Sanders' Union Fourth Reader Part 9

4. What color do you prefer? I have no particular choice'.

NOTE III.--In some instances, direct questions become indirect by a change of the inflection from the rising to the falling.

EXAMPLES.

1. Will you come to-morrow' or next day'? Yes.

2. Will you come to-morrow,' or next day'? I will come to-morrow.

REMARK.--The first question asks if the person addressed will _come_ within the two days, and may be answered by _yes_ or _no_; but the second asks on _which_ of the two days he will come, and it can not be thus answered.

RULE III.

When questions are connected by the conjunction _or_, the first requires the _rising_, and the second, the _falling_ inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1. Does he study for amus.e.m.e.nt', or improvement'?

2. Was he esteemed for his wealth', or for his wisdom'?

3. Sink' or swim', live' or die', survive' or perish', I give my hand and heart to this vote. WEBSTER.

4. Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath-days', or to do evil'? to save life', or to kill'?

5. Was it an act of moral courage', or cowardice', for Cato to fall on his sword'?

RULE IV. Ant.i.thetic terms or clauses usually take opposite inflections; generally, the former has the _rising_, and the latter the _falling_ inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1. If you seek to make one rich, study not to increase his stores' but to diminish his desires'.

2. They have mouths',--but they speak not': Eyes have they',--but they see not': They have ears',--but they hear not': Noses have they',--but they smell not': They have hands',--but they handle not': Feet have they',--but they walk not'.

BIBLE.

NOTE I.--When one of the ant.i.thetic clauses is a _negative_, and the other an _affirmative_, generally the negative has the _rising_, and the affirmative the _falling_ inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1. I said an elder soldier' not a better'.

2. His acts deserve punishment' rather than commiseration'.

3. This is no time for a tribunal of justice', but for showing mercy'; not for accusation', but for philanthropy'; not for trial', but for pardon'; not for sentence and execution', but for compa.s.sion and kindness'.

RULE V. The Pause of Suspension, denoting that the sense is incomplete, usually has the _rising_ inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1. Although the fig tree shall not blossom', neither shall fruit be in the vine'; the labor of the olive shall fail', and the fields shall yield no meat'; the flocks shall be cut off from the fold', and there shall be no herd in the stalls'; yet will I rejoice in the Lord', I will joy in the G.o.d of my salvation'. BIBLE.

NOTE I.--The ordinary direct address, not accompanied with strong emphasis, takes the _rising_ inflection, on the principle of the pause of suspension.

EXAMPLES.

1. Men', brethren', and fathers', hear ye my defense which I make now unto you. BIBLE.

2. Ye living flowers', that skirt the eternal frost'!

Ye wild goats', sporting round the eagle's nest'!

Ye eagles', playmates of the mountain storm'!

Ye lightnings', the dread arrows of the clouds'!

Ye signs' and wonders' of the elements'!

Utter forth G.o.d', and fill the hills with praise'!

COLERIDGE.

NOTE II.--In some instances of a pause of suspension, the sense requires an intense _falling_ inflection.

EXAMPLE.

1. The prodigal, if he does not become a _pauper_', will, at least, have but little to bestow on others.

REMARK.--If the _rising_ inflection is given on _pauper_, the sense would be perverted, and the pa.s.sage made to mean, that, in order to be able to bestow on others, it is necessary that he should become a pauper.

RULE VI. Expressions of tenderness, as of grief, or kindness, commonly incline the voice to the _rising_ inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1. Mother',--I leave thy dwelling'; Oh! shall it be forever'?

With grief my heart is swelling', From thee',--from thee',--to sever'.

2. O my son Absalom'! my son', my son Absalom'! Would G.o.d I had died for thee', Absalom', my son', my son'! BIBLE.

RULE VII. The Penultimate Pause, or the last but one, of a pa.s.sage, is usually preceded by the _rising_ inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1. Diligence', industry', and proper improvement of time', are material duties of the young'.

2. These through faith subdued kingdoms', wrought righteous-ness', obtained promises', stopped the mouths of lions', quenched the violence of fire', escaped the edge of the sword', out of weakness were made strong', waxed valiant in fight', turned to flight the armies of the aliens'.

REMARK.--The rising inflection is employed at the penultimate pause in order to promote variety, since the voice generally falls at the end of a sentence.