The Art of English Poetry (1708) Part 10

_When Chance or cruel Bus'ness parts us two, What do our Souls, I wonder, do?

While Sleep 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._ Cowl.

Or as in the following Stanza, where the 4th and 5th Verses rhyme to each other, and the 3d and 6th;

_While what I write I do not see, I dare thus ev'n to you write Poetry, Ah foolish Muse! that dost so high aspire, And know'st her Judgment well, How much it does thy Pow'r excell; Yet dar'st be read by thy just Doom the Fire._ Cowl.

(Written in Juice of Lemon.

But in some of these Stanzas, the Rhymes follow one another; as,

_Take heed, take heed, thou lovely Maid, Nor be by glitt'ring Ills betray'd: Thy self for Money! Oh! let no Man know The Price of Beauty fall'n so low: What dangers oughtst thou not to dread When Love that's blind, is by blind Fortune led?_ Cowl.

Lastly, some of these Stanzas are compos'd of 2 Triplets; as,

_The Lightning, which tall Oaks oppose in vain, To strike sometimes does net disdain The humble Furzes of the Plain.

She being so high, and I so low, Her Pow'r by this does greater show, Who at such Distance gives so sure a Blow._ Cowl.

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, 2d, and 5th Verses rhyme to one another, and the 2d, 4th, and 6th, the two last always rhyme to each other. Now our Translators of their Heroick Poems have observ'd the same Stanza and Disposition of Rhyme; of which take the following Example from _Fairfax's_ Translation of _Ta.s.so's Goffredo_, _Cant._ 1. _Stan._ 3d.

_Thither thou know'st the World is best inclin'd, Where luring_ Parna.s.s _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 Vessel's 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 Stanzas of 8 Verses are most frequent.

_Some others may with safety tell 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._ Cowl.

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 ad, and the four last are two Couplets; and where the 1st, 4th, 6th and 8th, are of 10 Syllables each, the 4 others but of 8; as,

_I've often wish'd to love: What shall I do?

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 G.o.d to be, But Poets, rather, G.o.ds, who first created thee._ Cowl.

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.

_Tho' you be absent hence, I needs must say, The Trees as beauteous are, and Flowers as gay, As ever they were wont so 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 blus.h.i.+ng Morning open'd not more fair._ Cowl.

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_.

_I little thought the time would ever be, That I should Wit in dwarfish Posies see.

As all Words in few Letters live, Thou to few Words all Sense 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, epitomis'd in you._

SECT. V.

_Of the Stanzas of 10 and of 12 Verses._

The Stanzas of 10 and 12 Verses are seldom employed 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 some of 10 and 12; as in _Cowley's_ Ode which he calls _Verses left upon a Wager_, where the Rhymes follow one another, but the Verses differ in Number of Syllables.

_As seen hereafter will I Wagers lay '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 shall lye._ Cowl.

The same Poet furnishes us with an Example of a Stanza of 12 Verses in the Ode he calls the _The Prophet_, where the Rhymes are observ'd in the same manner as in the former Example.

_Teach me to Love! Go teach thy self more Wit: 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 lye.

Tenth 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 odd numbers of Verses, as of 5, 7, 9, and 11; in all which it of necessity follows, that three Verses of the Stanza rhyme to one another, or that one of them be a blank Verse.

In the Stanzas of 5 Verses, the 1st and 3d may rhyme, and the 2d and two last; as,

_Sees not my Love how Time resumes The Beauty which he lent these Flow'rs: Tho' none should taste of their Perfumes, Yet they must live but some few Hours: Time what we forbear, devours._ Wall.

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.