All words of two syllables do not necessarily constitute
a foot (we speak now of the Pentameter here employed) even although
the syllables be entirely distinct, as in many, very, often, and the
like. Such as, without effort, cannot employ in their pronunciation
the time demanded by each of the preceding and succeeding feet of
the verse, and occasionally of a preceding verse, will never fail to
offend. It is the perception of this fact which so frequently forces
the versifier of delicate ear to employ feet exceeding what are
unjustly called legitimate dimensions. For example. We have the
following lines-
Lo! to the smiling Arno's classic side,
The emulous nations of the West repair!
These verses are exceedingly forcible, yet, upon scanning the latter
we find a syllable too many. We shall be told possibly that there
should be an elision of the e in the at the commencement. But no- this
was not intended. Both the and emulous demand a perfect
accentuation. The verse commencing Lo!
Lo! to the smiling Arno's classic side,
has, it will be observed, a Trochee in its first foot. As is usually
the case, the whole line partakes, in consequence, of a stately and
emphatic enunciation, and to equalize the time in the verse
succeeding, something more is necessary than the succession of
Iambuses which constitute the ordinary English Pentameter.
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