Here are the wise', the generous', and the brave';
The just', the good', the worthless', and profane',
The downright clown', and perfectly well bred';
The fool', the churl', the scoundrel', and the mean',
The supple statesman', and the patriot stern';
The wrecks of nations, and the spoils of time',
With all the lumber of six thousand years.

MODULATION OF THE CLIMAX.

Climax differs from the series, in as much as with its enumeration it brings out, as it proceeds, something more emphatic. Its pronunciation, therefore, has not only more variety-it must be distinguished by an increasing intensity of tone. This intensity is not necessarily connected with increasing height or loudness-sometimes additional force is given, as in the two examples below, by adopting a low key in the last and most emphatic word.

We are called upon as members of this house, as men', as Christians', to protest against this horrible barbarity.

If I were an American as I am an Englishman, while a foreign troop was landed in my country, I never would lay down my arms-never, never, never'.

The adoption of the low key on the last never indicates settled resolution, which expresses itself without vociferation.

In a series of commencing members forming a climax, the last member being strongly emphatic, takes a fall instead of a rise. A youth', a boy', a child', might understand it.

INTERROGATION.

RULE. Questions asked by pronouns or adverbs end with the falling inflexion.

This is called by some grammarians the Definite Question, and that asked by verbs the Indefinite: the first, the question asked with the interrogative word; and the second, the question asked by inversion. There is still no satisfactory reason given why the question asked by a pronoun should terminate differently from that asked by a verb. Who, strictly speaking, is no more an interrogative word than the verb; and though it were interrogative, there is no reason that the question introduced by it should terminate with a fall. There is no doubt that in the great proportion of questions introduced by pronouns or adverbs, declaration is conveyed, and the reason of the fall in this case is quite obvious. But questions asked by verbs have also very frequently a declarative force, and

yet the rising inflexion on them seems to be the one suggested by nature. It has been imagined by some that the question with the verb demands an immediate answer, and that it can be answered at once; and that, therefore, the rising slide at the end is natural, in so far as it seems to demand an immediate answer (a thing in accordance with its use in the compact sentence), and that the question asked by the pronoun and adverb requires a more lengthened answer, and consequently a fall at its termination, as the speaker must wait a little for it. It is principally, however, in questions asked by adverbs, that this lengthened answer is necessary; frequently in the question asked by a pronoun, an immediate answer is expected. Thus Macduff, anxious about his wife's safety, says—

Macduff. How does my wife'?
Rosse. Why well.

Macduff. And all my children?
Rosse. Well too.

Literal interrogations asked by pronouns or adverbs (or questions requiring an immediate answer) end with the falling inflexion.

Where are you going? Whence comes' he? What is your name'?

In cases of reiteration, the rising inflexion is used, and the slide is shifted on the adverb or pronoun. Thus, if after having put the question, Where are you going? I repeat it, not having heard the answer sufficiently, or having heard it, expressing my astonishment at the nature of the answer, the rising slide takes place on whereWhere' are you going?

It may be remarked here, that this is a question asked by a verb understood-Where are you going', do you say?

Questions asked by pronouns or adverbs requiring no immediate answer, terminate with the falling inflexion.

In this species of question, which is frequently a merely varied form of the declarative, the sentence terminates in nearly the same way as a declarative sentence in its common form, partaking of the cadence which was noticed in the loose sentence, and ending with a modified fall. But when this form is used in passionate or eager language, it partakes of an abrupt slide descending from a conti nuous voice.

.. How can he exalt his thoughts to any thing great or noble who only believes, that, after a short term on the stage of existence, he is to sink into oblivion, and to lose his consciousness for ever'?

Can any one be taught to sing, or to dance, without the aid of masters, and patterns for imitation? Why should we

suppose, then, that the use of regular tones and gestures, which are of the same nature, and founded upon the same principles, can be acquired any other way?

What, Tubero, did that naked sword of yours mean in the battle of Pharsalia'? at whose breast was its point aimed'? What was then the meaning of your arms', your spirit', your eyes', your hands', your ardour of soul'? What did you desire', what wish' for?

Questions asked by pronouns or adverbs, if connected with supplication, or deprecation, or sadness, take the rising slide, which, in certain modifications, is peculiarly adapted to express helplessness and melancholy; thus, "Who ever saw' "me there?" as a mournful appeal, has the rising slide. Desdemona. But what an if it were'?

Ah! whither now are fled

Those dreams of greatness'? those unsolid hopes
Of happiness'? those longings after fame'?
Those restless cares'? those busy bustling days'?
Those gay-spent, festive nights? those veering thoughts
Lost between good and ill, that shared thy life"?
Too daring prince, ah! whither dost thou run'?
Ah! too forgetful of thy wife and son.

Questions asked by verbs require the rising inflexion. When a literal question is asked.

Are you coming'? Do you hear'?

In reiterating the first of these questions, if the person becomes impatient, he will slide the voice down strongly on coming-Are you coming? It then virtually becomes a threat or a command.

When the question requires no immediate answer.

What is the happiness that this world can give? Can it defend us from disasters'? Can it protect us from diseases' ? Can it preserve our hearts from grief, our eyes from tears, or our feet from falling? Can it prolong our comforts'? Can it multiply our days'? Can it redeem ourselves or our friends from death'? Can it soothe the king of terrors, or mitigate the agonies of the dying'?

Will you for ever, Athenians, walk up and down the city asking one another what news'? what news'? Is there

any thing more new than to see a man of Macedonia become master of the Athenians, and give laws to all Greece'?

The second "what news" is the reiteration of Demosthenes, and takes the rising slide, as a verb is understood. What news', do you say?

Canst thou minister to a mind diseased'? Canst thou speak peace and rest to a soul tost on a sea of troubles, without one friendly star to guide her course, and dreading that the next surge may overwhelm' her? Canst thou give to a frame, tremblingly alive as the tortures of suspense, the stability and hardihood of the rock that braves the blast'? If thou canst not do the least of these, why wouldst thou disturb me in my miseries with thy inquiries after me?

Is the chair empty'? is the sword unswayed'?
Is the king dead'? the empire unpossessed'?
What heir of York is there alive but we'?

And who is England's king but great York's heir'?
Then tell me what makes he upon the seas?

Emphasis breaks through this rule.

Is there not my father, my uncle, and myself?
Is there not besides the Douglas`?

Was ever woman in this humour wooed'?
Was ever woman in this humour won'?

Questions introduced by verbs, containing two or more particulars connected by the conjunction or, terminate sometimes with the rising, and sometimes with the falling inflexion. If the question affects the objects disjunctively, the falling inflexion is used; if conjunctively, the rising.

Thus, if I say, Is he in London, or Paris? meaning, that I know he is in one of the towns, but that I do not know which one of the two, the rising inflexion is on London, and the falling on Paris; but if I ask the question, not knowing that he is in either of the towns, the rising inflexion takes place on both. The same inflexion would take place, though there were more than two connected by the conjunction or-thus, Is he in London', or Paris', or Madrid', or Rome'? meaning, in which one is he; or, Is he in London', or Paris', or Madrid', or Rome'? meaning, is he of the towns.

in any

Disjunctive. But shall we wear these glories for a day', Or shall they last', and we rejoice' in them?

Conjunctive. Thou fool, will thy discovery of the cause Suspend the effect' or heal' it?

In questions where the disjunctive or connects two or more particulars, the last particular has frequently the force of a strong asseveration.

Does God, after having made his creatures, take no further' care of them? Has he left them to blind fate or undirected chance'? Has he forsaken the works of his own hands'? Or does he always graciously preserve and keep and guide' them?

In this sentence the meaning is, that God does always graciously preserve, &c. A shift of the voice takes place at the last question.

Questions have often an affirmative form. Thus, "You will go'," pronounced with the rising slide, is the question, "Will you go?" It may be noticed here, however, that it has not the exact import of "Will you go?" The person who says "You will go," as a question, intimates his belief that he won't be refused, or, at least, that he does not wish to be refused. Questions have also at times a negative form; as, You will not go'? with a slide upwards, imports a question, but a question accompanied with the conviction or wish of the speaker that the person will not go.

A strong affirmation may be given as an appeal, in which case the rising inflexion takes place.

When a speaker asseverates strongly, he often gives the asseveration in the strong rising slide of a question; and the reason of this is found in the strong confidence of the speaker, who thus, by the rising slide, seems to challenge an answer. What we assume as an undoubted truth, then, will naturally take this artful confident turn of the voice.

On what side soever I turn my eyes, I behold all full of courage and strength-a veteran infantry! a most gallant cavalry! you, my allies, most faithful and valiant; you, Carthaginians, whom not only your country's cause, but the justest anger, impels to battle. The hope, the courage of assailants, is always greater than of those who act on the defensive'. With hostile banners displayed, you are come down upon Italy; you bring the war.

When a question contains a simple series, each particular may be treated as in the rule for simple series, unless there is something in the enumeration animated and forcible.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ'? Shall tribulation', or distress', or persecution', or famine'. or nakedness', or peril', or sword??