Chapter XXXIV: Section IV: Of Pauses

A Pause, otherwise called a rest, is an absolute cessation of the voice, in speaking or reading, during a perceptible interval, longer or shorter, of time.

Comic Pauses often occur in Oratory. “Unaccustomed as I am to public speaking,” is usually followed by a pause of this sort. A young gentleman, his health having been drunk at a party, afforded, in endeavouring to return thanks, a signal illustration of the Pause Comic. “Gentlemen,” he began, “the Ancient Romans,”--(A pause),--“I say, Gentlemen, the Ancient Romans,”--(Hear!)--“The Ancient Romans, Gentlemen,”--(Bravo! hear! hear!)--“Gentlemen--that is--the Ancient Romans”--“were very fine fellows, Jack, I dare say,” added a friend, pulling the speaker down by the coat-tail.

That notable Ancient Roman, Brutus, is represented by Shakspere as making a glorious pause: as,

“Who’s here so vile that would not love his country? If any, speak, for him have I offended. I pause for a reply.”

Here, of course, Brutus pauses, folds his arms, and looks magnanimous. We have heard, though, of an idle and impudent schoolboy, who, at a public recitation, when he had uttered the words “I pause for a reply,” gravely took out his penknife and began paring his nails.

This _was_ minding his _paws_ with a vengeance.

A very long pause, particularly accompanied by a very serious look on the part of the speaker, as good as tells the audience that something of great importance is coming. It is therefore necessary to have something of real consequence to bring out. The following extract from a political harangue will show how essential it is to attend to this point:--

“And, Gentlemen, when I consider, I say, when I consider the condition
of the masses of this country, I do think, and it is my opinion, that
the Government has much to answer for. But not to dwell on that point,
what have been the deeds, what have been the proceedings, I may say,
of the Government itself? They have increased taxation, they have
swelled the National Debt, they have assailed the liberty of the
subject, they have trampled the poor man in the dust; he asked for
liberty, and they made him a slave; he demanded the Charter, and they
loaded him with fetters; he knelt for protection, and they gave him
the Poor Law; he cried for bread, and they gave him the bayonet. By
what name, by what term, by what expression, are we to designate such
tyranny? (A long pause) ... Gentlemen!--it is _unconstitutional_!!!”