The cause why these verses differing in feete yeeld the same length of sound, is by reason of some rests which either the necessity of the numbers, or the heauiness of the sillables do beget. For we find in musick, that oftentimes the straines of a song can not be reduct to true number without some rests prefixt in the beginning and middle, as also at the close if need requires. Besides, our English monasillables enforce many breathings which no doubt greatly lengthen a verse, so that it is no wonder if for these reasons our English verses of fiue feete hold pace with Latines of sixe.
The pure Iambick in English needes small demonstration, because it consists simply of Iambick feete, but our Iambick licentiate offers itselfe to a father consideration; for in the third and fifth place we must of force hold the Iambick foote, in the first second and fourth place we must vse a Spondee or Iambick and sometime a Tribrack or Dactile, but rarely an Anapestick foote, and that in the second or fourth place. But why an Iambick in the third place?
I answere, that the forepart of the verse may take the gentlier slide into hid Dimeter, as for example sake deuide this verse: Harke now these winds do murmure at thy flight. Harke how these winds, there the voice naturlly affects a rest, then murmur at thy flight, that is of itselfe a perfect number, as I will declare in the next Chapter, and therefore the other odde sillable between them ought to be short, least the verse should hang too much between the naturall pause of the verse, and the Dimeter following, the which Dimeter though it be naturally Trochaical, yet it seemes to haue his originall out of the Iambick verse. But the better to confirme and expresse these rules I will set downe a shorte Poeme in Licentiate Iambicks, which may giue the more light to them that shall hereafter imitate the numbers.
Goe numbers, boldly passe, staye not for aydeThough as I said beforem the naturall breathing place of our English Iambick verse is in the last sillable of the second foote, as our Trochy after the manner of the Latine Heroick and Iambick rests naturally in the first and third foote: yet no man is tyed altogether to obserus this rule, but he may alter it, after the iudgement of the eare, which Poets, Orators, and Musitions of all men ought to haue most excellent. Againe, though I said peremptorily before, that the third, and fift place of our licentiate Iambick must alwayes hold and Iambick foote, yet I will shew you example in both places where a Tribrack may be very formally taken, and first in the third place,
Of shifting rime, that easie flatterer
whose witchcraft can the ruder eares beguile;
Let your smooth feete enur'd to purer arte
True measures tred; what if your pace be slow?
And hops not like the Grecian elegies?
It is yet gracefull, and well fits the state
Of words ill-breathed and not shap't to runne:
goe then, but slowly till your steps be firme,
Tell them that pity, or peruersely skorne
Poore English Poesie as the slaue to rime,
You are those loftie numbers that reuiue
Triumphs of Princes, and sterne tragedies:
And learne henceforth t'attend those happy sprights
Whose bounding fury, height, and waight affects,
Assist their labour, and sit close to thme,
Neuer to part away till for for desert
Their bowes with great Appollos bayes are hid.
He first taught number, and true harmonye,
Nor is the lawrell his for rime bequeath'd,
Call him with numerous accents paisd by arte
He'le turne his glory from the sunny clymes,
The North-bred wits alone to patronise.
Let France their Bartas, Italy Tasso prayse,
Phæbus shuns none, but in their flight from him.
Some trade in Barabary, some in Turkey trade.
An other example.
Men that do fall to misery, quickly fall.
The first.
Whome misery can not alter, time devours.
The second.
What more vnhappy life, what misery more?
Some from the starry throne his fame deriues,To proceede farther, I see no reason why the English Iambick in his first place may not as well borrow a foote of the Trochy, as our Trochy or the Latine Hendicasillable may in the like case make bold with the Iambick: but it must be done euer with this caueat, which is, that a Sponde, Cactile or Tribrack do supply the next place: for an Iambick beginning with a single short sillable, and the other ending before with the like would too much drinke vp the verse if they came immediately together.
Some from the mynes beneath, from trees, or herbs,
Each hath his glory, each his sundry gift,
Renown'd in eu'ry art there liues not any.
These are those numbers which Nature in our English destinates to the Tragick, and Heroik Poeme: for the subiect of them both being all one, I see no impediment why one verse may not serue for them both, as it appeares more plainely in the old comparison of the two Greeke writers, when they say, Homerus est Sophocles heroicus, and againe, Sophocles est Homerus tragicus, intimating that both Sophocles and Homer are the same in height and subiect, and differ onely in the kinde of their numbers.
The Iambick verse in like manner being yet made a little more licentiate, that it may thereby the neerer imitate our common talke, will excellently serue for Comedies, and then may we vse a Sponde in the fift place, and in the third place any foote except a Trochy, which neuer enters into our Iambick verse, but in the first place, and then with his caueat of the other feete which must of necessitie follow.