in the Exerctfe of its Faculties. 117 
la Motte) rhvme has kept in poetry the domi¬ 
nion, which the nature of the French language 
incontedably gave it. 
In England , where a Shakefpeare and a Milton 
have written, the matter leems yet to be Jub 
Judice. It would ill become me, as a young 
man, and a foreigner, to be that judge ; but I 
may be indulged in fupporting what I have al- 
ledged here in favour of rhyme, by the opinion 
of the bed critic now living in this nation. Dr. 
Jchnfon ; who, admiring the powers of Milton , 
and the amazing dignity given to his fentiments, 
by a verification which he otherwife rather 
difapproves, adds, c< He that thinks himfelf 
capable of adonifhing, may write blank verfe: 
but thofe that hope only to pleafe, mud con- 
defcend to rhyme.”* 
Another general objection has been brought 
againd rhyme. “How comes it, fays Monfieur 
de la Motte, that this monotony, which you 
affirm to be, by its nature, fo agreeable in 
poetry, is almod condantly fo unpleafant in a 
fider-art, in mufic ?” To this might be anfwered, 
that the chief objedt of the mufician being to 
delight by the founds, he cannot fucceed better, 
than by varying them judicioufly : whereas, a 
Poet is not fatisfied with charming the ears 
of his audience j he wiflies to imprels on their 
* Dr. Johnfon’s Life of Milton. 
I 3 
memory 
