The Art of English Poetry

CHAP. I. Of the Structure of English Verses.

CHAP. II. Of Rhyme.

SECT. I.

SECT. II.

SECT. III.

CHAP. III. Of the several sorts of Poems, or Compositions in Verse.

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SECT. III.

Some other Instructions concerning the Rhyme.

The Consonants, that preceed the Vowels where the Rhyme begins, must be different in sound, and not the same; for then the Rhyme will be too perfect; as Light, Delight; Vice, Advice, and the like; for tho' such Rhymes were allowable in the Days of Spencer and the other old Poets, they are not so now; nor can there be any Musick in one single Note. Cowley himself owns, that they ought not to be employ'd except in Pindarick Odes, which is a free sort of Poetry, and there too very sparingly, and not without a third Rhyme to Answer to both; as,

In Barren Age wild and unglorious lye,
And boast of past fertility,
The poor Relief of present poverty.

Cowley.

Where the words Fertility and Poverty Rhyme very well to the last Word of the first Verse, Ly ; but cannot Rhyme to each other, because the Consonants that preceed the last Vowel are the same, both in writing and sound. But this is yet less allowable if the Accent be upon the Syllable of the Rhyme; as,

Her Language melts Omnipotence, arrests
His hand, and thence the vengeful Lightning wrests.

Blac.

From hence it follows that a word cannot Rhyme to it self, tho' the signification be different; as He Leaves to The Leaves, &c.

Nor the words that differ both in Writing and Sence, if they have the same sound, as Maid and Made, Prey and Pray, to Bow and a Bough: as,

How Gawdy Fate may be in Presents sent
And creep insensibly by touch or scent.

Oldh.

Nor a Compound to its simple; as Move to Remove, taught to untaught, &c.

Nor the Compounds of the same words to one another; as Disprove to Approve, and the like. All which proceeds from what I said before, because the Consonants chat preceed the Vowel where the Rhyme begins, must not be the same in sound, but different.

We must take care not to place a word at the middle of the Verse, that Rhymes to the last word of it; as,

So young in show, as if he still should grow.

But this fault is yet more inexcusable, if the second Verse Rhyme to the middle and end of the first; as,

Knowledge he only sought, and so soon caught,
As if for him Knowledge had rather sought.

Cowl.

Here Passion sways; but there the Muse shall raise
Eternal Monuments of louder Praise.

Wall.

Or both the middle and end of the second to the last word of the first; as,

Farewell, she cry'd, my Sister, thou dear Part,
Thou sweetest part of my divided Heart.

Dryd.

University of Virginia Library

SECT. III.