[Thanks], my Lord', for your ven'ison; for fin'er nor fat'ter The fat was so white and the lean was so ruddy. [Though] my stomach was sharp, I could scarce help regretting Formula xa xx4-. The accented lines are composed of four Amphibrachs, wanting one syllable. But meeter for thee, gentle lover of nature, To lay down thy head' like the meek' mountain lamb'; Thy obsequies sung by the gray plover flying, With one faithful friend to witness thy dying, § 702. In the arms of Helvellyn and Catchedicam.-SCOTT. DACTYLIC MEASURE S. DACTYLIC MONOMETER. Formula a x x. "Fear'fully. Tear'fully, She hasten'd on her way." POETICAL FORMS. DACTYLIC DIMETER. Formula a x x x 2 and a x x x 2-. § 703. In the following the lines 1, 3, 5, &c., consist of two Dactyls, and the lines 2, 4, 6, &c., consist of two Dac tyls, wanting the last syllable. Pi'broch of Don'uil Dhu, Pibroch of Donuil, Hark to the summons! From mountain so rocky; True heart that wears one; Leave untended the herd, The flock without shelter; The corpse uninterr'd, The bride at the altar; Come as the winds come, when Forests are rended; Come as the waves come, when Navies are stranded: Faster come, faster come, Faster and faster! Chief, vassal, page, and groom, Tenant and master. Fast they come, fast they come : See how they gather! Blended with heather. Cast your plaids, draw your blades; Forward each man set! Pibroch of Donuil Dhu, Knell for the onset!-SCOTT. DACTYLIC TRIMETER. § 704. Formula a x x x 3 and a x x x 3-. § 705. "Peace' to the Isle' of the o'cean! Peace' to thy breez'es and bil'lows!" DACTYLIC TETRAMETER. Formula a x x x 4. Hail to the Chief who in triumph advances! Earth lend it sap anew, Gayly to bourgeon, and broadly to grow; While every Highland glen Sends our shout back agen, "Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu, ho! ieroe!"-SCOTT. DACTYLIC HEXAMETER. § 706. The last line in each verse is a Spondee. The accented lines have five Dactyls. This' is the fo'rest prime'val; but where' are the hearts' that beneath it CHAPTER III. COMBINED MEASURES. LONGFELLOW. THE SPENSERIAN STANZA. § 707. THIS consists of nine Iambic lines, the eight first being Heroics, and the ninth an Alexandrine. The law of the Rhyme may be seen in the following: I care not, Fortune, what you me deny : Through which Aurora shows her bright'ning face; Let health my nerves and finer fibers brace, And I their toys to the great children leave: Of fancy, reason, virtue, naught can me bereave.-THOMSON. A STANZA is a combination of several lines constituting the regular division of a poem. GAY'S STANZA. § 708. The formula for the odd lines is x ax 3+; for the even lines, x a × 3. The rhymes are alternate, and the odd rhymes double. ""Twas when the seas were roaring With hollow blasts of wind, A damsel lay deploring, All on a rock reclined; She cast a wistful look; Her head was crown'd with willows, ELEGIAC OCTOSYLLABICS. § 709. These are the same as the common octosyllabics (see § 683), except that the rhymes are regularly alternate, and the verses are arranged in stanzas. And on her lover's arm she leant, And round her waist she felt it fold; And far across the hills she went, In that new world which now is old: Across the hills and far away, Beyond their utmost purple rim; And deep into the dying day The happy princess followed him.-TENNYSON. OCTOSYLLABIC COUPLETS. § 710. Four measures, 2 a, with pairs of rhymes. See § 683. OCTOSYLLABIC TRIPLETS. § 711. Four measures, x a, with three rhymes regularly in succession. § 712. Five measures, x a, with pairs of rhymes. See § 684. HEROIC TRIPLETS. § 713. Five measures, xa, with three rhymes in suc cession. By this the brides are waked, their grooms are dress'd; All but myself, the sole unbidden Guest.-Dryden. ELEGIAC HEROICS. § 714. These are the same as the common heroics, except that the lines regularly alternate, and are arranged in stanzas. The curfew tolls the knell of parting day, The lowing herds wind slowly o'er the lea; The plowman homeward plods his weary way, And leaves the world to darkness and to me.-GRAY. RHYME ROYAL. § 715. Seven lines of heroics, with the two last rhymes in succession, and the five first recurring at intervals. It admits of varieties, according to the distribution of the five first rhymes. § 716. For, lo! the sea that fleets about the land, OTTAVA RIMA. Morgante had a palace in his mode, Composed of branches, logs of wood, and earth, And shut himself at night within his berth. |