be used at a comma, because it denotes that only a portion of the sense has been given, and that more is to follow.*

b. For a similar reason, when a sentence is resolvable into two parts, the commencing or introductory part should end with the rising inflection.†

c. At the end of words or phrases expressing surprise, admiration, doubt, or appeal, the rising inflection is generally used.

EXAMPLES.

Your enemies may be formidable by their numbers and by their power', but He who is with you is mightier than they.

No man can rise above the infirmities of nature', unless he is assisted by God.

Poor were the expectations of the studious, the modest, and the good', if the reward of their labours were only to be expected from man.

As the camel beareth labour, and heat, and hunger, and thirst, through deserts of sand, and fainteth not', so the fortitude of man shall sustain him through all perils.

Formed to excel in peace, as well as in war', Cæsar was endowed with every great and noble quality that could give a man the ascendant in society.

If our language, by reason of the simple arrangement of its words, possesses less harmony, less beauty, and less force than the Greek or Latin', it is, however, in its meaning more obvious and plain.

If some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olivetree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive-tree', boast not against the branches.

Reason, eloquence, and every art which ever has been studied among mankind, may be abused, and may prove dangerous in the hands of bad men', but it were perfectly childish to contend that, upon this account, they ought to be abolished.

FALLING INFLECTION.

RULE II.-In all cases where the sense is complete or independent, the falling inflection should be used.

a. Hence the voice naturally and gradually falls at the end of a sentence.

b. Hence, also, the falling inflection takes place at the end of a clause of a sentence which makes perfect sense in itself. But the voice at the end of a clause of a sentence should not

* This rule embraces, and in fact renders superfluous, four or five of the rules usually given.

The commencing or introductory part of a sentence depends for its full meaning on the concluding part; and hence, it should obviously end with the rising inflection. This rule also supersedes several of the usual rules.

fall so low as at the end of a sentence. In the former case it should be sustained a little above the ordinary pitch, to intimate that something more is coming; but at the end of a sentence the voice should fall to its ordinary pitch, to denote that the sense is fully completed.

c. Emphatic repetition, and strong emphasis in general require the falling inflection.

d. Words or phrases expressive of conviction, denunciation, reproach, distress, or any violent passion, generally take the falling inflection.

EXAMPLES.

(b.) You may lay it down as a maxim, confirmed by universal experience, that every man dies as he lives; and it is by the general tenor of the life, not by a particular frame of mind at the hour of death, that we are to be judged at the tribunal of God.

An elevated genius employed in little things appears like the sun in his evening declination`; he remits his splendour, but retains his magnitude; and pleases more, though he dazzles less.

It is of the last importance to season the passions of a child with devotion'; which seldom dies in a mind that has received an early tincture of it.

(c.) You wrong me every way-you wrong` me, Brutus.

Few, few shall part where many meet.

Blood, blood, Iago.

Revenge! revenge! Timotheus cries.

EXCEPTIONS TO THE FOREGOING RULES.

NEGATIVE SENTENCES.

Negative sentences, or members of sentences, should end with the rising inflection.†

* From what has been said of emphasis (page 32) it is obvious that when we feel it necessary to repeat a word or phrase we naturally pronounce it with a greater degree of force; and generally with a change of inflection. For example, should we put the simple question to a person at a distance," Are you going to Dublin'?" we would instinctively pronounce the word Dublin with a slight emphasis, and with the rising inflection; but should he reply to us that he does not hear our question, we would in repeating it, pronounce the word Dublin with a greater degree of force, and with the falling inflection. Again, should our question be, "When do you go to Dublin'?" When' would be slightly emphatic, and the question would end with the falling inflection; but should we have to repeat the question, When would be pronounced with a greater degree of force, and the question would end with the rising inflection.

When a negative sentence assumes a positive form, as in the following examples, it should end with the falling inflection (according to Rule II., a):-"Thou shalt not steal'." "Thou shalt do no murder." See note, page 44.

EXAMPLES.

The region beyond the grave is not a solitary land. There your fathers are, and thither every other friend shall follow you in due

season.

True charity is not a meteor which occasionally' glares; but a luminary, which, in its orderly and regular course, dispenses a benignant influence.

No ceremony that to great ones 'longs'

Not the king's crown, nor the deputed sword',
The marshal's truncheon', nor the judge's robe,
Becomes them with one-half so good a grace as mercy.

PENULTIMATE MEMBER.

The penultimate member of a sentence should end with the rising inflection.*

EXAMPLES.

There is no enjoyment of property without government; no government without a magistrate; no magistrate without obedience`; and no obedience' where every one acts as he pleases.

The minor longs to be of age; then to be a man of business; then to make up an estate; then to arrive at honours; then to retire.

Charity is not puffed up`; doth not behave itself unseemly`; seeketh not her own; is not easily provoked; thinketh no evil; rejoiceth in the truth`; beareth all things; believeth all things; hopeth' all things; endureth` all things.

INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES.

Interrogative sentences and clauses should end with the rising inflection when the question is asked by a verb, expressed or understood. But if the question is asked by a pronoun or adverb it should end with the falling inflection.

EXAMPLES UNDER THE FIRST HEAD.

Are you coming'? Do you hear'? Is he there'?

Can a man take fire in his bosom and his clothes not be burnt'? Can one go upon hot coals and his feet not be burnt'?

*This rule is founded on the natural perception of harmony in the ear; for as the last member of a sentence has the falling inflection it produces an agreeable variety to give the member immediately preceding it an opposite inflection.-See Rule III.

All questions which may be answered by yes or no come under this rule. In all such cases an answer is demanded or expected, and the sense is consequently for the time interrupted or suspended.

Questions which cannot be answered by yes or no come under this rule. In such cases the pronoun or adverb is the emphatic word which accounts for the change of the inflection.-See page 32.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ'? Shall tribulation', or distress', or persecution', or famine', or nakedness', or peril', or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.

Is the chair empty'? Is the sword unswayed'?
Is the king dead'?-the empire unpossessed'?
What heir of York is there alive but we'
And who is England's king but great York's heir
Then tell me what makes he upon the seas`!

EXAMPLES UNDER THE SECOND HEAD.

Where are you going? What is your name? Who say the people that I am!

On whom does time hang so heavily as on the slothful and the indolent? To whom are the hours so lingering? Who are so often devoured with spleen, and obliged to fly to some expedient which can help them to get rid of themselves!

Whence this pleasing hope, this fond desire,
This longing after immortality?

Or whence this secret dread, this inward horror
Of falling into nought'? Why shrinks the soul
Back on herself, and startles at destruction`?

BOTH INFLECTIONS TOGETHER.

RULE III.-Words or clauses which are contrasted with or opposed to each other should be read with opposite inflections.

a. In general, the first member of an antithetic sentence should end with the rising, and the opposite with the falling inflection.

b. When a sentence consists of a positive and negative part or member, the positive should have the falling, and the negative the rising inflection.

c. The direct question, or that which admits of the answer yes or no, has the rising, and the answer has the falling inflection.

d. When the disjunctive or connects words or clauses, used interrogatively, it has the rising inflection before, and the falling inflection after it.*

*But when, in such cases, or is used in a conjunctive sense, it has the rising inflection both before and after it. For example, if I wish to know whether a person will leave within two days I will say, "Will you go to-day, or to-morrow'?" But if I wish to know on which of the two days he means to go, I will say, "Will you go to-day' or tomorrow?" In the former case or is used conjunctively, in the latter, disjunctively.

EXAMPLES.

(a.) We are always complaining that our days are few', and acting as though there would be no end of them.

Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's' eye, but perceiveth not the beam that is in thine own` eye?

Homer was the greater genius'; Virgil, the better artist`: in the one we most admire the man', in the other the work'. Homer hurries us with a commanding impetuosity'; Virgil leads us with an attractive majesty'. Homer scatters with a generous profusion'; Virgil bestows with a careful magnificence. Homer, like the Nile, pours out his riches with a sudden overflow'; Virgil, like a river in its banks, with a constant stream`.

(b.) I did not say a better' soldier, but an elder'.

He was esteemed not for his wealth', but for his wisdom".

None more impatiently suffer' injuries, than they who are most forward in doing them.

You were paid to fight against Alexander, and not to rail' at him. Hunting (and men', not beasts') shall be his game.

(c.) Are they Hebrews'? So am I`.

Are they Israelites'? So am I`.

Are they the seed of Abraham'? So am I`.
Are they members of Christ'? I am more'.

Hold you the watch to-night'? We do, my lord.
Armed', say you? Armed, my lord.

From top to toe'? My lord, from head to foot`.
Then saw you not his face'? Oh yes, my lord.

What, looked he frowningly'? A countenance more in sorrow` than in

(d.) Will you go' or stay? Will you go to-day' or to-morrow? Are you toiling for fame' or for fortune? The baptism of John, was it from heaven', or of men'? Do you travel for health' or for pleasure`? Is this hat yours' or mine`?

EXERCISES ON THE RISING AND FALLING INFLECTIONS.

The Rising followed by the Falling.
Did he say visible', or invisible?
Did he act properly', or improperly?
Does he do it willingly', or unwillingly?
Did he act justly, or unjustly'?
Should we say airy', or airy?
Should we say wisely', or wisely'?
Should we say caution', or caution`?
Should we say eager', or cager?
Did he say pride', or pride?
Did he say mind', or mind?
Did he say all', or all?
Did he say lad', or lad`?

The Falling followed by the Rising.
He said visible, not invisible'.
They acted properly, not improperly'.
He does it willingly, not unwillingly'.
He acted justly, not unjustly.
We should say airy, not airy.
He said wisely, not wisely.
We should say caution', not caution'.
We should say eager, not eager'.
He said pride, not pride'.
He said mind, not mind'.

He said all, not all'.

He said lad', not lad'.