Practical Guide to English Versification / With a Compendious Dictionary of Rhymes, an Examination / of Classical Measures, and Comments Upon Burlesque and / Comic Verse, Vers de Société, and Song-writing

by Tom Hood

Was ev'ry thing by starts, and nothing long;

But, in the Course of our revolving moon:

Was Fiddler, Chymist, Statesman and Buffoon:

Then all for Women, Painting, Rhyming, Drinking,

Besides Ten thousand Freaks that dy'd in Thinking,

Praising and Railing were his usual Themes,

And both, to shew his Judgment, in Extreams.

So over-violent, or over-civil,

That every Man with him was God or Devil."—Dryden.

Where the four verses that are accented on the last save one have eleven syllables, the others, accented on the last, but ten.