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to possess more or less of both these distinctions combined together ; yet so combined that in any given lan ^ guage the one or the other is found to predominate and to regulate the verse . And in this we may see
exactly what the difference is between the ancient and tlje modern poetry . It is this : in the former the time , in Ihe latter the tone , is the essential distinction of the recurrent syllables .
In a Greek Iambic verse , for instance , the essential condition is , that long syllables shall follow short ones alternately , allowing certain exceptions . Such is the nature of the following line ,
Cl TBKVOt , KddfJLOV TOV TttxhOCl VZCt , TpQipYj . In this line we may observe that the even places are all occupied by long syllables : the odd places generally by short : but the fourth and fifth
even places , though long , are not accented . In what is called an English Iambic verse , we shall find that it is essential that the even places be in general accented , but not that they should be long : as in this line ,
And made a widow happy for a whim . Greek verse is therefore constituted chiefly by the time , and English by the accent : but this miist not be so understood , as if either the English was wholly independent of the time , or
the Greek of the accent ; for as we have before observed , in either language both must conspire to make harmonious verse . The English line just quoted , for want of quantity , sounds poor and meagre , as we may judge by contrasting it with one where the times are more duly ob * served : such as this ., All are but parts of one stupendous whole . In like manner it is probable , though not quite so easily proved , that those
Greek verses were , even by the ancients , judged most pleasing , in which a considerable proportion of the long syllables were distinguished also by the accent . At any rate , there can be no doubt that the position of the accents was not at all a matter of
indifference . The following Latin line is remarked for its awkward rhythm ; and this it owes to malposition of the accents , for there is no fault in the scanning . Tali coneldk impigcr ictus vulneie Caesar .
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The same thing is attested by Aristotle , where speaking of the letters he observes , " Tavrcx , hiouptpzi , | StxcvTirri , Koci \ piXoTvjn 9 kcu wri / cei teal
fipauyjuTrfCi * £ ti hi kou ogvTyri kou jQapuTwn v ~ ' * v . \ T A * cf ' ' KOU , TOO ( ABO-GO * TT ££ * 60 V KCLV tKfXfttby gy ro 7 <; fxtT ^ iKoTt ; TrpooiqKEi SfeoopeTv , Poetics cap . 20 . 4 i They differ in being either with or without aspiration , in being long or short , in being acute or grave , or between both : and to each of these
things it is proper to pay attention in versification . " We see by this unquestionable authority , that the rhythm of ancient Greek verse depended both on its quantities and on its accents , though undoubtedly the former were what was most essential to its constitution .
These preliminary considerations will prepare us to understand the nature and origin of the great charge which is brought against the Greek accents , namely , that they corrupt the quantity . This case admits of a simple explanation . It depends on an abuse of terms . We have observed
that in English the quantity of syllables is very imperfectly distinguished ; it is a thing little regarded , and although a good ear must always be sensible of it , in some degree , yet
were it not for our acquaintance with ancient literature , quantity would probably hardly have been mentioned among us . Accent alone almost engrosses our attention , both in prose and verse . Now we commonly read
Latin and Greek just in the same manner as we do our own tongue , and in reality pay just as much attention to the quantity in pronouncing the one as the other * This assertion may at first be thought somewhat paradoxical , but I am sure that if the matter is duly considered , it will be found to is
be just . It is true that no point more insisted upon in our schools than what is called minding the quantity . But I ask , is the point which is really insisted upon , an observance of the proper time of the syllables ? each «
it that care be taken to give to long , syllable twice the time that is given to a short one ? By no means , nor any thing like itv Nothing can be more foreign to the ideas both ot masters and scholars . In one word ,
the only thing that is attended to ib to place the accent aright- If a P ! : school-boy should J-ead fedes instead
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444 Argument in favour of the Greek Accents .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1823, page 444, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1787/page/12/
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