CHAPTER II OF VERSIFICATION. As there are few persons who do not sometimes read poetical composition, it seems necessary to give the stu dent some idea of that part of grammar, which explains the principles of versification; that, in reading poetry, he may be the better able to judge of its correctness, and relish its beauties. When this lively mode of exhibiting nature and sentiment, is perfectly chaste, it is often found to be highly interesting and instructive. VERSIFICATION is the arrangement of a certain number and variety of syllables, according to certain laws Rhyme is the correspondence of the last sound of one verse, to the last sound or syllable of another. Feet and pauses are the constituent parts of verse. We shall consider these separately. OF POETICAL FEET. A certain number of syllables connected, form a foot. They are called feet, because it is by their aid that the voice, as it were, steps along through the verse, in a measured pace; and it is necessary that the syllables which mark this regular movement of the voice, should, in some manner, be distinguished from the others. This distinction was made among the ancient Romans, by dividing their syllables into long and short, and ascertaining their quantity by an exact proportion of time in sounding them; the long being to the short, as two to one; and the long syllables, being thus the more important, marked the movement. In English, syllables are divided into accented and unaccented; and the accented syllables being as strongly distinguished from the unaccented, by the peculiar stress of the voice upon them, are equally capable of marking the movement, and pointing out the regular paces of the voice, as the long syllables were by their quantity, among the Romans. When the feet are formed by an accent on vowels, they are exactly of the same nature as the ancient feet, So and have the same just quantity in their syllables. tha in this respect, we have all that the ancients had, and something which they had not. We have in fact du plic. tes of each foot, yet with such a difference, as to fit tl em for different purposes, to be applied at our plea sure Every foot has, from nature, powers peculiar to itself; and i is upon the knowledge and right application of these powers, that the pleasure and effect of numbers chiefly depend. All feet used in poetry consist either of two, or of three syllables; and are reducible to eight kinds; four of two syllables, and four of three, as follows: DISSYLLABLE. A Trochee-~ An lambus A Spondee A Pyrrhic TRISYLLABLE. A Dactyl An Anapæst A Tribrach A Trochee has the first syllable accented, and the last unaccented: as, 66 Hateful, pettish." An lambus has the first syllable unaccented, and the last accented as, "" Betray, consist.” 28, as, A Spondee has both the words or syllables accented "The pale mōōn.” A Pyrrhic has both the words or syllables unaccented:、 "on the tall tree." A Dactyl has the first syllable accented, and the two latter unaccented: as, “Lābōurĕr, póssible.” An Amphibrach has the first and last syllables unaccented; and the middle one accented: as, Dēlightful, doméstic." An Anapæst has the two first syllables unaccented, and the last accented: as, “Contrăvéne, acquiésce.” A Tribrach has all its syllables unaccented: as, měrăble, conquerable.". Some of these feet may be denominated principal feet; as pieces of poetry may be wholly, or chiefly formed of any of them. Such are the Iambus, Trochee, Dactyl, and Anapæst. The others may be termed secondary feet, because their chief use is to diversify the numbers, and to improve the verse. We shall first explain the nature of the principal feet. IAMBIC verses may be divided into several species, according to the number of feet or syllables of which they are composed. 1. The shortest form of the English lambic consists of an Iambus, with an additional short syllable: as, Disdaining, We have no poem of this measure, but it may be met with in stanzas. The lambus, with this addition, coincides with the Amphibrach. 2. The second form of our lambic is also too short to be continued through any great number of lines. It con sists of two Iambuses. What placé is hēre! What scenes appear! No longer glows. It sometimes takes, or may take, an additional short syllable: as, Upon ǎ mountain Beside a fountain. 3. The third form consists of three Iambuses In places får or near, Or famous or obscure, Where wholesome is the air, Or where the most impure. It sometimes admits of an additional short syllable · as, Our hearts no longer languish. 4. The fourth form is made up of four Iambuses. And may ǎt last my weary age, Find out the peaceful hermitage. 5. The fifth species of English Iambic, consists of five lambuses. How lōv'd, how vālŭ'd ōnce, ǎvāils thče nōt, A heap of dust alone remains of thee; This is called the Heroic measure. In its simplest form it consists of five lambuses; but by the admission of other feet, as Trochees, Dactyls, Anapæsts, &c. it is capable of many varieties. Indeed, most of the English common measures may be varied in the same way, as well as by the different position of their pauses. 6. The sixth form of our lambic is commonly called the Alexandrine measure. It consists of six lambuses. For thōu ǎrt būt of dust; be humble and be wise. The Alexandrine is sometimes introduced into heroic rhyme; and when used sparingly, and with judgment, occasions an agreeable variety. The seas shall waste, the skies in smoke decay, 7. The seventh and last form of our lambic measure, seven lambuses. is made up of The Lord descended from above, And bow'd the heavens high. This was anciently written in one line; but it is now broken into two; the first containing four feet, and the second three : б When all thy mercies, O my God! In wonder, love, and praise. In all these measures, the accents are to be placed on even syllables; and every line considered by itself, is, in general, more melodious, as this rule is more strictly observed. TROCHAIC verse is of several kinds. 1. The shortest Trochaic verse in our language, consists of one Trochee and a long syllable. Tumult cease, Sink to peace. This measure is defective in dignity, and can seldom be used on serious occasions. 2. The second English form of the Trochaic consists of two feet; and is likewise so brief, that it is rarely used for any very serious purpose. On the mountain By a fountain. It sometimes contains two feet or trochees, with an additional long syllable: as, In the days of old 3. The third species consists of three trochecɛ: as, When our hearts åre mōurning : or of three trochees, with an additional long syllable : as Restless mōrtāls tōil för nōught; Bliss in vain from earth is sought; Bliss, a native of the sky, Never wanders. Mortals, try; 4 The fourth Trochaic species consists of four tre chees: as, Rōund us rōars the tempest lõudĕr. This form may take an additional long syllable, as follows. Idle after dinner in his chair, Sat a farmer, ruddy, fat, and fair. But this measure is very uncommon. 5. The fifth Trochaic species is likewise uncommon. It is composed of five trochees. All that walk on foot or ride in chariots, All that dwell in palaces or garrets. 6. The sixth form of the English Trochaic consist of six trochees: as, On & mountain, stretch'd beneath & hoary willow, |