I am referring to the sudden and rapid
advent of a star:
Dim was its little disk, and angel eyes
Alone could see the phantom in the skies,
When first the phantoms course was found to be
Headlong hithirward o'er the starry sea.
In the "general proposition" above, I speak of the occasional
introduction of equivalent feet. It sometimes happens that unskilful
versifiers, without knowing what they do, or why they do it, introduce
so many "variations" as to exceed in number the "distinctive" feet,
when the ear becomes at once balked by the bouleversement of the
rhythm. Too many trochees, for example, inserted in an iambic rhythm
would convert the latter to a trochaic. I may note here that in all
cases the rhythm designed should be commenced and continued, without
variation, until the ear has had full time to comprehend what is the
rhythm. In violation of a rule so obviously founded in common sense,
many even of our best poets do not scruple to begin an iambic rhythm
with a trochee, or the converse; or a dactylic with an anapaest or the
converse; and so on.
A somewhat less objectionable error, although still a decided one,
is that of commencing a rhythm not with a different equivalent foot
but with a "bastard" foot of the rhythm intended. For example:
Many a / thought will / come to / memory.
Pages:
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285