21 



it has been improving, in all the modeft graces of the mofl elegant and 

 harmonious rhimes. Infomuch, that blank verfe may be faid to be an 

 entire flranger to the French poetry.* 



What has been ftated will fufEce for a lliort but general view of the 

 progrefs of rhyme in Europe, where fcarcely one nation took the lead 

 of another ; or if any, Italy perhaps the firfl, then, courtly and gallant 

 France, after thefe Spain, England next, and Germany lall : each con- 

 {Iruifling a language of its own, compounded of Roman and Septen- 

 trional phrafe, that formed a kind of gotho-latinity ; till learning, fcience, 

 judgment, and above all tajle, had perfefted the mufic of the European 

 mufe, and polifhed it into that fweetnefs and harmony, which it is hoped 

 it will long retain. It is probable, therefore, I fliall not dwell long on 

 this part of the fubjeft in the fequel : and, indeed, as rhime, for the 

 reafons affigned, almofl at the fame inftant took poffefllon of the Euro- 

 pean tongues, (of weftern Europe, I would fay) and became as it were 

 a part and member of their poetry, there will be the lefs occafion to 

 purfue its " progrefs" through the mazes of the modern languages. 

 The fubjeft would require a little volume ; and thefe papers have 

 already fwelled to an unexpected fize. The period of the Troubadours 

 alone would furnifti a diftinft effay. 



As I propound the Hebrew to be the parent fountain of language, 

 and affume its precedence in Rhime, it may be expefted, I fliould prove 

 a faft that has been fo flrenuoufly denied. Thofe who would have a 

 complete view of the queftion, are referred to Le Clerc's " EJJai de Cri- 

 tique, oil I' on tache demonjlrer en quoi confijie le poefie des Hebreux", pub- 

 liilied in the Bibliothcque Univerfelle, for the year 1688, Vol. 9. Art. 8. 

 one of the mod luminous and beautiful trafts, and at the fame time 

 the mod conclufive, that has ever fallen within my knowledge. To 

 eftablifli the rhime, the entire " Effai" fliould be tranfcribed, for every 

 argument rifes upon the other, with additional force and luftre, the whole 

 forming a well-cemented building, that even prejudice has not been 



able 



*■ See Append. Numb. 2, 



