Is it all or all?

the last all having the inflection sought for.

Another method of ascertaining the inflection required, is to form the word into a sentence, consisting of an affirmation, and a negation, directly opposed to each other. Every such sentence has an appropriate pronunciation which in earnest speaking every voice adopts without premeditation. Thus, in the following sentence,

Cæsar does not deserve fame, but blame.

Here the word fame has the rising, and blame the falling inflection, and we find that all sentences, constructed in the same manner, have, like this, the rising inflection on the negative, and the falling inflection on the affirmative member. The word blame in this sentence has the falling inflection, not because it is the last word, but because affirmation, opposed to negation, naturally adopts this inflection: for the inflection would be the same if the words were arranged differently, in this manner :

Cæsar deserves blame, not fame.

To ascertain, therefore, the falling inflection for the word mind in the sentence given before, we may put it into such a form as this:

Or,

It is not mind, but mind.

It is mind, not mind.

In which sentences the inflection on mind in the affirmative member, is that which is sought for.

Having thus ascertained the nature of the two principal inflections of voice, we now proceed to apply them to the reading of different kinds of

sentences.

But before any rules for applying the inflections are laid down, it must be observed, that although there are but two simple or radically different inflections, the rising and the falling, the latter is divisible into two kinds, of very different and even opposite import. The falling inflection without a complete fall of the voice, or in other words, that inflection of voice which consists of a downward slide in a high and forcible tone, may frequently be introduced into the middle of of a sentence; but when this downward slide is pronounced in a lower and less forcible tone than the preceding words, it indicates that the sentence is concluded, and is then called the terminating inflection. It must be carefully noted, therefore, that when the falling inflection is said to be on a word, it is not meant that this inflection is to be pronounced in a low and feeble tone, unless the sentence is concluded.

RULE I. Every simply declarative sentence requires the falling inflection at the close.

EXAMPLES.

Xenophon conducted the retreat of the ten thousand Greeks.

Notwithstanding his habits of ease and study, Hertford now exerted himself to raise an army for the king.

In countries which are situated beneath the line, the vernal nights are transcendantly beautiful.

RULE II. In negative sentences the negative particle generally receives the falling inflection, and the thing denied the rising.

EXAMPLES.

The quality of mercy is not strained.

It is not with finite beings like ourselves that we

hold intercourse.

We must not substitute in its place a senseless, motionless statue of marble.

True ease in writing springs from art, not chance.

No broken hope is here,

No fortune's troubled wave;

No bitter worldly tear

Bedews the grave.

O gently on thy suppliant's head,

Dread Goddess, lay thy chastening hand,

Not in thy Gorgon terrors clad,

Nor circled with the vengeful band,

(As by the impious thou art seen)

With thundering voice, and threat'ning mein,

Horror'

With screaming Horror's funeral cry,

Despair, and fell disease, and ghastly poverty.

In this passage not only the third and fourth, but the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth lines must all end with the rising inflection, for they are all negative, being all dependent on the particle not at the beginning of the third.

From the beginning it was not so.

Here the thing denied is, From the beginning; this clause, therefore, will terminate with the rising inflection, whether it be placed before the rest of the sentence, as above, or after it, thus,

It was not so from the beginning.

When the negative particle is immediately followed by an emphatic word, the falling inflection is generally transferred to the latter, as,

It is no longer the assemblage of a few objects, few / frívolous, uncertain, and of dubious quality that we seek.

When the negative particle is immediately preceded by an emphatic word, it has still the falling inflection, though in a feebler tone than the preceding word, as,

Quench not the light of fortune's stormy sea.

And Ruth said unto Naomi, entreat me not to leave thee.

DEFINITION. A period or compact sentence is an assemblage of such words, or members, as depend on each other for the formation of sense ; and it may be divided into two kinds;-thefirst, which may be called the direct period, is that in which the former words and members depend for sense on the latter; the second kind, which may be called the inverted period, is that in which, though the first part forms sense without the latter, it is nevertheless modified by it. Thus,

To be ever active in laudable pursuits is the distinguishing characteristic of a man of merit.

This is a direct period, for the first part of the sentence ending at the word pursuits depends for sense on what follows.

Revenge from some hateful corner shall level a tale of dishonour at thee, which no innocence of heart or integrity of conduct shall set right.

This is an inverted period, for although the first part ending at thee, makes perfect sense, it is yet modified by what follows.

RULE III. Every direct period requires the rising inflection where the sense begins to form, that is, at the end of the first principal constructive member.

EXAMPLES.

To be ever active in laudable pursuits is the distinguishing characteristic of a man of merit.