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cution will obviously be attained. A little practice will equally show the propriety of closing the two preceding examples with the same inflection of voice. This view is hazarded not without the author's being fully aware that many respectable elocutionists would entertain an opposite opinion upon the same subject: and, indeed, it cannot be denied, that there are some exceptions to the rule.

EXCEPTION to Rule 2. When a negative sentence is employed to answer a question, it generally closes with the falling inflection; as, "With whom will you abide? With no one'.” "When will you return? Never." "Whom did you call? Nobody'." "Were you pleased with the discourse? No'; I was not at all pleased with it'."

Remarks. But in uttering the same sentences on different occasions, we change the inflections of the voice according to the various impressions which we wish to make, or the sentiments we wish to convey; for, under different circumstances, on account of the barrenness of language, the same words are employed as the vehicle of thoughts, passions, and feelings widely different: and in oral discourse, this diversity in the purport of our words, is always indicated by the particular tones, modulations, emphases, and inflections adopted. Our ability thus to make a few words answer many purposes, may be regarded as a wise provision of nature. Were it not for this power of the vocal organs, by which they are enabled to modulate, and diversify, and vary the sounds of which the same words are the representatives were we compelled to employ a different word for every variation of the same idea, or sentiment, or feeling, in order to express the innumerable shades, and changes, and aspects of our thoughts, passions, and emotions, we should be obliged to increase the number of our words to so vast an extent that it would entirely overreach the powers of memory to grasp it.

At present, but one example will be adduced in illustration of the fact here alluded to. If, for instance, a friend were to entreat me to oblige him in some particular thing, and were to put to me the interrogatory, "Can you do it for me?" in case I

wished to decline the request in a gentle and conciliating manner, my reply would be, "No: I cannot'”—with a stress upon can, and the rising inflection upon not; but were I to reply in a harsh and morose manner, the emphasis and the inflection, as well as the intonation, would be changed; thus, "No; I cannot." It may, therefore, be remarked to the student, that, in the application of the rules of elocution, discretion must often be his tutor.

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Other exceptions to Rule 2, might be enumerated; but the thinking reader will readily apprehend them without the assistance of rules.

RULE III.

Sentences beginning with an interrogative pronoun or adverb, (who, which, what, how, when, where, &c.,) generally close with the falling inflection; as, "Who approaches?" "How can I assist you?" "When did you arrive?" "How long will you remain here?" "Where do you lodge?" "Whither are you going!?"

EXCEPTION. In colloquial style, when a remark or statement is not clearly understood by the person addressed, if a question be put by him, beginning with an interrogative pronoun or adverb, it is generally closed with the rising inflection; as, "What did you say?" "Whose name did you mention'?" "When will he return'?"

RULE IV.

Interrogative sentences commencing with a verb, (that is, all that do not begin with a pronoun or adverb,) generally close with the rising inflection; as, "Is he dutiful?" "Am I, then, to live beyond the grave'?" "Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation'?"

EXERCISES-Rules 3 and 4.

Who can fathom the depths of misery into which intemperance plunges its victim'?

What infidel ever passed the bourn of mortality', without casting a trembling eye upon the scene that lay before him?

Art thou not from everlasting', O Lord my God', my Holy One'? Wast thou displeased with the rivers'? was thine anger against the rivers'? was thy wrath against the sea', that thou didst ride upon thy horses and thy chariots of salvation'?

Do we select extortioners to enforce the laws of equity'? Do we make choice of profligates to guard the morals of society'? Do we depute atheists to preside over the rights of religion'?

Will the Lord cast us off forever? and will he be favourable no more'? Is his mercy clean gone forever? Hath God forgotten to be gracious'? Hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies'?

Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand? and meted out heaven with the span', and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure', and weighed the mountains in scales', and the hills in a balance'?

What if this guilty hand

Were thicker than itself with brother's blood'?

Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens
To wash it white as snow??

Has God', thou fool', worked solely for thy good/?
Thy joy', thy pastime', thy attire', thy food"?
Who for thy table feeds the wanton fawn',
For him as kindly spreads the flow'ry lawn'?

RULE V.

When two questions are connected by the conjunction or, the first commonly takes the rising, and the second, the falling inflection; as, "Does he speak rationally', or irrationally?" "Should we say man', or man?" "Does his conduct support discipline', or destroy it'?"

EXAMPLES.

Will the trials of this life continue forever', or will time finally dissipate them?

Shall we crown the author of all these publick calamities

with garlands', or shall we wrest from him his ill-deserved authority?

To the foregoing rule, there are some exceptions.

EXCEPTION 1. When two questions united by or, begin with an interrogative pronoun or adverb, we frequently give the falling inflection to both; as, "How can a blind man see', or one of no understanding', comprehend?" "How shall the weak man wrest the spoil from the strong', or an honest man deceive his neighbour'?" "To whom', then', will ye liken God', or what likeness will ye compare unto him'?”

EXCEPTION 2. When two questions connected by or, commence with a verb, we sometimes close each of them with the rising inflection; as, "Canst thou draw out leviathan with a hook', or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down'?" "Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons', or his head with spears"?"

EXCEPTION 3. When two questions united by or, commence, the one with an adverb or pronoun, and the other with a verb, each requires the inflection it would take when not thus connected; as, “Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew1?"

EXERCISES Exceptions 1 and 2.

Who can open the doors of his face', or come to leviathan with his double bridle'? Who can number the clouds in wisdom', or stay the bottles of heaven'?

Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades', or loose the bands of Orion'? Canst thou make the horse afraid', like a grasshopper', or make him turn back from the sword"?

Can storied urn', or animated bust',

Back to its mansion call the fleeting breath'?

Can honour's voice provoke the silent dust"?
Or flattery sooth the dull, cold ear of death'?

The spruce philosopher has found

The source of the disease that nature feels';

And bids the world take heart', and banish fear.
Thou fool! will thy discovery of the cause
Suspend the effect', or heal it??

A little attention will convince any one, that, to close the last member of these examples with an inflection opposite to that which comes before or, would totally pervert the sense. He will also observe, that, in these examples which form exceptions to Rule 5, the antithesis in the two members connected by or, is not preserved in those examples which come under the rule; and that, moreover, most of them would admit of being expressed in two, separate questions.

RULE VI.

Exclamatory sentences generally close with the falling inflection; as, "How truly are we the dupes of show and circumstance!" "O', how hast thou', with jealousy', infected the sweetness of affiance!"

EXAMPLES.

What a piece of work is man! How noble in reason! How infinite in faculties'! In form and moving', how express and admirable! In action', how like an angel! In apprehension', how like a god!!

O that my head were waters', and my eyes a fountain of tears', that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!!

Joy-loving', love-inspiring, holy bower',
Know', in thy sacred bosom thou receiv'st
A murderer!!

Ye amaranths! ye roses', like the morn\!
Sweet myrtles, and ye golden orange groves!!

Ingratitude'! thou marble-hearted fiend',

More hideous when thou show'st thee in a child
Than the sea-monster'!

'Tis done! dread winter spreads his latest glooms',
And reigns tremendous o'er the conquered year'.

How dead the vegetable kingdom lies'!

How dumb the tuneful!

His desolate domain'.

Horrour wide extends

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