towhat Extent, and how most readily attainable?” 249 
constituting by this judicious method, a Cretic, a Spondee, and 
a Bacchic,—of whose metrical characters a more definite notion 
can be formed than of those of the mixed Trochee or Iambus, 
which immediately lose themselves in combination. 
When the Greek and Latin languages shall be rightly culti- 
vated, and delivered as they ought; then, and not till then, may 
we presume to analyse the genuine character of those measures 
in which every poet and orator of notoriety excelled: and there- 
fore I shall postpone, if not absolutely avoid, the intricate dis- 
cussion, from the conscious difficulty of conveying my ideas in 
perspicuous language even when accompanied by oral exempli- 
fication. This letter on Time or Quantity must conclude then 
by an attempt, (and I hope not altogether a fruitless one,) finally 
to investigate,—on what rhythmical principle, independently of 
- feet, the well-executed recitation of our best poetry deperids. 
Adhering most strictly, in the pursuit of this question, to my 
original design, I rejected as usual all speculative notions, and 
resorted to experiment. The reciter by whom “ Oh happiness” 
was spoken, indulged my curiosity; and two intelligent musicians, 
together with my AssocraTE, lent me the assistance of their eyes 
and ears—their eyes to ascertain the boundaries by the move- 
ment of a pendulum (beating time with the hand being too 
clumsy a criterion) ; and ears for the subsequent measurement, 
in some tolerable manner, of the relative proportions. 
The poet was next sought for, and Mi_ton obtained the ge- 
neral approbation. Half a dozen sufficiently regudar lines of the 
“¢ Paradise Lost ”’ (the more oratorical* ones ‘though excelling 
the others in sublimity having baffled our attempts) were chosen, 
practised and repractised with remarkable distinctness, until every 
ear was pleased. Of these lines an adequate conception may be 
formed by the terminating one of the exordium ; and this for the 
gratification of the reader I shall transcribe exactly as it was 
spoken. 
{In the following experiment I have not particularly designated 
the position syllables, such minute accuracy being tvo per- 
plexing.] 
Experiment. 
aie unat|tempted yet|-—in pro|se—or rhy 
~~ 
fo. 72 10 8. 8G hehe An. 
Vey SSF aed 
24 24 24 24 
* “ And chiefly thou Oh! spirit” down to “ mad’st it pregnant” were 
among this number. 
+A position syllable too quickly uttered cannot be considered long. 
The dic in dictio, or even the trac in tructus, may, if the speaker choose, 
be equalized with the shortest syllables in the Latin language. x 
et 
me 
