 | CHAP. III.
Of the several sorts of Poems, or Compositions in Verse.
The Art of English Poetry |  |
3. CHAP. III.
Of the several sorts of Poems, or Compositions in Verse.
All our Poems may be divided into two sorts; the first of those that are Compos'd in Couplets; the second of those that are Compos'd in Stanzas consisting of several Verses.
SECT. I.
Of the Poems compos'd in Couplets.
In the Poems Compos'd in Couplets, the Rhymes follow one another and end at each Couplet, that is to say, the 2d Verse Rhymes to the 1st, the 4th to the 3d, the 6th to the 5th, and in like manner to the end of the Poem. The Verses employ'd in this sort of Poems, are either Verses of 10 Syllables; as,
My Great Example, as it is my Theme;
Tho' deep, yet clear; to' gentle, yet not dull:
Strong, without Rage, without o'erflowing, full.
Or of 8; as
It self discharges on our Foes:
And Sorrow too finds some Relief
In Tears that wait upon our Grief;
Thus every Passion, but fond Love,
Unto its own Redress does move,
Or of 7; as
Pleasures shorter than the day;
Could we, which we never can,
Stretch our Lives beyond their Span.
Beauty like a Shadow flies,
And our Youth before us dies,
Or would Youth and Beauty stay,
Love has Wings and will away, &c.
But the second Verse of the Couplet does not always contain a like number of Syllables with the first; as
And make the Age to come my own.
I shall like Beasts and common People dye,
Unless you write my Elegy, &c.
SECT. II.
Of the Poems compos'd in Stanzas: And First, of the Stanzas consisting of three and of four Verses.
In the Poems compos'd in Stanzas, each Stanza contains a certain number of Verses compos'd for the most part of a different number of Syllables: And a Poem that is in several Stanzas, we generally call an Ode, and this is Lyrick Poetry.
But we must not forget to observe that our Ancient Poets frequently made use of intermixt Rhyme in their Heroick Poems, which they dispos'd into Stanzas and Cantos. Thus the Troilus and Cressida of Chaucer is compos'd in Stanzas consisting of 7 Verses; the Fairy Queen of Spencer in Stanzas of 9, &c. And this they took from the Italians, whose Heroick Poems generally consist in Stanzas of 8. But this is now wholly laid aside and Davenant, who compos'd
The Stanzas employ'd in our Poetry cannot consist of less than three, and seldom of more than 12 Verses, except in Pindarick Odes, where the Stanzas are different from one another in number of Verses, as shall be shewn hereafter.
But to treat of all the different Stanzas that are employ'd, or may be admitted in our Poetry, would be a labour no less tedious than useless, it being easie to demonstrate that they may be vary'd almost to an Infinity, that would be different from one another, either in the Number of the Verses of each Stanza, or in the Number of the Syllables of each Verse, or lastly, in the various intermingling of the Rhyme. I shall therefore confine my self to mention only such as are most frequently us'd by the best of our Modern Poets. And first of the Stanzas consisting of three Verses.
In the Stanzas of three Verses, or Triplets, the Verses of each Stanza rhyme to one another, and are either Herorick; as
Thou hadst a being e'er the World was made;
And, (well-fix'd) art alone of ending not afraid.
Or else they consist of 8 Syllables; as these of Waller, Of a fair Lady playing with a Snake.
Should dwell together in one place,
A Fury's Arm, an Angel's Face.
In the Stanzas of 4 Verses the Rhyme may be intermixt in two different manners: For either the 1st and 3d Verse may rhyme to each other, and by consequence the 2d and 4th, and this is call'd Alternate Rhyme; or the 1st and 4th may rhyme, and by consequence the 2d and 3d.
But there are some Poems in Stanzas of four Verses, where the Rhymes follow one another, and the Verses differ in number of Syllables only; as in Cowley's Hymn to the Light, which begins thus:
From the old Negro's darksome Womb:
Which when it saw the lovely Child,
The melancholly Mass put on kind Looks and smil'd.
But these Stanzas are generally in Alternate Rhymes, and
With untaught Looks, and an unpractis'd Heart:
Her Nets the most prepar'd could never shun;
For Nature spread them in the scorn of Art.
Or of 8, as
Narcissus loud complaints return'd; Not for Reflection of his Face,
But of his Voice the Boy had burn'd.
Or of 10 and 8, that is to say, the 1st and 3d of 10; the 2d and 4th of 8; as
He has, and put them to his own:
For Hours of late as long as Days endure,
And very Minutes Hours are grown.
Or of 8 and 6 in the like manner; as
To what abode they go:
Since Knowledge is but Sorrow's Spy,
`Tis better not to know.
Or of 7; as
Yoak'd in Cytherea's Car;
Nor the Wings that lift so high,
And convey her Son so far.
Are so lovely sweet and fair,
Or do more ennoble Love;
Are so choicely match'd a pair,
Or with more consent do move.
Note, That it is absolutely necessary that both the Construction and Sence should end with the Stanza, and not fall into the beginning of the following one, as it does in the laft Example, which is a fault wholly to be avoided.
SECT. III.
Of the Stanzas of Six Verses.
The Stanzas of 6 Verses are generally only one of the before-mention'd Quadrans or Stanzas of 4 Verses, with two Verses at the end that rhyme to one another; as
A simple Shepherd was prefer'd to Jove;
Down to the Mountains from the Partial Skies
Came Juno, Pallas, and the Queen of Love,
To plead for that which was so justly giv'n
To the bright Carlisle of the Courts of Heav'n.
Where the 4 first Verses are only a Quadran, whose Verses consist of 10 Syllables in Alternate Rhyme. The following Stanza in like manner is compos'd of a Quadran, whose Verses consist of 8 Syllables, and to which 2, Verses that rhyme to one another are added at the end, as
And Summer, tho' it be less gay,
Yet is not look'd on as a time
Of Declination and Decay,
For with a full Hand that does bring
All that was promis'd by the Spring.
Sometimes the Quadran ends the Stanza; and the two Lines of the same Rhyme begin it; as
Pledge me my Friend, and drink till thou be'st wise.
It sparkles brighter far than she;
`Tis pure and right without Deceit;
And such no Woman e'er can be;
No, they are all Sophisticate.
Or as in these where the first and last Verses of the Stanza consist of 10 Syllables;
What do our Souls, I wonder do?
While steep does our dull Bodies tie,
Methinks at home they should not stay
Content with Dreams, but boldly fly
Abroad, and meet each other half the way.
Or as in the following Stanza, where the 4th and 5th Verses rhyme to each other, and the 3d and 6th.
I dare thus even to you write Poetry,
Ah foolish Muse! That dost so high aspire,
And knows't her Judgment well,
How much it does thy Power excel;
Yet dar'st be read by thy just doom the fire.
(Written in Juice of Lemon.
But in some of these Stanzas the Rhymes follow one another; as
Lightning did through my Bones and Marrow run
A pointed Pain peirc'd deep my Heart;
A swift cold trembling seiz'd on ev'ry part.
My Head turn'd round, nor could it bear
The Poison that was enter'd there.
SECT. IV.
Of the Stanzas of 8 Verses.
I have already said that the Italians compose their Heroick Poems in Stanzas of 8 Verses, where the Rhyme is dispos'd as follows; the 1st 3d and 5th Verses rhyme to each other, and the 2d 4th and 6th, the two last always rhyme to one another. Now our Translators of their Heroick Poems have observed the same Stanza and Disposition of Rhyme; of which take the following Example from Fairfax's Translation of Tasso's Goffredo, Cant. 1. Stan. 3d.
Where luring Parnass most his Beams imparts;
And Truth convey'd in Verse of gentlest kind,
To read sometimes, will move the dullest Hearts.
So we, if Children Young diseas'd we find,
Anoint with Sweets the Vessels foremost parts,
To make them taste the Potions sharp we give;
They drink deceiv'd and so deceiv'd they live.
But our Poets seldom imploy this Stanza in Compositions of their own; where the following ones of 8 Verses are most frequent.
The mod'rate Flames which in them dwell;
And either find some Med'cine there,
Or cure themselves ev'n by despair.
My Love's so great, that it might prove
Dang'rous to tell her that I love.
So tender is my Wound, it cannot bear
Any Salute, tho' of the kindest Air.
Where the Rhymes follow one another, and the Six first Verses consist of 8 Syllables each, the two last of 10.
We have another sort of Stanza of 8 Verses, where the 4th rhymes to the 1st, the 3d to the 2d, and the four last
Me still the cruel Boy does spare;
And I a double task must bear,
First to wooe him, and then a Mistress too.
Come at last, and strike for shame
If thou art any thing besides a Name;
I'll think thee else no God to be,
But Poets, rather, Gods, who first created thee.
Another when the 2 first and 2 last Verses consist of 10 Syllables each, and Rhyme to one another, the 4 other but of 8 in alternate Rhyme.
The Trees as beauteous are and Flow'rs as gay,
As ever they were wont to be:
Nay the Birds rural Musick too
Is as melodious and free,
As if they sung to pleasure you.
I saw a Rose bud ope this Morn; I'll swear
The Blushing Morning open'd not more fair.
Another where the 4 first Verses are two Couplets, the 4 last in alternate Rhyme; as in Cowley's Ode, Of a Lady that made Posies for Rings.
That I should wit in dwarfish Posies see.
As all words in few Letters live,
Thou to few words all sence dost give.
`Twas Nature taught you this rare Art,
In such a little much to shew;
Who all the Good she did impart
To Womankind Epitomiz'd in you.
SECT. V.
Of the Stanzas of 10 and 12 Verses.
The Stanzas of 10 and it Verses are seldom employ'd in our Poetry, it being very difficult to confine our selves to a certain Disposition of Rhyme, and measure of Verse for so many lines together; for which Reason those of 4, 6, and 8 Verses are the most frequent. However we sometimes find
`Gainst what an Oracle shall say.
Fool that I was to venture to deny
A Tongue so us'd to Victory.
A Tongue so blest by nature and by Art,
That never yet it spoke, but gain'd a heart.
Tho' what you said had not been true
If spoke by any else but you:
Your Speech will govern Destiny,
And Fate will change rather than you should ly.
The same Poet furnishes us with an Example of a Stanza of 12 Verses in the Ode he calls the Prophet, where the Rhymes are observ'd in the same manner as in the former Example:
I chief Professor am of it.
Teach Craft to Scots, and thrift to Jews,
Teach boldness to the Stews.
In Tyrants Courts teach supple flattery,
Teach Jesuits that have Travell'd far to ly.
Teach Fire to burn, and Winds to blow,
Teach restless Fountains how to flow.
Teach the dull Earth fixt to abide,
Teach Womankind Inconstancy and Pride.
See if your diligence there will useful prove;
But, prithee, teach not me to love.
SECT. VI.
Of the Stanzas that consist of an odd Number of Verses.
We have also Stanzas that consist of an odd number of Verses, as of 5, 7, 9, and 11, in all which it of necessity follows that three Verses of the Stanza must rhyme to one another, or that one of them must be a blank Verse.
In the Stanzas of 5 Verses, the 1st and 3d may rhyme, and the 2d and two last; as,
The Glory which he lent these Flow'rs:
Yet they must live but some few Hours:
Time, what we forbear, devours.
Which is only a Stanza of 4 Verses in Alternate Rhyme, to which a 5th Verse is added that rhymes to the 2d and 4th.
See also an Instance of a Stanza of 5 Verses where the Rhymes are intermix'd in the same manner as the former, but the 1st and 3d Verses are compos'd but of 4 Syllables each
Tell her that wastes her time and me,
That now she knows,
When I resemble her to thee,
How sweet and fair she seems to be.
In the following Example the two first Verses rhyme, and the three last.
Whose short-liv'd passions with themselves can dy.
For none can be unhappy, who
`Midst all his ills a Time does know,
Tho' ne'er so long, when he shall not be so.
In this Stanza, the 2 first and the last, and the 3d and 4th, Rhyme to one another.
Hast thou consum'd in vain:
Leave, wretched Cowley, leave,
Thy self with shadows to deceive.
Think that already lost which thou must never gain.
The Stanzas of 7 Verses are frequent enough in our Poetry, especially among the Ancients, who compos'd many of their Poems in this sort of Stanza: See an Example of one of them taken from Spencer in the Ruins of time, where the 1st and 3d Verse rhyme to One another, the 2d, 4th, and 5th, and the two last.
Above the reach of ruinous decay,
And with brave Plumes does beat the Azure Sky;
Admir'd of baseborn Men from far away;
Then whoso will with virtuous Deeds essay
To mount to Heav'n, on Pegasus must ride,
And in sweet Poets Verse be glorify'd.
I have the rather chosen to take notice of this Stanza, because that Poet and Chaucer have made use of it in many bf their Poems, but have not been follow'd by any of the Moderns; whose Stanzas of 7 Verses are commonly compos'd as follows.
Either the four first Verses are a Quadran in Alternate Rhymes, and the three last rhyme to one another, as
None loves you half so well as I,
I do not ask your love for this,
But for Heaven's sake believe me or I dye.
No Servant e'er but did deserve
His Master should believe that he did serve;
And I'll ask no more Wages tho' I starve.
Or the four first are two Couplets, and the three last a Triplet; as
When Souls mix `tis a Happiness,
But not compleat till Bodies too combine,
And closely as our Minds together joyn.
But half of Heav'n the Souls in Glory taste;
Till by Love in Heav'n at last,
Their Bodies too are plac'd.
Now by my Love, the greatest Oath that is,
None loves you half so well as I,
I do not ask your love for this,
But for Heaven's sake believe me or I dye.
Or, on the contrary, the three first may rhyme, and the four last be in Rhymes that follow one another; as
And all the Passions else that be,
In vain I boast of Liberty:
In vain this State a Freedom call,
Since I have Love, and Love is all.
Sot that I am! who think it fit to brag
That I have no Disease besides the Plague.
Or the 1st may rhyme to the two last, the 2d to the 5th, and the 3d and 4th to one another; as
For thou who dost from Fumes arise,
Thou who Man's Soul dost overshade
With a thick Cloud, by Vapours made,
Canst have no pow'r to shut his Eyes,
Or passage of his Spirits to choak,
Whose Flame's so pure, that it sends up no smoke.
Or lastly, the four first and two last may be in following Rhyme, and the 5th a blank Verse; as
Of Sleep thou rob'st my Nights:
Ah lovely Thief! what wilt thou do?
What, rob me of Heav'n too!
Thou ev'n my Pray'rs dost from me steal,
And I with wild Idolatry
Begin to God, and end them all in thee.
The Stanzas of 9 and of 11 Syllables are not so frequent as those of 5 and of 7, Spencer has compos'd his Fairy Queen in Stanzas of 9 Verses, where the 1st rhymes to the 3d, the 2d to the 4th, 5th, and 7th; and the 6th to the two last. But this Stanza is very difficult to maintain, and the unlucky choice of it reduc'd him often to the necessity of making use of many exploded Words; nor has he, I think, been follow'd in it by any of the Moderns; whose 6 first Verses of the Stanzas that consist of 9, are generally in Rhymes that follow one another, and the three last a Triplet; as
Who dost in ev'ry Country change thy Shape:
Here Black, there Brown, here Tawny, and there White,
Thou Flatt'rer which comply'st with ev'ry sight.
Thou Babel which confound'st the Eye
With unintelligible Variety:
Who hast no certain What nor Where,
But vary'st still, and dost thy self declare
Inconstant, as thy She-Professors are.
In the following Example the like Rhyme is observ'd, but the Verses differ in Measure from the former.
By Nature only for my Sorrows made,
I'll spend this Voice in Cries;
In Tears I'll waste these Eyes,
By Love so vainly fed,
So Lust of old the Deluge punished.
Ah wretched youth! said I;
Ah wretched Youth! twice did I sadly cry;
Ah wretched Youth! the Fields and Floods reply.
The Stanzas consisting of 11 Verses are yet less frequent than those of 9, and have nothing particular to be observ'd
No wretched Heart, swell till you break:
She cannot love me if she would;
And, to say Truth, `twere pity that she should.
No, to the Grave thy Sorrows bear,
As silent as they will be there:
Since that lov'd Hand this mortal Wound does give,
So handsomly the thing contrive,
That she may guitless of it live:
So perish, that her killing thee
May a chance-medley, and no Murther be.
SECT. VII.
Of Pindarick Odes, and Poems in Blank Verse.
The Stanzas of Pindarick Odes are neither confin'd to a certain number of Verses, nor the Verses to a certain number of Syllables, nor the Rhyme to a certain Distance. Some Stanzas contain 50 Verses or more, others not above 10: Some Verses 14, nay 16 Syllables, others not above 4: Sometimes the Rhymes follow one another for several Couplets together, sometimes they are remov'd 6 Verses from each other; and all this in the same Stanza. Cowley was the first who introduc'd this sort of Poetry into our Language, nor can the Nature of it be better describ'd than he himself has done it, in one of the Stanzas of the Ode he has written upon Liberty, which I will transcribe, not as an Example, for none can properly be said to be given, where no Rule can be prescribed, but to give an Idea of the Nature of this sort of Poetry.
In which he only hits the White,
Who joyns true Profit with the best Delight,
The more Heroick Strain let others take,
Mine the Pindarick way I'll make,
It shall not keep one setled pace of Time,
In the same Tune it shall not always chime,
Nor shall each day just to his Neighbour rhyme.
A thousand Liberties it shall dispence,
And yet shall manage all without Offence,
Or to the sweetness of the Sound, or greatness of the Sence,
Nor shall it never from one Subject start,
Nor seek Transitions to depart:
Nor its set way oe'r Stiles and Bridges make,
Nor thro' Lanes a Compass take,
As if it fear'd some Trespass to commit,
When the wide Air's a Road for it.
So the Imperial Eagle does not stay
Till the whole Carcass he devour,
That's fallen into its Pow'r,
As if his generous Hunger understood,
That he can never want plenty of Food,
He only sucks the tastful Blood,
And to fresh Game flies chearfully away;
To Kites and meaner Birds he leaves the mangled Prey.
This sort of Poetry is employ'd in all manner of Subjects; in Pleasant, in Grave, in Amorous, in Heroick, in Philosophical, in Mortal and in Divine.
Blank Verse is where the Measure is exactly kept without Rhyme; and it was Shakespear, who to avoid the troublesome constraint of Rhyme, first invented it; our Poets since him have made use of it in many of their Tragedies and Comedies; but the most celebrated Poem in this kind of Verse is the Paradise Lost of Milton; from the 5th Book of which I have taken the following Lines for an example of Blank Verse.
Almighty! thine this Universal Frame,
Thus wondrous fair! thy self how wondrous then!
Speak you, who best can tell, ye Sons of Light,
Angels! for you behold him, and with Songs,
And Choral Symphonies, Day without Night
Circle his Throne rejoycing, you in Heaven.
Him first, him last, him midst, and without end.
Fairest of Stars! last in the Train of Night;
If better thou belong'st not to the Dawn,
Sure Pledge of day that crown'st the smiling Morn,
With thy bright Circlet, raise him in thy Sphere,
While Day arises, that sweet Hour of Prime.
Thou Sun! of this Great World; both Eye and Soul,
Acknowledge him thy Greater, sound his Praise
In thy Eternal Course, both when thou climb'st
And when high Noon hast gain'd, and when thou fall'st.
Moon! that now meet'st the Orient Sun, now fly'st
With the fixt Stars, fixt in their Orb that flies,
And ye five other wand'ring Fires! that move
In Mystick Dance, not without Song, resound
His Praise, who out of Darkness call'd up Light.
Air! and ye Elements! the eldest Birth
Of Nature's Womb, that in Quaternion run
Perpetual Circle, multiform; and mix
And nourish all things, let your ceaseless Change
Vary to our Great Maker still new Praise.
Ye Mists and Exhalations! that now rise
From Hill or steaming Lake, Dusky or Grey,
Till the Sun paint your fleecy Skirts with Gold,
In honour to the World's great Author rise,
Whether to deck with Clouds th' uncolour'd Sky,
Or wet the thirsty Earth with falling Showers,
Rising or falling, still advance his Praise.
His Praise, ye Winds! that from four Quarters blow,
Breathe soft or loud; and wave your Tops, ye Pines!
With ev'ry Plant, in sign of Worship, wave.
Fountains! and ye that warble as you flow
Melodious Murmurs, warbling tune his Praise.
Joyn Voices all ye living Souls, ye Birds!
That singing, up to Heaven's high Gate ascend,
Bear on your Wings, and in your Notes his Praise.
Ye that in Waters glide! and ye that walk,
The Earth! and stately Tread, or lowly Creep;
Witness if I be silent, Ev'n or Morn,
To Hill or Valley, Fountain or fresh Shade,
Made Vocal by my Song, and taught his Praise.
Thus I have given a short Account of all the sorts of Poems, that are most us'd in our Language, The Acrosticks, Emblems, Anagrams, &c. deserve not to be mention'd, and we may say of them what an Ancient Poet said long ago,
Et stultus Labor est ineptiarum.
| CHAP. III.
Of the several sorts of Poems, or Compositions in Verse.
The Art of English Poetry | |