tion on these words in the first question, Why should not a female character be as ridiculous in a man, as a male character in one of the female sex? We may presume, therefore, that it is the emphasis, with which these questions sometimes terminate, that has led the generality of grammarians to conclude, that all questions terminate in an elevation of voice, and so to confound that essential difference there is between a question formed with and without the interrogative words.

Rule II. Interrogative sentences commencing with interrogative words, and consisting of members in a series depending necessarily on each other for sense, are to be pronounced as a series of members, of the same kind, in a declarative sentence.

EXAMPLES.

From whence can he produce such cogent exhortations to the practice of every vìrtue, such ardent excitements to piety and devòtion, and such assistance to attáin them, as those which are to be met with throughout every page of these inimitable writings? Jenyns's View of the Internal Evid. p. 41.

Where, amidst the dark clouds of pagan philosophy, can he shew us such a clear prospect of a future state, the immortality of the soul, the resurrection of the dead, and the general júdgment, as in St. Paul's first Epistle to the Corinthians ?

Ibid. p. 40.

But to consider the Paradise Lost only as it regards our present subject; what can be conceived greater than the battle of angels, the majesty of Messíah, the stature and behaviour of Satan and his pèers? what more beautiful than Pandæmònium, Paradise, Heaven, A'ngels, A'dam, and E've? what more strange than the creation of the world. the several metamorphoses of the fallen ángels, and the surprising adventures their leader meets with in his search after pàradise? Spectator, No. 418.

In these sentences we find exactly the same pauses and inflections of voice take place as in the differ

ent series of declarative sentences; that is, the first example is to be pronounced as in Rule III. of the Compound Series, p. 123; the second as in Rule V. p. 124; and the last example, being a Series of Serieses, must be pronounced according to the rules laid down under that article, p. 129.

But the question, which in reading and speaking produces the greatest force and variety, is that which is formed without the interrogative words,

The Question without the Interrogative Words.

Rule I. When interrogative sentences are formed without the interrogative words, the last word must have the rising inflection. If there be an emphatical word in the last member, followed by several words depending on it, which conclude the sentence, both the emphatical word and the concluding words are to be pronounced with the rising inflection: thus the words making one, and cause of the shipwreck, in the two following examples, have all the rising inflection.

EXAMPLES,

Would it not employ a beau prettily enough if, instead of eternally playing with his snuff-box, he spent some part of his time in making one? Spectator, No. 43.

If the owner of a vessel had fitted it out with every thing necessary and provided to the utmost of his power, against the dangers of the sea, and that a storm should afterwards arise and break the masts, would any one in that case accuse him of being the cause of the shipwreck ?

Demosthenes on the Crown. Rollin,

In these examples, we find, that, however variously the voice may employ itself on the rest of the sentence, the concluding words in the last member must necessarily be suspended with the rising inflec

tion: the only exception to this rule is, when these interrogative sentences are connected by the disjunctive or; for in that case the sentence or sentences that succeed the conjunction are pronounced as if they were formed by the interrogative words, or were merely declarative.

Rule II. When interrogative sentences, connected by the disjunctive or, succeed each other, the first ends with the rising and the rest with the falling inflection.

EXAMPLES.

Shall we in your person crówn the author of the publick calamities, or shall we destroy him?

Eschines on the Crown. Rollin.

Is the goodness, or wisdom of the divine Being, more manifested in this his proceeding? Spect. No. 519.

But should these credulous infidels after all be in the right, and this pretended revelation be all a fable, from believing it what harm could ensue? Would it render princes more tyrannical, or subjects more ungóvernable? The rich more insolent, or the poor more disorderly ?-Would it make worse parents or children; husbands or wives; masters or sérvants; friends or neighbours; or would it not make men more virtuous, and, consequently, more happy in èvery situation?

Jenyns's View of the internal Evidence, p. 107.

In the two former of these examples, we find the disjunctive or necessarily direct the voice in the last member of each to the falling inflection; and in the third example, we have not only an instance of the diversity of voice on the several questions according to their form, but an illustration of the exception formed by the conjunctive or; for in the former part of this passage, where it is used conjunctively, it does not occasion any more alteration of the voice on the word ensue than any other conjunctive word; but when used disjunctively, as in the last member of the question commencing ator would it not make

men more virtuous, &c.-we find it very properly change the tone of voice from the interrogative to the declarative; that is, from the rising to the falling inflection.

Rule III. Interrogative sentences without interrogative words, when consisting of a variety of members necessarily depending on each other for sense, admit of every tone, pause, and inflection of voice, common to other sentences, provided the last member, on which the whole question depends, has that peculiar elevation and inflection of voice which distinguishes this species of interrogation.

EXAMPLE.

But can we believe a thinking being, that is in a perpetual progress of improvements, and travelling on from perfection to perfection, after having just looked abroad into the works of its Creator, and made a few discoveries of his infinite goodness, wisdom, and power, must perish at her first setting out, and in the very beginning of her inquiries?

Spectator, No. 111.

In reading this passage we shall find, that placing the falling inflection without dropping the voice on the words improvements and Creator, will not only prevent the monotony which is apt to arise from too long a suspension of the voice, but enforce the sense by enumerating, as it were, the several particulars of which the question consists.

EXAMPLE.

Do you think that Themistocles, and the heroes who were killed in the battles of Marathon and Platèa; do you think the very tombs of your ancestors will not send forth groans, if you crown a man, who, by his own confèssion, has been for ever conspiring with barbarians to ruin Gréece?

Eschines on the Crown. Rollin.

This passage will be rendered much more forci ble and harmonious, if, instead of suspending the

voice throughout, we make use of the falling inflection, without dropping the voice on the words Platea and confession.

Rule IV. Interrogative sentences, formed without the interrogative words, and consisting of members in a series, which form perfect sense as they proceed, must have every member terminate with the inflection of voice peculiar to this species of interrogation.

EXAMPLES.

And with regard to the unhappy Lacedæmonians, what calamities have not befallen them for taking only a small part of the spoils of the temple? they who formerly assumed a superiority over Greece, are they not now going to send ambassadors to Alexander's court, to bear the name of hostages in his tráin, to become a spectacle of mísery, to bow the knee before the monarch, submit themselves and their country to his mércy, and receive such laws as a cònqueror-a conqueror they attacked fìrst, shall think fit to prescríbe them ?

Eschines on the Crown. Rollin.

It need scarcely be observed, that, in order to prevent the monotony to which this passage is very liable in reading, we ought to begin the first question as soft as possible, that the voice may pronounce them all with an increasing force to the last.

But did you, O-(what title shall I give you!) did you be tray the least shadow of displeasure against me, when I broke the chords of that harmony in your presence, and dispossessed the commonwealth of the advantages of that confederacy, which you magnify so much with the loudest strains of your theatrical vóice? did you ascend the rostrum ? did you denounce, or once explain those crimes, with which you are now pleased to charge me ? Demosthenes on the Crown. Rollin.

In this and the preceding sentence, we shall find the ear relieved, and the sense greatly enforced, by placing the falling inflection with emphasis in a high tone of voice on the words conqueror, first, and explain, according to Rule III.