MEMOIRS OF 



each too well to believe it poffible that the 

 mechanical divifions of mufical time have 

 their correfponding rules in the formation 

 of Englifh verfe, whether blank or in 

 rhyme. Perhaps the fyftem may, as he 

 afferts, extend to the poffibility of fetting 

 pictures, as well as verbal expreffions, to 

 mufic, but not, furely, as Dr. Darwin fup- 

 pofes, with better effect than when mufic is 

 adapted to the fentiments or the imagery 

 of verfe. The love of novelty only could 

 have induced fuch a preference. It is con- 

 ceivable that a picture, whether hiftoric or 

 fcenic, might be exhibited while fuch har- 

 monic ftrains are played by a band, as 

 fiiould well exprefs the paffions and feel- 

 ings of the hiftoric group before us, or the 

 particular character of the landfcape ; but 

 as the picflure has only it's moment, fo 

 muft the correfponding melody and har- 

 mony of inftruments have only one {train ; 

 no fucceffive and contrafted movements. 



Poetry 



