Our ability thus to make a few words answer many purposes, may be regarded as a wise provision of nature. Were it not for this power of the vocal organs, by which they are enabled to modulate, and diversify, and vary the sounds of which the same words are the representatives were we compelled to employ a different word for every variation of the same idea, or sentiment, or feeling, in order to express the innumerable shades, and changes, and aspects of our thoughts, passions, and emotions, we should be obliged to increase the number of our words to so vast an extent that it would entirely overreach the powers of memory to grasp it. The foregoing development of the subject, must have convinced the reader that the study of elocution is not unattended with difficulties, and that the happy application of its principles, requires no small degree of the exercise of his reasoning faculties; but, with him who has a large development of the organs of firmness and combativeness, joined to an active temperament, difficulties and obstacles, so far from discouraging him, tend only to arouse the energies of his mind, and excite them to vigorous and healthy action. His first inquiry is, whether the subject is important-whether it is connected with the ornamental, the elegant, the useful; and, when satisfied that it is, his perseverance soon removes all difficulties, and surmounts all obstacles. It may be proper, nevertheless, to caution the learner against the misapplication, of rules and principles. These are designed to correct his errours to lead him back to the simplicity of nature-to point out to him her paths, and conduct him safely and smoothly along in them. If, therefore, in attempting to enunciate a word, a phrase, or a sentence, according to the direction of some particular rule, the learner find that his elocution is unnatural, he must reject that mode, and conclude that, either the rule is wrong, (which will not often be the case,) or that he has misapprehended or misapplied it. But let him not stop here. A failure does no positive good. No; let him persevere, until he finds out a more natural method of applying the rule. RULE III. Sentences beginning with an interrogative pronoun or adverb, (who, which, what, how, when, where, &c.,) generally close with the falling inflection; as, "Who approaches'?" "How can I assist you' ?" "When did you arrive' ?" "How long will you remain here?" "Where do you lodge'?" Whither are you going'?" EXCEPTION. In colloquial style, when a remark or statement is not clearly understood by the person addressed, if a question be put by him, beginning with an interrogative pronoun or adverb, it is generally closed with the rising inflection; as, What did you say?" "Whose name did you mention' ?" When will he return' ?" 66 66 RULE IV. Interrogative sentences commencing with a verb, (that is, all that do not begin with a pronoun or adverb,) generally close with the rising inflection; as, "Is he dutiful' ?" "Am I, then, to live beyond the grave'?" "Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation' ?" EXCEPTION. When a question beginning with a verb, is repeated with increased emphasis, it forms an exception to Rule 4; as, Are you going?"-"Are you GOING?" "Did you find the letter you were in search of?"-" Did you find the LETTER you were in search of?" EXERCISES-Rules 3 and 4. Who can fathom the depths of misery into which intemperance plunges its victims'? What infidel ever passed the bourn of mortality', without casting a trembling eye upon the scene that lay before him`? Art thou not from everlasting,' O Lord my God', my Holy One'? Wast thou displeased with the rivers'? was thine anger against the rivers'? was thy wrath against the sea', that thou didst ride upon thy horses and thy chariots of salvation'? Do we select extortioners to enforce the laws of equity'? Do we make choice of profligates to guard the morals of society'? Do we depute atheists to preside over the rights of religion'? Will the Lord cast us off for ever'? and will he be favourable no more'? Is his mercy clean gone for ever'? Hath God forgotten to be gracious'? Hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies'? Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand'? and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure', and weighed the mountains in scales', and the hills in a balance` ? What if this guilty hand Were thicker than itself with brother's blood'? Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens Has God', thou fool', worked solely for thy good'? For him as kindly spreads the flow'ry lawn'? Remark. The inflection at lawn, in this last example, should not be the falling, because the last two lines of it, are not a separate member or question, but merely an adjunct, or intervening phrase, of the main question, which, expressed literally, would run thus: "Thou fool! has God', who feeds the wanton fawn for thy table', and who as kindly spreads the flowery lawn for him', worked solely for thy good'? for thy joy', thy pastime', thy attire', thy food' ?" RULE V. When two questions are connected by the conjunction or, the first commonly takes the rising, and the second, the falling, inflection; as, "Does he speak rationally', or irrationally'?" "Should we say man', or man' ?"" Does his conduct support discipline', or destroy it' ?" EXERCISES. Will the trials of this life continue for ever', or will time finally dissipate them`? Shall we crown the author of all these publick calamities with garlands', or shall we wrest from him his ill-deserved authority'? To the foregoing rule, there are some exceptions. 66 EXCEPTION 1. When two questions united by or, begin with an interrogative pronoun or adverb, we frequently give the falling inflection to both; as, How can a blind man see', or one of no understanding', comprehend' ?" "How shall the weak man wrest the spoil from the strong, or an honest man deceive his neighbour'?" "To whom', then', will ye liken God', or what likeness will ye compare unto him`?" EXCEPTION 2. When two questions connected by or, commence with a verb, we sometimes close each of them with the rising inflection; as, Canst thou draw out leviathan with a hook', or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down'?” "Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons', or his head with spears' ?" EXCEPTION 3. When two questions united by or, commence, the one with an adverb or pronoun, and the other with a verb, each requires the inflection it would take when not thus connected; as, "Hath the rain a father'? or who hath begotten the drops of dew' ?" EXERCISES Exceptions 1 and 2. Who can open the doors of his face, or come to leviathan with his double bridle'? Who can number the clouds in wis dom', or stay the bottles of heaven? Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades', or loose the bands of Orion'? Canst thou make the horse afraid', like a grasshopper', or make him turn back from the sword'? sense. Can storied urn', or animated bust', Back to its mansion call the fleeting breath'? The source of the disease that nature feels', Remarks.-A little attention will convince any one, that, to close the last member of these examples with an inflection opDosite to that which comes before or, would totally pervert the He will also observe, that, in these examples which orm exceptions to Rule 5, the antithesis in the two members connected by or, is not preserved as in those examples which come under the rule; and that, moreover, most of them would admit of being expressed in two, separate questions. RULE VI. Exclamatory sentences generally close with the falling inflection; as, "How truly are we the dupes of show and circumstance'!" "O', how hast thou', with jealousy', infected the sweetness of affiance'!" EXERCISES. What a piece of work is man'! How noble in reason'! How infinite in faculties'! In form and moving', how express and admirable! In action', how like an angel! In apprehension', how like a god'! O that my head were waters', and my eyes a fountain of tears', that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people'! Joy-loving, love-inspiring, holy bower, Ye amaranths'! ye roses, like the morn'! More hideous when thou show'st thee in a child 'Tis done! dread winter spreads his latest glooms', How dumb the tuneful! Horrour wide extends RULE VII. When a sentence consists of two or more affirmative members, the last member but one, takes the rising, and all the rest, the falling, inflection; as, "He fought the Scythian in his cave', and the unconquered Arab fled before him'." "He won', divided', and ruled nearly all of modern Europe'.' "The minor longs to be of age'; then to be a man of business'; then to make up an estate'; then to arrive at honours'; then to retire." EXERCISES. The first ingredient in conversation', is truth'; the next', good sense'; the third', good-humour'; the last', wit'. Nature rendered him* incapable of improving by all the rules of eloquence', the precepts of philosophy', his father's endeavours', and the most refined society of Athens'. Nature has laid out all her art in beautifying the face. She has touched it with vermilion'; planted in it a double row of • The son of Cicero |