RULE IX.-Words and clauses used antithetically, or in contrast, require opposite inflections.

EXAMPLES.

The young and the old, the rich and the poor, alike go the way of all the earth.

Are animals governed by instinct, or by reason?

Homer was the greater genius, Virgil the better artist.

A soldier should obey`, not direct his general.

It is virtue, not wealth that is respected.

SERIES.

A SERIES is a number of words or clauses, following one another in the same construction.

A Simple series consists of words; as,

Beauty, wealth, honor, power, are ephemeral.

A Compound series consists of clauses; as,

The sky was cloudless; the breeze moved lightly; the grass looked fresh; and the merry crickets chirped in all directions. A Commencing series commences a sentence or clause; as, Beauty, wealth, honor, and power, are ephemeral.

A Concluding series concludes a sentence or clause; as, Nothing is more ephemeral, than beauty, wealth, honor, or

power.

RULE X.-The members of a commencing series require the falling inflection, except the last, which receives the rising inflection.

The members of a concluding series require the falling inflection, except the last but one, which has the rising inflection.

COMMENCING SERIES.

Beauty, wealth, honor, power, are ephemeral.

To succor the oppressed, to relieve the needy, to advise the ignorant, to comfort the afflicted, is the duty of all.

CONCLUDING SERIES.

Nothing can be more ephemeral than beauty`, wealth`, honor ́, or power.

It is the duty of all, to succor the oppressed, to relieve the needy, to advise the ignorant, and to comfort the afflicted.

Exception 1.-When the members of a series are not at all emphatic, they receive inflection according to previous rules; as,

James, William', and Henry, are at school.

He is a man of principle ́, intelligence, and influence`. Exception 2.-When the members of a series are strongly emphatic, they may all receive the falling inflection; as, Not one man, not one woman, not one child was saved. Exception 3.-When a series forms a climax, the last member may receive the falling inflection; as,

Days', months', years, and ages, shall circle away.

REMARK.-It is becoming very common with good speakers, to give the rising inflection to all the members of a commencing series, and to all the members of a concluding series, except the last.

Others use the rising inflection in a commencing series, and the falling inflection in a concluding series.

PARENTHESIS.

A CLAUSE in a parenthesis, should close with the same inflection that next precedes it, unless it is complicated or emphatic, when it must be governed by general rules. A slight pause should be made before and after it, and it should be read in a monotone or in a low voice.

RULE XI. The circumflex is used in ironical, conditional, and sometimes in contrasted language.

EXAMPLES.

A little thing! a very little thing!

I only shoot at my child.

What have I done of which you can complain?
If you say yes, then I say nô.

NEW EC. S.-3

RULE XII. The monotone is used in grave and

Thus saith the High and Lofty One

That inhabiteth eternity, whose name is hōly,

I dwell in the high and hōly place.

Yet a few days, and thee the all-behōlding sūn
Shall see no more, in all his course.

POETIC INFLECTIONS.

In Poetry the inflections are determined by the same rules as those in prose, with this exception, that there is a greater tendency to the use of the rising inflection in the former, than in the latter.

QUESTIONS.-What is inflection? What is the rising inflection? The falling? The circumflex? The monotone? (Give examples under each.) Repeat Rule 1, with example. Rule 2. Rule 3. What exception? Rule 4. Exceptions? Rule 5. What exceptions? Rule 6. What exception? Rule 7. What exception? Rule 8. Rule 9. What is a series? A simple series? A compound series? A commencing series? A concluding series? Repeat Rule 10. Exception 1. 2. 3. What is the remark? What is said of parenthesis? Repeat Rule 11. Rule 12. What of poetic inflections?

III. EMPHASIS.

EMPHASIS consists in a certain manner of uttering a word or phrase, designed to impress the idea forcibly upon the hearer.

Emphasis may be denoted by italics, or by small, or large capitals.

The object of emphasis may be accomplished,

1. By increased stress; as,

Strike, till the last armed foe expires,

STRIKE, for your altars and your fires.

2. By low tones; as,

While thronged the citizens with terror dumb,

Or whispering with white lips; the foe! they come! they come!

3. By change of inflection; as,

If we regard not youth, we should respect age".

The sweetest melody falls powerless upon the deaf ́ ear. See Remark, page 22.

4. By a pause; as,

Strike-for the green graves of your sires,
GOD-and your native land.

Banished-from Rome? tried-and-convicted-TRAITOR?

If ROME-MUST-FALL-WE-are innocent.

REMARK.-This, (—) is called the Rhetorical Pause, and, when used with judgment, gives great force and beauty to emphasis.

5. By change of accent; as,

Giving and for-giving are different things.

I said per ́-verted, not con ́-verted.

ABSOLUTE EMPHASIS.

ABSOLUTE emphasis is that which is independent of any comparison with other words or ideas.

EXAMPLES.

Temperance promotes health.

The power of faith was the preacher's subject.

We have petitioned; we have REMONSTRATED; we have SUPPLICATED; we have PROSTRATED ourselves at the foot of the throne.

AWAKE! ARISE! or be forever fallen.

'T is horrible! 't is hideous! 't is hateful!

O Hubert! save me! SAVE me! from these bloody men.

Charge, Chester, charge; on, Stanley, on.

RELATIVE EMPHASIS.

Relative emphasis is that which denotes or implies antithesis, or comparison with some thing else.

ONE SET OF ANTITHETIC WORDS.

It is more blessed to give, than to receive.

They only suffer injuries meekly, who never inflict them.
He that knows himself, knows others.

Study not to show knowledge, but to acquire it.

It is easier to mend our faults, than to hide them.
Those who can not bear a jest, should never make one.

TWO SETS OF ANTITHETIC WORDS.

The one was distinguished for his goodness; the other, for his vileness.

The simple inherit folly; the prudent are crowned with prosperity.

To err is human; to forgive, divine.

Fame's flight is glory's fall.

Why beholdest thou the mote in thy brother's eye, and considerest not the beam in thine own eye.

THREE SETS OF ANTITHETIC WORDS.

The former reasons justly from false data; the latter, falsely from just data.

Pedantry is wrong by rules; common sense is right without them.

ANTITHESIS IMPLIED.

O death! the good man's friend!

Implied. (The bad man's enemy.)

In their prosperity, my friends shall never hear of me.
Implied. (In their adversity, always.)

Shall we die tamely? die alone?

Implied. (and not bravely? selling our lives dearly?)
A friendly eye would never see such faults.
Implied. (An unfriendly eye alone would see them.)

RHETORICAL AND POETIC PAUSES.

A pause is often made, when not required by the grammatical construction, to give emphasis to the thought. This is called the rhetorical pause. For an explanation and examples of this, see page 27.

In poetry, also, pauses are required for the purpose of giving beauty and expression to the language. These

occur,