it is put in the objective case; as, "His father, than whom I never knew a better man, is dead.'

2. Some conjunctions have their correspondent conjunctions: thus, both is followed by and, either by or, neither by nor, though by yet, &c.; as, Both you and I saw it;' Though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor.'

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XIII. Interjections are joined to the objective case of pronouns of the first person, and to the nominative of pronouns of the second; as, Ah me!' ' O thou!"

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SECTION I.

VARIETY OF CONSTRUCTION.

Vary the construction in the following sentences by changing the subjects, the predicates, or the objects.

EXAMPLE.

Temperance in eating and drinking is the best preservative of health. To be temperate in eating and drinking is the best preservative of health. To eat and drink temperately is the best preservative of health. The best preservative of health is temperance in eating and drinking. The best way to preserve health is to eat and drink temperately. Temperance in eating and drinking best preserves health. Health is best preserved by temperance in eating and drinking. To eat and drink temperately is the best way to preserve health. Temperance in eating and drinking promotes health. Health depends upon temperance in eating and drinking. Health is promoted by temperance in eating and drinking. Health is promoted by eating and drinking temperately. We must eat and drink temperately to preserve health.

EXERCISES.

1. To live soberly, righteously, and piously, is required of all

men.

2. To grieve immoderately shows weakness.

3. Timid men fear to die.

4. That it is our duty to be just and kind to our fellow-creatures, admits not of any doubt in a rational and well-informed mind.

5. To cultivate piety towards God, to exercise benevolence towards others, and to be of a pure and humble mind, are the sure means of becoming peaceful and happy.

6. By observing truth you will command esteem.

7. The changing of times and seasons, and the removing and setting up of kings, belong to Providence alone.

8. It is a great support to virtue, to see a good mind maintain its patience and tranquillity under injuries and affliction, and cordially forgive its oppressors.

SECTION II.

VARIETY OF CONSTRUCTION (continued).

Vary the construction of the following passages, by changing the first or second person into the third, or the third into the first or second :

EXAMPLES.

1. "I thank thee," cried the dying consul; "and may the gods recompense thy piety. But as for me, all is over, and my part is chosen. Do not, therefore, by attempting to persuade a desperate man, lose the only means of procuring thine own safety."

The dying consul thanked him, and prayed that the gods might recompense him for his piety. But as for himself, he said that all was over, and that his part was chosen. He therefore entreated him not to lose the only means of procuring his own safety, by attempting to persuade a desperate man.

2. Xantippus told them that their armies had been hitherto overthrown, not by the strength of the enemy, but by the ignorance of their own generals. He therefore only required a ready obedience to his orders, and assured them of an easy victory.

"Allow me to tell you," said Xantippus, "that your armies have been hitherto overthrown, not by the strength of the enemy, but by the ignorance of your own generals. All, therefore, that I require is a ready obedience to my orders, and I assure you of an easy victory."

EXERCISES.

1. I come now to speak upon what, indeed, I would have gladly avoided, had I not been particularly pointed at, for the part I have

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taken in these proceedings. It has been said by a noble lord on my left hand, that I likewise am running the race of popularity. If the noble lord means by popularity, that applause bestowed by after-ages on good and virtuous actions, I have long been struggling in that race: to what purpose, all-trying time can alone determine. But if the noble lord means that mushroom popularity which is raised without merit, and lost without a crime, he is much mistaken in his opinion. I defy the noble lord to point out a single action of my life, in which the popularity of the times ever had the smallest influence on my determinations.

2. The decemvir then began to excuse himself, saying, that he was willing to give liberty to all deliberations upon the question, but could not bear an oration, which, leaving the point in debate, only seemed calculated to promote sedition: that he and his colleagues had received an unlimited power from the people, till the great work of forming the laws was finished, during which they were resolved to act to the extent of their power, and then would be answerable for their administration: he therefore demanded, that they should have a power of levying and commanding the forces that were to be sent against the enemy.

3. With regard to my poverty, the king has, indeed, been justly informed. My whole estate consists of a house of but mean appearance, and a little spot of ground, from which, by my own labour, I draw my support. But if, by any means, thou hast been persuaded to think that this poverty renders me of less consequence in my own country, or in any degree unhappy, thou art greatly deceived. I have no reason to complain of fortune: she supplies me with all that nature requires; and if I am without superfluities, I am also free from the desire of them. With these, I confess I should be more able to succour the necessitous, the only advantage for which the wealthy are to be envied: but small as my possessions are, I can still contribute something to the support of the state, and the assistance of my friends. With respect to honours, my country places me, poor as I am, upon a level with the richest : for Rome knows no qualifications for great employments but virtue and ability. She appoints me to officiate in the most august ceremonies of religion; she intrusts me with the command of her armies; she confides to my care the most important negotiations. My poverty does not lessen the weight and influence of my counsels in the senate. The Roman people honour me for that very poverty which king Pyrrhus considers as a disgrace. They know the many opportunities I have had to enrich myself without censure;

they are convinced of my disinterested zeal for their prosperity: and if I have any thing to complain of, in the return they make me, it is only the excess of their applause. What value, then, can I put upon thy gold and silver? What king can add any thing to my fortune?

4. Pericles maintained that they had failed in nothing of their duty, as they had given orders that the dead bodies should be taken up; that, if any one were guilty, it was the accuser himself, who, being charged with these orders, had neglected to put them in execution; but that he blamed nobody; and that the tempest, which came on unexpectedly at the very instant, was an unanswerable apology, and entirely discharged the accused from all guilt. He demanded that a whole day should be allowed them to make their defence, a favour not denied to the most criminal; and that they should be tried separately. He represented that they were not in the least obliged to precipitate a sentence wherein the lives of the most illustrious citizens were concerned: that it was, in some measure, attacking the gods, to make men responsible for the winds and weather: that they could not, without the most flagrant ingra titude and injustice, put to death the conquerors, to whom they ought to decree crowns and honours, or give up the defenders of their country to the rage of those who envied them: that if they did so, their unjust judgment would be followed by a sudden but vain repentance, which would leave behind it the sharpest remorse, and cover them with eternal infamy.*

SECTION III.

SIMPLE SENTENCES.

Sentences are either simple or complex.

A simple sentence contains only one proposition.. A complex sentence consists of two or more simple sentences so combined as to make but one complete proposition.

Divide the following complex into simple sentences:

*These exercises, and those which follow under Sections III. IV. V. VI. and VII. may be multiplied from any text-book of history.

EXAMPLE.

Friendship improves happiness, and abates misery, by doubling our joy, and dividing our grief.

Friendship improves happiness. Friendship abates misery. Friendship doubles our joy. Friendship divides our grief.

EXERCISES.

1. Modesty is not properly a virtue, but it is a very good sign of a tractable disposition, and a great preservative against vice.

2. Thousands, whom indolence has sunk into contemptible obscurity, might have attained the highest distinctions, if idleness had not frustrated the effect of all their powers.

3. At our first setting out in life, when yet unacquainted with the world and its snares, when every pleasure enchants with its smile, and every object shines with the gloss of novelty, let us beware of the seducing appearances which surround us, and recollect what others have suffered from the power of headstrong desire.

4. The Romans, flying in great consternation, were pursued by the enemy to the bridge, over which both victors and vanquished were about to enter the city in confusion. All now appeared to be lost, when the sentinel who had been placed there to defend it, opposed himself to the torrent of the enemy, and, assisted only by two more, for some time sustained the whole fury of the assault, till the bridge was broken down behind him; when plunging with his arms into the Tiber, he swam back to his fellow-soldiers.

SECTION IV.

ABRIDGMENT OF COMPLEX SENTENCES.

The clauses of a complex sentence are either principal or secondary.

The principal clause is that which contains the leading proposition; and it must express a complete idea, even when separated from the rest of the sentence.

A secondary clause is a simple sentence, or part of a sentence, modifying the principal clause.