Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/97

 LIFE OP HENRY. 7S

" wake into life each silent string/^ and show him the whole compass as well as pitch of the instrument; and, indeed, (if we may believe all the concun'ent accounts of his exhibitions in the general court,) the most exqui- site performer that ever " swept the sounding lyre,"" had not a more sovereign mastery over its powers, than Mr. Henry had over the springs of feeling and thought that belong to a jury. There was a delicacy, a taste, a felicity, in his touch, that was perfectly original, and without a rival. His style of address, on these occa- sions, is said to have resembled very much that of the scriptures. It was strongly marked with the same sim- plicity, the same energy, the same pathos. He sounded no alarm; he made no parade, to put the jury on their guard. It was all so natural, so humble, so unassum- ing, that they were carried imperceptibly along, and at- tuned to his purpose, until some master touch dissolved them into tears. His language of passion was perfect. There was no word " of learned length or thundering sound," to break the charm. It had almost all the still- ness of solitary thinking. It was a sweet reverie, a de- licious trance. His voice, too, had a wonderful effect. He had a singular power of infusing it into a jury, and mixing its notes with their nerves, in a manner which it is impossible to describe justly; but which produced a thrilling excitement, in the happiest concordance with his designs. No man knew so well as he did what kind of topics to urge to their understandings; nor what kind of simple imageiy to present to their hearts. His eye, which he kept rivetted upon them, assisted the process of fascination, and at the same time informed him what theme to press, or at what instant to retreat, if by rare accident he touched an unpropitious stiing. And then he had such an exuberance of appropriate thoughts, of

K

�� �