Two plighted words, in one with grace appear,
When they with ease glide smoothly o'er the Ear.
Two may embrace at once, but seldom more,
Nor verse can bear the mingled shape of four;
No triple monsters dwell on Latium's shore.
When mixt with smooth, these harsher strains are found,
We start with horror at the frightful sound;
The Grecian bards, in whom such freedoms please,
May match with more success such words as these,
Heap hills on hills, and bid the structure rise,
Till the vast Pile of mountains prop the skies.
What words soever of vast bulk we view,
One of less size may sometimes split in two;
Sometimes we sep'rate from the whole a part.
And prune the more luxuriant limbs with art.
Thus when the names of heroes we declare,
Names, whose unpolish't sounds offend the ear,
We add; or lop some branches which abound,
Till the harsh accents are with smoothness crown'd,
That mellows ev'ry word, and softens every sound.
Page:Vida's Art of Poetry.djvu/111
100
VIDA's Art of
By
