628 Transactions. 



Also verses 134, 163, 202, 210, 239, 242, and 249. It is probable that in 

 poetry, in the transition stage from Romance to Ballad, these heavy-ended 

 verses will be found in more abundance than in later poetry. In natural 

 growths all departures from the " type " tend to die out, seeing that the 

 type is the mean result of many varying forms of which the departures are 

 individuals only. If they have sufficient vigour to persist, they may pro- 

 duce new forms — fixed variations. When poetry was more recited than 

 written the process of ehmination of departures from type would be carried 

 on in the speech, and it is only when the departures have become fossilized 

 in manuscript that we can see the process at work. Had Chapman's verses 

 been memorized and recited instead of being written, it is probable — almost 

 certain — that the heavy-ended verses would have been changed ; nor would 

 any great change be needed to convert them into the light-ended, heavy- 

 headed verses of the " type " — the Ballad. 



(6a.) Obeying his high will, the priest trod off with haste and fear 

 would easily become 



(66.) The priest, obeying his high will, trod off with haste and fear ; 



and so on. Wliilst the verses quoted in example No. (6) seem unbalanced 

 when separated from the context, they are, when read in the poem, paused 

 in accordance with rhythmical division, not syntactical : — • ^ 



(7.) a. Jove's and Latona's son; who, fired 

 Against the king of men 



h. Obeying his high will, the priest 

 Trod off with haste and fear ; 



c. And quiver covered round, his hands 

 Did on his shoulders throw ; 



This reversed divisioji occurs with a new feature in modern poetry : — 



(8.) Well does the May that lies 



Smiling in thy cheeks, confess 

 The April in thine eyes ; 

 Mutual sweetness they express. 

 No April e'er lent kinder showers, 

 Nor May returned more faithful flower.s. 



{Cnishdir, " Saint Mary Magdalene.") 



(9.) So it is, my dear. 



All such things touch secret strings 

 For heavy hearts to bear. 

 So it is, my dear. 



{D. G. Rosseiti, "Even So.") 



(10.) Go forth ! for she is gone ! 



With the golden light of her wavy hair, 

 She is gone to the fields of the viewless air, 

 She hath left her dwelling lone ! 



(Mrs. Uemans, .'.'The Bird's Kcleasc") 



(11.) A voice from Scio's isle— 



A voice of song, a voice of old 

 Swept far as cloud on billow rolled. 

 And earth was hushed the while. 



(Mr.". Hemntif, "Tile Voice of Scio.") 



The new feature is the place now taken by the pause ; it neither precede 

 nor follows the Ballad verse, but divides it, so that the first line in each 

 example is, as it were, isolated, the latter half of the first full verse com- 



