CHAPTER II. OF VERSIFICATION. As there are few persons who do not sometimes read poetical composition, it seems necessary to give the student 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, and have the same just quantity in their syllables. So that, in this respect, we have all that the ancients had, and something which they had not. We have in fact duplicates of each foot, yet with such a difference, as to fit them for different purposes, to be applied at our plea sure. Every foot has, from nature, powers peculiar to itself; and it 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 twe llables, and four of three, as follows: A Pyrrhic TRISYLLABLF A Dactyl An Amphibrach- A Trochee has the first syllable accented, and the last anaccented: as, 66 Hateful, péttish." An Iambus has the first syllable unaccented, and the last accented as, 66 Betray, consist." as, 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, “ Labourer, possible." An Amphibrach has the first and last syllables unaccented; and the middle one accented: as, "Delightful, doméstic." An Anapæst has the two first syllables unaccented, and the last accented: as, "Contravene, acquiésce." A Tribrach has all its syllables unaccented: as, "Numěrăble, 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 Anapest. 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 seet. 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 Iambic 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 Iambus, with this addition, coincides with the Amphibrach. 2. The second form of our Iambic is also too short to be continued through any great number of lines. It con sists of two Iambuses. What place is here! What scenes appear! No longer glows. It sometimes takes, or may take, an additional short syllable: as, Upon ǎ mountăin 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 : 4. The fourth form is made up of four lambuses. And may at last my weary age, Find out the peaceful hermitage. 5. The fifth species of English Iambic, consists of five lambuses. How lov'd, how valu'd ōnce, avails thee nōt, A heap of dust alone remains of thee; Be wise to-day, 'tis mādness to děfēr : This is called the Heroic measure. In its simplest form it consists of five Iambuses; but by the admission of other feet, as Trochees, Dactyls, Anapasts, &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 Iambic is commonly called the Alexandrine measure. It consists of six Iambuses. 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 smōke děcāy, 7. The seventh and last form of our. Iambic measure, is made up of seven Iambuses. The Lord descended from ǎbōve, 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 : Whěn all thy merciěs, 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. Túmult 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 It sometimes contains two feet or trochees, with an additional long syllable: as, In the days of ōld Fables plainly told. 3. The third species consists of three trochees: as, When our hearts ǎre mōurning : or of three trochees, with an additional long syllable: as Restless mortals tōil for nōught; Bliss in vain from earth is sought; Bliss, a native of the sky, Never wanders. Mortals, try; For to seek her is to gain. 4 The fourth Trochaic species consists of four tre chees: as, Rōund us rōars the tempest lõuder. This form may take an additional long syllable, as follows: Idlě 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 în chăriots. All that dwell in palaces or garrets. 6. The sixth form of the English Trochaic consists of six trochees: as, On & mountain, stretch'd beneath ã hōary willow, |