sometimes natural at the end of a sentence, and merely marks the close, especially in non-interrogatives. In "negative" sentences this falling cadence is preceded by the negative inflection or circumflex

From Macbeth:

Witches. Seek to know no more!

Macbeth. I will be satisfied. Deny me this, And an eternal curse fall on you. Let me know Why sinks that caldron, and what noise is this?

An "imperative" is always understood unless expressed, as in the preceding case, "Let me know."

The following example is a "declarative-negative." The writer means that God never said to an angel, "Thon art my son," etc. Hebrews, ch. 1:

5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, "Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee?" and again, "I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me

a son.

*

13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, "Sit on my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool?"

The form of this sentence is antagonistic to its spirit; it is also a "psychological negative."

14 Are they not all [ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be theirs of salvation] ? "

In Romans 4: 9:

"Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? For we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.”

There are other examples in the same chapter.

2 Corin. 11:22:

Are they Hebrews? (Interrogative in form, assertive in meaning.) So am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.

Prov. 24: 12:

"If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not ;' doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? And he that keepeth thy soul doth not he know it? and shall not he render every man according to his works?"

Matthew 11: 2, 3:

2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples.

3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

The first part of this latter sentence is plainly assertive—the last is negative in spirit, as marked.

There are sentences that are partly interrogative, partly declarative, as this-King Richard III, Gloster to Clarence:

“Brother, good day! what means this armed guard That waits upon your grace?"

These declarative-interrogative sentences are from Hamlet, Act 1, Sc. 1. (Enter ghost.)

Bernardo. Looks it not like the king?

Mark it, Horatio.

*

*

Horatio. What art thou that usurpest this time of

night,

Together with that fair and warlike form,

In which the majesty of buried Denmark

Did sometimes march? by heaven, I charge thee, speak.

Marcellus. 'Tis gone, and will not answer.

Ber. How now, Horatio? You tremble, and look

pale:

Is not this something more than fantasy?

Mar. Is it not like the king?

Later in the play where Hamlet is speaking to Polonius

My lord, you played once in the University you say?

You could for a need study a speech of some dozen or sixteen lines which I would set down and insist on't?

At the battle-field near Barnet where Warwick is brought wounded, the first words he says abound with this sort of examples. Some of the sentences are in part declarative, in part interrogative.

War. Ah, who is nigh? come to me, friend or foe, And tell me, who is victor, York or Warwick?

Why ask I that? my [mangled body] shews,

[My blood, my [want of strength, my sick heart shews,] That I must yield my bodyl to the earth,

And by my fall, the conquest of my foe.
Thus yields the cedar to the axe's edge,

Whose arms gave shelter to the [princely eaglel,
Under whose shade the [ramping lion] slept:

Whose [top-branch] overpeer'd Jove's spreading tree,
And kept low shrubs from winter's powerful wind.
These eyes that now are dimm'd with death's black
veil,

Have been [as piercing as the mid-day sun),

To search the [secret treasons] of the world:
The wrinkles in my brow!, now fill'd with blood,
Were liken'd oft to kingly sepulchres];

For who lived king, but I could dig his gravel?
And who durst smile, when Warwick bent his brow?
Lo,
now my glory smear'd in dust and blood!
My parks, my walks, my manors that I had,
Even now forsake me; and of all

my lands,
Is nothing left me but my body's length]!
Why, what is pomp, rule, reign, but earth and dust ?
And, live we how we can, yet die we must.

A declarative sentence with an interrogative meaning should be read with the upward intonation.

2. THE CONDITIONAL FORM.

It is antagonistic to the meaning when requiring to be read with the downward inflection, the spirit of the

thought being assertive, absolute, not conditional. As an example:

"If then God does,"

"If it has been proven beyond dispute," etc., etc.

In these verses the spirit of the thought is assertive, the form conditional:

10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive [abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness] shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.-Romans, chap. 5.

This sentence is in the conditional form, but is assertive in meaning:

"If God be merciful to the sinner, why need he despair?"

The following is an example of conditional form with absolute meaning:

"If virtue is in itself so lovely, surely then it is its own reward."

The conditional form-assertive in spirit:

"If then God so clothe the grass, which is to-day in the field, and to-morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith.”