University of Virginia Library

Manuscript Page from "The Rationale of Verse"
Poe Museum manuscript, Richmond, VA

18

the several stanzas of a poem, one word or phrase is repeated;
and of alliteration, in whose simplest form a consonant is
repeated in the commencements of various words. This effect
would be extended so as to embrace repetitions both of vowels
and of consonants, in the bodies as well as in the beginnings
of words; and, at a later period, would be made to infringe
on the province of rhyme, by the introduction of general simi-
larity of sound between whole feet occurring in the body of a
line: — all of which modifications I have exemplified in
the line above,

Made in his image a mannikin merely to madden it.

Farther cultivation would improve also the refrain by relieving
its monotone in slightly varying the phrase at each repetition,
or (as I have attempted to do in "The Raven") in retaining the
phrase and varying its application — although this latter point
is not strictly a rhythmical effect alone. Finally, poets when
fairly wearied with following precedent — following it the more
closely the less they perceived it in company with Reason would
adventure so far as to indulge in positive rhyme at other points
than the ends of lines. First, they would put it in the middle of
the line; then at some point where the multiple would be less
obvious; then, alarmed at their own audacity, they would
undo all their work by cutting these lines in two. And here
is the fruitful source of the infinity of "short metre". by which
modern poetry, if not distinguished, is at least disgraced. It
would require a high degree, indeed, both of cultivation and
of courage, on the part of any versifier, to enable him to place
his rhymes — and let them remain — at unquestionably their
best position, that of unusual and unanticipated intervals.

On account of the stupidity of some people, of (if talent be