By John Lambert, Esq. . 333 
The Classical metres of antiquity were governed by two accents, 
the Tonic and the Metrical. The former, being the accent of 
language, was always observed according to the rules of Prosody, 
and by the latter an emphasis was imparted to certain syllables, 
which otherwise would have been destitute of any accent. Many 
of the Christian Hymns were constructed in these metres; but 
others were written in what is called natural measure, consisting 
merely of successions of similar feet, and depending upon the ac- 
cent of language only. 
The second of the following examples, both of which are taken 
from the Sarum Hymnal, published at Cologne in 1525, is one of 
the finest specimens of the more simple Hymns. It is in the 
fourth Mode; and although syllabic, the Melody is so stately in 
its construction that a secular or frivolous movement cannot easily 
be imparted to it. 
III. 
I now come to a consideration of the mode of executing the 
Rhythmical Chant of the more florid kind, and it is here that the 
great difficulty exists. I have before shewn that Rhythm existed in 
all the Music of the Middle Ages; but how this Rhythm was to be 
brought out, when the Music was not associated with Poetry, has 
yet to be ascertained. 
M. Coussemaker, in the work already quoted by me, says, that 
“its Rhythm was neither founded on measure, nor on a return of 
phrases of the same duration.” And Baini, whilst admitting that 
it is at present quite lost, says, that “like the Rhythm of Oratory, 
it must have been more free, more varied, more complicated, and 
more diversified than the Rhythm of modern Music; but it was at 
the same time well defined, easily distinguishable, and quite neces- 
sary.” ‘It was,” to use the happy expression of the same author, 
“the very soul of the Gregorian Chant.” How then is this lost 
art to be regained? We have seen that the Music consisted of 
certain nicely balanced phrases, composed of notes varying in du- 
ration; but how are we to know the long notes from the short ones? 
2x 
