MONOTONE. High on a throne of royal state, which far RULES FOR THE INFLECTING OF SENTENCES, OR PARTS OF SENTENCES. RULE I.—The Falling Inflection takes place where the sense is complete and independent, whether it be at the termination of a sentence, or a part of a sentence*-as, It is a dangerous mistake which prevails amongst men, that it is sufficient for their eternal happiness, if they feel some serious emotions at their latter end'. It is to the unaccountable oblivion of our mortality, that the world owes all its fascination'. Age, in a virtuous person, carries with it an authority, which makes it preferable to all the pleasures of youth'. Every desire, however innocent or natural, grows dangerous, as, by long indulgence, it becomes ascendant' in the mind. 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 a particular frame of mind at the hour of death, that we are to be judged at the tribunal of God. Mary's sufferings exceed, both in degree and in duration, those tragical distresses which fancy has feigned, to excite sorrow and commiseration': and, while we survey them, we are apt altogether to forget her frailties; we think of her faults with less indignation; and approve of our tears, as if they were shed for a person who had attained much nearer to pure virtue. RULE II.-Negative Sentences, or Members of Sentences, must end with the Rising Inflection. You are not left alone' to climb the arduous ascent--God is with you; who never suffers the spirit which rests on him to fail, nor the man who seeks his favour to seek it in vain. It is not enough that you continue steadfast and immoveable'you must also abound in the work of the Lord, if you expect your labours to be crowned with success. Mr. Walker's rule of the loose sentence is altogether superfluous. The inflec tion is governed by the completeness of the sense; and that is all we have to take into consideration. RULE III.-The Introductory, or Commencing part of a Sentence, is distinguished by the Rising Inflection.* If to do, were as easy as to know what were good' to do-chapels had been churches, and poor men's cottages, princes' palaces. While dangers are at a distance, and do not immediately' approach us-let us not conclude that we are secure, unless we use the neces sary precautions against them. As the beauty of the body always accompanies the health' of it-sc is decency of behaviour a concomitant to virtue. Sympathizing with the hatred and abhorrence which other men must entertain for him-the murderer becomes, in some measure, the object of his own hatred and abhorrence. 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. The introductory, or commencing part of a sentence, is that part of it which indispensably relates to what follows; either affecting it, or affected by it, in sense; or connected with it in construction-as, with regard to the nominative case and its adjuncts, the preposition and the word or phrase which it governs, &c. Whoever examines the various examples that refer to this rule, will find, that in all of them, the reading is governed by the same principle-that it is not a question of corresponding conjunctions or adverbs of parts of direct periods, depending upon participles, or adjectives, &c.; but that each of the sentences is resolvable into two principal parts, the one commencing, or introductory, and the other concluding. This will appear at once, if the reader will only construct a series upon the commencing part of any of the above examples. For instance, with regard to the very first "If to do, were as easy as to know what were good to do, and mankind, with the power of the heavens, retained the passions of earth-chapels," &c. Here we should have a series of two members, and we should call it a commencing series. Now this, according to Mr. Walker, is an example of a direct period, having its two principal parts connected by corresponding conjunctions. Take, again, the fourth sentence "Sympathizing with the hatred and abhorrence which other men must entertain for him, rankling with conscience`, and feeling that his torments are the infliction of his own hand-the murderer," &c. Here we should have a series of three members, and we should call it a commencing series. Now this, according to Mr. Walker, is an example of a direct period, commencing with a participle of the present tense. Once more; take the sixth sentence "Full of desire to answer all' demands-indefatigable in the service of heavenborn charity-superior to the little weaknesses and delicacies of worldly prideemulous of the approbation of God alone/-the truly benevolent," &c. Here we should have a series of four members, and we should call it a commencing series. Now this, according to Mr. Walker, is an example of a part of a sentence depending upon an adjective. Thus, to go no farther, we have three sentences, the reading of which, Mr. Walker refers to three different rules, in one part of his work; and to one rule, in another. It is obvious, that the principle by which that reading is directed, is one and the same, and that it consists in the circumstance of the parts which have the rising inflection, being the commencing parts of the sentences to which they belong. The same kind of test will show the propriety of taking in the examples, under the head of the inverted period, and that of the concessive member-which is quite as inseparable, in sense, from the subsequent part of the sentence, as the first part of the direct period is from the latter; because it is an assertion, introductory to a qualification-which leads you to expect a direct or implied negation; and hence, is absolutely inseparable from what follows. Thus, "Your enemies may be formidable by their numbers, or by their power, or are for midable, &c.-but He who is with you, is mightier than they." Here is an implied negation with respect to the subject, enemies, which negation being expressed, would stand thus-but they are not as mighty as He that is with you. Full of desire to answer all' demands the truly benevolent, when their own funds are insufficient, think it not troublesome to ask assistance, and plead the cause of the wretched. No man can rise above the infirmities of nature, unless assisted by God. Your enemies may be formidable by their numbers and by their power-but He who is with you, is mightier than they. Virtue were a kind of misery, if fame were all the garland that crowned her. To all the charms of beauty, and the utmost elegance of external form', Mary added those accomplishments which render their impression irresistible. Cæsar was celebrated for his great generosity-Cato, for his unsullied integrity.* GENERAL EXCEPTION TO THE FIRST AND THIRD RULE. When the commencing member of an antithesis requires the relative emphasis (1), or is opposed in the concluding member, by a negation (2), the latter has the rising, and the former the falling inflection -as, (1) If we have no regard for our character', we ought to have some regard for our interest'. If you will not make the experiment for your own' satisfaction, you ought to make it for the satisfaction of your friends'. (2) We have taken up arms to defend our country, not to betray' it. The duty of a soldier is to obey', not to direct' his general. If the antithesis commences with the negation, or has a negation in the commencing, as well as in the concluding member, it is read in the ordinary style. We have taken up arms, not to betray', but to defend` our country. Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed on us, that we should be called the Sons of God! Therefore, the world knoweth us' not, because it knew him' not. INTERROGATION. RULE IV. Questions asked by pronouns or adverbs, end with the falling inflection. ◄ Upon mature deliberation, I have included the antithesis under this rule --the mutual reference of the parts of which, shows such a relation in sense, as. I conceive. warrants my doing so. Who ever left the precincts of mortality, without casting a trembling eye on the scene that is before' him? What evil can come nigh to him, for whom Jesus' died? RULE V.-Questions asked by verbs, require the rising inflection. Does the law which thou hast broken, denounce vengeance against thee? Behold that law fulfilled in the meritorious life of thy Redeemer. Shall dust and ashes stand in the presence of that uncreated glory, before which principalities and powers bow down, tremble, and adore'? Shall guilty and condemned creatures appear in the presence of Him, in whose sight the heavens are not clean, and who chargeth his angels with folly'?-This is the sting of death. RULE VI.-When the interrogation affects two objects, taken disjunctively, the former has the rising, and the latter the falling inflection. Are you toiling for fame', or for fortune'? Exemplification of the Three preceding Rules. (1) Who are the persons that are most apt to fall into peevishness and dejection'? that are continually complaining of the world, and see nothing but wretchedness' around them? (3) Are they the affluent or the indigent? (2) Are they those, whose wants are administered to by a hundred hands besides their own'? who have only to wish and to have?-Let the minion of fortune answer you. (2) Are they those whom want compels to toil for their daily meal, or [and] nightly pillow-who have no treasure, but the sweat of their brows-who rise with the rising sun, to expose themselves to all the rigours of the seasons, unsheltered from the winter's cold, or [and] unshaded from the summer's heat'? No! the labours of such are the very blessings of their condition. EXCEPTIONS. 1. When a question commencing with a pronoun or an adverb, is used as an exclamation, it has the rising inflection. Will you for ever, Athenians, do nothing but walk up and down the city, asking one another, what news'?-what news? Is there any thing more new, than to see a man of Macedonia become mas ter of the Athenians, and give laws to all Greece? You are perpetually asking me how are we to accomplish' it— How are we to accomplish it! Do you think you will accomplish it by fearing to attempt it? 2. When a question asked by a verb, is very long, or concludes a paragraph, it may end with the falling inflection. The Brigantines, even under a female leader, had force enough to burn the enemy's settlements, to storm their camps, and, if success had not introduced negligence and inactivity, would have been able entirely to throw off the yoke: and shall not we, untouched, unsubdued-and struggling, not for the acquisition, but for the continuance of liberty, declare at the very first onset, what kind of men Caledonia has reserved for her defence'? Note 1. When an assertion gives rise to a ques tion, the assertion is delivered in a louder tone (1); -when a question gives rise to an assertion, the question is the more audible-(2). Observe the other now; (1) In the first place sallying out on a sud· den from his seat-For what reason?-In the evening-What urged him?-Late-For what purpose? especially at that season!-He calls at Pompey's seat-With what view? (2) To see Pompey?—He knew he was at Allium!-To see his house ?-He had been in it a thousand times!-What, then, could be the reason of his loitering and shifting about?—He wanted to be upon the spot when Milo came up. Note 2. The inflections at the note of exclamation, are the same as at every other point; except where masterless passion uses them as it pleases. Emotion is your only guide in this instance.* Note 3. The accented words of a question beginning with a verb, either have the rising inflection, or are pronounced in a monotone. PARENTHESIS. RULE VII.-The Parenthesis must be pronounced in a lower tone, and with a more rapid delivery, than the rest of the sentence; and must conclude with the same pause and inflection that immediately pre cede it. For God is my witness'-whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son'-that, without ceasing, I may make mention of you always *Notes 1, 2, and 3, in Ewing's abstract of Mr. Walker's system, are entirely superfluous there not being, in the examples to which they refer, any peculiarity which renders the principal rules insufficient as a guide to the reading of those examples. |