When several successive syllables are uttered without either the upward or downward slide, they are said to be uttered in a monotone, which is marked thus, (—­); as,

  Roll on, thou deep and dark blue Ocean—­roll

EXAMPLES. (19)

  Does he read correctly’ or incorrectly’?

In reading this sentence, the voice should slide somewhat as represented in the following diagram: 

  Does he read cor-rectly or incorrect-ly?

  If you said vinegar, I said sugar,

To be read thus: 

  If you said vinegar, I said sugar,

  If you said yes, I said no.

To be read thus: 

  If you said yes, I said no.

  What! did he say no?

To be read thus: 

  What! did he say no?

  He did’; he said no’,

To be read thus;

  He did; he said no.

  Did he do it voluntarily’, or involuntarily’?

To be read thus: 

  Did he do it voluntarily, or involuntarily?

  He did it voluntarily’, not involuntarily’,

To be read thus: 

  He did it voluntarily, not involuntarily.

EXERCISES. (20)

Do they act prudently’, or imprudently’?

Are they at home’, or abroad’?

Did you say Europe’, or Asia’?

Is he rich’, or poor’?

He said pain’, not pain’.

Are you engaged’, or at leisure’?

Shall I say plain’, or pain’?

He went home’ not abroad’.

Does he say able’, or table’?

He said hazy’ not lazy’?

Must I say flat’, or flat’?

You should say flat’ not flat’.

My father’, must I stay’?

Oh! but he paused upon the brink.

It shall go hard with me, but I shall use the weapon.

Heard ye those loud contending waves,
  That shook Cecropia’s pillar’d state’? 
Saw ye the mighty from their graves
  Look up’, and tremble at your fate’?

First’ Fear’, his hand, its skill to try’,
  Amid the chords bewildered laid’;
And back recoiled’, he knew not why’
  E’en at the sound himself had made’.

Where be your gibes’ now? your gambols’? your songs’? your flashes of merriment, that were wont to set the table on a roar’?

Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is
Holy; “I dwell in the high and holy place.”

FALLING INFLECTION. (21)

Rule I.—­Sentences, and parts of sentences which make complete sense in themselves, require the falling inflection.

EXAMPLES. (21)

1.  By virtue we secure happiness’.

2.  For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven’:  I will exalt my throne above the stars of God’:  I will sit, also, upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north’.