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SECOND DIVISION.

PART II.

INFLECTION (continued).

We have hitherto considered the inflections proper to simple sentences only. We now proceed to some

SPECIAL RULES OF INFLECTION,

proper to periods of peculiar form and more elaborate construction; and to the different members or branches of which they may be composed.

1. APPOSITION.-2. ANTITHESIS.

1. APPOSITION in meaning and construction requires the apposition to be marked by inflection; that is—

RULE.

Words, or phrases, in apposition with each other, take the same respective inflections;-unless any of them be made emphatic for force.

EXAMPLES.

I reside in New York—a magnificent city.

And now abideth faith, hope, charity-these three.

2. ANTITHESIS, or opposition of meaning, requires antithesis of inflection; that is,

RULE.

Words or phrases in antithesis to each other take opposite inflections.

EXAMPLES.

He spoke for, not against peace.

As fire is opposed to water, so is vice to virtue.

We seek not peace, but war; and we shall fight, not pray,

for we had rather die than live.

The above are examples of single antithesis.

DOUBLE ANTITHESIS.

In the following, the antithesis is double; that is, of several opposite ideas, and consequently opposite inflections.

EXAMPLE.

Rational liberty is directly opposed to the wildness of anarchy.

(Here rational is in antithesis to wildness, and liberty to anarchy: the inflections on each respectively are therefore also opposed.)

FURTHER EXAMPLES.

If you seek to make one rich, study not to increase his stores, but to diminish his desires.-Seneca.

The peasant complains aloud; the courtier in secret repines. In want, what distress! in affluence, what satiety! The ignorant, through ill-grounded hope, are disappointed; the knowing, through knowledge, despond.— Young.

All flesh is not the same flesh; but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts," another of fishes, and another of birds.

There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.-1 Cor. c. 15.

Note also the melody that is produced to the ear by this antithetical alternation of inflection; which thus has the effect, not only of logically increasing the force and power of the contrast of ideas, by contrast of pitch, but, at the same time, of pleasing the ear by an agreeable variety of tone.

IMPLIED ANTITHESIS.

Antithesis may be implied, when not expressed; in which case the sense is left unfinished, (as it were,) and, consequently, is marked with the rising inflection.

He is a good boy, James,

EXAMPLES,

(Implying that some other boy is a bad one.)

You ask too much money; I'll give you a dollar.

(Implying, “but not any more.")

I'd give a hundred dollars for such a horse as that.

(Implying, "but not for an inferior one.")

Presumptuous man! the Gods take care of Cato! (Implying, "more immediately than of other men.")

THE APPOSITION OF ANTITHESIS.

Words in antithesis to each other, may form an antithetical member in apposition with a succeeding antithesis; in which case both the preceding rules of inflection apply: that is,

RULE.

The words in antithesis have opposite inflections; the antithetical members in apposition have respectively the same inflections.

EXAMPLE.

Fire and water are not more opposed than vice and virtue

(Here, fire and water are in antithesis,—so are vice and virtue; but the antithetical phrase fire and water is clearly in apposition with the phrase vice and virtue; the above rule applies.)

EMPHASIS OF ANTITHESIS.

(See ante, EMPHASIS OF SENSE.) Words and members in antithesis are (as a general rule) marked by the emphasis of sense; that is, the inflections are marked with additional weight;-this emphasis may be desig nated as Antithetical Emphasis,

But the emphasis of force is sometimes used in one member of the antithesis to give additional strength to it.

The antithesis is so frequent, and at the same time

so powerful a form of Rhetoric, that it deserves the best attention of the Elocutionist; and he should therefore make himself thoroughly master of this branch of our subject.

(See SERIES-Antithetical Series.)

INVERTED SENTENCES.

RULE.

In an inverted sentence, the inverted members take the inflections respectively proper, in the direct sentence, to the members in whose place they stand.

EXAMPLE.

Direct. He strictly enforces both by precept and example

the laws of religion and moralityTM inculcated in the

Gospel.

Inverted. The laws of religion and morality inculcated in the Gospel he strictly enforces both by precept and example.

EXCEPTION.

The only exception to this rule is made by the Emphasis of force, the inflection of which is paramount, and never changes, however much the position of the word on which it falls, may be changed by inversion.

EXAMPLE.

Direct. Our sight is the most perfect of all our senses.

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