[Formule.—Not proper, because the emphatic address in this sentence, is marked with a period after it. But, according to Rule 2d for the Ecphoneme, "After an earnest address or solemn invocation, the note of exclamation is now generally preferred to any other point." Therefore, this period should be changed to the latter sign.]
"Cease a little while, O wind; stream, be thou silent a while; let my voice be heard around. Let my wanderer hear me. Salgar, it is Colma who calls. Here is the tree, and the rock. Salgar, my love, I am here. Why delayest thou thy coming? Lo, the calm moon comes forth. The flood is bright in the vale."—See Key.
"Ah, stay not, stay not, guardless and alone;
Hector, my lov'd, my dearest, bravest son."—See Key.
UNDER RULE III.—EXCLAMATORY QUESTIONS.
"How much better is wisdom than gold."—Bullions, E. Gram., p. 153; Hiley, p. 113.
[Formule.—Not proper, because this exclamatory sentence is pointed with a period at the end. But, according to Rule 3d for the Ecphoneme, "Words uttered with vehemence in the form of a question, but without reference to an answer, should be followed by the note of exclamation." Therefore, this period should be changed to the latter sign.]
"O virtue! how amiable art thou."—Flint's Murray, p. 51. "At that hour, O how vain was all sublunary happiness."—Day's Gram., p. 74. "Alas! how few and transitory are the joys which this world affords to man."—Ib., p. 12. "Oh! how vain and transitory are all things here below."—Ib., p. 110.
"And oh! what change of state, what change of rank,
In that assembly everywhere was seen."—Day's Gram., p. 12.
"And O! what change of state! what change of rank!
In that assembly every where was seen!"—Pollok, B. ix, l. 781.
MIXED EXAMPLES OF ERROR.
"O shame! where is thy blush."—S. Barren's Principles of Language, p. 86. "O shame, where is thy blush; John, give me my hat."—Ib., p. 98. "What! is Moscow in flames."—Ib., p. 86. "Ah! what happiness awaits the virtuous."—Ib., 86.
"Ah, welladay,—do what we can for him, said Trim, maintaining his point,—the poor soul will die."—STERNE: Enfield's Speaker, p. 306. "A well o'day! do what we can for him, said Trim, maintaining his point: the poor soul will die"—Kirkham's Elocution, p. 340.
"Will John return to-morrow."—S. Barrett's Gram., Tenth Ed., p. 55. "Will not John return to-morrow."—Ib., 55. "John! return to-morrow; Soldiers! stand firm."—Ib., 55. "If mea which means my is an adjective in Latin, why may not my be so called in English, and if my is an adjective, why not Barrett's"—Ib., p. 50.
"Oh? Absalom, my son."—O. B. Peirce's Gram., p. 375. "Oh! STAR-EYED SCIENCE!! whither hast thou fled?"—Ib., p. 366. "Why do you tolerate your own inconsistency, by calling it the present tense!"—Ib., p. 360. "Thus the declarative mode may be used in asking a question; as, what man is frail."—Ib., p. 358. "What connexion has motive wish, or supposition, with the term subjunctive!"—Ib., p. 348. "A grand reason, truly! for calling it a golden key."—Ib., p. 347. "What ‘suffering’! the man who can say this, must be ‘enduring.’"—Ib., p. 345. "What is Brown's Rule! in relation to this matter?"—Ib., p. 334.
"Alas! how short is life." "Thomas, study your book."—Day's District School Gram., p. 109. "As, ‘alas!’ how short is life; Thomas, study your book.'"—Ib., p. 82. "Who can tell us who they are."—Sanborn's Gram., p. 178. "Lord have mercy on my son; for he is a lunatic, etc."—Felton's Gram., 1st Ed., p. 138; Ster. Ed., 140. "O, ye wild groves, O, where is now your bloom!"—Ib., p. 88; Ster. Ed., 91.
"O who of man the story will unfold!"
—Farnum's Gr., 2d Ed., p. 104.
"Methought I heard Horatio say to-morrow.
Go to I will not hear of it—to-morrow."
—Hallock's Gr., 1st Ed., p. 221.
"How his eyes languish? how his thoughts adore
That painted coat which Joseph never wore?"
—Love of Fame, p. 66.
SECTION VIII.—THE CURVES.
The Curves, or Marks of Parenthesis, are used to distinguish a clause or hint that is hastily thrown in between the parts of a sentence to which it does not properly belong; as, "Their enemies (and enemies they will always have) would have a handle for exposing their measures."—Walpole.
"To others do (the law is not severe)
What to thyself thou wishest to be done."—Beattie.
OBS.—The incidental clause should be uttered in a lower tone, and faster than the principal sentence. It always requires a pause as great as that of a comma, or greater.
RULE I.—THE PARENTHESIS.
A clause that breaks the unity of a sentence or passage too much to be
