noble, who believes that, after a short turn upon the stage of this world, he is to sink for ever into oblivion? RULE 2.-Those interrogative sentences that commence with a verb which is followed by the disjunctive conjunction or, adopts, at the close of the first part, the' inflection, the end of the second, the inflection. Examples. Shall we, in your person, crown the author of the public calamity, or shall we destroy him? Will the trials of this life continue for ever, or will time finally dissipate them'? RULE 3.-Those interrogative sentences that commence with the interrogative pronoun or adverb, always close with the inflection. Examples. Who will take the trouble of answering these questions? How will he collect the necessary evidence'? Whence derive his authorities'? When adjust all the contending points? RULE 4.-When the interrogative sentence consists of several members following in succession, commencing with a pronoun or adverb, all those members adopt the inflection, save the penultimate, which takes the 'inflection. Example. Where can he find such cogent exhortations to the practice of virtue'; such strong excitements to piety and holiness'; and, at the same time, such assistance in attaining them', as are contained in the Holy Bible? RULE 5.-When the interrogative sentence commences with a verb, and consists of several succeeding members, they all adopt the inflection. Example. Would an infinitely wise being make such a glorious creature as man, for so mean a purpose'? can he delight in the production of such abortive intelligences', such short lived rational beings? would he give him talents that are not to be exerted', and capacities that are not to be grati fied'? RULE 6.-When the interrogative sentence presents a combination of particulars, forming a series of serieses, they adopt, according to their natures, both the ' and the inflections. The last member, however, upon which the question turns, must always have the 'inflection. Example. Do you imagine the hours wasted in idle prate the days devoted to vain amusements', the weeks lavished on dress and parade', and the months squandered without end or aim', are all lost in the great account of eternity? or will they, like an army of departed ghosts, rise to your affrighted memory, and condemn you? EXCLAMATION POINT. GENERAL RULE. ----Sentences and their members followed by this point, adopt, according to their natures, both inflections. Example. If this is a man of pleasure, what is a man of pain? How quick, how total, is his transit! In what a dismal gloom does he sit for ever! How short, alas! is his day of rejoicing'! for a moment he glitters', he dazzles! in a moment where is he? Oblivion covers his memory'! PARENTHESIS. RULE 1.-When this figure is used either with or without the comma, it always adopts the 'inflection. Examples. Natural historians observe', (for while I am in the country I must thence bring my allusions') that male birds only have voices'. Know ye not, brethren', (for I speak to them that know the law, that the law has dominion over a man so long as he lives'? I had letters from him', (here I felt in my pocket,) that exactly spoke the king's mind'. RULE 2.-When the parenthesis is set off by the semico lon, colon, or dash, the inflection obtains. Example. Then went the captain with the officers, and brought the apostles without violence'; (for they feared the people lest they should have been stoned';) and when they had brought them, they set them before the council'. RULE S.-That phrase or member which intervenes and breaks the connexion of a sentence, is, whether long or short, of the nature of a parenthesis, and is preceded and followed by the inflection. Examples. The minister's talents', formed for great enterprise', could not fail of rendering him conspicuous'. I shall always remember, my friends', with the most lively gratitude', your continued kindness to me'. He is alternately supported, and has been for these ten years', by his father, his brother, and his uncle'. EMPHASIS. Definition. Emphasis is that peculiar stress of the voice, with which the important words in a sentence are pronounced, in order to distinguish them from the less important or little connective particles. RULE 1.-Those words and phrases in a sentence which stand opposed to each other, adopt the strong emphasis. Examples. Many people mistake the love of virtue for the practice of it. Many states were in alliance with, and under the protection of, the then mistress of the world. The wise man is happy when he gains his own esteem; the fool when he gains the esteem of others. RULE 2.-That word or phrase in a sentence which suggests or dictates the opposing sing word, must take the strong emphasis. Examples. When a Persian soldier was railing against Alexander the Great, Great, his officer reproved him by saying, "Sir, you were paid to fight against Alexander." Justice, my friend, appears to be lame among us. And Nathan said unto David, Thou art the man. EMPHATIC INFLECTIONS. RULE 1.-When emphasis is positive and affirms something, it always dictates the 'inflection. Examples. An honest man may, without blame, risk his property in equitable trade'. Sir, you were paid to fight against Alexander'. I think you informed me that your brother supplied your wants'. In the perusal of a book, a man expects to be instructed. This treaty secures the honour of the United States'. RULE 2.-When emphasis denies something, it always adopts the inflection. Examples. An honest man may risk his property without blame, in equitable trade, but not in gambling. Sir, you were paid to fight against Alexander, not to rail at him. I think you informed me that your brother supplied your wants', and not your doting father. In the perusal of a book, a man expects to be instructed', not corrupted. This treaty, says Fisher Ames, secures the honour of the United States, and therefore cannot compromise it. Washington never fought for personal fame', but he fought for the freedom of his country'. READING VERSE. RULE 1.-That sentence, or member of a sentence, which, in prose, would, according to the foregoing rules, adopt the inflection, must adopt it also in poetry. EXAMPLES. Put when old age has silver'd o'er thy head', When memory fails', and all thy vigour's fled', Then may'st thou seek the stillness of retreat, And hear, aloof, the human tempest beat'. RULE 2. That sentence, or member of a sentence, which, in prose, would, according to the foregoing rules, require the inflection, must, in poetry, adopt the same inflection. EXAMPLES. I am monarch of all I survey', Can you discern another's mind'? Communion sweet', communion large and high, RULE 3.-Almost every kind of verse admits a short pause, in or near the middle of the line, the observance of which gives great beauty to the reading of poetry EXAMPLES. A little rule,, a little sway', A sunbeam',, in a winter's day', Is all the proud',, and mighty have', RULE 4.-At the end of every line in poetry, a pause should be made, proportioned to the intimacy or remoteness of the connexion between the words that terminate the one, and commence the other. EXAMPLES. Now the e pine tree's',, waving top', Did sweeter sounds',, adorn my flowing tongue, EXCEPTION. When the break between the lines separate the article from the noun which it limits; the adjective, in its natural order, from the noun which it modifies; or the preposition from the noun which it governs, no pause can be admitted. EXAMPLE. O'er their heads,, a crystal fountain, With impetuous recoil',, and jarring sound', DIRECTIONS TO THE LEARNER. In taking up the English Reader with a view of applying the principles of elocution to the pronunciation of the lessons, the learner will commence with the Key, and make himself complete master of the definitions and rules, and familiar with the examples. In the mean time he may exercise bis judgment, by selecting from any other book examples unde under the several rules and exceptions, and apply the appropriate characters. In a little time he will feel himself prepared to enter upon the select sentences, and progress through the book. |