RISING INFLECTION.

RULE IV. The introductory part of a sentence, where the sense is left incomplete, generally has the rising inflection.

EXAMPLES.

A chieftain to the Highlands bound',

Cries', "Boatman, do not tarry."

If you will now be persuaded to entertain the like sentiments', you may yet recall those opportunities which your supineness has neglected.

If, then, his Providence',

Out of our evil seek to bring forth good',

Our labor must be to prevent that end.

As he spoke without fear of consequences', so his actions were marked with the most unbending resolution.

He', born for the universe', narrowed his mind,
And to party gave up what was meant for mankind.

I', from the orient to the drooping west',
Making the wind my post-horse', still unfold
The acts commenced on this ball of earth.

Nature being exhausted', he quietly resigned himself to his fate.

As the whirlwind passeth', so is the wicked no more.

The nominative addressed, is included under this head.

O Warwick', I do bend my knee with thine,
And, in this vow', do chain my soul to thine.

Brother', give me thy hand; and, gentle Warwick',

Let me embrace thee in my weary arms.

O Lancaster', I fear thy overthrow.

EXCEPTIONS.-1. When the antithesis, or relative emphasis requires that the introductory clause should receive the falling inflection. See Rule IX.

2. Where the nominative addressed is emphatic or commences

a speech.

If you care not for your property`, you surely love your life'.

If you will not labor for your own` advancement, you should regard that of your children'.

It is your place to obey`, not to command'.

Though by such a course, he should not destroy his reputation', he will lose all self-respect'.

O Hubert', Hubert', save me from these men.

Romans, countrymen, and lovers', hear me for my cause, &c.

RULE V.-Negative sentences, or members of sentences, generally end with the rising inflection.

EXAMPLES.

My Lord, we could not have had such designs'; they would have been unworthy both of us and you.

It shields not only the dust of the humble'; but the titled and the great are beneath its spreading branches.

It is not sufficient that you wish' to be useful; you must nurse those wishes into action.

It is not for your silver bright';

But for your winsome lady.

I did not mean to complain', I believe I am contented with my lot.

You need not be alarmed', or offended'.

You are not left alone', to climb the steep ascent';-God is with you, who never suffers the spirit which rests on him to fail', nor the man who seeks his favor, to seek in vain`.

Not such wert thou of yore', ere yet the ax

Had smitten the old woods.

Do not slight him because of his humility', but cherish him for his many virtues.

EXCEPTIONS.-1. Emphasis; as, "We repeat it, we do not desire to produce discord; we do not wish to kindle the flames of a civil war."

2. General propositions; as, "God is not the author of sin." "Thou shalt not kill!"

RULE V1.-When a sentence closes with the falling inflection, the rising inflection should generally be used, for the sake of harmony, at the last pause before the close.

EXAMPLES.

Charles was extravagant`, and by this means' became poor'.

He was a great statesman', and he was an amiable man'.

The mountains will be dissolved`, and the earth will vanish', but God will never cease to exist'.

Illustrations of this principle may also be found under Rule XI. REMARK.-Emphasis may reverse this rule. See examples of exception to Rule IV.

RULE VII.—Interrogative sentences, and members of sentences, which can be answered by "yes" or "no," must generally close with the rising inflection.

EXAMPLES.

Can you repeat the seventh rule'?

Has John returned'?

Will no one help or save' ?

What! canst thou not spare me half an hour'?

"Is he in the army, then' ?" said my uncle Toby.

If it be admitted, that strict integrity is not always the shortest way to success, is it not the surest', the happiest', the best'?

Will not a fair character', an approving conscience', and an approving God, be an abundant compensation for a little delay'?

Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens,
To wash this crimson hand as white as snow'?

EXCEPTION.-When questions, which require the rising inflection, become particularly emphatic, by repetition or otherwise, the falling inflection is often used.; as, " Can you be so blind to your interest? will you rush headlong to destruction ?" I ask again, is there no hope of reconciliation? must we abandon all our fond anticipations ?"

REMARK.-The answers to all questions, though they generally have the falling inflection, are governed, with regard to their inflections, by the principles applicable to other sentences.

RULE VIII.-Interrogative exclamations, and words repeated as a kind of echo to the thought, require the rising inflection.

EXAMPLES.

Ha'! laughest thou, Lochiel, my vision to scorn?

And this fellow calls himself a painter. A painter'! He is not fit to daub the sign of a paltry ale-house.

And this man is called a statesman. A statesman'! Why, he never invented even a decent humbug.

Six moons are his, by Herschel shown;
Herschel', of modern times the boast.

Sir, I should be much surprised to hear the motion made by the honorable gentleman, opposed by any member of this house. A motion', founded in justice, supported by precedent, and warranted by necessity.

I cannot say, sir, which of these motives influence the advocates of the bill before us; a bill', in which such cruelties are proposed as are yet unknown among the most savage nations.

The man who was not only pardoned, but distinguished by you with the highest honors, is charged with an intention to kill you in your own house. An intention', of which, unless you imagine that he is utterly deprived of reason, you cannot suspect him.

BOTH INFLECTIONS.

Antithesis.

RULE IX.-The different members of a sentence expressing an antithesis, or contrast, require different inflections; generally, the rising inflection in the former member, and the falling inflection in the latter. Sometimes, however, this order is reversed.

EXAMPLES.

The style of Dryden is capricious and varied'; that of Pope is cautious and uniform. Dryden obeys the motions of his own mind'; Pope constrains his mind to his own rules of composition'. Dryden is sometimes vehement and rapid'; Pope is always smooth, uniform,

and gentle. Dryden's page is a natural field, rising into inequalities, varied by exuberant vegetation'; Pope's is a velvet lawn, shaven by the scythe and leveled by the roller.

If the flights of Dryden are higher', Pope continues longer on the wing'. If the blaze of Dryden's fire is.brighter', the heat of Pope's is more regular and constant. Dryden often surpasses' expectation, and Pope never falls below it.

We are troubled on every side', yet not distressed'; perplexed', yet not in despair'; persecuted, but not forsaken'; cast down', but not destroyed'.

RULE X.-The different members of a sentence united by or, used disjunctively, require the rising inflection at the first member, and the falling inflection at the second member.

EXAMPLES

Shall we advance', or retreat'?

Do you seek wealth', or power'?

Is the great chain upheld by God', or thee?

"Come, honesty," said I, "art thou for coming in', or going out'?"

Are they those whom want compels to toil for their daily meal and nightly pillow', or those whose necessities are ministered to by a hundred hands besides their own?

Shall we now return to our allegiance, while we may do so with safety and honor', or shall we wait until the ax of the executioner is at our throats?

REMARK.-Observe, that this rule applies only to or used disjunctively. When used conjunctively, the same inflection is used in each member; as, Can wealth', or honor', or pleasure', satisfy the immortal soul' ?

Series.

A series is a number of particulars, immediately following one another. When a series begins a sentence, but does not end it, it is called a commencing series; where it ends the sentence, whether it begins it or not, it is called a concluding series.

RULE XI. In a commencing series, the last member must have the rising inflection, and all the others, the falling inflection. In