7. Seven measures. Formulas xa x 7, and x a × 7+. But one request I make to Him that sits the skies above, That I were freely out of debt as I were out of love; 8. Eight measures. SUCKLING. Formulas xa x 8, and x a × 8+. Where virtue wants, and vice abounds, and wealth is but a baited hook Wherewith men swallow down the bane before on danger dark they look. § 574. Verses formed upon the Third Measure, or a x x.— Verses formed upon measure a x x are neither frequent nor regular. Generally there is the deficiency of some unaccented syllable, in which the formula is reduced to a x x-, which may be confounded with the first measure, or a x. The point to determine is, whether the general character of the verse be trisyllabic or dissyllabic. 1. Two measures. Formulas a x x x 2, and a x x × 2—. Of these the latter is most common. Not only one of the unaccented syllables, but even both of them are frequently wanting at the end of lines. Where shall the lóver rest, Whóm the Fates séver, Fróm his true maiden's breast, Párted for ever? Where through groves deep and high, Sounds the far bíllow; Where early violets die U'nder the willow.-SCOTT. O'ft have I seen the sun, To do her honour, Fíx himself át his noon Tó look upón her, E'v'ry hill near her, With his flames from above, Striving to cheer her. A'nd when she from his sight 2. Three measures. I'n clouds hath moúrned.-DRAYTON. Formulas a x x × 3, and a x x × 3—. Peace to thee, ísle of the ocean, Peace to thy breezes and bíllows !-BYRON. 3. Four measures. Formulas a x x x 4, and a x x × 4—. Mérrily, mérrily shall I live nów, U'nder the blossom that hángs on the boúgh.-SHAKSPERE. 1. Warriors or chiéfs, should the shaft or the swórd Pierce me in leading the hóst of the Lord, Heéd not the corpse, though a kíng's in your path, 2. Thou, who art beáring my búckler and bów, Should the soldiers of Saul look away from the foe, Láy me that móment in bloód at thy feét, Míne be the doom that they dáre not to meét. 3. Farewell to others, but néver we párt, Heír to my royalty, són of my heárt; Bríght be the díadem, boundless the sway, Or kíngly the death that awaits us to-day.-BYRON. § 575. Verses formed upon the Fourth Measure, or x a x.— Verses of a single measure are equivocal, since x a x cannot be distinguished from x a +, and x a x — is identical in form with ха. The general character of the verses in the neighbourhood determine, whether measures of this sort shall be looked upon as dissyllabic or trisyllabic. 1. Two measures. Formulas xa x x 2, and x a x × 2—. Beside her are laíd Her máttock and spáde― Alóne she is thére, Her shoulders are báre E'ver alóne She maketh her moán.-TENNYSON. But vainly thou wárrest; For this is alóne in Thy power to déclare, That, in the dim fórest, Thou heard'st a low moáning.-COLERIDGE. 2. Three measures. Formulas xa x x 3, and x a x × 3-. I've found out a gíft for my fáir ; I've found where the wood-pigeons breéd : She 'll say 't was a bárbarous deed. He ne'er could be true, she avérr'd, Who [would] rób a poor bírd of its young; [And] I loved her the more when I heard Such ténderness fáll from her tongue.-SHENStone. A cónquest how hárd and how glórious; With Styx nine times round her, Yet músic and love were victórious.-POPE. 3. Four measures. Formulas xa x x 4, and x ax × 4-. The world will not change, and her heart will not breák. TENNYSON. Remember the glóries of Brían the brave.-MOORE. Oh húsh thee, my bábie, thy síre was a knight, The woods, and the gléns, and the tówers which we seé, I ask not the pleasures that riches supply, My sabre must win what the weaker must buy: [It] shall win the fair bride with her long flowing hair, I love the fair face of the maid in her youth, VOL. II. I I Oh! young Lochinvár is come out of the wést: [Did] ye e'er hear of bridegroom like yoúng Lochinvár? [Thanks,] my Lórd, for your vén'son; for finer nor fátter The fat was so white, and the leán was so rúddy. [Though] my stomach was sharp, I could scárce help regrétting To spoíl such a délicate pícture by eating.-GOLDSMITH. § 576. Verses formed upon the Fifth Measure, or x x a. 1. Formula x x α. And the sparkles they flásh from their éyes.-DRYDEN. 4. Formula x x a × 4. And the king seized a flambeau with zéal to destroy.-DRYDEN. Now he rode on the waves of the wide rolling séa, and he fórayed around like a háwk. It is only the postulate of p. 452 in respect to the effect of a rhyme or its absence that makes this a single line rather than two. § 577. Nomenclature of English metres.—It is only a few of the English metres that are known by fixed names. They are as follows: 1. Gay's Stanza.--Lines of three measures, xa, with alternate rhymes. The odd (i. e. the 1st and 3rd) rhymes double. "T was when the seas were roaring With hollow blasts of wind, A damsel lay deploring, All on a rock reclined. 2. Common Octosyllabics.-Four measures, x a, with rhyme, and (unless the rhymes be double) eight syllables (octo syllabæ). -Butler's "Hudibras," Scott's poems, "The Giaour," and other poems of Lord Byron. 3. Elegiac Octosyllabics.-Same as the last, except that the rhymes are regularly alternate, and the verses arranged in stanzas. And on her lover's arm she leant, And round her waist she felt it fold, And far across the hills they went, In that new world which now is old: Across the hills and far away, Beyond their utmost purple rim, And deep into the dying day The happy princess follow'd him.-TENNYSON. 4. Octosyllabic Triplets.-Three rhymes in succession. Generally arranged as stanzas. I blest them, and they wander'd on; I spoke, but answer came there none : "Para 5. Blank Verse.-Five measures, x a, without rhyme. dise Lost," Young's "Night Thoughts," Cowper's "Task.” 6. Heroic Couplets.-Five measures, x a, with pairs of rhymes. Chaucer, Denham, Dryden, Waller, Pope, Goldsmith, Cowper, Byron, Moore, Shelley, &c. This is the common metre for narrative, didactic, and descriptive poetry. |