And perhaps after some others.
There are also other Words whose Syllables are sometimes contracted, sometimes not: as, Bower, Heaven, Prayer, Nigher, Towards, and many more of the like Nature: But they generally ought to be us'd but as one Syllable; and then they suffer an Elision of the Vowel that precedes their final Consonant, and ought to be written thus: Pow'r, Heav'n, Pray'r, Nigh'r, tow'rds.
The Termination ISM is always us'd but as one Syllable; as
Where griesly Schism and raging Strife appear.Cowl.
And Rhumatisms I send to rack the Joynts.Dryd.
And, indeed, considering that it has but one Vowel, it may seem absurd to assert that it ought to be reckon'd two Syllables; yet in my Opinion, those Verses seem to have a Syllable more than their due Measure, and would run better if we took one from them; as,
Where griesly Schism, raging Strife appear.
I Rhumatisms send to rack the Joynts.
Yet this Opinion being contrary to the constant practice of our Poets, I shall not presume to advance it as a Rule for others to follow; but leave it to be decided by such as are better Judges of Poetical Numbers.
The like may be said of the Terminations ASM and OSM.