38. An Adverbial phrase or clause let into a sentence should be marked off by commas, as, His story was, in several ways, improbable. The letter was written, strange to say, on club paper. A time there was, ere England's griefs began, They set, as sets the morning star, which goes Exercise 33. Supply commas where necessary. You will hear in the course of the meeting a full account of the business. The story is however true. The wounded man is according to the latest news doing well. He arrived in spite of difficulties at his journey's end. He explains with perfect simplicity vast designs affecting all the governments of Europe. In France indeed such things are done. I will when I see you tell you a secret. I had till you told me heard nothing of the matter. There where a few torn shrubs the place disclose the village preacher's modest mansion rose. You may if you call again see him. You cannot unless you try harder hope to succeed. The little girl after she had walked three miles was tired. I was extremely pleased as we rode along to observe the general benevolence. They had done so for some time when as I was at a little distance from the rest of the company I saw a hare pop out. The hare after having squatted two or three times and been put up again as often came still nearer to the place where she was at first started. 39. Words, phrases, or clauses of the same kind coming after one another, must be separated by commas, except when joined by Conjunctions, as, Let Rufus weep, rejoice, stand still or walk Her lower weeds were all o'er coarsely patched With diff'rent coloured rags, black, red, white, yellow.-Otway. You may easily imagine to yourself what appearance I made, who am pretty tall, rid well and was very well dressed, at the head of a whole county, with music before me, a feather in my hat and my horse well bitted.--Addison. Exercise 34. Supply commas where necessary. I met Fred Will and George. Faith hope and charity are the Christian graces. The grocer sold four pounds of cheese two pounds of bacon and seven pounds of sugar. Little drops of water little grains of sand make the mighty ocean and the pleasant land. We could have tea coffee cocoa lemonade or ginger beer. The beggar asked for a piece of bread a glass of milk or a few pence. The prize will be won by Smith Brown or Jones. The first second third and fourth boys in the class will be promoted. Before this disappointment Sir Roger was what you call a fine gentleman had often supped with my lord Rochester and Sir George Etherege fought a duel upon his first coming to town and kicked Bully Dawson in a public coffee-house. He is now in his fifty-sixth year cheerful gay and hearty. His tenants grow rich his servants look satisfied all the young women profess to love him and the young men are glad of his company. He is a man of probity wit and understanding. Swift Addison Defoe Steele and Prior 1 joined in the political strife. as, 'Twas then great Marlborough's mighty soul was proved In peaceful thought the field of death surveyed Inspired repulsed battalions to engage And taught the doubtful battle where to rage. 40. A participial phrase is generally marked off by commas; The general, seeing his soldiers turn, galloped up to them. Exercise 35. Insert commas where necessary. James leaving the country William was made king. The storm having abated the ships ventured to sail. Henry returning victorious the people went forth to meet him. My friend Sir Roger being a good churchman has beautified the inside of his church. The woman being in great trouble was weeping. Fearing the storm we returned. The sun with ruddy orb ascending fills the horizon. His rising cares the hermit spied with answering cares oppressed. Hence in silence and in sorrow toiling still with busy hand like an emigrant he wandered seeking for the better land. I had not been out of the saddle for six days having been at Eton with Sir John's eldest son. Being bred to no business he generally lives with his eldest brother. Exercise 36. Read again Pars. 32-40, and insert commas where necessary in the following sentences:· In those distant days as in all other times and places where the mental atmosphere is changing and men are inhaling the stimulus of new ideas folly often mistook itself for wisdom ignorance gave itself airs of knowledge and selfishness turning its eyes upward called itself religion.—George Eliot. The captain who did not fail to meet me there at the appointed hour bid Sir Roger fear nothing for that he had put on the same sword which he made use of at the battle of Steenkirk. Sir Roger's servants and among the rest my old friend the butler had, I found, provided themselves with good oaken plants to attend their master upon this occasion. When we had placed him in his coach with myself at his left hand, the captain before him and the butler at the head of his footmen in the rear, we convoyed him in safety to the playhouse, where after having marched up to the entry in good order, the captain and I went in with him, and seated him betwixt us in the pit. As soon as the house was full, and the candles lighted, my old friend stood up and looked about him. I could not but fancy to myself as the old man stood up in the middle of the pit that he made a very proper centre to a tragic audience.-Addison. When I was running about this town, a very poor fellow, I was a great arguer for the advantages of poverty, but I was at the same time very sorry to be poor.-Johnson. Goldsmith however, was often very fortunate in his witty contests, even when he entered the lists with Johnson himself. Sir Joshua Reynolds was in company with them one day, when Goldsmith said that he thought he could write a good fable mentioned the simplicity which that kind of composition requires, and observed that in most fables, the animals introduced seldom talk in character for instance said he,' the fable of the little fishes, who saw birds fly over their heads and envying them, petitioned Jupiter to be changed into birds. The skill' continued he consists in making them talk like little fishes.' While he indulged himself in this fanciful reverie, he observed Johnson shaking his sides and laughing. Why, Dr. Johnson, this is not so easy as you seem to think for if you were to make little fishes talk, they would talk like whales.'-Boswell. 1 THE SEMI-COLON. 41. It may be generally stated that a Semi-colon is used in a complex sentence when a comma would not be a sufficient division. 42. Co-ordinate clauses or sentences, especially if not joined by Conjunctions, are generally separated by semi-colons. Examples of the use of semi-colons. The first in loftiness of mind surpassed; The next in majesty; in both the last.-Dryden. Many a man lives a burden to the earth; but a good book is the precious life-blood of a master-spirit, embalmed and treasured up on purpose to a life beyond life.-Milton. All nature is but art unknown to thee; All chance, direction, which thou canst not see; All discord, harmony, not understood; All partial evil universal good.-Pope. Exercise 37. Supply semi-colons where necessary. Milton, it is said, inherited what his predecessors created he lived in an enlightened age he received a finished education and we must therefore, if we would form a just estimate of his powers, make large deductions in consideration of these advantages. He may believe in a moral sense like Shaftesbury he may refer all human actions to self-interest like Helvetius or he may never think about the matter at all. He gives us the shape, the sound, the colour, the smell, the taste he counts the numbers he measures the size. Of the great men by whom Milton had been distinguished at his entrance into life some had been taken away from the evil to come some had carried into foreign climates their unconquerable hatred of oppression some were pining in dungeons and some had poured forth their blood on scaffolds. Then palaces shall rise the joyful son Shall finish what his short-lived sire begun And the same hand that sowed shall reap the field.-Pope. Hope humbly then with trembling pinions soar Correct old Time and regulate the sun.-Id. THE NOTE OF ADMIRATION OR EXCLAMATION. 43. The Note of Admiration or Exclamation is used (1) After Interjections; as, Alas! he is already dead. (2) After a phrase in the nature of an address or exclamation; as, Vital spark of heavenly flame! (3) As a mark of surprise; as, Two and two are five! Prepare the way, a god, a god appears! Exercise 38. Insert notes of exclamation where necessary. Alas he is already dead. Alas poor Yorick. Tush never tell me that. Well-a-day it is but too true. Tut, tut that is all nonsense. Hey come here. O for a falconer's voice. Hurrah our side has won. Bravo that was well done. Hush the baby is asleep. Fie A soldier and afraid Ah the cowards. Oh what beautiful flowers Heigh-ho I am tired of waiting. Hush hush mee-ow mee-ow We smell a rat close by. Hurrah, hurrah a single field hath turned the chance of war Hurrah, hurrah for Ivry and Henry of Navarre Ho maidens of Vienna ho matrons of Lucerne, |