The rudiment of verse may possibly be found in the spondee. The very
germ of a thought seeking satisfaction in equality of sound would
result in the construction of words of two syllables, equally
accented. In corroboration of this idea we find that spondees most
abound in the most ancient tongues. The second step we can easily
suppose to be the comparison, that is to say, the collocation of two
spondees- or two words composed each of a spondee. The third step
would be the juxtaposition of three of these words. By this time the
perception of monotone would induce further consideration; and thus
arises what Leigh Hunt so flounders in discussing under the title of
"The Principle of Variety in Uniformity." Of course there is no
principle in the case- nor in maintaining it. The "Uniformity" is
the principle- the "Variety" is but the principle's natural
safeguard from self-destruction by excess of self. "Uniformity,"
besides, is the very worst word that could have been chosen for the
expression of the general idea at which it aims.
The perception of monotone having given rise to an attempt at its
relief, the first thought in this new direction would be that of
collating two or more words formed each of two syllables differently
accented (that is to say, short and long) but having the same order in
each word- in other terms, of collating two or more iambuses, or two
or more trochees.
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