[1] For a remarkable effusion of this ancient idolatry and classical
superstition, see _Quarterly Review_, August, 1834.
The ancient poetry of the Greeks was composed for recitation. The
people never read, for they had no books; they listened to their
rhapsodists; and their practised ear could decide on the artificial
construction of verses regulated by _quantity_, and not by the latent
delicacy and numerosity of which modern versification is susceptible.
[2] Quadrio, "Storia e raggione d'ogni Poesia," i. 606.
[3] Pasquier, "Les Recherches de la France," p. 624, fo. 1533.
[4] "A Discourse of English Poetrie; together with the Author's
Judgment touching the Reformation of our English Verse," by WILLIAM
WEBBE, graduate, 1586, 4to.
[5] "Observations on the Art of English Poesie, by THOMAS CAMPION,
wherein is demonstratively proved, and by example confirmed, that the
English tongue will receive eight several kinds of numbers proper to
itself, which are all in this Book set forth, and were never before
this time by any man attempted," 1602.