Sanders' Union Fourth Reader - Part 8
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Part 8

r, e/ t/ h/ w g/ i i/ n r/ g. If the blaze of Dryden's fire is b/ the heat of Pope's is

c o n s t a n more regular and t.

4. Is honor's lofty soul forever fled'?

Is virtue lost'? Is martial ardor dead'?

Is there no heart where worth and valor dwell'?

No patriot WALLACE'? No undaunted TELL'?

Yes', Freedom, yes'! thy sons, a n.o.ble band, Around thy banner, firm, exulting stand'.

REMARK.--The same _degree_ of inflection is not, at all times, used, or indicated by the notation. The due degree to be employed, depends on the _nature_ of what is to be expressed. For example; if a person, under great excitement, asks another:

t?

s e n r a Are you in e the degree of inflection would be much greater,

t?

s e n r a than if he playfully asks: Are you in e The former inflection may be called _intensive_, the latter, _common_.

RULES FOR THE USE OF INFLECTIONS.

RULE I.

Direct questions, or those which may be answered by _yes_ or _no_, usually take the rising inflection; but their answers, generally, the falling.

EXAMPLES.

1. Will you meet me at the depot'? Yes'; or, I will'.

2. Did you intend to visit Boston'? No'; or, I did not'.

3. Can you explain this difficult sentence'? Yes'; I can.

4. Are they willing to remain at home'? They are'.

5. Is this a time for imbecility and inaction'? By no means'.

6. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets'? I know that thou believest'.

7. Were the tribes of this country, when first discovered, making any progress in arts and civilization'? By no means'.

8. To purchase heaven has gold the power'?

Can gold remove the mortal hour'?

In life, can love be bought with gold'?

Are friendship's pleasures to be sold'?

No'; all that's worth a wish, a thought, Fair virtue gives unbribed, unbought.

9. What would content you'? Talents'? No'. Enterprise'? No'. Courage'?

No'. Reputation'? No'. Virtue'? No'. The man whom you would select, should possess not one, but all of these'.

NOTE I.--When the direct question becomes an appeal, and the reply to it is antic.i.p.ated, it takes the intense _falling_ inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1. _Is_' he not a bold and eloquent speaker'?

2. _Can_' such inconsistent measures be adopted'?

3. _Did_' you ever hear of such cruel barbarities'?

4. _Is_ this reason'? _Is_' it law'? _Is_ it humanity'?

5. _Was_' not the gentleman's argument conclusive'?

RULE II.

Indirect questions, or those which can not be answered by _yes_ or _no_, usually take the _falling_ inflection, and their answers the same.

1. How far did you travel yesterday'? Forty miles'.

2. Which of you brought this beautiful bouquet'? Julia'.

3. Where do you intend to spend the summer'? At Saratoga'.

4. When will Charles graduate at college'? Next year'.

5. What is one of the most delightful emotions of the heart'? Grat.i.tude'.

NOTE I.--When the indirect question is one asking a repet.i.tion of what was not, at first, understood, it takes the _rising_ inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1. When do you expect to return? Next week.

When_ did you say'? Next week.

2. _Where_ did you say William had gone'? To New York.

NOTE II.--Answers to questions, whether direct or indirect, when expressive of indifference, take the _rising_ inflection, or the circ.u.mflex.

EXAMPLES.

1. Did you admire his discourse? Not much'.

2. Which way shall we walk? I am not particular'.

3. Can Henry go with us? If he chooses'.