delivered without emphasis; for instance, "Yet because of his importunity, he will arise and give him as many as he needeth." (~~~~) OBSERVATION.-This unemphatic delivery with accentual waves is, in most of the books, confounded with monotone, which is only attained by the suppression of the accents; as in the line, "The wind howled dismally round the old pile." THE WAVING SLIDE. The waving slide is a sweep of the voice which carries it above the level of the sentence, causes it to descend again to or below the level, and brings it back to or above the level. It is used in the delivery of indirect interrogatives (VIII, p. 13); as, "He did not deny his share in the unhappy transaction'?" "You are not angry, sure'?" (See CHAP. VII, Effect of Emphasis on Other Inflections :on Waving Slide, p. 78.) NOTE.-Even though a sentence contains an indirect interrogative, the voice will fall, if there is a strong emphasis; as, "You are not going?" OBSERVATION 1.—In a series of indirect interrogatives, the last and sometimes all but the first, are delivered with the falling slide; as, Captain. “Give it here, my honest fellow." Bowling. "You will take it'?" Capt. "To be sure I will." Bowl. "And will smoke it?" Capt. "That I will." Boul. "And will not think of giving me anything in return for it." NOTÉ. With the first question you are not quite certain how it will be received. By the answer you are made more sure, still more by the successive answers; falling inflections will, therefore, be the proper ones. OBSERVATION 2.-Many indirect interrogatives may be delivered either with the falling or the waving slide, according to whether the interrogative or declarative predominates in the question, both equally admitting of the little supplementary question understood which seems to characterize and account for this form of interroga tive (VIII, NOTE, p. 13); as, "Rosalind is your love's name?" "Yes, just." ("Is it?" understood.) "He would not receive you, then?" ("Did you say?" understood.) NOTE. The falling slide should be used if the answer is almost certain; the more doubt, or pretence of doubt, there is, the greater necessity for the waving slide. OBSERVATION 3.-A circumstance following an indirect interrogative is delivered with the same slide; as, "Then you never knew the history of the young man?' said the other to him." GENERAL REMARK.-Exclamatory sentences (VII, p. 12) are subject to all the rules, with their exceptions, which affect their corresponding declarative or interrogative sentences. The exclamation point merely shows that there is emotion, intensity, or abruptness in the sentence. This rule is to be understood merely of inflection: the peculiar emotion to be infused into the several examples is another matter. EXAMPLES FOR PRACTICE IN THE USE OF THE WAVING SLIDE. Indirect Interrogatives. They were gone on your arrival? Surely, sir, I have seen you before? He went to Europe after you saw him on that occasion? He admitted the validity of the deed when you produced it? And the younger said unto his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me? And she said, Truth, Lord, yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master's table? Grant me permission to go there this once? Mother, let me stay at home with you to-day? Whence that doubt? exclaimed Morton. You do not suppose the statements entirely unfounded? Hard state of things that one may believe one's fears, but cannot rely upon one's hopes? How is this, my father? You are not angry, sure? what have I done? Indirect Interrogatives, Series. My dear, you have some pretty beads there? Yes, papa. And you seem to be vastly pleased with them? Patient. God forbid, sir! I'm one of the plainest men living in the west. Doctor. Then perhaps you are a drunkard? Doctor. You take a little pudding, then? Patient. Yes. Doctor. And afterwards some cheese? Patient. Yes. Doctor. You west-country people generally take a glass of Highland whiskey after dinner? Patient. Yes, we do. Rosalind. You say, if I bring in your Rosalind, You will bestow her on Orlando here? [To the Duke.] Duke. That would I, had I kingdoms to give with her. Rosalind. And you say you will have her when I bring her? [To Orlando.] Orlando. That would I, were I of all kingdoms king. Rosalind. You say you'll marry me, if I be willing? [To Phebe.] Phebe. That would I, should I die the hour after. Rosalind. You say that you'll have Phebe, if she will? [To Silvius.] Silvius. Though to have her and death were both one thing. Indirect Interrogatives, Falling or Waving Slide. Honor hath no skill in surgery, then? To strike your toe with a tight shoe on, then, rather disturbs your equanimity, my good friend? A nobleman sleeps here to-night; see that Shall furnish forth the bed apparel; for To say the truth, they are marvellous scant of this His Excellency will sup, doubtless? Exclamatory Sentences. Declarative. Our brethren are already in the field! How pleasing is the prospect! Woe to those who have spilled this precious blood! There goes one who belonged to the army of Italy! The next gale that sweeps from the north may bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! My own flesh and blood to rebel! Illustrious as are your merits, yet far, oh! very far distant be the day when any inscription shall bear your name or any tongue pronounce its eulogy! Ah! that deceit should steal such gentle shapes, Where hope and fear maintain eternal strife; O liberty! heaven's choice prerogative!* For thee the valiant bled. O sacred liberty! Are you mad! Definite Interrogative. Has it come to this! I am charged with being an emissary of France: an emissary of France!† Sell my country's independence to France! and for what? Gracious God! shall the horrors which surround the informer, the ferocity of his countenance and the terrors of his voice, cast such a wide and appalling influence that none dare approach and save the victim which he marks for ignominy and death! What! might Rome then have been taken, if these men who were at our gates had not wanted courage for the attempt! Rome taken whilst I was consul! * These are all compellatives, and would naturally be given with the bend. If strongly emphasized, and thereby made exclamatory, they should be given with the falling inflection; if close connection is desired, with the rising inflection. If read as simple declaratives, the falling slide should be used in both clauses. If the last clause is given as a definite interrogative, it should rise ("You don't mean to say an emissary of France, do you?"); if as an exclamation, it should fall, unless intenser emotion is to be expressed, when the rising slide should be used. |