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Letters Concerning Poetical Translations

Subtitle And Virgil's and Milton's Arts of Verse, &c.
Author William Benson
Categories Language, Poetry
Language English
Published 1739
Word count 17,675
Excerpt

is the Metre in which they creep on. But hundreds of monosyllable Lines are to be found in Milton that are as sublime, as beautiful, and as harmonious as can possibly be written. Look only into the Morning Hymn in the fifth Book.

"Speak ye who best can tell, ye Sons of Light.

Again,

"Thou Sun! of this great World both Eye and Soul.

Again,

"And when high Noon hast gain'd, and when thou fall'st.

Again,

"With the fixt Stars, fixt in their Orb that flies.

Again,

"Breathe soft or loud; and wave your Tops, ye Pines.

Again,

"Bear on your Wings and in your Notes his Praise.

Can it be said that ten dull Words creep on dully in any one of these Lines? But Examples may likewise be given in rhym'd Verse, of the Harmony of Monosyllables. Harmony consists in mixing rough and smooth, soft and harsh Sounds. What Words can be rougher than such as these, Rides, Rapt, Throws, Storms; or smoother than these, Wheel