Of the Elisions that are allow'd in our Versification.
Our Verses consisting only of a certain Number of Syllables, nothing can be of more ease, or greater use to our Poets, than the retaining or cutting off a Syllable from a Verse, according as the measure of it requires; and therefore it is requisite to treat of the Elisions that are allowable in our Poetry, some of which have been already taken notice of in the preceding Section.
By Elision, I mean the cutting off one or more Letters from a Word, whereby two Syllables come to be contracted into one; or the taking away an intire Syllable. Now when in a Word of more than two Syllables, which is accented on the last save two, the Liquid R, happens to be between two Vowels, that which precedes the Liquid admits of an Elision, Of this nature are many Words in ANCE, ENCE, ENT, ER, OUS, and RY; as Temperance, Preference, Different, Flatterer, Amorous, Victory: Which are Words of three Syllables, and often us'd as such in Verse; but they may also be contracted into two, by cutting off the Vowel that precedes the Liquid; as Temp'rance, Pref'rence, Diff'rent, Flatt'rer, Am'rous, Vict'ry. The like Elision is sometimes us'd, when any of the other Liquids L, M, or N, happen to be between two Vowels, in Words accented like the former, as Fabulous, Enemy, Mariner, which may be contracted Fab'lous, En'my, Mar'ner. But this is not so frequent.
Observe, that I said accented on the last save two; for if the Word be accented on the last save one, that is to say, on the Vowel that precedes the Liquid, that Vowel may not be cut off. And therefore it is a fault to make, for Example, Sonorous of two Syllables, as in this Verse;
With Son'rous Metals wak'd the drowsie Day.Blac.
Which always ought to be of three; as in this,
Sonorous Metals blowing martial Sounds.Milt.
In like manner; whenever the Letter S happens to be between two Vowels in Words of three Syllables, accented on the first, one of the Vowels may be cut off; as Pris'ner, Bus'ness, &c.
Or the Letter C when 'tis sounded like S; that is to say, whenever it preceds the Vowels E or I; as Med'cine, for Medicine.
Or V Consonant; as Cov'nant for Covenant.