Nullus adhuc mundo | præbebat lumina Titan;
Nec nova crescendo | reparabat cornua Phœbe,
Nec circumfuso | pendebat in aëre tellus———
Here we have eight Lines all paused in the same Place, except one, (the 4th); and in this kind of Measure the Metamorphosis is generally written; from whence I collected the natural Pause in the Latin Language to be as abovementioned: I then consulted the best Poem of the best Latin Poet, which begins with these Lines.
"Quid faciat lætas segetes, | quo Sydere Terram
Vertere, | Mæcenas, | ulmisque adjungere Vites
Conveniat, | quæ cura Boum, | qui cultus habendo
Sit Pecori, | Apibus quanta experientia parcis
Hinc canere incipiam |.———
Here I observed that this great Master had artfully avoided the common Pause till he came to the fifth Line; and he takes care to do it as much as possible throughout the whole Work; from whence arises one of the most material Differences in the Versification of Ovid and Virgil; and to produce more Examples would be a needless Labour. In this Place let me take Notice that it is on Account of Varying the Pause that Virgil makes his broken Lines in the Æneid, which suspend all Pauses, and the Ear is relieved by this Means, and attends with fresh Pleasure. Whoever intends to come up to[page 21] Virgil in Harmony in Heroick Numbers in any long Work, must not omit this Art.