NOTE VII.-ANTITHETIC EMPHASIS is that which is founded on the contrast of one word or clause with another. EXAMPLES OF ANTITHETIC EMPHASIS. 1. The faults of others should always remind us of our own. 2. He desired to protect his friend, not to injure him 3. But yesterday, the word of Cæsar might Have stood against the world; now lies he there, SHAKSPEARE. BIBLE. 4. A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches. 5. We can do nothing against the truth; but for the truth. BIBLE. 6. He that is slow to anger, is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city. BIBLE. NOTE VIII. The following examples contain two or more sets of Antitheses. 1. Just men are only free, the rest are slaves. 2. Beauty is like the flower of spring; virtue is like the stars of heaven. 3. Truth crushed to earth shall rise again, The eternal years of God are hers; But error, wounded, writhes in pain, BRYANT. 4. A false balance is abomination to the Lord; but a just weight is his delight. BIBLE. 5. A friend can not be known in prosperity; and an enemy can not be hidden in adversity. 6. It is my living sentiment, and, by the blessing of God, it shall be my dying sentiment; INDEPENDENCE NOW, and INDEPENDENCE FORever. WEBSTER. 7. We live in deeds, not years,—in thoughts, not breaths,-in feelings, not in figures on a dial. We should count time by heart-throbs. He most lives, who THINKS THE MOST,-FEELS THE NOBLEST,-ACTS THE BEST. 8 You have done the mischief, and I bear the blame. 9. The wise man is happy when he gains his own approbation; the fool, when he gains that of others. 10. We must hold them as we hold the rest of mankind-enemies in war,-in peace, friends. JEFFERSON, NOTE IX. The sense of a passage is varied by changing the place of the emphasis EXAMPLES. 1. Has James seen his brother to-day? No; but Charles has. 2. Has James seen his brother to-day? No; but he has heard from him. 3. Has James seen his brother to-day? No; but he saw yours. 4. Has James seen his brother to-day? No: but he has seen his sister. 5. Has James seen his brother to-day? No; but he saw him yesterday. REMARK. To determine the emphatic words of a sentence, as well as the degree and kind of emphasis to be employed, the reader must be governed wholly by the sentiment to be expressed. The idea is sometimes entertained that emphasis consists merely in loudness of tone. But it should be borne in mind, that the most intense emphasis may often be effectively expressed, even by a whisper. SECTION III. INFLECTIONS. INFLECTIONS are turns or slides of the voice, made in reading or speaking; as, Will you go to New All the various sounds of the human voice may be compre hended under the general appellation of tones. The principal modifications of these tones are the MONOTONE, the RISING INFLECTION, the FALLING INFLECTION, and the CIRCUMFLEX. The Horizontal Line (-) denotes the Monotone. The Rising Slide () denotes the Rising Inflection. The Falling Slide (\) denotes the Falling Inflection. denotes the Circumflex. The MONOTONE is that sameness of sound, which arises from repeating the several words or syllables of a passage in one and the same general tone. REMARK.—The Monotone is employed with admirable effect in the delivery of a passage that is solemn or sublime. EXAMPLES. 1. 0 thou that rōllest above, rōund as the shield of my fathērs: whence are thy bēāms, O sūn, thỹ ēvērlāsting light? OSSIAN. 2. 'Tis midnight's hōly hōur, and silence now Is brōōding, like ā gēntlē spīrīt, ō'ēr The still and pūlselēss world. Hark! on the winds PRENTICE. 3. Gōd came from Tēman, and the Holy One from Mount Pārān. Sēlāh. His glory covered thē heavens, and the earth was full of His praise. 4. Before Him went thē pēstīlēnce, and būrning coals went fōrth at His feet. He stood and measured the earth: Hē bēhēld, and drōve ūsūndēr thē nātions; and thē ēvērlāstīng mōūntains wēre scattered, thē pērpētūāl hills did bōw: His wāys āre ēvērlāsting. BIBLE. 5. The heavens declare the glory of Gōd, and the firmāmēnt showēth His handy work. Day untō day ūttērēth speech, and night untō night shōwēth knowledge. There is no speech nōr language, where their võice is not heard. 6. 7. How brief is life! how passing brief! Hōw brief its jōys and cāres! It seems to be in league with time, And leaves us ūnāwāres. The thunder rolls: be hūshed the prōstrate world, ID. THOMSON. REMARK. The inappropriate use of the monotone,-a fault into which young people naturally fall,-is a very grave and obstinate error. It is always tedious, and often even ridiculous. It should be studiously avoided. The RISING INFLECTION is an upward turn, or slide of the voice, used in reading or speaking; as, Are you The FALLING INFLECTION is a downward turn, or slide of the voice, used in reading or speaking; as, What are In the falling inflection, the voice should not sink below the general pitch; but in the rising inflection, it is raised above it. The two inflections may be illustrated by the following diagrams: 4. Is honor's lofty soul forever fled'? Is virtue lost? Is martial ardor dead/? Is there no heart where worth and valor dwell'? 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: Are you in earnest? the degree of inflection would be much earnest? greater, than if he playfully asks: Are you in former inflection may be called intensive, the latter, common. The 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'. 8. 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'. |