the falling inflexion, and he gives, as an illustration of this, the saying of Richard,

"I'll be in men's despite' a monarch;"

that is, in their spite, not in their favour. But the falling emphasis is used where we do not deny in the antithesis; thus,

Such plays alone should please a British ear,
As Cato's self' would not disdain to hear.

Here the antithesis, or elliptical word, not merely an ordinary man, is not, to use Mr Walker's language, excluded. When we say that "the composition would disgrace a peasant," with the falling emphasis on peasant, we mean to intimate that it was unworthy not only of a polished man, but even of a peasant. Here, then, we affirm in the emphasis, and do not deny what is opposed to it in the antithesis; the composition, as Mr Sheridan Knowles justly remarks, being unworthy both of the polished man and the peasant. It appears to me that Mr Walker was unfortunate in his use of the word excluding the antithesis; had he merely said that the word in contradistinction, when supplied, came in negatively, he would have been more happy in his definition. Mr Walker's definition is correct where direct opposition is implied; but where degree is denoted, or where emphasis is merely a shortened climax, the same test will not apply. Walker's rising emphasis is extremely unsatisfactory, and it must have appeared so to many of his followers, who carefully abstain from giving any examples of it, with the exception of the one given by Mr Walker himself—" "Twas base and poor, unworthy of a man', to forge a scroll so villanous and loose." Here we affirm, says Walker, in the emphasis, without denying what is opposed to it in the antithesis-" "Twas unworthy of a man, though not unworthy of a brute." The rise on man, admitting Mr Walker's antithesis to be just (which Mr Knowles questions), is easily explained by Mr Walker's own rule of the negative clause; it was not worthy of a man, but of a brute. The truth is, the greater number would rise on man, as the sense is incomplete, in agreement with the rule of the compact sentence. The best mode of ascertaining whether the rising emphasis here given by Mr Walker is satisfactory, is, to place the line containing it at the conclusion of the sense, thus, "To forge a scroll so villanous and loose, was base and poor, unworthy of a man';" few, indeed, would give the rising slide here. It may be stated, then, that, in affirming, we fall on the emphatic word, and that the rising emphasis is only employed, when the sentence, from its structure, as given in the rules of inflexion, requires it.

Accented words, when inflected, cannot be mistaken for emphatic words inflected; in the latter case, the force of the voice in the emphatic word is as distinguishing as accent on syllables. Force is communicated not merely by the absolute stress of the voice on the emphatic word, but also by the feebleness with which the other

D

words are given. The emphatic word is of course more prolonged in its sound than other words.

The inflexion of emphasis differs from that of merely accented words, as with greater force it is also more circumflex-thus,

In the sentence, Exercise and temperance strengthen the constitution, the fall on constitution is taken from nearly the same height on which the rise on strengthen terminates; but in the sentence, Exercise and temperance strengthen even an indifferent constitution, where the word indifferent is emphatic, the voice not only rises at strengthen, but to give a markedness to the word indifferent, slides up still farther on the accented syllable dif, and turns upon that syllable with a strong slide downwards.

Emphasis-Elliptical.

EXAMPLES.

A child' might understand it.*

That is, not merely a man, but a child.

I'm tortured e'en to madness when I think' of the insult. That is, not merely when it is spoken of, but when I even think of it.

How beautiful is Nature in her wildest scenes!

Not merely in her soft scenes, but even in her wildest scenes.
It is deplorable when age' thus errs.†

Not merely youth, but age.

Were I Brutus, and Brutus Antony.

There were an Antony would ruffle up your spirits,
And put a tongue in every wound of Cæsar's, that should

move

The stones' of Rome to rise in mutiny.

Not merely men, not merely you, but even stones.

Oh, there be players that I have seen play, and heard others praise, and that highly, that neither having the accent of Christian, Pagan, or man, have so strutted and bellowed, that I have thought some of Nature's journeymen' had made men.

That is, not Nature herself, but her journeymen.

Although emphasis is strictly circumflex, it is marked here with the common slide, to distinguish it from the stronger circumflexes afterwards noticed.

If this sentence were spoken with feeling, a rising emphasis might be employed.

Emphasis the antithetic word not formally expressed.
Heavens! with what pleasure-with what love' I gaze
In every face, to view his father's greatness.

That is, not merely with pleasure, but even with love.
Our safety our lives' depend on your fidelity.
That is, not merely our safety, but our lives.

Tubal. One of them showed me a ring which he had of your daughter for a monkey.

Shylock. Out upon her! Thou torturest me, Tubal; it was my turquoise-I would not have given it for a wilderness of monkies.

That is, not for one monkey merely, but a wilderness of monkies. Emphasis the Antithesis formally expressed.

They are not enemies', but the fragments' of enemies. We can do nothing against' the truth, but for the truth. I will speak' daggers to her, but use` none.

Where the negative emphasis is followed by the antithesis, a rise may be on the negative; but if the antithesis is not to follow, or if it is before expressed, instead of a simple rise there is a strong falling circumflex on the emphatic word. 'Tis not his merit' which has helped him on, 'tis his family influence.

'Tis not his merit which has helped him on.

Brutus. I'd rather be a dog and bay the moon, Than such a Roman.

Cassius. Brutus, bay not me. I'll not endure it.

In sentences where the negative clause comes last, a marked falling circumflex appears more natural than the rising inflexion, as given by most elocutionists.

'Tis his family influence', not his merit, which has helped him on.

When the negative is emphatic, the emphasis has the falling inflexion.

And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth

make thee mad. But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.

Many speakers emphasise not very improperly; thus, in the reading of the commandments, not is frequently given with great force. "Thou shalt not kill," "Thou shalt not steal," with the emphasis on not, intimate that men insist on stealing and killing.

Where the emphatic word does not suggest the antithesis, the emphasis is weaker.

Though deep', yet clear'; though gentle, yet not dull'; Strong', without rage'; without o'erflowing', full'.

Do

Do

To err' is human'; to forgive' divine'.
Emphasis-in questions asked by a verb.

you ride to town to-day'?

To-day, and not to-morrow.
Do you ride to town' to-day?
To town, and not to the country.
you ride' to town to-day?
Do you ride, and not walk.
Do you' ride to town to-day?
Do you, and not your brother.

Do' you ride to town to-day?

Is it the fact ?-I was led to think otherwise.

In all these, the rising slide seems natural; but if the question were put a second time, as if demanding an answer, or put in the way of a threat, falling inflexions would be put instead of rising. Canst thou, O partial sleep! give thy repose

To the wet sea-boy in an hour so rude;
And, in the calmest and the stillest night,
With all appliances and means to boot,
Deny it to a king'?

Would you have me bathe my hands in blood;
An infant's' blood?

Emphasis in questions asked by pronouns and adverbs.

'Tis rumoured by my enemies that I was there; who ever saw' me there?

Why should Rome fall a moment' ere her time?

Emphasis in compact sentences, with a conjunction.
When the noble Cæsar saw him' stab (his friend),
Ingratitude, more strong than traitor's arms,
Quite vanquished him.

Though he was a peasant', I treated him with delicacy.

If the first clause in this last sentence were suppositive, then the falling inflexion would be natural.

Though he were a peasant', I would treat him with delicacy.

In a concession.

He is foolish', I grant, but yet good-hearted.

In antithetic clauses.

James' is humane', but John' is more so. James's' wit is keen', but William's' is keener`. His years' are young', but his experience' old`; His head' unmellowed', but his judgment' ripe'. Heaven' soon granted' what my sire' denied'. Heaven' is the region of gentleness and friendship'; hell', of fierceness and animosity'.

Retorted emphasis adopts the falling circumflex, " Hamlet, you have your father much offended. Madam, you have my father much offended.

But this is very common in all strong emphasis, especially if mixed with reproach.

Irony is emphasis caricatured, and is well expressed by the circumflexes.

Your hônesty is remarkable-(dishonesty).

This figure sometimes takes the rising, and sometimes the falling circumflex; if the structure of the sentence requires the rising slide, then the circumflex terminating with the rise is adopted, thus

We never attempted to cope with James-oh no.

In impassioned speaking, emphatic force is often laid on several words in succession. This is a dangerous practice, and often resorted to by extravagant speakers. In cases of expressing strong resolution, it may be adopted.