INDIRECT QUESTIONS. "When are you going to Europe?" The prominent idea in this, is not the real interrogative, the idea of time in "when," but the positive idea, “You are going to Europe." Hence this, and all such questions must be read with the falling slide. But if the interrogative is made the prominent and em. phatic idea, (as when, the answer not being heard, the ques tion is repeated,) the rising slide must be given. "When are you going to Europe?" The address also is positive or negative. It is negative, and read with the rising slide or suspension of the voice, when it is only formal and unemphatic, as Friends, I come not here to talk." 66 When emphatic it is positive and demands the falling slide, as in the respectful opening address to any deliberative body or public assembly. · Mr. Prèsident," "Ladies and Gentlemen." 66 POSITIVE ADDRESS AND QUESTIONS. "Tell me, man of military science, in now many months were the Pilgrims all swept off by the thirty savage tribes, enumerated within the early limits of New England? Tell me, politician, how long did this shadow of a colony, on which your conventions and treaties had not smiled, lànguish on the distant coast? Student of history, compare for me the baffled projects, the abandoned adventures of other times, and find a parallel of this." "Was it the winter's stòrm beating upon the houseless heads of women and children; was it hard labor and spare meùls; was it disease, was it the tomahawk, was it the deep malady of a blighted hope, a ruined enterprise, and a broken - d heart, aching in its last moments at the recollection of the loved, and left beyond the sea; was it some or all of these united that hurried this forsaken company to their melancholy fate?" These questions must be read with the 'falling' slide, to give the idea positively that each one of the enumerated causes was sufficient to produce the supposed result. The surprise is thus made all the greater in the next sentence, which must be read as an earnest negative with the long 'rising' slide. "And is it possible that néither of these causes, that not áll combined, were able to blást this bud of hópe? Is it possible that from the beginning so feeble, so fràil, so worthy not so much of admirátion as of pity, there has gone forth a progress so steady, a growth so wònderful, an expansion so àmple, a reàlity so important, a pròmise yet to be fulfilled, so glòrious!” When surprise thus deepens into astonishment, as it frequently does in its climax, the interrogative form should be changed to the exclamatory, which demands the falling slide. "Partakers in every peril, in the glory shall we not be permitted to participate? And shall we be told as a requital that we are estranged from the noble country for whose salvation our life-blood was poured out!" CONTRASTED SLIDES. When ideas are contrasted in couples, the rising and falling slides must be contrasted in reading them. Contrasted slides may also sometimes be used for greater variety or melody. 1. EXAMPLE. "Sínk or swim, líve or die, survíve or pèrish, I give my hand and heart to this vote." 66 But, whatever may be óur fate, be assured, be assured that this declaration will stand. It may cost treasure, and it may cost blood; but it will stand, and it will richly compensate for bòth.” 66 Suppose that you see, at once, all the hours of the day and all the seasons of the year, a morning of spring, and a morning of autumn, a night brilliant with stars, and a night obscure with clouds; - you will then have a more just notion of the spectacle of the universe. Is it not wondrous, that while you are admiring the sun plunging beneath the vault of the west, another observer is beholding him as he quits the region of the east, - in the same instant reposing, weary, from the dust of the evening, and awaking fresh and youthful, in the dews of morn!" CIRCUMFLEX SLIDES. Straight means right, crooked means wrong: hence right ideas demand the right or straight slides, while wrong or crooked ideas demand the crooked or circumflex slides.' PRINCIPLE. All sincere and earnest, or, in other words, all upright and downright ideas demand the straight, or upright and downright slides. All ideas which are not sincere or earnest, but are used in jest, or irony, in ridicule, sarcasm, or mockery, in insinuation or double-meaning, demand the crooked or circumflex slides.' 6 The last part of the circumflex is usually the longer, and always the more characteristic part. Hence when the last part of this double slide rises it is called the rising circumflex; when the last part falls, it is called the 'falling circumflex.' The rising circumflex' should be given to the negative, the falling circumflex' to the positive ideas of jest, irony, &c. When these ideas are coupled in contrast, the circumflex slides must be in contrast also to express them. Example of jest. MARULLUS. You, sir; what trade are yoù ? 2D CITIZEN. Truly, sir, in respect of a fine workman, I am but, as you would say, a côbbler. MAR. But what trade art thou? Answer me directly. 2D CIT. A trade, sir, that, I hope, I may use with a safe conscience; which is, indeed, sir, a měnder of bad sôles. MAR. What trade, thou knàve? thou naughty knave, what trade? if 2D CIT. Nay, I beseech you, sir, be not out with me: yet, you bê out, sir, I can mend you. MAR. What mean'st thou by that? Ménd me, thou saucy fellow? 2D CIT. Why, sir, côbble you. FLAVIUS. Thou art a còbbler, árt thou? 2D CIT. Truly sir, all that I live by is with the àwl. FLAV. But wherefore art not in thy shòp to-day? Why dost thou lead these men about the streets? 2D CIT. Truly, sir, to wear out their shoes, to get myself into more work. But, indeed, sir, we make holiday, to see Caesar, and to rejoice in his triumph." In the last sentence, the citizen drops his jesting, and speaks in earnest and therefore with the straight slides. Examples of sarcasm and irony. 2. 66 Now, sir, what was the conduct of your own allies to Poland? Is there a single atrocity of the French in Italy, in Switzerland, in Egypt if you please, more unprincipled and inhuman than that of Russia, Austria, and Prussia, in Poland ? "Ŏ, but you 'regrêtted the partition of Poland!' Yês, regrêtted!-you regrêtted the violence, and that is àll you did." 3. They boast they come but to improve our state, enlarge our thoughts and frêe us from the yoke of êrror! Yês, they will give enlightened freedom to oûr minds, who are themselves the slaves of passion, avarice, and pride! They offer us protêction! yês, sûch protection as vûltures give to lambs— covering and devouring them! Tell your invaders we seek nò change - and least of all such change as they would bring us!" 4. Good Lord! when one man dies who wears a Crown, How the earth trembles, — how the nations gape, Amazed and awed!· but when that one man's victims, Poor worms, unclothed in purple, daily die In the grim cell, or on the groaning gibbet, Drop not one tear from your indifferent eyes!" 5. CASSIUS. Urge me no more! I shall forget myself; Have mind upon your health; tempt me no further. BRUTUS. Away, slight man! CAS. Is 't possible? BRU. Hear me, for I will speak. Must I give way and room to your rash choler? Shall I be frightened when a madman stares? CAS. O ye gods! ye gods! Must I endure all this? BRU. All this? Ay, more. Fret till your proud heart break; Go show your slaves how choleric you are, And make your bondmen tremble! Must I budge? Must I observe you? Must I stand and crouch Under your testy humor? You shall digest the venom of your spleen, Though it do split you; for, from this day forth, I'll use you for my mirth, When you are waspish! CAS. BRU. Is it come to this! yea, for my laughter, You say you are a better soldier: Let it appear so; make your vaunting true, And it shall please me well. For mine own part, I shall be glad to learn of nobler men. LENGTII OF SLIDES. The length of the slides depends on the general spirit' or 'kind' of what is read. |