Your Consul's merciful. For this all thanks. Or make the infant's sinews strong as steel. This day's the birth of sorrows!-This hour's work Making his wild sport of your blazing thrones; CHAPTER IV. INFLECTION. INFLECTION is a modification of the voice in reading or speaking, commonly referring to the upward and downward slides. We shall consider inflection under the four following heads; viz, Rising Inflection, Falling Inflection, Circumflex, and Monotone. The first is marked thus(); the second thus('); the third thus (); and the fourth thus (-). It should be distinctly remembered, that although each of the above characters indicates an inflection of voice the same in kind, yet in degree, intensity, and significant expressiveness, there is a great variety of shades. Any attempt, therefore, to give definite rules touching the minor shades of modification, would rather perplex, than aid the learner. Good sense, a correct taste, and a delicate ear, will ordinarily adapt the more graceful inflections to the spirit of the piece in the best way, and the most natural manner. QUESTIONS. What is inflection? Under what four heads is it treated? How are the several inflections marked? What is said of the shades of inflection? EXAMPLES. I do not read for amusement, but for improvement I did not say a better soldier, but an elder. Study not so much to show knowledge, as to acquire it. He did not act prúdently, but imprudently. We are not descendants of the Romans, but of the Saxons EXCEPTION. When negation is attended with strong em. phasis, it requires the falling slide. EXAMPLE We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; perplexed, but not in despair; pérsecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed. RULE 4. When words or clauses are contrasted, they take opposite inflections; the first member usually requires the rising inflection, and the latter the falling. This order, however, is sometimes reversed. EXAMPLES. By honor and dishonor; by evil report and goòd report; as deceivers, and yet trùe; as unknown, and yet well known; as dy'ing, and behold we live ; as chástened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poór, yet making many rìch; as having nóthing, and yet possessing àll things. Iler regard to virtue opposes insensibility to shàme; púrity to pollùtion; intégrity to injùstice, virtue to villany; resolution to ràge; and órder to confusion. It is more blessed to do good, than evil. I would rather gó, than stày. I would rather walk, than ride. It is better to study, than to plày. QUESTIONS. When the negative clause follows the affirmative, is the slide changed? Will you illustrate this rule ? Give an example. What is Rule Fourth? Give an example in which the first member begins with the rising slide, and the second ends with he falling. One in which the slides are inverted. Rising Inflection. RULE 5. The pause of suspension, denoting that the sense is unfinished, generally requires the rising inflection. EXAMPLES. The beauty of a pláin, the greatness of a mountain, the ornaments of a building, the expression of a picture, and the composition of a discourse; are to some persons, matters of little or no interest. The mild warmth of spring, the merry song of birds, and the sweet perfume of flowers, conspire to regale the sènses. The rising and setting of the sun, the splendor of Orion in a night of aútumn, and the immensity of the océan, awaken ideas of power, awful and magnificent. Her vigor; her constancy; her magnanimity; her penetrátion; her vigilance; and her address; are allowed to merit the highest pràises. NOTE. Sentences implying condition, the case absolute, the infinitive mode used as a nominative, the direct address not attended with strong emphasis, and the close of a parenthesis, are some of the specific cases, to which the rule applies. EXAMPLES. First, Condition. If therefore the whole church be come together into one pláce, and all speak with tongues; and there come in those that are unlearned or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mád? Second, Case Absolute. His father dying, and no heir being left except himself, he suc ceeded to the estate. Third, Infinitive Mode. To look upon the soul as going on from strength to strength; to consider that she is to shine forever with new accessions of glory, and brighten to all eternity; carries in it something wonderfully agreeable to that ambition which is natural to the mind of man. QUESTIONS. What is Rule Fifth? What are some of the specific cases named in the note to which the rule applies? Fourth, Direct Address. Mén, brethren, and fathers, hearken. It is no surprising thing, sir, that men should sometimes differ in their opinions. Fifth, Parenthesis. If we exercise upright principles, (and we cannot have them unless we éxercise them,) they must be perpetually on the increase. EXCEPTION. The pause of suspension, when attended with strong emphasis, sometimes requires the falling inflection, in order to express the true meaning of the sentence. EXAMPLE. The young man, who indulges in dissipation, if he does not become poor, is in danger of losing his character. The rising inflection on poor, perverts the sense of the passage, and makes it mean, if he become poor, notwithstanding his dissipation, he will not lose his good character. RULE 6. The expression of tender emotions generally inclines the voice to a gentle, upward slide. EXAMPLES. Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spáke? Jesus saith unto her, Máry. My Mother! when I learned that thou wast dead, RULE 7. The last pause but one in a sentence, for the sake of variety and harmony, generally has the rising in flection. EXAMPLES. The minor longs to be of age, then to be a man of business, then to make up an estate, then to arrive at hónors, then to retìre. QUESTIONS. What is the exception to the rule for the pause of suspension? What is Rule Sixth? Give an example to illustrate it. What is Rule Seventh? Give an example. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heàrt, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind, and thy neighbor as thyself. A discreet and virtuous friend relieves the mind; improves the understanding; engenders new thoughts; awakens good resolutions, and furnishes employment for the most vàcant hours in life. EXCEPTION. Strong emphasis sometimes requires the falling inflection on the penultimate pause. EXAMPLE. They rushed through like a hurricàne; like an army of locusts they have devoured the earth; the war has fallen like a waterspout, and deluged the land with blood. Falling Inflection. RULE 8. Indirect questions, or those which cannot be answered by yes or no, generally require the falling inflection, and the answers the same. EXAMPLES. What didst thou answer? Nothing. Yonder in the tower. From the mountains. What dost thou seè? The black-eyed Ròman. At whose breast was your dagger àimed? How shall I learn to meet those tèrrors? Who can fathom the depths of misery, into which intemperance plùnges its victims ? Why should a man be in love with his fetters, though of gold? EXCEPTION. When the indirect question is not at first understood, and a repetition is required, it takes the rising inflection. EXAMPLES. Where are you going? To Pòrtland. Where did you say? To Pòrtland. Where is the burial place of Washington? At Mt. Vernon. QUESTIONS. What is the exception to Rule Seventh? Give an example. What is Rule Eighth? Give an example. What is the exception to this rule? Give an exam ple. |