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

Who at such Distance gives so sure a blow."—Cowley.

Section IV.—Of the stanzas of eight verses.

I have already said that the Italians compose their heroic poems in stanzas of eight verses, where the rhyme is disposed as follows: The first, third, and fifth verses rhyme to one another, and the second, fourth, and sixth, the two last always rhyme to each other. Now our translators of their heroic poems have observed the same stanza and disposition of rhyme, of which take the following example from Fairfax's translation of Tasso's "Goffredo," cant. 1, stan. 3,

"Thither thou know'st the World is best inclin'd,

Where luring Parnass most his Beams imparts;

And Truth, convey'd in verse of gentlest Kind,

To read sometimes will move the dullest Hearts;

So we, if Children young diseas'd we find,

Anoint with Sweets the Vessel's foremost parts,

To make them take the Potions sharp we give;