Practical English composition

206. a. Scanning, in English, is dividing a verse into its several feet, in order to ascertain whether their position is agreeable to the rules of metre. Metre or Measure is the number of poetical feet which a verse contains.

b. In English, every accented syllable is considered long, every unaccented syllable short; as defend.

207. All feet used in English poetry consist either of two or of three syllables, and are reducible to eight kinds; four of two syllables, and four of three, as follow:

Dissyllable.

1. An Iambus (~); as, defend. 2. A Trochee (-); as, nōblě.

3. A Spondee (--); as, Vain Man. 4. A Pyrrhic (~); as, ŏn ă (hill).

Trisyllable.

5. A Dactyl (~~~); as, virtuous. 6. An Amphibrach (~~); as, contentment.

7. An Anapaest (~~); as, Intercēde.

8. A Tribrach (); as (nu) měrǎblě.

208. The Caesura or division, is the

pause which takes place in a verse, and which divides it into two

The dumb shall sing || the lame his crutch forego,
And leap exulting || like the bounding roe.

Different kinds of Verse.

209. English verse may be divided into three classes, denominated, from the feet of which they principally consist, the Iambic, Trochaic, and Anapaestic.

210. IAMBIC VERSE. - Iambic Verse is adapted to serious and elevated subjects, and has every second, fourth, and other even syllables accented. It is of various lengths.

211. The First form, capable of being extended through any number of verses, consists of four Iambuses or eight syllables; as —

The way was lōng | the wind | wăs cold, [

The minstrel wās | infirm | ănd ōld. |

212. a. The Second form, used either with or without rhyme, and commonly called the Heroic measure, is the most dignified of English verse, and is well adapted to subjects of an elevated character. It consists of five Iambuses or ten syllables; as—

b. Sometimes a line of six feet, or twelve syllables, called an Alexandrian verse, is introduced at the close of an heroic stanza; as

When lucre lures him, or ambition stings,

213. a. The Third form of Iambic verse consists of seven Iambuses, formerly written in one line;

race.

b. This kind of measure, commonly used in psalms and hymns, is now broken into verses containing alternately four and three feet; as

c. Other forms of Iambic verse are, for the sake of variety, occasionally introduced into stanzas, but which are too short to constitute of themselves an entire ode or song.

214. d. TROCHAIC VERSE. Trochaic Verse is adapted to lively, cheerful subjects, and has the first, third, and other odd syllables accented. It comprises verses of various lengths; those which are the most commonly used are the following: b. 1. Of three Trochees; or of three and an additional syllable; as

c. When our hearts ǎre | mourning. ↑
d. Vital spark of | heav'nly | flāme,
Quit Ŏh quit this | mōrtăl frāme.

215. 2. Of four Trochees; as —

Round us, rōars the tempest loūdĕr.

216. 3. Of six Trochees; as

217. ANAPAESTIC VERSE. The first form of Anapaestic verse, sometimes introduced into odes to arouse the attention, consists either of two Anapaests, or of two and an unaccented syllable; as

But his courage 'găn fail, |

For no arts could ǎvāil. |

Or, Then his courage găn fail | him,
For no arts could ăvăil | hìm.

218. The second form, much used both in solemn and in cheerful subjects, consists of three Anapaests; as

a. Ŏ ye woods, | spread your branch|ĕs ăpāce, [

To your deepest recēss|ès I fly ; |

I would hide with the beasts of the chase |
I would vanish from ēv|ĕrý ēye. |

b. Sometimes a syllable is omitted in the first foot; as

Ŏh! häd Ĭ the wings of ǎ dōve |

How sōōn | would I taste you again. |

219. a. The third form consists of four Anapaests; as

Mǎy I gōvěrn my passions with absolute sway, |

And grow wiser and bēt ter ǎs life | wears away. |

b. Sometimes a syllable is omitted in the first foot; as

Tis night and the land scăpe is lovelly no mōre.

I mōurn; but, ye wood|lands, Ĭ mōūrn | nōt för yōū.

220. The preceding are the different kinds of the principal feet in their simple forms. They are capable of numerous variations, by the intermixture of those feet with one another, and by the admission of secondary feet such as the Spondee, Pyrrhic, and Dactyl.

1. The Pyrrhic with the Iambic; as,

And to the dead | my willing soul | shall gō |

2. The Trochee with the Iambic; as,

Mỹ sōr rows I then | might assuage.

For Exercises on this Lesson, a series of Questions may be proposed.

LESSON 84.

EXERCISING THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN LESSON 83.

221. Exercises in Iambic Verse of four feet or eight syllables. -Each line forms one verse, and the two lines of each couplet must rhyme with each other.

1. We raise the choral song to thee,
To whom belong sublimer strains.
2. Henceforth I go to rural haunts,

Through winter's snow and summer's heat.
3. Religion's beams shine around thee,

And cheer thy gloom with divine light.

222. Exercises in Iambic Verse of five feet or ten syllables:

4. While the shepherd, free from passion, thus sleeps, A monarch might see his state with envy.

5. Seek not thou, with vain endeavour, to find The secret counsels of almighty mind,

The great decree lies involv'd in darkness;
Nor can the depths of fate by thee be pierc❜d.
6. Lofty hills now display their verdant crowns,
Emerging into day in vernal pomp.

7. Oh! in some heaven-protected isle place me,
Where peace, and equity, and freedom smile;
Where power what industry has won secures,
Where to succeed is not to be undone.

223. In the following Exercises, supply the ellipses to suit the sense and metre:

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