PART IV. PROSODY. 1050. PROSODY treats of Elocution and Versification. ELOCUTION. 1051. ELOCUTION is correct pronunciation, or the proper management of the voice in reading or speaking. 1052. In order to read and speak with grace and effect, attention must be paid to the proper pitch of the voice, the accent and quantity of the syllables, and to emphasis, pauses, and tones. 1053.-1. In the PITCH and management of the voice, it should be neither too high nor too low; it should be distinct and clear; the utterance neither too quick nor too slow, and neither too varied nor too monotonous. 1054.-2. ACCENT is the laying of a particular stress of voice on a certain syllable in a word, as the syllable vir- in virtue, virtuous. 1055.-3. The QUANTITY of a syllable is the relative time which is required to pronounce it. A long syllable, in quantity, is equal to two short ones. Thus, pine, tube, note, require to be sounded as long again as pin, tub, not. In English versi. fication, an accented syllable is long, an unaccented one is short. 1056.-4. EMPHASIS means that greater stress of the voice which we lay on some particular word or words, in order to mark their superior importance in the sentence, and thereby the better to convey the idea intended by the writer or speaker. 1057.-5. PAUSES, or rests, are cessations of the voice, in order to enable the reader or speaker to take breath; and to give the hearer a distinct perception of the meaning, not only of each sentence, but of the whole discourse (985). For poetia pauses, see (1116). 1058.-6. TONES consist in the modulation of the voice, and the notes, or variations of sound, which we employ in speaking, to express the different sentiments, emotions, or feelings, intended. * A full consideration of these topics, in a work of this kind, would be as impracticable as it would be out of place, since it would require a volume for that purpose. They are fully treated of and exemplified in works on elocution—a subject which is, or should be, taken up as a separate branch of study. VERSIFICATION. 1059. VERSIFICATION is the art of arranging words into poetical lines, or verscs. 1060. A Verse, or Poetical Line, consists of a certain number of accented and unaccented syllables, arranged according to fixed rules. 1061. A Couplet, or Distich, consists of two lines or verses taken together, whether rhyming with each other or not. A Triplet consists of three lines rhyming together. 1062. A Stanza is a combination of several verses or lines, varying in number according to the poet's fancy, and constituting a regular division of a poem or song. This is often incorrectly called a verse. 1063. Rhyme is the similarity of sound in the last syllables of two or more lines arranged in a certain order. Poetry, the verses of which have this similarity, is sometimes called Rhyme. 1064. Blank Verse is the name given to that species of poetry which is without rhyme. FEET. 1065. Feet are the smaller portions into which a line is dividedeach of which consists of two or more syllables, combined according to accent. 1066. In English versification, an accented syllable is accounted long; an unaccented syllable, short. In the following examples, a straight line (-) over a syllable shows that it is accented, and a curved line, or breve (~), that it is unaccented. 1067. Monosyllables, which, when alone, are regarded as without accent, often receive it when placed in a poetical line, and are long or short, according as they are with or without the accent. Thus "To rouse him with the spur ǎnd rein, With more than rāpture's rāy." In the ancient languages, each syllable has a certain quantity, long or short, inde pendent of accent, for which there are certain definite rules. In this, they differ widely from the English. 1068. Metre, or Measure, is the arrangement of a certain number of poetical feet in a verse or line. 1. When a line has the proper metre, or number of feet, it is called Acatalectic. 2. When it is deficient, it is called Catalectic. 3. When it has a redundant syllable, it is called Hypercatalectic, or Hypermeter. 1069. A line consisting of one foot is called monometer; of two dimeter; of three, trimeter; of four, tetrameter; of five, pentameter; of six, hexameter; of seven, heptameter. 1070. Scanning is dividing a verse into the feet of which it is composed. 1071. All feet in poetry are reducible to eight kinds; four of two syllables, and four of three, as follows: 1072. Of all these, the principal are the Iambus, Trochee, Ana-` past, and Dactyl. The other four feet are used chiefly in connexion with these, in order to give variety to the measure. 1073. A Trochee has the first syllable accented, and the last unaccented; as, noble, music. 1074. An Iambus has the first syllable unaccented, and the last accented; as, ǎdōre, défend. 1075. A Spondee has both the words or syllables accented; as, “vaīn mān.” 1076. A Pyrrhic has both the words or syllables unaccented; as, “ăn ở (hill)." 1077. A Dactyl has the first syllable accented, and the two last unaccented; as, virtuous. 1078. An Amphibrach has the first and the last syllable unaccented, and the middle one accented; as, contentment. 1079. An Anapest has the two first syllables unaccented, and the last accented; as, intercede. 1080. A Tribrach has all its syllables unaccented; as, num | ĕrăblě. 1081. A verse is usually named from the name of the foot which predominates in it; thus, Iambic, Trochaic, &c. I. IAMBIC VERSE. 1082. An iambic verse consists of iambuses, and consequently has the accent on the second, fourth, sixth, &c., syllable. It has different metres, as follows:- 1. One foot, or Monometer; as 'Tis sweet To meet. 2. Two feet, or Dimeter; as— With thee we rise, With thee we reign. 3. Three feet, or Trimeter; as— In places far | or near, 4. Four feet, or Tetrameter; as How sleep the brave, | who sink | to rēst, b. Five feet, or Pentameter; as- For me your trīb | ŭtā | ry stōres | combine; 6. Six feet, or Hexameter; as— His heart | īs sād, | his hōpe | is gōne | his light | Is passed ; 7. Seven feet, or Heptameter; as When all thy mer | cies, O | my God, | my ris | ing sōul | surveys, Transported with the view | I'm lost, | in won | der, love | and praise. 1083. Each of these kinds of iambic verse may have an additional Sort syllable, and so be called iambic hypermeter; thus 1. Disdain | ing. 2. Upon a mountain. 9. When on her Mak | er's bo | som. 4. But hail, thou god | dess, sage | and ho | ly. 5. What slender youth | bedewed | with liq | uid o | dör. 6. Whose front | can brave | the storm, but will not rear | the flow | er. 7. To scatter o'er | his path | of fame, | bright hues | of gem- | like show | ĕrs 1084. It often happens that a trochee, or sometimes a spondee, is admitted in place of the first foot, which gives a pleasing variety to the verse; as- Planets and sūns | run lāw | less through | the sky. Fierce, hard | y, proud | în cōn | scious free | dom bōld. 1085.-Iambic Monometer, Dimeter, and Trimeter.-Of these metres, there is no regular form, but they are sometimes introduced into stanzas. 1086. Iambic Tetrameter.-This verse may extend through a considerable number of verses. 1087 Iambic Pentameter.-Iambic verse of five feet is called Heroic verse. Such is Milton's "Paradise Lost," &c. By the admission of trochees, anapasts, &c., in certain places, it is capable of many varieties. 1088. Iambic Hexameter.-A verse of six feet is called Alexandrine. 1089. The Elegiac stanza consists of four pentameter lines rhyming alternately; as The curfew tōlls | the knell | of pārt | ing dãy, The ploughman homeward plods his weary way, 1090. The Spenserian stanza (which takes its name from the poet Spenser) consists of eight pentameter or heroic verses, followed by one hexameter, or Alexandrine verse. This is the stanza in which the "Fairie Queene" is written. 1091. Iambic Heptameter.-Iambic verses of seven feet, formerly written in one line, are now commonly divided into two, one of four, and one of three feet; as When all thy mer | cies, O | my God, My rising soul | surveys, Transported with the view, | I'm lost In wonder, love, 1092. This is called common metre. and praise. Stanzas having three feet in the first, sec ond, and fourth lines, and four in the third, are called short metre; and those con sisting of four lines, each containing four feet, are called long metre. TROCHAIC VERSE. 1093. Trochaic verse consists of Trochees, and consequently has the accent on the first, third, fifth, &c., syllables. It has different metres, as follows: 1. One foot, or Monometer; as Staying, 2. Two feet, or Dimeter; asRich the treasure, Sweet the pleasure. 3. Three feet, or Trimeter; asGō where glōry | waits thee; But when fame ĕ | lātes thee. 4. Four feet, or Tetrameter; as- Maids are sitting by the | fountain, 5. Five feet, or Pentameter (very uncommon); as In the dark, and | green, ănd | gloomy | valley. 6. Six feet, or Hexameter; as On ǎ | mountain, | stretched bě | neãth ă | hoāry | willow, Lay ǎ | shepherd | swain, ănd | viewed the | rōlling | billow. 1094. Each of these may take an additional long syllable, and so become hypercatalectic, or hypermeter; thus 1. Tumult cease, Sink to peace. 2. In the days of ōld, Fables plainly | tõid. |