Inquiring into the melody of Hexameter verse, we foon discover, that order or arrangement doth not conftitute the whole of it. Comparing different lines, equally regular as to the fucceffion of long and fhort fyllables, the melody is found in very different degrees of perfection. Nor does the difference arise from any particular combination of Dactyles and Spondees, or of long and fhort fyllables. On the contrary, we find lines where Dactyles prevail and lines where Spondees prevail, equally melodious. Of the former take the following inftance:

Æneadum genitrix hominum divumque voluptas. Of the latter:

Molli paulatim flavefcet campus arista.

What can be more different as to melody than the two following lines, which, however, as to the fucceffion of long and fhort fyllables, are constructed precifely in the fame manner?

Spond. Dact. Spond. Spond. Dact. Spond.
Ad talos ftola dimiffa et circumdata palla. Hor.

Spond. Dact. Spond. Spond. Dact. Spond. Placatumque nitet diffufo lumine cœlum. Lucret.

In the former, the paufe falls in the middle of a word, which is a great blemish, and the accent is disturbed by a harsh elifion of the vowel a upon the particle et. In the latter the paufes and the accent are all of them diftinct and full: there is no elifion, and the words are more liquid and founding. In these particulars confifts the beauty of an Hexameter line with refpect to melody; and by neglecting thefe, many lines in the Satires and Epiftles of Ho

race

:

race are lefs agreeable than plain profe; for they are neither the one nor the other in perfection. To make thefe lines found, they must be pronounced without relation to the sense. It must not be regarded, that words are divided by paufes, nor that harsh elifions are multiplied. To add to the account, profaic low-founding words are introduced; and which is ftill worse, accents are laid on them. Of fuch faulty lines take the following instances.

Candida rectaque fit, munda hactenus fit neque longa.

Jupiter exclamat fimul atque audirit; at in se
Cuftodes, le&tica, ciniflones, parafitæ

Optimus eft modulator, ut Alfenus Vafer omni
Nunc illud tantum quæram, meritone tibi fit.

Next in order comes English heroic verfe, which fhall be examined under the whole five heads, of number, quantity, arrangement, paufe, and accent. This verse fometimes employs rhymes and fometimes not, which distinguishes it into two kinds; one named metre, and one blank verse. In the former, the lines are connected two and two by fimilarity of found in the final fyllables; and fuch connected lines are termed couplets. Similarity of found being avoided in the latter, banishes couplets. These two forts must be handled feparately, because there are many peculiarities in each. The first article with refpect to rhyme or metre, fhall be difcuffed in a few words. Every line confifts of ten fyllables, five short and five long. There are but two exceptions, both of them rare. A couplet can bear to be drawn out, by adding a fhort fyllable at the end of each of the two lines: There hero's wits are kept in pon'drous vafes, And beau's in fnuff-boxes and tweezer-cafes.

The

The piece, you think, is incorrect? Why, take it; I'm all fubmiffion; what you'd have it, make it.

This licence is fufferable in a fingle couplet; but if frequent would foon become difguftful.

The other exception concerns the fecond line of a couplet, which is fometimes ftretched out to twelve fyllables, termed an Alexandrine line.

A needlefs Alexandrine ends the fong,

That, like a wounded fnake, drags it flow length along.

It doth extremely well when employ'd to clofe a period with a certain pomp and folemnity fuitable to the fubject. ad

With regard to the fecond article, it is unneceffary to mention a fecond time, that the quantities employ'd in verfe are but two, the one double of the other; that every fyllable is feducible to one or other of these standards; and that a fyllable of the larger quantity is termed long, and of the leffer quantity bort. It belongs more to the prefent article, to examine what peculiarities there may be in the English language as to long and fhort fyllables. In every language, there are fyllables that may be pronounced long or fhort at pleafure; but the Engith above all abounds in fyllables of that kind. In words of three or more fyllables, the quantity for the most part is invariable. The exceptions are more frequent in diffyllables; but as to monofyllables, they may without many exceptions be pronounced either long or short. Nor is the ear hurt by this liberty; being accustomed to the variation of quantity in the fame word. This fhows that the melody of English verfe muft depend lefs upon quantity, than upon other circumftances. In that particular it differs widely from Latin verfe. There

every fyllable having but one found, strikes the ear conftantly with its accuftomed impreffion; and a reader must be delighted to find a number of fuch fyllables, difpofed fo artfully as to raise a lively fenfe of melody. Syllables variable in quantity cannot poffefs this power. Custom may render familiar, both a long and fhort pronunciation of the fame word; but the mind conftantly wavering betwixt the two founds, cannot be fo much affected with a fyllable of this kind as with one which bears always. the fame found. What I have further to What are pr I have further to fay upon quantity, will come in more properly under the following head, of arrangement.

And with refpect to arrangement, which may be brought within a narrow compafs, the English heroic line is commonly Iambic, the first fyllable fhort, the fecond long, and fo on alternately through the whole line. One exception there is, pretty frequent. Many lines commence with a Trochæus, viz. a long and a fhort fyllable. But this affects not the order of the following fyllables. Thefe go on alternately as ufual, one short and one long. The following couplet affords an example of each kind:

Some in the fields of pureft æther play,
And bask and

nd whiten in the blaze of day.

It is unhappy in the conftruction of English verfe, that it excludes the bulk of polyfyllables, though the most founding words in our language; for upon examination it will be found, that very few of them are compofed of fuch alternation of long and fhort fyllables as to correfpond to either of the arrangements mentioned. English verfe accordingly is almoft totally reduced to diffyllables and monofyllables. Magnanimity is a founding word totally excluded. Impetuofity is ftill a finer word by the refemblance of the found and fenfe;

and

and yet a negative is put upon it, as well as upon numberless words of the fame kind. Polyfyllables compofed of fyllables long and fhort alternately, make a good figure in verfe; for example, obfervance, opponent, oftenfive, pindaric, productive, prolific, and fuch others of three fyllables. Imitation, imperfection, misdemeanour, mitigation, moderation, obfervator, ornamental, regulator, and others fimilar of four fyllables, beginning with two fhort fyllables, the third long, and the fourth fhort, may find a place in a line commencing with a Trochæus. I know not if there be any of five fyllables. One I know of fix, viz. mifinterpretation. But words fo compofed are not frequent in our language.

One would not imagine without trial, how uncouth falfe quantity appears in verfe; not lefs than a provincial tone or idiom. The article the is one of the few monofyllables that are invariably fhort. See how harfh it makes a line where it must be pronounced long:

This nymph, to the destruction of mankind,

Again:

Th'advent'rous baron the bright locks admir'd.

Let the article be pronounced short, and it reduces the melody almoft to nothing. Better fo however than a falfe quantity. In the following examples we perceive the fame defect.

And old impertinence | expel by new.

With varying vanities || from ev'ry part.

Love in thefe labyrinths his flaves detains.
W
New ftratagems | the radiant lock to gain.

$ Her eyes half-languishing || half-drown'd in tears. Roar'd for the handkerchief || that caus'd his pain. Paffions like elements || though born to fight.

The