6. THE LANGUAGE OF CONCESSION, politeness, admiration, entreaty, and tender emotions, usually requires the rising inflection; as, Your remark is true': the manners of this country have not all the desirable ease and freedom'. I pray' thee remember', I have done thee' worthy service'; told thee no lies', made no mistakes'; served without grudge' or grumbling'. 7. THE END OF A SENTENCE that expresses completeness, conclusion, or result, usually requires the falling slide of termination, which commences on the general pitch and falls below it; as, The rose is beautiful, 8. AT EACH COMPLETE TERMINATION OF THOUGHT, before the close of a sentence, the falling inflection is usually required; though, when several pauses occur, the last but one generally has the rising inflection; as, Every human being has the idea of duty'; and to unfold this idea is the end for which life was given him. The rock crumbles'; the trees fall; the leaves fade', and the grass withers. 9. THE LANGUAGE OF COMMAND, rebuke, contempt, exclamation, and terror, usually requires the falling inflection; as, Thou slave', thou wretch', thou coward! Away' from my sight` ! 10. THE LAST MEMBER OF A COMMENCING SERIES, and the last but one of a concluding series, usually require the rising inflection; and all others the falling; as, A good disposition', virtuous principles', a liberal education, and industrious habits', are passports to happiness and honor. These reward a good disposition', virtuous principles', a liberal education', and industrious habits. 11. THE CIRCUMFLEX is used in language of irony, sarcasm, derision, condition, and contrast; as, Was the hope drunk', Wherein you dressed yourself'? hath it slept' since'? At what it did so freely'? EXERCISES. 1. Will you forsake us'? and will you favor us no more'? 2. Are you, my dear sir, willing to forgive? 3. Where did you find those young birds'? In the meadow'. Where did you say'? 4. Does that beautiful lady deserve praise', or blame? 5. Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel', or under a bed'? 6. If you seek to make one rich, study not to increase his stores', but to diminish' his desires'. 7. Presumptuous man! the gods' take care of Cato' ! 8. When reason' is against' a man, he' will be against reason'. 14. Can the great statesman', skilled in deep design', Soothe', with his melody', insatiate Death'? 15. Fire' and water', oil' and vinegar, heat' and cold', light and darkness', are not more opposed to each other, than is honesty' to fraud', or vice' to virtue'. 16. For I am persuaded that neither death', nor life—nor angels', nor principalities', nor powers-nor things present', nor things' to come-nor height', nor depth', nor any other creature'-shall be able to separate us from the love of God. 17. All the circumstances' and ages of men, poverty', riches', youth', old age-all the dispositions' and passions', melancholy', love', grief, contentment' are capable of being personified in poetry with great propriety. 18. Hath a dog money'? Is it possible a cur can lend three thousand ducats'? 19. You meant no harm; oh, no! your thoughts are innocent; you have nothing to hide; your breast is pure, stainless, all truth. 20. If thou dost slander' her, and torture` me—NEVER' PRAY' MORE'. MOD IV. MODULATION. ODULATION is the act of varying the voice in reading and speaking. Its general divisions are, PITCH, FORCE, QUALITY, and RATE. The four general divisions, or modes of vocal sound, presented in this section, are properly the elements of Expression; as, by the combination of the different forms and varieties of these modes, Emphasis, Slur, Monotone, and other divisions of Expression, are produced. PITCH. PITCH' refers to the key-note of the voice-its general degree of elevation or depression, in reading and speaking. We mark three general distinctions of Pitch: HIGH, MODERATE, and Low. I. HIGH PITCH is that which is heard in calling to a person at a distance. It is used in expressing elevated and joyous feelings and strong emotion; as, 1. 2. 3. Go ring the bells, and fire the guns, If I may trust the flattering truth of sleep, My dreams presage some joyful news at hand; My bosom's lord sits lightly on his throne, And all this day an unaccustomed spirit Lifts me above the ground with cheerful thoughts. Who cried aloud, "What scourge for perjury 1 Exercise on Pitch-For a general exercise on Pitch, select a sentence, and deliver it on as low a key as possible; then repeat it, gradually elevating the pitch, until the top of the voice shall have been reached; when the exercise may be reversed. So valuable is this exercise, that it should be repeated as often as possible. Can this dark monarchy afford false Clarence?" II. MODERATE PITCH is that which is heard in common conversation and description, and in moral reflection, or calm reasoning; as, 1. The mountains look on Marathon, 2. 3. And Marathon looks on the sea; I thought that Greece might still be free; I could not deem myself a slave. Sometimes we see a cloud that's dragonish; A vapor, sometime, like a bear, or lion, A towered citadel, or pendent rock, A forkèd mountain, or blue promontory, With trees upon it, that nod unto the world, And mock our eyes with air; thou hast seen these signs; They are black Vesper's pageants. That which is now a horse, even with a thought, The rack dislimns; and makes it indistinct As water is in water. As a young Lobster roamed about, Itself and mother being out, Their eyes at the same moment fell Can with its startling brilliance vie ; "Proud, heedless fool!" the parent cried; The tawdry finery you wish, Nor seek to change by going to pot." III. Low PrTCH is that which is heard when the voice falls below the common speaking key. It is used in expressing reverence, awe, sublimity, and tender emotions; as, 1. 'Tis midnight's holy hour, and silence now 2. 3. Is brooding, like a gentle spirit, o'er The still and pulseless world. Hark! on the winds Is sweeping past, yet, on the stream and wood, Softly woo away her breath, Gentle Death! Let her leave thee with no strife, She hath had her bud and blossom: Earth, into thy gentle bosom! Oh! now forever, Farewell the tranquil mind! farewell content ! Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war! |