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'?
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'.

My father', must I stay'?

Oh! but he paûsed upon the brink.

It shall go hard with me, but I shall use the weapon.

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`;
"Grasp the shield', and draw the sword';
Lead us to Phillippi's lord';

Let us conquer him or die."

First Fear, his hand, its skill to try',
Amid the chords bewildered laid`;
And back recoiled', he knew not why',

E'en at the sound himself had made'.
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.-What is inflection?
rising inflection? Give an example.
Give an example. How are these inflections marked?
circumflex. The monotone. Give an example of cach.

How does the voice slide in the
How, in the falling inflection?

Define the

FALLING INFLECTION.

RULE I.-Sentences and clauses which make complete sense in themselves, require the falling inflection.

REMARK. This rule is applicable, whatever may be the punctuation, and whatever other words may follow, provided they do not vary, though they may explain or strengthen, the meaning of the clause preceding.

EXAMPLES.

1. By virtue we secure happiness'.

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

3. For thou hast said in thy heart, I will ascend into heaven`: I will extend my throne above the stars of God: I will sit upon the mount of the congregation in the sides of the north`.

4. The wind and the rain are over; calm is the noon of the day': the clouds are divided in heaven'; over the green hills flies the inconstant sun`; red through the stormy vale comes down the stream'.

5. This proposition was, however, rejected', and not merely rejected, but rejected with insult.

6. There was a pause of death-like stillness', and the bold heart of Macpherson grew faint`.

EXCEPTION 1.-Negative sentences. See Rule V.

EXCEPTION 2.-Antithesis, in cases where the first member requires the falling inflection. See Rule IX, and Exception 1 to Rule IV.

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

EXCEPTION 4.-Emphasis. See Rule II, and Article on Emphasis and Inflection, page 43.

RULE II. The language of emphasis generally requires the falling inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1. Charge', Chester, charge', on', Stanley, on'.

2. Were I an American, as I am an Englishman, while a single foreign troop' remained' in my country, I would never lay down my arms-never, never, never`.

3. Does any one suppose that the payment of twenty shillings, would have ruined Mr. Hampden's fortune? No. But the payment of half` twenty shillings, on the principle' it was demanded, would have made him a slave'.

4. I insist upon this point: I urge you to it; I press it, demand' it.

5. All that I have', all that I am', and all that I hope in this life, I am now ready', here', to stake upon it.

6. Hurra! hurra! a single field hath turned the chance of war'.

7. To arms they come! the Greek! the Greek'!

8. Hast thou not spoke like thunder on my side? Been my sworn soldier? bidding me depend Upon thy stars, thy fortune, and thy strength?

EXCEPTION.-Emphasis sometimes reverses 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, page 40.

RULE III.-Interrogative sentences and members of sentences which can not be answered by yes or no, generally require the falling inflection.

REMARK.-Such questions usually commence with pronouns or adverbs; as, how, what, who, whence, where, &c.

EXAMPLES.

1. How many books did he purchase`?

2. Why reason ye these things in your hearts`?

3. What see you, that you frown so heavily to-day`?
4. Who is here so base that he would be a bondman?
5. But where is the iron-bound prisoner? Where?

6. Ah! what is that flame which now bursts on his eye?
7. Whence this pleasing hope', this fond desire',

This longing after immortality'?

EXCEPTION. When questions, usually requiring the falling inflection, are emphatic or repeated, they take the rising inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1. Where did you say he had gone'?

2. To whom did you say the blame was to be imputed'? 3. What is he? A knave. What' is he? A knave, I say.

RISING INFLECTIONS.

RULE IV.—In the introductory part of a sentence, where the sense is dependent or incomplete, the rising inflection is generally used.

REMARK. Wherever there is a pause of any kind while the sense is incomplete, unless the falling inflection is required by emphasis or some other principle, the rising inflection is almost invariably used. It is generally very slight, requiring an acute and educated ear to discern it, and it is difficult to teach pupils to distinguish it, though they constantly use it. It is only necessary to read a sentence in a strict monotone, and then in the usual manner, to be convinced of this.

EXAMPLES.

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

2. As the whirlwind passeth', so the wicked are no more.

3. A chieftain to the Highlands bound',

Cries', "Boatman, do not tarry!"

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

5. Speaking in the open air', at the top of the voice', is an admirable exercise.

6. If then, his Providence', out of our evil, seek to bring forth good', our labor must be to prevent that end.

7. He', born for the universe', narrowed his mind,

And to party gave up what was meant for mankind. REMARK.-Words used for the person or thing addressed, are included in this rule.

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

Let me embrace thee in my weary arms.

9. O Lancaster', I fear thy overthrow.

10. Ye crags and peaks', I'm with you once again.

EXCEPTION 1.-Relative emphasis often reverses this and the first rule, because emphasis is here expressed in part by changing the usual inflections.

EXAMPLES.

1. If you care not for your property`, you surely value your life. 2. If you will not labor for your own' advancement, you should regard that of your children'.

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

4. Though by that course he should not destroy his reputation`, he will lose all self-respect'.

EXCEPTION 2.—The names of persons addressed in a formal speech, or when used emphatically, have the falling inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1. Romans, countrymen, and lovers`, hear me for my cause, &c. 2. Gentlemen of the jury`, I solicit your attention, &c.

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

RULE V.-Negative sentences and members of sentences usually require the rising inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1. It is not by starts of application that eminence can be attained'.