But we must not forget to observe that our Antient Poets frequently made use of intermixed Rhyme in their Heroick Poems, which they dispos'd into Stanzas and Cantos. Thus the Troilus and Cressida of Chaucer is compos'd in Stanzas consisting of 7 Verses; the Fairy Queen of Spencer in Stanzas of 9, &c. And this they took from Italians, whose Heroick Poems generally consist in Stanzas of 8. But this is now wholly laid aside, and Davenant, who compos'd his Gondibert in Stanzas of Verses in alternate Rhyme, was the last that followed their Example of intermingling Rhymes in Heroick Poems.
The Stanzas employ'd in our Poetry, cannot consist of less than three, and are seldom of more than 12 Verses, except in Pindarick Odes, where the Stanzas are different from one another in number of Verses, as shall be shewn.
But to treat of all the different Stanzas that are employ'd or may be admitted in our Poetry, would be a labour no less tedious than useless; it being easie to demonstrate, that they may be vary'd almost to an Infinity, that would be different from one another, either in the Number of the Verses of each Stanza, or in the Number of the Syllables of each Verse; or lastly, in the various intermingling of the Rhyme. I shall therefore confine my self to mention only such as are most frequently us'd by the best of our modern Poets. And first of the Stanzas consisting of three Verses.
In the Stanzas of three Verses, or Triplets, the Verses of each Stanza rhyme to one another; and are either Heroick; as,
Nothing, thou Elder Brother e'en to shade!
Thou hadst a Being e'er the World was made.
And, (well-fix'd) art alone of ending not afraid.Roch.
Or else they consist of 8 Syllables; as these of Waller, Of a fair Lady playing with a Snake.
Strange that such Horrour and such Grace
Should dwell together in one Place,
A Fury's Arm, an Angel's Face,
Nor do the Verses of these Stanzas always contain a like number of Syllables; for the first and third may have ten, the second but eight; as,