[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] venture to submit, pace
Mr. Arthur C. Jennings in your issue of December 2nd, that Byron meant rather to prance in anapaests than canter in dactyls—or, it would be fairer to say his preliminary canter of verse 1 raced him up to anapaestic speed in the verses following. I suggest the following rhythm :- " Knew/ ye the lands/ where the ey/press and mfr/tle Are emblems of deeds/ that are done/ in their clime, Where the rage/ of the val/ture and lave/ of the tar/tle Now melt/ into ser/row, now mad/den to crime ? Know/ ye the land/ of the ce/dar and vine, Where the flowers/ ever bles/som, the beams/ ever shine ? "
In line 2, is not " Are emblems " as a dactyl unpronounceable ? For this, vide Evangeline, practically passim. I mono- syllabize " flowers."—I am, Sir, &e., ROBERT J. REYNOLDS.
15 Clevedon Mansions, Lissenden Gardens, N.W. 5.
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