CHAPTER VI. READING POETRY. The rules which have been given for reading prose are, for the most part, equally applicable to poetry. There are, however, a few principles pertaining to the latter, and resulting from its metrical structure, which it is the object of this chapter to explain. Construction of Verse. The most common kinds of English verse are the Iambic, the Trochaic and Anapestic; deriving their names from the kind of feet of which they are composed. A short or unaccented syllable, is marked thus(~), and a long, or accented one, thus (-). Iambic Verse. The Iambus consists of a short syllable and a long one; as, betray. There are seven forms of this verse, named from the number of feet which they contain. The first consists of one Iambus, or foot, and the last of seven. EXAMPLE. With dying hand, | ǎbōve | his head, Trochaic Verse. The Trochee consists of one long and one short syllable; as, hateful. There are six forms of this verse; the first consisting of one Trochee, or foot, and the last of six. QUESTIONS. Are the rules for reading prose applicable to poetry? What are the most common kinds of English verse? Of what does an Iambus consist? Which syllable is accented? Which unaccented? How many forms has lambic verse? Of what does a Trochee consist? Which syllable is accented? Which unaccented? How many forms has Trochaic verse? EXAMPLE. Restless mōrtăls | tōil för | naught, Bliss in vain from | earth is | sought Anapestic Verse. The Anapest consists of two short syllables and one long one; as, contrăvēne. There are four forms of this kind of verse; the first consisting of one Anapest, or foot, and the last of four. EXAMPLE. Mǎy I gōv | ĕrn mỹ pãs | sions with ab | solute sway And grow wī | ser ănd bēt | tĕr ǎs life | wears ǎway. Resolving poetry in this manner, into the feet of which it is composed, is called scanning. RULE 1. Poetry should be read with a fuller swell of the open vowels, and in a manner more melodious and flowing than prose. EXAMPLES. Fifth Form of Iambic Verse. Thy forests Win | sor, and | thy green | retreats, Fourth and Third Form of Trochaic Verse. Win and conquer, | never | cease; May thy lasting, wide dominions, Multiply and still increase. Third Form of Anapestic Verse. O ye woods, spread your branches apace, I would hide with the beasts of the chase, I would vanish from every eye. QUESTIONS. Of what does an Anapest consist? Which syllable is accented? Which syllables are unaccented? How many forms has Anapestic verse? What is scanning? What is Rule First? Harmonic Pauses. HARMONIC PAUSES are commonly divided into two kinds; the Casural pause(||) and the Final pause (...), each denoted by the character following its name. The cæsural pause occurs in the middle of the line, generally after the fourth, fifth, or sixth syllable, and rarely after the second or eighth. EXAMPLE. Warms in the sun || refreshes in the breeze, Glows in the stars || and blossoms in the trees. The final pause occurs at the end of the line, and marks the measure, both in rhyme and blank verse. EXAMPLES. O Muse, the causes and the crimes relate; What goddess was provoked and whence her hate; To persecute so brave, so just a man. -Thus with the year.. Seasons return, but not to me returns.. Day, or the sweet approach of even or morn. RULE 2. Harmonic pauses increase the beauty of verse, and should be regarded when they do not injure the sense. In the following verse, harmony requires the cæsural pause after the word sad, but the sense requires a pause after sit, where it must be made, even at the sacrifice of harmony. EXAMPLE. I sit, with sad || civility I read. QUESTIONS. How are Harmonic Pauses divided? After what syllables does the Cæsural pause occur? Where does the final pause occur? What is Rule Second? Do the Grammatical and Cæsural pauses always coincide? Which takes the preference? Metrical Accent. METRICAL ACCENT is a stress laid upon certain syllables in verse, recurring at regular intervals, and generally corresponding with the common accent, but not always. In Iambic measure it falls on the last syllable of each foot; as, How loved how val | ŭed ōnce | ǎvails | thee not. RULE 3. The metrical accent should generally be observed, when it will not impair the sense, or so much derange the customary accent, as to be harsh and unpleasant to the ear. It would too much impair the sense, to read the following example as marked, in accordance with the metrical accent. EXAMPLE. False eloquence, like the prismatic glass, NOTE. In the following examples, and in others of a similar character, in which there is an unpleasant harshness produced by the conflict of the common and metrical accents, a compromise may be made, and both syllables may be accented nearly alike. EXAMPLES. Our supréme foe in time may much relent. Encamp their legions or with obscure wing. Metrical Changes. METRICAL CHANGES are used to signify those variations that are sometimes made in words, by poetic license, to accommodate them to the measure which the verse requires. These changes are frequently indicated by an apostrophe which de QUESTIONS. What is Metrical Accent? Where does it fall in Iambic verse? What is Rule Third? How is the sense impaired in the examples under this rule? When the metrical and common accents conflict, what should be done? What is meant by Metrical Changes? How are they frequently indicated? notes that the word is abbreviated; but at the present time, custom seems inclined, in most instances, to omit this notation, and leave the reader to determine when such changes are necessary. A syllable may sometimes be added to the end of a word in pronouncing it, which would not commonly be sounded. RULE 4. When abbreviations are made in words, or additions are made to them by poetic license, they must generally be so far regarded in reading, as not to increase or diminish the number of syllables beyond what the measure requires. NOTE. Whenever a line in verse contains redundant letters or syllables, or more than the measure requires, they should either be entirely suppressed, or so slightly and rapidly uttered, as to coalesce with the one following. EXAMPLES. Abbreviations. On ev | ěry side | with shad | ŏwy squad | rons deep, 'Tis mine to teach | th' inac | tive hand | to reap Bend 'gainst the stee | py hill | thy breast. Who durst | defy | th' Omnip | otent | to arms. Additions. -Let each His adamantine coat gird well, and each Fit well his helm, | gripe fast | his orb | ed* shield. And now beneath them lay the wished for spot, The sacred bower | of that | renowned bard. In the examples given above, the feet upon which metrical changes are made, are printed in italics. *This is not properly the etymological figure of paragoge, but it has the same effect when ed is pronounced as a distinct syllable. QUESTIONS. What additions do poets sometimes make to words? What is Rule Fourth? How should redundant letters or syllables in verse be treated? |