b. That, by a laxity of language, the _vowel_ may be said to have changed its quantity, whilst it is the _syllable_ alone that has been altered. c. That if one person measures his quantities by the vowels, and another by the syllables, what is short to the one, shall be long to the other, and _vice versâ_. The same is the case with nations. d. That one of the most essential differences between the English and the classical languages is that the quantities (as far as they go) of the first are measured by the vowel, those of the latter by the syllable. To a Roman the word _monument_ consists of two short syllables and one long one; to an Englishman it contains three short syllables. * * * * * CHAPTER VII. ON ACCENT. § 139. In the word _tyrant_ there is an emphasis, or stress, upon the first syllable. In the word _presume_ there is an emphasis, or stress, on the second syllable. This emphasis, or stress, is called _accent_. The circumstance of a syllable bearing an accent is sometimes expressed by a mark (′); in which case the word is said to be accentuated, i.e., to have the accent signified in writing. Words accented on the last syllable--_Brigáde_, _preténce_, _harpoón_, _reliéve_, _detér_, _assúme_, _besóught_, _beréft_, _befóre_, _abroád_, _abóde_, _abstrúse_, _intermíx_, _superádd_, _cavaliér_. Words accented on the last syllable but one--_An'chor_, _ar'gue_, _hásten_, _fáther_, _fóxes_, _smíting_, _húsband_, _márket_, _vápour_, _bárefoot_, _archángel_, _bespátter_, _disáble_, _terrífic_. Words accented on the last syllable but two--_Reg'ular_, _an'tidote_, _for'tify_, _suscéptible_, _incontrovértible_. Words accented on the last syllable but three (rare)--_Réceptacle_, _régulating_, _tálkativeness_, _ábsolutely_, _lúminary_, _inévitable_, &c. § 140. A great number of words are distinguished by the difference of accent alone. An _áttribute_. To _attríbute_. The month _Aúgust_. An _augúst_ person. A _com'pact_. _Compáct_ (close). To _con'jure_ (magically). _Conjúre_ (enjoin). _Des'ert_, wilderness. _Desért_, merit. _Inválid_, not valid. _Invalíd_, a sickly person. _Mínute_, 60 seconds. _Minúte_, small. _Súpine_, part of speech. _Supíne_, careless, &c. § 141. In _týrant_ and _presúme_, we deal with single words; and in each _word_ we determine which _syllable_ is accented. Contrasted with the sort of accent that follows, this may be called a _verbal_ accent. In the line, Better for _us_, perhaps, it might appear, (Pope's "Essay on Man," I. 169.)