But rhyming poetry fo feldom admits of this inflexion in the feries, that the general rule is for a contrary pronunciation. EXAMPLE. So when the faithful pencil has defign'd' Pape's Efay on Crit. ver. 484. In this example we find every particular, except the laft but one (where the fentence begins to grow emphatical), adopt the rifing inflexion, as more agreeable to the pathetic tenor of the paffage than the falling; and it may be obferved, that there are few paffages of this fort in rhyming poetry, of the pathetic or ornamental kind, which do not neceffarily require the fame inflexion. Thus no objection to the utility of thefe long laboured rules has been diffembled. In fubjects of this nature fomething must always be left to the taste and judgment of the reader; but the author flatters himfelf, if any thing like a general rule is discovered in a point fuppofed to be without all rule, that fomething at least is added to the common ftock of knowledge, which may in practice be attended with advantage. What the bishop of London fays of improvements in grammar, may, with the greatest propriety, be applied to this part of elocution. "A fyftem of this kind," fays this learned and ingenious writer, "arifing from the "collection and arrangement of a multitude "of minute particulars, which often elude the "most careful fearch, and fometimes efcape "obfervation when they are most obvious, "muft always ftand in need of improvement: "it is, indeed, the neceffary condition of every "work of human art or science, fmall as well "as great, to advance towards perfection by "flow degrees; by an approximation, which, "though it may ftill carry it forward, yet will "certainly never bring it to the point to which "it tends." દ Dr. Lowth's Preface to bis Grammar. The Final Paufe or Period. When a sentence is so far perfectly finished, as not to be connected in conftruction with the following fentence, it is marked with a period. This point is in general fo well understood, that few grammarians have thought it neceffary to give an exprefs example of it; though there are none who have inquired into punctuation who do not know, that in loofe fentences the period is frequently confounded with the colon. But though the tone, with which we conclude a fentence, is generally well understood, we cannot be too careful in pronunciation to diftinguifh it as much as poflible from that member of a sentence, which contains perfect fense, and is not neceffarily connected with what follows. Such a member, which may not be im properly called a fententiola, or little fentence, requires the falling inflexion, but in a higher tone than the preceding words; as if we had only finished a part of what we had to say, while the period requires the falling inflexion in a lower tone, as if we had nothing more to add. But this final tone does not only lower the laft word; it has the fame influence on those which more immediately precede the laft; fo that the cadence is prepared by a gradual fall upon the concluding words; every word in the latter part of a fentence fliding gently lower till the voice drops upon the laft. See this more clearly explained, Plates I. and II. This will more evidently appear upon repeating the following fentence; EXAMPLE. As the word tafte arifes very often in converfation, I shall endeavour to give fome account of it, and to lay down rules how we may know whether we are poffèffed of it, and how we may acquire that fine tafte in writing which is fo much talked of among the polite world. Spec. No 407. We find perfect fenfe formed at the words account of it, and poffeffed of it; but as they do not conclude the fentence, these words, if they adopt the falling inflexion, must be pronounced in a higher tone than the reft; while in the laft member, not only the word world is pronounced lower than the reft, but the whole member falls gradually into the cadence, which is fo much talked of among the polite world. And here it will be abfolutely neceffary to observe, that though the period generally requires the falling inflexion, every period does not neceffarily adopt this inflexion in the fame tone of voice; if fentences are intimately connected in sense, though the grammatical structure of each may be independent on the other, they may not improperly be confidered as fo many small fentences making one large one, and thus requiring a pronunciation correfpondent to their logical dependence on each other: hence it may be laid down as a general rule; that a series of periods in regular fucceffion are to be pronounced as every other feries: that is, if they follow each other regularly as parts of the fame observation, they are to be pronounced as parts, and not as wholes. EXAMPLES. Some men cannot discern between a noble and a mèan action. Others are apt to attribute them to fome false end or intèntion, and others purpofely mifreprefent or put a wrong interpretation on them. Spec. No. 255. Though the first part of this paffage is marked with a period in all the editions of the Spectator I have feen, nothing can be plainer than that it ought to be pronounced as the first member of the concluding feries of three compound members. See article Compound Series, Rule IV. Thus although the whole of life is allowed by every one to be fhort, the feveral divifions of it appear long and tedious. We are for lengthening our fpan in general, but would fain contract the parts of which it is compofed. The ufurer would be very well fatisfied to have all the time annihilated, that lies between the prefent moment and next quarter-day. The poli tician would be contented to lose three years in his life, could he place things in the pofture, which he fancies they will stand in, after fuch a revolution of time. The lover would be glad to ftrike out of his existence all the moments that are to pass away before the happy meeting. Thus as faft as our time runs, we fhould be very glad in most part of our lives, that it ran much fafter than it does. Spectator, No 93. Though here are no less than fix periods in this paffage, and every one of them requires the falling inflexion, yet every one of them ought to be pronounced in a fomewhat different pitch of voice from the other; and for this purpose they may be confidered as a concluding feries of compound members; the laft period of which muft conclude with a lower tone of voice than the preceding, that there may be a gradation. See Compound Series, Rule IV. To thefe obfervations this may be fubjoined, that the period, though generally, does not always, require the falling inflexion and a lower tone of voice. The firft and moft general exception to the rule is the following: Exception I. When a sentence concludes an antithefis, the first branch of which requires the ftrong emphafis, and therefore demands the falling inflexion; the fecond branch requires the weak emphafis, and rifing inflexion: and, confequently, if this latter branch of the antithefis finish the fentence, it muft finish without droping the voice, that the inflexions on the oppofite parts of the antithelis may be different. See Emphafis. EXAMPLES. If we have no regard for our own character, we ought to have fome regard for the character of others. If content cannot remove the difquietudes of mankind, it will at least alléviate them. I would have your papers confift alfo of all things which may be neceffary or ufeful to any part of fociety; and the mechànic arts should have their place as well as the liberal. Spectator, N° 428. |