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AN ESSAY

ON

POETRY AND MUSICK,

AS THEY AFFECT THE MIND.

AN ESSAY

ON

POETRY AND MUSICK.

PART II.

OF THE LANGUAGE OF POETRY.

HAVING finished what I intended to say on the general nature of poetry, as an imitative art, I proceed to consider the INSTRUMENT which it employs in its imitations; or, in other words to explain the general nature of POETICK LANGUAGE. For language is the poet's instrument of imitation, as sound is the musician's, and colour the painter's. My conclusions on this part of the subject will be found to terminate in the principles already laid down.

Words in poetry are chosen, first, for their sense; and, secondly, for their sound. That the first of these grounds of choice is the more excellent, nobody can deny. He who in literary VOL. VI.

A

matters prefers sound to sense, is a fool. Yet sound is to be attended to, even in prose; and in verse demands particular attention. I shall consider poetical language, first, as SIGNIFICANT; and, secondly, as SUSCEPTIBLE OF HARMONY.

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