to what Extent, and how most readily attainable?” 83 
relief of the organs may require. Barring, or even delineating 
the rhythmical boundaries in this sublime and wonderfully im- 
pressive language was found too troublesome: Although regular 
in the extreme, it is yet governed, when properly read, by such 
peculiar proportions, and so perpetually syncopated, that no mu- 
sician whom I consulted could succeed in the operation*. 
Exordium of the Iliad, in quantity, as recited by the SPEAKER. 
424242 23 34223 2243 
Myyw aside Sea, TInaniatew Aysdnos, 
4223 3 422 3442242 
Ovrowevny 5 H, mups Arcecsors arye ebyxe 5 
2 Gy SRS Tas Sas Vis 2 ths 6 99297 Need AS) A Pa 
TlorAas OiPbipous Wurvas, aids mpoiaev, 
343 3.3 3 4224.2 242 
“Hpwwy; aurous & cdkwpia teuxe xvveroiv, 
for the rejection of Mr. Steele’s metrical doctrine, than the monstrous un- 
meaning pauses which are introduced for the creation and preservation of _ 
bars, these pauses alone should seal its condemnation. To exhibit this sub- 
ject in its clearest light, let us cast aside all his symbols; and, substituting 
the usual comma, semicolon, and colon, as pauses in their stead, let us apply 
them to the following passage which for the instruction of the English 
reader he has taken from the “‘ Paradise Lost,” and set accordingly. 
“ ; His temple right , against: the temple ; of God.!!! 
Thus in the original (Mr.S.’s useless symbols being here exchanged for 
our musical characters). SeeProsodia Rationalis, fol. 1539. Ratio two to one 
—unusually moderate. 
Sri ittat yas 
Mecho) <P ity fiteeh f 
His| temple | right a|yainst| the |temple| of | God 
At is not in pauses only—but also in metrical feet, that our rational proso- 
dian outrivals all competitors. He has given us 
beauty and m@sic,.... 1... +2. as a pair of Spondees, 
Deu HUY: So Nate e e's nae ots .... as a Procleusmaticus, 
COR TERAON ste o,1¢.0x> relu atahing Alc as a Dactyl, 
Exquisite and silldblé ........ as Anapests, 
MGCIOVIEIONL, + ws «Bip hc.sthuccaly ena as a Di-iambus, 
BU ARAVA OS. techs te ee as a Choriambus!! And yet, strange 
to relate, this writer continues to be held up as competent authority by some 
of our bulky Encyclopedias ! i 
* A pendulum, it is true, if used as on a former occasion, might have 
determined this useless question. 
t The syllables and «, when independently considered, are equal to 
each other; while the previous syllable Ma is equivalent to both: and yet 
this Dactyl cannot, in technical phrase, be barred or beat,in consequence of 
a minute interval [much less than the usual time of a comma] sehiclyii well 
executed delivery, is interposed between the and « The same observa- 
tion witl hold good with many other Dactyls and Spondecs throughout the 
passage: pauses are the principal agents of syncopation. 
