We have another fort of Stanza of 8 Verfes, where the 4th rhymes to the ift, the 3d to the 2d, and the 4 laft are Two Couplets; and where the ift, 4th, 6th and 8th, are of 10 Syllables each, the 4 others but of 8 ; as, But Poets, rather, Gods, who first created thee. Cowl. Another, when the 2 firft and 2 laft Verfes confift of 10 Syllables each, and rhyme to one another, the 4 other but of 8 in Alternate Rhyme. Tho' you be abfent hence, 1 needs must say, The Trees as beauteous are, and Flow'rs as gay, Nay the Birds rural Mufick too As if they fang to pleasure you. I saw a Rofe-bud ope this Morn; I'll fwear Cowl. 4 Another, where the 4 firft Verfes are Two Couplets, the laft in Alternate Rhyme; as in Cowley's Ode of a Lady than made Pofies for Rings. I little thought the Time would ever be, SECT. V. Of the Stanzas of 10 and of 12 Verses. THE Stanzas of 10 and 12 Verfes are feldom employ'd in our Poetry, it being very difficult to confine our felves &Q a certain Difpofition of Rhyme, and Measure of Verse, for fo fo many Lines together; for which Reason thofe of 4, 6, and 8 Verfes are the most frequent. However we fometimes find fome of 10 and 12; as in Cowley's Ode, which he calls Verfes lost upon a Wager, where the Rhymes follow one another, but the Verfes differin number of Syllables. As foon hereafter will I Wagers lay Tour Speech will govern Destiny, And Fate will change rather than you shall iye. Cowl. The fame Poet furnishes us with an Example of a Stanza of 12 Verfes in the Ode he calls The Prophet; where the Rhymes are observ'd in the fame Manner as in the former Example. Teach me to love! Go teach thy felf more Wit I chief Profeffor am of it. Teach Graft to Scots, and Thrift to Jews, In Tyrants Courts teach fupple Flattery, Of the Stanzas that confist of an odd Number of Verfes WE E have alfo Stanzas that confift of odd Numbers of Verses, as of 5, 7, 9, and 11; in all which it of neceffity follows, that three Verfes of the Stanza rhyme to one ano ther, or that one of them be a blank Verfe. In the Stanzas of 5 Verfes the ift and 3d may rhyme, and the ad and two last ; as, t Sees not my Love how Time refumes The Beauty which he lent thefe Flow'rs: Tho' none fhould taste of their Perfumes, Tet they must live but fome few Hours: Time what we forbear, devours. Which is only a Stanza of 4 Verfes in Alternate Rhyme, to which a sth Verfe is added that rhymes to the 2d and 4th. Wall. See also an Inftance of a Stanza of 5 Verfes, where the Rhymes are intermix'd in the fame Manner as the former, but the ift and 3d Verfes are compos'd but of 4 Syllables each. Go lovely Rofe, Tell her that wafts her Time and me, That now he knows, When I refemble her to thee, How fweet and fair fhe feems to be.. Wall. In the following Example the two firft Verfes rhyme, and the three laft. 'Tis well, 'tis well with them, faid I, Whofe fhort-liv'd Paffions with themselves can dye.. For none can be unhappy, who 'Midft all his Ills a Time does know, Tho' ne'er fo long, when he shall not be fo Cowl In this Stanza, the two firft and the laft, and the 3d and 4th rhyme to one another. It is enough, enough of Time and Pain Leave, wretched Cowley, leave, Thy felf with Shadows to deceive. Think that already loft which thou must never Gain. Cowl: The Stanzas of 7 Verfes are frequent enough in our Poetry, efpecially among the Ancients, who compos'd many of their Poems in this fort of Stanza: See the Example of one of them taken from Spencer in The Ruines of Time, where the ift and 3d Verfes rhyme to one another, the 2d, 4th and 5th, and the 2 laft. But Fame with golden Wings aloft does fly Above the Reach of ruinous Decay, And with brave Plumes does beat the Azure Sky, I have rather chofen to take notice of this Stanza, becaufe that Poet and Chaucer have made ufe of it in many of their Poems, tho' they have not been follow'd in it by any of the Moderns; whofe, Stanzas of 7 Verfes are generally compos'd as follows. Either the Four firft Verfes are a Quadran in Alternate Rhyme, and the Three laft rhyme to one another; as, Now by my Love, the greatest Oath that us, But for Heaven's Sake believe me, or I dye. His Master fhould believe that he did ferve Cowl. Or the Four first are Two Couplets, and the Three last a Trip let; as, Indeed I must confess When Souls mix 'tis a Happiness, But not compleat till Bodies too combine, And clofely as our Minds together joyn. But Half of Heav'n the Souls in Glory tafte, 'Till by Love in Heav'n at last, Their Bodies too are plac'd. Cowl. Or, on the contrary, the Three first may rhyme, and the Four laft be in Rhymes that follow one another; as, From Hate, Fear, Hope, Anger, and Envy free, In vain I boast of Liberty: In vain this State a Freedom call, Cowl Or the ift may rhyme to the 2 laft, the 2d to the 5th, and the 3d and 4th to one another; as, In vain thou drowfie God I thee invoke, VVhofe Flame's fo pure, that it fends up no Smoak, Cowl. Or laftly, the Four firft. and Two laft may be in following Rhyme, and the 5th a Blank Verfe; as, 1 Thon Thou robb'st my Days of Business and Delights Thou ev'n my Prayers dost from me steal; Begin to God, and end them all in thee, Cowl. The Stanzas of 9 and of 11 Syllables are not fo frequent as thofe of 5 and of 7. Spencer has compos'd his Fairy Queen in Stanzas of 9 Verfes, where the 1ft rhymes to the 3d, the 2d to the 4th 5th and 7th, and the 6th to the two laft. But this Stanza is very difficult to maintain, and the unlucky Choice of it reduc'd him often to the Neceffity of making ufe of many exploded Words: Nor has he, I think, been follow'd in it by any of the Moderns, whofe 6 firft Verfes of the Stanzas that confift of 9, are generally in Rhymes that follow one another, and the Three laft a Triplet; as, Beauty, Love's Scene and Mafquerade, So well by well-plar'd Lights, and Distance made; 'Tis chiefly Night which Men to thee allow, And chufe t'enjoy thee, when thou least art thou. Cowl. In the following Example the like Rhyme is obferv'd, but the Verfes differ in Measure from the, Former. Beneath this gloomy Shade, By Nature only for my Sorrows made, By Love fo vainly fed: 1 So Lust of old the Deluge punished. Ab wretched Youth! said I ; Ah wretched Youth! twice did I fadly cry; An wretched Youth! the Fields and Floods reply. Cowl. The Stanzas confifting of 11 Verfes are yet lefs frequent than those of 9, and have nothing particular to be obferv'd in them. Take an Example of one of them, where the 6 first are 3 Couplets, the three next a Triplet, the two laft a Couplet; and where the 4th, the 7th, and the laft Verfes are of 10 Syl. lables each, the others of 8. |