A Grammar of the English Tongue - ESL Teachers Board

A Grammar of the English Tongue 64where did grieve. And when all Wales beside (by fortune or by might) Untoher ancient foe resign'd her ancient right, A constant maiden still she onlydid remain, The last her genuine laws which stoutly did retain. And as eachone is prais'd for her peculiar things; So only she is rich, in mountains,meres and springs, And holds herself as great in her superfluous waste, Asothers by their towns, and fruitful tillage grac'd.And of fourteen, as Chapman's Homer.And as the mind of such a man, that hath a long way gone, And eitherknoweth not his way, or else would let alone, His purpos'd journey, isdistract.The measures of twelve and fourteen syllables were often mingled by ourold poets, sometimes in alternate lines, and sometimes in alternate couplets.The verse of twelve syllables, called an Alexandrine, is now only used todiversify heroick lines.Waller was smooth, but Dryden taught to join The varying verse, the fullresounding line, The long majestick march, and energy divine. Pope.The pause in the Alexandrine must be at the sixth syllable.The verse of fourteen syllables is now broken into a soft lyrick measure ofverses, consisting alternately of eight syllables and six.She to receive thy radiant name, Selects a whiter space. Fenton.When all shall praise, and ev'ry lay Devote a wreath to thee, That day, forcome it will, that day Shall I lament to see. Lewis to Pope.Beneath this tomb an infant lies To earth whose body lent, Hereafter shallmore glorious rise, But not more innocent. When the Archangel's trumpshall blow, And souls to bodies join, What crowds shall wish their livesbelow Had been as short as thine! Wesley.