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after the rise at valuable, slide up once more at gained, and then sink on labour.

The following table may show the proportions of the slides, and the sliding of the voice into another key, or the modulation of the slide. Valuable

Gained

Labour

LOOSE SENTENCE.

2d. A clause which makes perfect sense of itself, followed by a clause which merely illustrates, or gives something additional, and not as a consequence of what is in the first clause, requires the falling inflexion.

Ex. An elevated genius employed in little things, appears like the sun in his evening declination; he remits his splendour, but retains his magnitude; and pleases more, though he dazzles less.

It is curious to observe how the nature of truth may be changed by the gàrb it wears; softened by the admonitions of friendship, or soured into the severity of reproof: yet this severity may be useful to sòme tempers; it somewhat resembles a file; disagreeable in its operation, but hard metals may be the brighter for it.

It is of the last importance to season the passions of a child with devotion; which seldom dies in a mind that has received an early tincture of it.

MODULATION OF THE LOOSE CLAUSE.

In the first example given here, the falling inflexion must not be so low at the end of the loose clause as at the period; it must intimate that something more is coming; this inflexion is by some elocutionists termed the middle falling inflexion.*

COMPACT SENTENCE-GENERAL RULE.

In a compact sentence, or a sentence where the two principal parts depend on each other for sense, the voice slides up where the meaning begins to be formed.

This rule is founded in nature, as, by sliding the voice up, the

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Mr Sheridan Knowles discards the loose sentence from his rules, and refers it to the same principle as the fall at a period; the distinction noticed above renders it necessary to give it a separate place.

ear is led to expect something more. It may be in accordance with this principle that the voice slides up in surprise, or when a question is asked; in all the cases there is expectancy.

The compact slide occurs in the following situations :

1. Betwixt the nominative and the verb.

This is the closest form of the compact sentence. A short pause follows the inflexion here, although no comma is inserted. Adversity' is the parent of piety.

Nothing valuable' can be gained without labour.

To project the conquest of the world', is the madness of mighty princes.

Every thought prompted by passion' is a sentiment.

2. Betwixt the parts of a sentence containing a suppositive, admissive, causative, or exceptive clause.

If there were no cowardice', there would be little insolence. Though he praises' her, it is only for her beauty.

We proceed', because we have begun; we complete' our design, that the labour already spent may not be vain.

Unless he put a bridle on his tongue', he will soon shut himself out from all society.

3. Betwixt the parts of a sentence led off by correspondent conjunctions, adverbs, adjectives, &c.

As trees and plants necessarily arise from seeds', so are you, Antony, the seed of this most calamitous war.

We may as well be refreshed with a clear and brisk discourse', as by the air of Campanian wines.

When Lee was once told by a critic that it was very easy to write like a madman', he answered, that it was difficult to write like a madman, but easy enough to write like a fool. Such is the course of nature', that whoever lives long, must outlive those whom he loves and honours.

Every one knows how much more difficult it is to retain in the memory a multitude of things which are unconnected and lie in confusion', than of things disposed according to a rule or plan.

4. Betwixt the parts of a sentence where a purpose or consequence is denoted.

To prevent further altercation', I submitted to the terms proposed.

That we may die happily', we must live well.

My friends, my family, and relations, are all dead', and I am forgotten.

The Lord reigneth', let the earth rejoice.*

The winter brings cold', and we must freeze; the summer returns with heat', and we must melt.

Honour is like steel; breathe', and it is stained.
Slaves cannot breathe in England; if their lungs
Receive our air, that moment they are free;

They touch our country', and their shackles fall. 5. Betwixt the parts of a sentence introduced by participles, adjectives, infinitives, and prepositions.

Conquered and enslaved', it is not boldness, but necessity, that urges them to battle.

Awkward in his person, and ungainly in his manners', James was ill qualified to command respect; partial and undiscerning in his affections', he was little fitted to acquire general love.

To say the least', they have betrayed great want of candour. In the ruffled and angry hour', we view every appearance through a false medium.

6. Before a relative, where it limits or modifies the antecedent.

No man ever attained lasting fame', who did not, on several occasions, contradict the prejudices of popular applause.

In this sentence it is not said that no man ever obtained lasting fame, but that no man who did not, on several occasions, contradict the prejudices of popular applause, ever obtained it; the first part, therefore, does not convey the finished sense, and necessarily re quires a rise. In the following sentence, a fall is appropriate before the relative, as the first part contains perfect sense.

Behold the emblem of thy state

In flowers', which bloom and die.

Here the which does not limit the antecedent; there are not particular flowers which bloom and die.

No man continues long to respect his benefactors', who allows himself freely to talk of their faults.

*This sentence has been given as affording an example of what is called the penultimate member. The rise on the word reigneth, however, is to be accounted for on the principle of the compact sentence:-Seeing that the Lord reigneth, or, Since the Lord reigneth &c.

He was a man', learned and polite.

In this sentence the relative is understood.

He has reduced himself to a situation', where he can hope for little.

In this sentence the relative is included in "where.”

7. Where a concession ends.

Dressing my hair is a long operation, but one can't appear with a head unlike every body else.

Music is certainly a very agreeable' entertainment, but it must not take the entire possession of our ears.

I am convinced, that, by an adherence to these sentiments, I shall lose the good opinion of the public'; yet I am determined to abide by them, as I consider them founded on principle and truth.

8. Where an idea is announced the grammatical sense being already completed.

We cannot think of the state of sleep, without being reminded of another' state-death.

The planets are dependent on that grand dispenser of divine munificence', the sun.

Nature has indeed annexed to the passion of grief a more forcible character than that of any other', that of tears.

9. Betwixt the parts of an antithesis.

Philosophy may infuse stubbornness', but religion only can give patience.

Science may raise to eminence', but virtue alone can guide to felicity.

Men should beware of being captivated by a kind of savage philosophy'; women, by a thoughtless gallantry. When these precautions are not observed, the man often degenerates into a cynic', the woman into a coquette; the man grows sullen and morose', the woman impertinent and

fantastical.

Philosophy makes us wiser', Christianity makes us better men; philosophy elevates and steels' the mind, Christianity softens and sweetens it. The former makes us the object of human admiration', the latter of divine love. That ensures us a temporal', but this an eternal happiness.

The style of Dryden is capricious and varied'; that of Pope is cautious and uniform. Dryden obeys the motions of his own mind'; Pope constrains his mind to his own rules of composition. Dryden is sometimes vehement and rapid'; Pope is always smooth, uniform, and gentle. Dryden's page is a natural field rising into inequalities, and diversified by the varied exuberance of abundant vegetation'; Pope's is a velvet lawn shaven by the scythe, and levelled by the roller.

It is not boldness', but necessity, that impels them to battle.

10. When an emphatic word is contained in the first part of the compact sentence, the falling inflexion takes place.

If an officer were commanded to pull his own father' out of this house, he must do it.

He is a traitor to his country', he is a traitor to the human kind', he is a traitor to heaven', who abuses the talents which God has given him.

MODULATION OF THE COMPACT SENTENCE.

In inflecting the above examples, the voice in the second clause does not keep on the high key in which the last part of the first clause is finished, but begins on a lower key sinking towards the end with the cadence. In concessive and antithetic sentences, especially, the latter part of the sentence is given in a markedly low key, to call the attention to the distinction or opposition conveyed. Emphasis also depends much for effect on the change of key.

SERIES.

Series denotes an enumeration of particulars. If the enumeration consists of single words, it is called a Simple Series; if it consists of clauses, it is called a Compound Series.

When the sense requires that there should be a rising slide on the last particular, the series is called a Commencing Series; and when the sense requires the falling slide on the last particular, it is termed a Concluding Series. The slide on the last particular is ast certained on the principle of the loose and the compact sentence.

The inflexions in the simple series are given here in accordance with the method commonly employed. In the pronunciation of the simple series, beginners, and more especially if the voice be very

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