ΟΝ ΤΗΕ BEAUTIES OF POETRY. By DANIEL WEB B, Efq; Then Criticism the Mufe's Handmaid prov'd, Effay on Criticifm. DUBLIN: Printed by SARAH COTTER, under Dick's RE MARK S ON THE BEAUTIES OF POETRY. Hort. Afpafia, Hortenfius, Eugenio. You U did not know, Eugenio, that the Gentleman who has juft left us, is a Poet. You faw how he took fire at your reflection on Rhyme. Your affertion, that Blank Verse is better adapted to the genius of Poetry, and the general improvement of Eloquence, cannot be difputed, whenever the abuse of rhyme is carried fo far, as that the Sound becomes more the object of our attention than the Sense; or, that the force and beauty of Expreffion are facrificed to an infignificant jingle. Mr. A 2 Dryden, 220928 Dryden, I remember, speaking of Rhyme, fays "What it adds to sweetness, it takes away from sense; and he who loses least by it, may be called a gainer.' Afp. AND yet there is fomething fo pleasing in the chiming of founds, or else, from the influence of early impreffions, we are fo accustomed to receive and feel it as a pleasure, that I am perfuaded, Eugehio's opinion, were it made public, would not have many followers. Eug. You do well, Afpafia, to distinguish between things pleasing in themselves, and fuch as are so merely from the force of habit. Were there any thing truly delightful in the nature of Rhymes, it is not probable, that the ancients fhould have over-looked this advantage; nor would it have been referved for a set of trifling Monks, to fing them into reputation. But these are general reflections: in order to decide the matter in debate, it would be neceffary to make a particular inquiry into the Beauties of Versification; and to determine from them the merits of its feveral modes. Afp. Afp. I WISH, Eugenio, you would undertake this task. One condition, however, I must infift on, that in Love matters you fhew us fome indulgence. What will you . Rhyme ? leave us, if you fteal our Hor. JINGLING is fo pretty a fubftitute of fentiment, it is so wedded to gallantry, that it were a cruelty to divorce them. I will fecure you, Afpafia, against any such attempt, by the authority of Shakespear; who, in the commerce of Love, places Rhymes in fo refpectable a light, that he fets them on a level even with bracelets, rings, and fweetmeats-The paffage is decifive.—— Thou, thou, Lyfander, thou haft giv'n ber rhymes, And stol❜n th' impreffion of her fantasie With bracelets of thy hair, rings, gawds, conceits, A 3 Knacks, |