a concluding series, the last member but one must have the rising inflection; all the others, the falling inflection. EXAMPLES OF COMMENCING SERIES. To advise the ignorant`, relieve the needy', comfort the afflicted', are duties that fall in our way, almost every day of our lives. War', famine', pest', volcano', storm`, and fire, Wrapped up in triple brass', besiege mankind'. The miser is more industrious than the saint. The pains of getting`, the fear of losing', and the inability of enjoying' his wealth, have been the mark of satire in all ages. The inconveniences of attendance on great men are more lamented than felt. To the greater number, solicitation is its own reward. To be seen in good company`, to talk of familiarities with men in power`, to be able to tell the freshest news, to gratify an inferior circle with predictions of increase or decline of favor`, and to be regarded as a candidate for high offices', are compensations more than equivalent to the delay of favors, which, perhaps, he that asks them, has hardly the confidence to expect. Let a man's innocence be what it will', let his virtues arise to the highest pitch attainable in this life', there will still be in him so many secret sins', so many human frailties', so many offenses of ignorance, passion, and prejudice', so many unguarded words and thoughts', and, in short, so many defects in his best actions', that without the advantage of such an expiation and atonement as christianity has revealed to us, it is impossible that he should be cleared before his sovereign Judge. The wise' and the foolish', the virtuous' and the evil', the learned' and the ignorant, the temperate and the profligate',-must often be blended together. A royalist', a republican' and an emperor', a Mohammedan, a Catholic' and a patron of the synagogue', a subaltern' and a sovereign', a traitor' and a tyrant', a christian' and an infidel', he was through all vicissitudes, the same stern, impatient, inflexible original. EXAMPLES OF CONCLUDING SERIES. A part how small of the terraqueous globe Rocks, deserts, frozen seas', and burning sands', Wild haunts of monsters`, prisons', stings', and death'. 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. Yet in these presages rude, There is no blessing of life comparable to the enjoyment of a discreet and virtuous friend. It eases and unloads the mind', clears and improves the understanding', engenders thoughts and knowledge', animates virtues and good resolutions', and finds employment for the most vacant hours of life'. Inspiring rites! which stimulate fear, rouse hope', kindle zeal`, quicken dullness', sharpen discernment', exercise memory', and inflame curiosity`. Nature has laid out all her art in beautifying the face; she has touched it with vermilion', planted it with a double row of ivory`, made it the seat of smiles and blushes', lighted it up and relieved it with the brightness of the eyes', hung it on each side with curious organs of sense', given it airs and graces which cannot be described', and surrounded it with such a flowing shade of hair as sets all its beauties in the most agreeable light`. NOTE. In instances of series, the falling inflection prevails, evidently upon the principle of emphasis. Each word or member is to be specified with some degree of force, and this object is in part accomplished, by giving it the falling inflection. The last word or member but one receives the rising inflection, for the sake of harmony of sound, according to Rule V. Emphasis, also, sometimes requires that every member should receive the falling inflection. When, however, there is a series of words or members which are not particularly emphatic, the rising or falling inflections are to be used, without reference to the particular character of the sentence as containing a series. In poetry, also, the rising inflection is more frequently used in sentences of this kind than in prose. See Article on Poetic Inflection, page 44. EXAMPLES. New York', Boston', and Philadelphia', are large cities. He was esteemed for his kindness', his intelligence', his self-denial', and his active benevolence'. So, where the faithful pencil has designed When the ripe colors soften and unite, And sweetly melt into just shade and light'; Parenthesis. RULE XII.—A clause included in a parenthesis, should be read more rapidly and in a lower tone than the rest of the sentence, and should terminate with the same inflection that next precedes it. If, however, it is complicated, or emphatic, or disconnected with the main subject, the inflections must be governed by the same rules as in other cases. EXAMPLES. God is my witness', (whom I serve with my spirit, in the gospel of his Son',) that, without ceasing, I make mention of you always in my prayers, making request', (if, by any means, now at length, I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God',) to come unto you. When he had entered the room three paces, he stood still; and laying his left hand upon his breast', (a slender, white staff with which he journeyed being in his right',) he introduced himself with the little story of his convent. If you, Æschines, in particular, were persuaded', (and it was no partial affection for me, that prompted you to give up the hopes, the appliances, the honors, which attended the course I then advised; but the superior force of truth, and your utter inability to point any course more eligible',) if this was the case, I say, is it not highly cruel and unjust to arraign these measures now, when you could not then propose a better? As the hour of conflict drew near' (and this was a conflict to be dreaded even by him',) he began to waver and to abate much of his boasting. Circumflex. RULE XIII.-The circumflex is used to express irony, sarcasm, hypothesis, or contrast. EXAMPLES. But nobody can bear the death of Clodius. Man never is, but always to bê, blest. They follow an adventurer whom they fear; wě serve a monarch whom we love. They boast, they come but to improve our state, enlarge our thoughts, and free us from the yoke of error. Yes, they will give enlightened freedom to our minds, who are themselves the slaves of passion, avarice and pride. They offer us their protection: yes, such protection as vultures give to lămbs, covering and devôuring them. Monotone. RULE XIV. The use of the monotone is confined chiefly to grave and solemn subjects. When carefully and properly employed, it gives great dignity to delivery. EXAMPLES. The unbeliever! one who can gaze upon the sun, and mōōn, and stars, and upon the unfading and impērishable sky, spread out so magnificently above him, and say, "All this is the work of chance." God walketh on the ocean. Brilliantly The glassy waters mirror back his smīles; The surging billows, and the gamboling stōrms I hail thee, as in gōrgeous robes, Blōōming, thou leav'st the chambers of the east, High on a thrōne of royal state, which far Or where the gorgeous east, with richest hand, His broad expanded wings Lay calm and motionless upōn the air, By the sole act of his unlōrded will. QUESTIONS.-1. Name the several principles which govern the use of the falling inflection. 2. Give an example of each. 3. In what cases, is the rising inflection used? 4. Give examples. 5. In what cases are the two inflections united in the same sentence? 6. What is antithesis 7. What is a series? 8. A commencing series? 9. A concluding series? 10. Give an example of each. 11. Give the rule for series. 12. For antithesis. 13. How does the disjunctive or influence the inflection? 14. Give an example. 15. What is the rule for inflection in a clause contained in a parenthesis? When is the circumflex used? 17. When is the monotone used? 16. SECTION III. ACCENT AND EMPHASIS. Accent. THAT syllable in any word which is uttered more forcibly than the others, is said to be accented; as the italicized syllables in the following words; viz. morn-ing, ty-rant, pro-cure, de-bate, pos-sible, re-cum-bent, ex-or-bit-ant, com-pre-hen-sive. Accent, when marked, is denoted by the same characters with those used in inflection; the acute accent, by (/), and the grave, by (\). The latter is merely a nominal distinction, and means only, that the syllable thus marked is not accented at all. Custom alone determines upon which syllable the accent should be placed, and to the lexicographer it belongs, to ascertain and record its decision on this point. In some few cases, we can trace the reasons for common usage in this respect. In words which are used as different parts of speech, the distinction is sometimes denoted by changing the accent; as, pres'-ent, the noun or adjective, and pre-sent, the verb; ab'-sent, the adjective, and ab-sent', the verb; ce'-ment, the noun, and ce-ment', the verb, &c. So also where the same word has different meanings, this is sometimes indicated by a change of accent; as, con'-jure, to practice enchantment, and con-jure', to beseech, &c. There is another case, in which we discover the reason for changing the accent, and that is, when it is required by emphasis, as in sentences like the following: |