The Works of Tennyson The Eversley Edition: Annotated by Alfred, Lord Tennyson: Edited by Hallam, Lord Tennyson |
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 | The Works of Tennyson |  |
302
IN QUANTITY.
ON TRANSLATIONS OF HOMER.
Hexameters and Pentameters (in English) do
not run well. See Coleridge's shockingly bad
couplet as far as quantity goes—with the
pentameter.
In thĕ pēntămĕtĕr āye fālling in mĕlŏdy̆ băck.
Much better would be
Ūp gōes Hexămĕtēr wīth mīght ăs ă fōuntăin ărīsīng,
Lightly̆ thĕ fōuntāin fālls, lightly̆ thĕ pēntămĕter.
It is noteworthy that in English doubling the
consonant generally makes the foot preceding
short, e.g. valley, etc.
These lame hexameters the strong-wing'd music of Homer!
Hexameters and Pentameters (in English) do not run well. See Coleridge's shockingly bad couplet as far as quantity goes—with the pentameter.
In thĕ pēntămĕtĕr āye fālling in mĕlŏdy̆ băck.
Much better would be Ūp gōes Hexămĕtēr wīth mīght ăs ă fōuntăin ărīsīng,
Lightly̆ thĕ fōuntāin fālls, lightly̆ thĕ pēntămĕter.
Much better would be Ūp gōes Hexămĕtēr wīth mīght ăs ă fōuntăin ărīsīng,
Lightly̆ thĕ fōuntāin fālls, lightly̆ thĕ pēntămĕter.
It is noteworthy that in English doubling the consonant generally makes the foot preceding short, e.g. valley, etc.
No—but a most burlesque barbarous experiment.
When was a harsher sound ever heard, ye Muses, in England?
When did a frog coarser croak upon our Helicon?
Hexameters no worse than daring Germany gave us,
Barbarous experiment, barbarous hexameters.
| The Works of Tennyson | |