But that first holy rapture cannot be recovered. We must work by rule. The rules attaching to this kind of work are six:—

(1) Put the verb in the wrong place (some leave it out altogether);

(2) Use words that may be either verbs or nouns—plurals are very useful;

(3) Punctuate insufficiently;

(4) Make a special use of phrases that have two or three meanings;

(5) Leave out relatives;

(6) Have whole sentences in apposition.

Some of our young poets have imagined that the mere use of strange words made up the Obscure style. I need not say that they were wrong. Thus, the lines—

“And shall I never tread them more,

My murrant balks of wealden lathes?”