§ IV. WHEN the accent is laid on the first syllable for several lines successively, it occafions an unpleafing monotony. EXAMPLES. That cháng'd thro' all, and yet in all the fame, Eff. on M. i. 269. It has been usually supposed *, that the monotony of these lines is owing to the uniform division of every verse, except the first and the laft, at the fourth fyllable. This however is not the only cause of the monotony. It is chiefly produced by the constant repetition of the accent on the first syllable. 1 Webb's Remarks on Poetry, p. 8. This will evidently appear by the following lines, in which the reader will perceive a fimilar monotony, though the poetical rest is varied: Fáde ev'ry blossom-wither ev'ry tree; Pope, Past. iii. 58. Míx'd with the vulgar-shall thy fate be found, Il. viii. 119. Líves thro' all life-extends thro' all extent, Eff. on M. Swift as a flood of fire-when storms arife, Il. ii. 948. § V. THE accent is sometimes laid on the first, third, fifth, and seventh fyllables. EXAMPLES. Fáirest piece of well-form'd earth, Could we, which we never cán, Waller. This measure has been frequently called the trochaic verse; because, in Greek and Roman poets, the trochee was a foot, confifting of a long fyllable, succeeded by a short one, as armă. But this appellation is only applicable in a figurative sense. Verses of this construction sometimes confift of eight syllables, and end with a double rhyme. EXAMPLES. Lóvely Tháis síts beside thee; Bácchus' bléssings áre a tréasure; Dryd. Id. The The following fong, by Mr. Pope, faid to have been written by a person of quality, belongs to this species of verfification. Flútt ring spréad thy púrple pínions, Mild Arcadians, ever blooming, Thus the Cyprian goddess weeping, Cynthia, tune harmonious numbers; Gloomy Pluto, king of terrors, Mournful cypress, verdant willow, Melancholy Melancholy, smooth Meander, Swiftly purling in a round, Thus, when Philomela drooping, I have given this fong at full length, because I would observe, that the author's design is grossly mistaken by many superficial readers, who think it a serious, as well as an elegant fonnet. It is a piece of exquisite humour, confifting of melodious nonsense, flowery expreffions, and incoherent sentiments, calculated to ridicule those frivolous compositions, which are faid to be written " by Persons of Quality." |