eral name of accent. First, there are words of more than one syllable, like "litter'd," that have an accent on one syllable, and like "anticipation," that have two, or even more accents. Second, there are words that require emphasis because they are important in the expression of the thought; and third, there are those that have a greater quantity of sound than is usual. Thus the words "we," "two," and" one must be emphasized because an expressive reading so demands, while in the line, His private ar | bors and new plant | ed orchards, the syllables "bors" and "chards," though not accented, have a greater length and amount of sound, and therefore are given stress. It would be easy to multiply examples from the play. One more may be noticed in the line, Like a phan tas | ma, or | a hideous dream. The word 66 phantasma "receives the accent on the second syllable, but the first has distinct quantity. With these lines for illustration, proceed to mark the scansion of lines, marking long or accented, all syllables that have accent, emphasis or quantity, and the rest short, or unaccented; then divide the line into five feet. You will find that several kinds of feet are frequently substituted for the iambic foot. They are the trochee (~~), the spondee ( ̄), the pyrrhic (), the anapest (~ ~ ̄). There is much more to be learned of Shakespeare's meter than can be mentioned here, but one more thing must be said that he often has an extra syllable at the end of a line, as in that which contains the word "orchards," and in this, - I hear a tongue | shriller | than all the mu | sic. This variation of the meter prevents monotony, as does also the distribution of pauses. The earlier writers in blank verse made so many pauses at the ends of lines that the rhythm was spoiled. This, Shakespeare carefully avoids. It is to be noticed, too, that there are many short lines, as "Be gone," that the ending -tion is often pronounced in two syllables, as,— The nature of | an in | surrec | tion, and that final -ed is often sounded. To conclude, it must be remembered that in expressive reading little thought of the meter need be taken. Read the lines just as you would prose, except for the endings, -tion and -ed, when they require the changes indicated, and except for a few differences in Shakespeare's accent of words. Otherwise the scansion takes care of itself. CHRONOLOGY FROM THE. TIMES OF THE GRACCHI TO THE BATTLE PHILIPPI. OF B. C. 133. Tiberius Gracchus, the champion of the people, slain. 111-106. Jugurthan War, in which Metellus and Marius were the successful Roman generals. 106. Cicero born. 102. Marius overcomes the Teutones at Aix (Aquæ Sextiæ) in Gaul. 101. Marius overcomes the Cimbri at Vercellæ. 100. Cæsar born. 90-88. Social War, in which the Latin states contest for Roman suffrage. 88. Sulla drives Marius from Rome. 87. Marius returns; bloody proscription. 83. Sulla returns; another proscription. 79. Sulla abdicates. 88-84. First Mithridatic War, fought by Sulla. 84-82. Second Mithridatic War, fought by Murena. 74-64. Third Mithridatic War, fought by Lucullus and Pompey. 81-72. Sertorian War in Spain. 73-71. War with the gladiators, Spartacus being their leader. 67-66. Pompey overcomes the pirates. 64-62. Conspiracies of Catiline. 63. Cicero consul. 60. First Triumvirate-Cæsar, Pompey, and Crassus. 59. Caius Julius Cæsar consul. 58-50. Cæsar's conquest of Gaul. 58-57. Cicero banished and recalled. 49. Cæsar crosses the Rubicon; gains Italy, Sardinia, Sicily, and Spain. 48. Battle of Pharsalia, Pompey killed in Egypt. xxviii 48-47. Cæsar in Egypt. 47. Battle of Zela, in Pontus, in which Cæsar overcomes Pharnaces, the son of Mithridates, and sends to the Senate the famous dispatch, "Veni, vidi, vici." 46. Battle of Thapsus, in Africa, in which Cæsar finally defeats the army of Pompey. 45. Battle of Munda, in Spain, in which Cæsar overthrows Pompey's sons. (This is the victory for which he was given the triumph mentioned in the play.) 44. Cæsar assassinated, on the ides of March. < 3. Second Triumvirate-Antonius, Octavius (Augustus), and Lepidus. 43. Cicero killed. 42. Battle of Philippi, in which the triumvirs overcome Brutus and Cassius. Enter FLAVIUS, MARULLUS, and certain Commoners. Flav. Hence! home, you idle creatures, get you home: Is this a holiday? what! know you not, Of your profession? Speak, what trade art thou? Mar. Where is thy leather apron and thy rule?. What dost thou with thy best apparel on? You, sir, what trade are you? |