We repeat it, we do not’ desire to produce discord; we do not’ wish to kindle the flames of a civil war.

Exception 2.—­General propositions and commands usually have the falling inflection.

EXAMPLES. (25)

God is not the author of sin’.  Thou shalt not kill.

Rule VI.—­Interrogative sentences, and members of sentences which can be answered by yes or no generally require the rising inflection.

EXAMPLES. (25)

1.  Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation’?

2.  Does the gentleman suppose it is in his power’, to exhibit in Carolina a name so bright’ as to produce envy’ in my bosom?

3.  If it be admitted, that strict integrity is not the shortest way to success, is it not the surest’, the happiest’, the best’?

4.  Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens, To wash this crimson hand as white as snow’?

Exception.—­Emphasis may reverse this rule.

EXAMPLES. (25)

1, Can’ you be so blind to your interest?  Will’ you rush headlong to destruction?

2.  I ask again, is’ there no hope of reconciliation?  Must’ we abandon all our fond anticipations?

3.  Will you deny’ it?  Will you deny’ it?

4.  Am I Dromio’?  Am I your man’?  Am I myself’?

Rule VII.—­Interrogative exclamations, and words repeated as a kind of echo to the thought, require the rising inflection.

EXAMPLES. (25)

1.  Where grows’, where grows it not’?

2.  What’!  Might Rome have been taken’?  Rome taken when I was consul’?

3.  Banished from Rome’!  Tried and convicted traitor’!

4.  Prince Henry.  What’s the matter’?

   Falstaff.  What’s the matter’?  Here be four of us
   have taken a thousand pounds this morning.

   Prince H. Where is’ it, Jack, where is’ it?

   Fal.  Where is’ it?  Taken from us, it is.

5.  Ha’! laughest thou, Lochiel, my vision to scorn?

6.  And this man is called a statesman.  A statesman’?  Why, he never invented a decent humbug.

7.  I can not say, sir, which of these motives influence the advocates of the bill before us; a bill’, in which such cruelties are proposed as are yet unknown among the most savage nations.

RISING AND FALLING INFLECTIONS. (26)

Rule viii.—­Words and members of a sentence expressing antithesis or contrast, require opposite inflections.

EXAMPLES. (26)

1.  By honor’ and dishonor’; by evil’ report and good’ report; as deceivers’ and yet true’.