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ORTHOMETRY. |
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sions, subjects and themes, alphabetically digested; together with a short institution to English Poesie, by way of preface. The author was Joshua Poole, M.A., of Clare Hall, Cambridge; but it was a posthumous publication. The preface is subscribed J. D.; it contains no matter worthy of particular notice; and for the book itself, it is sufficiently detailed by the title.
This work appears to have been the foundation of another, built on the same plan, but considerably enlarged. The author was Edward Bysshe, who, in 1702, published an Art of English Poetry. The part relating to prosody is contained in three chapters, under these heads : " Of the structure of English verses.—Of rhyme.—Of the several sorts of poems and compositions in verse." His manner of treating these topics is plain, but neither methodical nor comprehensive; it presents, however, some useful information, and though perhaps no versifier of the present day may seek from this author " Rules for making English Verse " (for so he entitles this portion of his volume), it continued for above half a century to be a popular book. It also provided a further help to verse-makers, by a plentiful magazine, or Dictionary of Rhymes. The bulk of his performance was made up of a " Collection of the most natural, agreeable, and noble Thoughts, &c. that are to be found in the best English poets " ; but if the execution of this part be compared with the promise of its title, he will be found to deserve little commendation. The number of poets from whom he professes to have formed |
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