On RYTHMICAL MEASURES. 79 



gin the fecond member with a ftrong found, and are partly de- 

 prived of the afhftance in forming it, which we would have 

 derived from the preceding feeble found, we require a little 

 more time to make the exertion which is neceffary for that pur- 

 pofe. This divifion alfo changes, in fome degree, the character 

 of the verfe, the laft member becoming proper trochaic. It 

 may fometimes, however, be ufed with a very happy effect. 

 There feems to be an inflance of this in the firfl line of Pope's 

 Effay on Man. 



A j wake, my j St John. | — Leave all | meaner | things, 



Here the grammatical paufe, coinciding with the rythmical di- 

 vision, gives fufficient time to form the accented found with 

 which the fecond member begins ; and that member being- 

 trochaic, is very well fuited to exprefs the intention of the poet, 

 which is to roufe. The fame divifion occurs in the fecond 

 line ; but the effect of it is fomewhat different. 



To how ambition — and the pride of kings. 



In reciting this line, we are unwilling to give an accent to the 

 conjunctive particle and. To avoid this, therefore, we are dif- 

 pofed to confider both that word, and the article which follows 

 it, as feeble founds, introductory to the next ftrong found, and 

 to fill up the time of the accented part of that third meafure 

 by a filence or reiL 



To j low amjbition — [ f and the | pride of [ kings. 



In this way, the reciter, hurrying over thefe two comparatively 

 unimportant words, almoft in the time of one feeble fyllable, 

 is naturally led to exprefs the word pride with confiderable force 

 oremphafis; a circumflance which feems, in this place, to fa- 

 vour 



