EXAMPLES. To endure slander and abuse with meekness' requires no ordinary degree of self-command'. Night coming on', both armies retired from the field of battle'. As a dog returneth to his vomit', so a fool returneth to his folly`. REMARK.-The person or object addressed, in ordinary conversation, comes under this head. EXAMPLES. Fathers' we once again are met in council. My lords crisis. and gentlemen'! we have arrived at an awful Age'! thou art shamed. Rome' thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods! Exception.-Where a word which, according to this rule, requires the rising inflection, becomes emphatic, it generally has the falling inflection; as, when a child addresses his father, he first says, Father! but if he repeats it emphatically, he changes the inflection, and says, Father\! Father! The falling inflection is also used in formal address; as, Fellowcitizens, Mr. President, etc. EXAMPLES. When we aim at a high standard, if we do not attain it, we shall secure a high degree of excellence. Those who mingle with the vicious, if they do not become depraved, will lose all delicacy of feeling. RULE X.-Questions which may be answered by yes or no, generally require the rising, and their answers the falling inflection. Does the law condemn him/? It does not`. Exception. If these questions are repeated emphatically, they take the falling inflection, according to Rule VII. EXAMPLES. Has he arrived`? Will he return`? Does the law condemn him? REMARK.-When a word or sentence is repeated as a kind of interrogatory exclamation, the rising inflection is used according to the principles of this rule. EXAMPLES. You ask, who would venture in such a cause! Who would venture'? Rather say, who would not venture all things for such an object! He is called the friend of virtue. The friend'! ay! the enthusiastic lover', the devoted protector', rather. So, also, when one receives unexpected information he exclaims, Ah'! indeed! 99 66 REMARK.-In the above examples the words "venture,' friend," "ah," etc., may be considered as interrogatory exclamations, because if the sense were carried out it would be in the form of question; as, "Do you ask who would venture'?" "Do you say that he is the friend' of virtue?" "Is it possible?" and thus they would receive the rising inflection according to this rule. RISING AND FALLING INFLECTIONS. RULE XI. - The different members of a sentence expressing comparison, or contrast, or negation and affirmation, or where the parts are united by or used disjunctively, require different inflections; generally the rising inflection in the first member, and the falling inflection in the second member. This order is, however, sometimes inverted. § 1. Comparison and contrast. This is also called antithesis. EXAMPLES. In all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God; by honor', and dishonor; by evil' report, and good report; as deceivers', and yet true; as unknown', and yet well known; as dying', and behold we live`; as chastened', and not killed; as sorrowful', yet always rejoicing; as poor', yet making many rich; as having nothing', yet possessing all things. Europe was one great battlefield, where the weak struggled for freedom', and the strong for dominion'. The king was without power', and the nobles without principle. They were tyrants at home', and robbers abroad'. § 2. Negation and affirmation. EXAMPLES. He desired not to injure his friend, but to protect him. I did not say a better soldier, but an elder`. If the affirmative clause comes first, the order of the inflections is inverted. EXAMPLES. He desired to protect his friend, not to injure him. I said an elder soldier, not a better'. The affirmative clause is sometimes understood. We desire not your money'. I did not say a better soldier. The region beyond the grave is not a solitary' land. In most negative sentences standing alone, the corresponding affirmative is understood; hence the following REMARK.-Negative sentences, whether alone or connected with an affirmative clause, generally end with the rising inflection. If such sentences are repeated emphatically, they take the falling inflection according to Rule VI. : EXAMPLES. We do not desire your money. I did not say a better soldier. §3. Or used disjunctively. Did he behave properly', or improperly? Are they living', or dead? Is he rich', or poor? Does God, having made his creatures, take no further' care of them, or does he preserve and guide them? REMARK. Where or is used conjunctively, this rule does not apply; as, Will the law of kindness' or of justice' justify such conduct'? CIRCUMFLEX. The circumflex is a union of the rising and falling inflections. Properly speaking, there are two of these, the one called the rising circumflex, in which the voice slides. down and then up; and the other, the falling circumflex, in which the voice slides upward and then downward on the same vowel. They may both be denoted by the same mark, thus, (^). The circumflex is used chiefly to indicate the emphasis of irony, of contrast, or of hypothesis. EXAMPLES. 1. Queen. Hamlet, you have your father much offended. Hamlet. Madam, yôu have my father much offended. 2. They offer us their protec'tion. Yes', sûch protection as vûltures give to lâmbs, côvering and devôuring them. 3. I knew when seven justices could not make up a quarrel; but when the parties met themselves, one of them thought but of an if; as, If you said sô, then I said sô; O ho! did you say sô? So they shook hands and were sworn brothers. REMARKS. In the first example, the emphasis is that of contrast. The queen had poisoned her husband, of which she incorrectly supposed her son ignorant, and she blames him for treating his father-in-law with disrespect. In his reply, Hamlet contrasts her deep crime with his own slight offense, and the circumflex upon "yôu " becomes proper. In the second example the emphasis is ironical. The Spaniards pretended that they would protect the Peruvians if they would submit to them, whereas it was evident that they merely desired to plunder and destroy them. Thus their protection is ironically called "sûch protection as vûltures give to lâmbs," etc. In the third example, the word "so" is used hypothetically; that is, it implies a condition or supposition. It will be observed that the rising circumflex is used in the first "so," and the falling, in the second, because the first "so" must end with the rising inflection and the second with the falling inflection, according to previous rules. MONOTONE. When no word in a sentence receives an inflection, it is said to be read in a monotone; that is, in nearly the same tone throughout. This uniformity of tone is occasionally adopted, and is fitted to express solemnity or sublimity of idea, and sometimes intensity of feeling. It is used, also, when the whole sentence or phrase is emphatic. In books of elocution, when it is marked at all, it is generally marked thus (-), as in the lines following. EXAMPLES. Hence loathed melancholy! Where brooding darkness spreads her jealous wings, And the night raven sings; There, under ebon shades and low-browed rocks, As ragged as thy locks, In deep Cimmerian darkness ever dwell. |