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when the next clause does not conclude, as in No. IV. adopt a quite opposite order. Not that this order in No. IV. is absolutely necessary, as that in No. III.; but it may always be adopted when we wish to be more harmonious and emphatical.

Rule III. When three members of a sentence, consisting of single words, succeed each other in a commencing series, the two last are to be pronounced as in Rule I. and the first with the falling inflection, in a somewhat lower tone than the second.

EXAMPLES.

Manufactures, tràde, and ágriculture, naturally employ more than nineteen parts of the species in twenty. Spectator, No.115.

A man that has a taste for mùsick, painting, or árchitecture, is like one that has another sense, when compared with such as have no relish of those arts. Ibid. No. 93.

In short, a modern Pindarick writer, compared with Pindar, is like a sister among the Camisars, compared with Virgil's Sybil; there is the distòrtion, grimace, and outward figure, but nothing of that divine impulse, which raises the mind above itself, and makes the sounds more than human.

Spectator, No. 160.

Rule IV. When three members of a sentence, consisting of single words, succeed each other in a concluding series, the two last are to be pronounced as in Rule II. and the first with the rising inflection in a little higher tone than the second.

EXAMPLES.

A modern Pindarick writer, compared with Pindar, is like a sister among the Camisars compared with Virgil's Sybil; the one gives that divine impulse which raises the mind above itself, and makes the sounds more than human, while the other abounds with nothing but distortion, grimáce, and outward figure.

It may not be improper to observe, that although the series of four, whether commencing or conclud

ing, must necessarily have the first and last words inflected alike, and the two middle words inflected alike, yet that the series of three in a concluding member may, when we are pronouncing with a degree of solemnity, and wish to form a cadence; in this case, I say, we not only may, but must pronounce the first word with the falling, the second with the rising, and the last with the falling inflection.

Rule V. When four members of a sentence, consisting of single words, succeed each other in a commencing series, and are the only series in the sentence, they may be divided into two equal portions: the first member of the first portion must be pronounced with the rising, and the second with the falling inflection, as in Rule II.; and the two members of the last portion exactly the reverse, that is, according to Rule I.

EXAMPLES.

Métals, minerals, plants, and méteors, contain a thousand curious properties, which are as engaging to the fancy as to the Spectator, No. 420.

reason.

Proofs of the immortality of the soul may justly be drawn from the nature of the Supreme Being, whose justice, goòdness, wisdom, and verácity, are all concerned in this great point. Spectator, No. 111.

The florist, the planter, the gardener, the húsbandman, when they are only accomplishments to the man of fortune, are great reliefs to a country life, and many ways useful to those who are possesed of them. Ibid. No. 93.

Rule VI. When four members of a sentence, consisting of single words, succeed each other in a concluding series, a pause may, as in the former rule, divide them into two equal portions: but they are to be pronounced with exactly contrary inflections; that is, the two first must be pronounced according to Rule I. and the two last according to Rule II.

EXAMPLES.

There is something very engaging to the fancy as well as to our reason, in the treatise of metals, minerals, plánts, and mèteors. Spectator, No. 420.

An instance of the variety of inflection with which a series of four particulars is pronounced, and of the diversity of inflection which the series requires, as it is either commencing or concluding, will be greatly illustrated by the following example :

He who resigns the world, has no temptation to envy, hàtred, màlice, ánger, but is in constant possession of a serene mind; he who follows the pleasures of it, which are in their very nature disappointing, is in constant search of càre, solícitude, remorse, and confùsion. Spectator, No. 282.

The first series in this sentence being a commencing series, is pronounced as in rule V.; and the last, as a concluding series, according to rule VI.

These rules might be carried to a much greater length; but too nice an attention to them, in a long series, might not only be very difficult, but give an air of stiffness to the pronunciation, which would not be compensated by the propriety. It may be necessary, however, to observe, that in a long enumeration of particulars, it would not be improper to divide them into portions of three; and if we are not reading extempore, as it may be called, this division of a series into portions of three ought to commence from the end of the series; that if it is a commencing, we may pronounce the last portion as in Rule III.; and if it is a concluding series, we may pronounce the last portion according to the observation annexed to Rule IV.

Rule VII. When a simple series extends to a considerable length, we may divide it into portions of three, beginning from the last if it be a commencing series, pronounce the last three words according

to Rule III.; and if it be a concluding series, pronounce them according to the observation added to Rule IV.

Commencing Series.

EXAMPLE.

Love, joy, peace; long suffering, gentleness, goodness; faith, mèekness, témperance, are the fruits of the Spirit, and against such there is no law.

Concluding Series.

EXAMPLE.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace; long suffering, gentleness, goodness; faith, méekness, tèmperance :-Against such there is no law. Galatians, chap. v.

Commencing Series.

EXAMPLE.

Metaphors; enigmas, mottos, parables; fables, dreams, visions; dramàtick writings, burlesque, and all the methods of allúsion, are comprehended in Mr. Locke's definition of wit, and Mr. Addison's short explanation of it.

Concluding Series.

EXAMPLE.

Mr. Locke's definition of wit, with this short explication, comprehends most of the species of wit; as metaphors, enigmas, mottos, parables; fables, dreams, visions; dramatick writings, burlesque, and all the methods of allusion. Spectator, No. 62.

If these observations should appear to have too much refinement, and to bestow more labour on these passages than is rewarded by the variety produced; it must be remembered, that in forming a system, and pushing its principles to their remotest consequences,

for the sake of shewing the extent of these governing principles, and giving an air of completeness and universality to the system adopted, it is often necessary to attend to particulars more curious than useful; if, however, we consider, that pronouncing these pas sages in a perfect monotone would be extremely disgusting, and that some general idea of the variety they are capable of, may at least give the ear a hint of a better pronunciation, it will not be thought useless that so much pains has been bestowed on this species of sentence. This consideration may encourage us to push our inquiries still farther into this laborious part of the subject; as those readers who are disgusted at it, may easily omit the perusal, and pass on to something more easy and agreeable.

Compound Series.

Preliminary Observation.

WHEN the members of a series consist of several words, or comprehend several distinct members of sentences, they are under somewhat different laws from those consisting of single words. In a single series the ear is chiefly consulted, and the inflections of voice are so arranged as to produce the greatest variety; but in a compound series the understanding takes the lead: For as a number of similar members of sentences in succession form a sort of climax in the sense, this climax can be no way pronounced so forcibly as by adopting the same inflection which is used for the strong emphasis; for, by this means, the sense is not only placed in a more distinct point of view, but the voice enabled to rise gradually upon every particular, and thus add to force an agreeable. variety.

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