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ORTHOMETRY. |
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Syllables like these were divided whenever it suited the poet's convenience. Shakspere in all his rhymed poetry makes them rhyme double, as:
To kill myself, quoth she, alack! what were it But with my body my poor soul's pollution ? They that lose half with greater patience bear it, Than they whose whole is swallow'd in confusion.
" Rape of Lucrcce?
I will drink Potions of eysel 'gainst my strong infection ; No bitterness that I will bitter think, Nor double penance to correct correction.
Sonnet iiL
This division of syllables is found in our poetry as late as Cowley's time ; but he was a licentious versifier:
At thy strong charms it must be gone, Though a disease, as well as devil, were call'd legion,
Cowley.
A different manner of lengthening the word is seen in this example:
O, how this spring of love resembleth The' uncertain glory of an April day 1
Shakspere. " Two Gentlemen of Verona," act i. sc. 3.
—where the word resembleth is pronounced resem-ble-eth, as having four syllables. But such licence would not be now permitted. In our early poets it could not be accounted a licence, for it was |
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