DR. DARWIN. l8i 



verfe than in that of any other rhymift ; 

 and it is, in confequence, peculiarly fpirited 

 and energetic. Dr. Darwin's ftyle is alfb 

 distinguished by the liberal ufe of the fpon- 

 dee, viz. * two monofyllables, equally ac- 

 cented, following each other inftantly in 

 fome part of the line. 



Spondees, judicioufly ufed, vary and in* 

 creafe the general harmony in every fpecies 

 of verfe, whether blank or rhyme. They 

 preferve the numbers from too lufcious 

 fweetnefs, from cloying famenefs, from 

 feeble elegance, and that, by contracting 

 the fmoothnefs of the daclyls, and the 

 rich melodies of the iambic accents. So 

 difcords refblving into concords, infpirit 

 the ftrains of muiical composition. But 

 it is poffible to make too frequent ufe of 

 the fpondee in poetry, as of the difcord in 

 mufic. Dr. Darwin's ear preferved him 



* This explanation is for the ladies. 



N 3 from 



