,

1. When it follows a logical subject consisting of several particulars separated by semicolons, or by commas, when, for the sake of greater definiteness, the words all, these, all these, such, or the like, referring to the particulars before enumerated, are introduced as the immediate subject of a verb; as, "To be overlooked, slighted, and neglected; to be misunderstood, misrepresented, and slandered; to be trampled under foot by the envious, the ignorant, and the vile; to be crushed by foes, and to be distrusted and betrayed even by friends,-such is too often the fate of genius."

2. When, in consequence of the omission of namely, or a similar word, a longer pause is required than that usually denoted by the comma, though the connection is so close as not to admit a higher point; as, "There is one feeling, and only one, that seems to pervade the breasts of all men alike,-the love of life."

RULE III.-REPETITIONS.

§ 179. The dash is used before a repeated word or expression, when the repetition is abrupt or exclamatory, pro

When must a dash follow a colon? When is this point sometimes used after a semicolon? In what two cases is a dash required after a comma? § 179. Repeat Rule III., relating to repetitions.