and bless Heaven for the flames!-that is not an everlasting flame;-that is not an unquenchable fire!" How were we struck!-yet soon after, still more. With what an eye of distraction, what a face of despair, he cried out! "My principles have poisoned my friend! my extravagance has beggared my boy! my unkindness has murdered my wife And is there another hell? Oh, thou blasphemed, yet indulgent LORD GOD! Hell itself is a refuge, if it hide me from thy frown! Soon after, his understanding failed. His terrified imagination uttered horrors not to be repeated, or ever forgotten. And ere the sun (which I hope has seen few like him) arose, the gay,-young,-noble,-ingenious,-accomplished,and most wretched Altamont, expired! If this is a man of pleasure,-what is a man of pain? How quick,-how total,-is the transit of such persons! In what a dismal gloom they sit for ever! How short, alas! is the day of their rejoicing!-For a moment they glitterthey dazzle! In a moment,-where are they? Oblivion covers their memories. Ah! would it did! Infamy snatches them from oblivion. In the long living annals of infamy their triumphs are recorded. Thy sufferings,-poor Altamont!still bleed in the bosom of the heart-stricken friend-for Altamont had a friend. He might have had many. His transient morning might have been the dawn of an immortal day. His name might have been gloriously enrolled in the records of eternity. His memory might have left a sweet fragrance behind it, grateful to the surviving friend,-and salutary to the succeeding generation. With what capacity was he en Soon after, I proposed prayer—“ Pray you that can-I never prayed. I cannot pray-nor need I. Is not Heaven on my side already? It closes with my conscience. Its severest strokes but second my own." Observing that his friend was much touched at this, even to tears (who could forbear? I could not)-with a most affectionate look, he said, "Keep those tears for thyself, I have undone thee. Dost thou weep for me? That is cruel. What can pain me more." Here his friend,-too much affected-would have left him." No stay-thou still mayst hope;-therefore hear me. How madly have I talked! How madly hast thou listened,-and believed!-but look on my present state,-as a full answer to thee, and to myself. This body is all weakness and pain;-but my soul, as if stung up by torment to greater strength and spirit, is full powerful to reason; full mighty to suffer. And that, which thus triumphs within the jaws of immortality, is doubtless immortal.And, as for a Deity,-nothing less than Almighty could inflict what I feel.” I was about to congratulate this passive,→ involuntary confessor, on his asserting the two prime articles of his creed,-extorted by the rack of nature, when he thus very passionately exclaimed;-No, no!-let me speak on. I have not long to speak.-My much injured friend! my soul,-as my body, lies in ruins; in scattered fragments of broken thought.-Remorse for the past throws my thought on the future. Worse dread of the future, strikes it back on the past. I turn and turn, and find no ray. Didst thou feel half the mountain that is on me, thou wouldst struggle with the martyr for his stake; and bless Heaven for the flames!-that is not an everlasting flame;-that is not an unquenchable fire!" How were we struck!-yet soon after, still more. With what an eye of distraction, what a face of despair, he cried out! " My principles have poisoned my friend! my extravagance has beggared my boy! my unkindness has murdered my wife And is there another hell? Oh, thou blasphemed, yet indulgent LORD GOD! Hell itself is a refuge, if it hide me from thy frown! Soon after, his understanding failed. His terrified imagination uttered horrors not to be repeated, or ever forgotten. And ere the sun (which I hope has seen few like him) arose, the gay,-young,-noble,-ingenious,-accomplished,and most wretched Altamont, expired! If this is a man of pleasure,-what is a man of pain? How quick,-how total,—is the transit of such persons! In what a dismal gloom they sit for ever! How short, alas! is the day of their rejoicing!-For a moment they glitterthey dazzle! In a moment,-where are they? Oblivion covers their memories. Ah! would it did! Infamy snatches them from oblivion. In the long living annals of infamy their triumphs are recorded. Thy sufferings,-poor Altamont !still bleed in the bosom of the heart-stricken friend-for Altamont had a friend. He might have had many. His transient morning might have been the dawn of an immortal day. His name might have been gloriously enrolled in the records of eternity. His memory might have left a sweet fragrance behind it, grateful to the surviving friend,-and salutary to the succeeding generation. With what capacity was he en dowed! with what advantage for being greatly good! But, with the talents of an angel,-a man may be a fool. If he judge amiss in the supreme point,-judging right in all else, but aggravates his folly ;-as it shews him wrong, though blessed with the best capacity of being right. DR. YOUNG. CLIMAX OR AMPLIFICATION Is an enumeration of particulars to increase the force of an oration or harangue, and each particular requires to be read with an increased emphasis of voice.-1, 2, 3, &c. mark the climax. EXAMPLES. -but,-without this match The sea enraged, is not half so deaf Lions more confident,,-mountains and rocks The cloud capp'd towers,'-the gorgeous palaces2 The solemn temples-the great globe itself— It is to you Veturia, that these women have recourse in the extreme peril, with which they and their children are threatened.They entreat'-implore-conjure3 you, to compassionate their distress, and the distress of our common country.-Suffer not Rome to become a prey to the Volsci, and our enemies to triumph over our liberty-Go to the camp of Coriolanus,:-take with you Volumnia and her two sons:-let that excellent wife join her intercession to yours-Permit these women with their children to accompany you-they will all cast themselves at his feetO Veturia !-conjure him to grant peace to his fellow citizens. Cease not to beg till you have obtained. So good a man can never withstand your tears-our only hope is in you.— Come then, Veturia;-the danger presses;you have no time for deliberation;-the enterprize is worthy of your virtue;-Heaven will crown it with success ;-Rome shall once more owe its preservation to our sex-- - You will justly acquire to yourself an immortal fame, and have the pleasure to make every one of us a sharer of your glory. A mediator and Intercessor with the Sovereign of the universe appear comfortable names; and the resurrection of the just becomes the powerful cordial of grief.-In such moments as these,-which we may justly call happy moments, -the soul participates of all the pleasures of devotion.'-It feels the power of religion to support and relieve. It is softened,-without being broken.3-It is full,-and pours itself forth ;4pours itself forth, (if we may be allowed to use the expression) into the bosom of its merciful Creator.s Enough has been said to shew, that, on various occasions, sorrow may be better than |