EXAMPLES.

Does he read correctly', or incorrectly?

In reading this sentence, the voice should slide somewhat as represented in the following diagram :

EXERCISES.

Do they act prudently', or imprudently?

Are they at home', or abroad?

Is he willing', or unwilling` ?

Did you say Europe', or Asia'?
Is he rich', or poor'?
Are they old', or young'?
He said pain, not pain'.

You should walk', not ride'.

Are you engaged', or at leisure`?

Did he say hand', or arm`?

He said turn', not urn'.

She dances gracefully`, not ungracefully'.
Shall I say plain', or pain`?
He went home`, not abroad'.
Does he say able', or table'?
He said hazy, not lazy'.
Must I say flat', or flat`?
Must I say cap', or cap'?

You should say flat`, not flat'.

He said burn', not burn'.

It shall go hard with me but I shall use the weapon.
Ô! but he paûsed upon the brink.

My father', must I stay'?

As we cannot discern the shadow moving along the face of the dialplate', so the advances in knowledge are only perceived by the distance gone over'.

Heard ye those loud contending waves,
That shook Cecropia's pillared state'?
Saw ye the mighty from their graves
Look up', and tremble at her fate'?

Borne by the tide of words along',

One voice', one mind', inspired the throng';

"To arms! to arms! to arms!" they cry';

Who knoweth the power of thine anger? Even according to thy fear', so is thy wrath'.

Where are your gibes now? your gambols? your songs? your flashes of merriment, that were wont to set the table in a roar`?

Thus saith the High and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Hōly; "I dwell in the high and hōly place."

QUESTIONS.-1. What is inflection? 2. How does the voice slide in the rising inflection? 3. Give an example. 4. How, in the falling inflection? 5. Give an example. 6. How are these inflections marked? 7. Define the circumflex. 8. The monotone. 9. Give an example of each. [See General Examples.]

II. Rules for the use of Inflections.

FALLING INFLECTION.

RULE I.—Wherever the sense is complete, whether at the close of a sentence, or at any other part of it, the falling inflection is generally proper.

EXAMPLES.

By virtue we secure happiness'.

And seeing the multitude, he went up into a mountain, and when he was set, his disciples came unto him'.

"Thou art a good natured soul'`, I will answer for thee," said my uncle Toby'.

One deed of shame is succeeded by years of penitence'.

The warrior bowed his crested head', and tamed his heart of fire`,
And sued his haughty king to free his long imprisoned sire'.

The breeze of night hath sunk to rest,

Upon the river's tranquil breast',
And every bird hath sought her nest,

Where silent is her minstrelsy`.

REMARK.-In sentences like the following, although the first clause may make complete sense, yet, as the idea intended to be conveyed, is not complete without the succeeding part, the falling inflection is not proper until the close of the sentence.

Beauty appears beautiful', only when united with purity and kindness'.

Persons of good taste expect to be pleased', at the same time that they are informed'.

EXCEPTIONS.-1. Negative sentences.

See Rule V.

2. Antithesis, in cases where the first member requires the
falling inflection. See Rule IX., and Exception to
Rule IV.

3. Where harmony of sound requires the rising inflection,
even though the sense should be complete.
Rule VI.

See

4. Emphasis. See Rule II., and Article on Emphasis and Inflection, page 42.

RULE II.—The language of emphasis inclines to the use of the falling inflection.

1. Imperative Mood.

EXAMPLES.

The combat deepens: On', ye brave,
Who rush to glory or the grave!
Wave', Munich, all thy banners wave` !
And charge with all thy chivalry.

Did ye not hear it ?—No; 't was but the wind,
Or the car rattling o'er the stony street;
On' with the dance! let joy be unconfined.
Charge', Chester, charge`, On`, Stanley, on`,
Were the last words of Marmion.

Now set the teeth, and stretch the nostril wide;
Hold hard the breath, and bend up every spirit
To its full hight! On`, on', you noble English,
Whose blood is fetched from fathers of war-proof!

REMARK. When the imperative mood is used to express gentle entreaty, the rising inflection is sometimes used; as, Let him come back'; Leave me not' in this extremity. So also, desire is often expressed by the rising inflection; as, O that they understood this', that they would consider their danger'.

2. Emphatic Exclamation.

Fierce they fought:

The stranger fell; and with his dying breath
Declared his name and lineage. Mighty God`!
The soldier cried, my brother! oh`, my brother`!

Thou slave! thou wretch'! thou coward` !
Thou little valiant, great in villainy!

Ah me! how weak a thing

The heart of woman is!

3. Emphatic repetition.

And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept; and as he went, thus he said; O my son Absalom'! my son', my son Absalom! would to God I had died for thee, O Absalom', my son', my son'!

4. Simple emphasis.

Deem our nation brutes no longer,
Till some reason ye shall find
Worthier of regard and stronger,
Than the color of our kind.

Hast thou not spoke like thunder on my side?
Been sworn my soldier'? bidding me depend

Upon thy stars, thy` fortune, and thy` strength' ?

REMARK.-Emphasis, in some few cases, reverses the principle of this rule, and requires the rising inflection, apparently for the purpose of calling attention to the idea, by an unusual manner of expressing it. See Art. on Emphasis, pages 39, 42.

RULE III.—Interrogative sentences, and members of sentences which cannot be answered by "yes" or "no," terminate with the falling inflection.

EXAMPLES.

How many books did he purchase?

What see' you, that you frown so heavily`?

Why shares he not our hunter's fare?

They tell thee that thou art wise; but what does wisdom avail with the poor? None flatter the poor.

What is the usual consequence of this foolish regard to the opinions of others? What the end of thus acting in compliance with custom, in opposition to one's own convictions of duty'?

But how long will it be, ere you surmount every difficulty, and draw around you patrons and friends, and rise in the confidence and support of all who know` you?

My fault is past.-But oh! what form of prayer

Can serve my turn`?

EXCEPTION. When questions which would naturally take the falling inflection, become emphatic, or are repeated, they often receive the rising inflection; as, "Where' did you say he has gone'?" "To whom' do you impute the blame?"