alytical practical grammar - Toronto Public Library

PROSODY-VERSI FIe A l'ION. 227
VERSJFICATIOX.
1059. VERSIFICATION is the art of arranging wurd~
into poetical lines, or verses.
1060. A rase, or Poetical Line, consists of a certain nUlllber of ac·
ccnted and unaccented syllables, armnge~ according to fixed rules,
1061, A Couplet, or Distich, consists of two lines or YerSC'3 takclJ together,
whether rhyming with each otber or not. A Triplet c(>n,i,!8 of
three lines rhyming together,
1062, A Stan=a is a combination of several verses Ol' lim'8, yaryillg in
number according to the poct's {ancy, nnd constituting a regular divi8inn (of
a poem or song. This is often incorre~tly called a t'ersc.
1063. Rhyme is the similarity of sound in tbe ]att syllables uf two or
more lines arranged in a certain order. Poell'y, the verses of wbich have
this similarity, is sometimes called Rhyme.
1064. Blank Verse is the name given to that species of puc!ry whieh
is without rhyme.
FEET.
1065. Feet are the smaller portions into wbich a line is dividc'cl-e:lch
of which consists of two or more syllables, combined nccordil'g' to ncc~llt.
1066. In English versification, an accented Ryllable is accountco. Ion";
an unaccented syllable, fhoTt. In the following examples. a straight line (-)
over a syllable shows that it is accented, and a curved line, nr breve (v).
that it is unaccentp-d.
1067. Monosyllables, which, when alone, are regarded as without aCcent.
often receive it when placed in a poetical line, and are long or ,hort, according
as they are with or withont the accent. Thus-
" To roUse hIm with the spur and rein,
With more than rapture's riiy."
In the ancient languages, each ~yllable has a certain quantity, 10llg nl'
short, independent of accent, for which there are certain definite rnle". In
this they differ widely from the English.
1068. MetTe, or Measure, is the arrangement of a certain nnmlJer of
poetical feet in a verse or line.
1. When a line bas the proper metre, or number of feet, it is called
.aeataleetic.
2. When it is deficient, it is called Cataleelic.
3. When it has a redundant syllable, it i8 callcll HY)Jw"illicciic, or
Hypermeter.
1069. A line cODsisting of ODe foot is called monometer; of two, dime/er ;