IT is the ordinary misfortune of posthumous works , like Orphans , to be exposed to the mercy of others ; insomuch , that when they come to appear in the world , they have not those accommodations , which such as are advanced by their own parents and friends , commonly have . Were the learned Author of this laborious work alive to see this production of his abilities , and extraordinary industry come abroad , there needed not any to give account of it but himself . For who could have said more for the advantage and ornament of Poesy , than a person who had so fortunately spent both his time and endeavours to cultivate it in the highest manner that could be ? But since he is not , the Reader must accordingly abate of his expectation , and , instead of large Institution of Poesie , such as might well attend the present Work into the world , accept of such as slight account thereof , as may be proportionable to their capacities , for whose improvement , instruction , and convenience , these endeavours of his were intended . They indeed were calculated for their meridian who stood subject to the ferula ; which yet hinders not , but they may indifferently contribute to the assistance of all those , who find in themselves any natural inclination or happinesse of thought more than ordinary , to expresse themselves in verse .

We are then to note , that as the world became more and more civilized , Harmony , I mean that of speech and mutual expression one to another , grew more and more into reputation . Hence is it that those languages are considered as the most refined that are most susceptible of Harmony , and those most favouring of incivility and barbarisme , wherein a man cannot expresse himselfe without harshnesse and discord . This harmony , in prose , consists in an exact placing of the accent , and an accurate disposition of the words ; such as delighting the ear , doth in a manner captivate the passions and the understanding . Of this , strange instances might be made in the ancient Orators , who may be said to lead the people whither they pleased . In Poesie , it consists besides the aforesaid conditions of Prose in measure , proportion and Rhime . All we have to say relates only to the latter , and in that , confining our selves particularly to English Poesie .

There are some , who in point of Poetry attribute so much to Nature that they think all rules and directions absolutely unnecessary , and consequently that it is not reducible to any Art ; and this they categorically affirme of some Nations , allowing to others greater advantages and inclinations to perfection and excellency therein , as particularly to the Greeks and Latines . But those certainly consider not that we are equally the children of Nature ; that wit , and happinesse of conceit are an universal patrimony , and that there are in every language certain heights proportionable to their Idiome , as may very much advance Poetry . Besides the injustice they do the modern Languages , often comparing their Poetry to that of the Greek and Latines , and finding it somewhat disconsonant they presently condemne it as savage and barbarous , when haply , consider'd with relation to the Languages , it is much the more excellent . To which may be added the advantages , in point of Poetry , accrewing by Rhime , and consequently that the Languages that are enriched by it , are the most suscep●ible of Poesie . But for these and the like controversies arising concerning Poetry , we refer those that are desirous of further satisfaction to the defence of Poesie , wri●ten by Sir Philip Sidney , printed at the end of the Arcadia ; Mr. Sa. Daniel's Apologie for Rhime , written in answer to a Pamphlet in his time , entituled Observations in the Art of English Poesie ; and a certain Treatise entituled , The Art of English Poesie , divided into three Books , the first of Poets and Poesie ; the second of Proportion , and the third of Ornament , printed in the year 1589. treating of Poesie in generall , and exemplifying in the English .

As to English Poesie , we shall lay it down as granted , that it may be fortunate in any kind , and upon any subject , if it meet with a true son of Parnassus , and a genius that knowes how to manage it . And yet we find by experience that the most considerable , and for ought can be found , the most fortunate therein were a sort of Chimists , men of much leisure , and sedentary lives , who writ altogether in Stanza's . In so much that for some centuries of years , the greatest part of English Poetry , was spent on those barren and indeed abstruse subjects of Chymistry , and the Philosophers stone , as I have it from a Gentlemans observation , who is excellently well versed in Treatises of that nature , and hath a strange , and almost incredible collection thereof . But the English Language ariving daily to greater perfection and purity , Poesie must needs accordingly extend to all subjects and occasions , incident to humane life ; and since it admits of the same division into species , as the Greek and Latine , we must , being obliged to them for their Termes , submit to their Method .

The chiefest of all the species of Poesie , is the Heroick , or Epick , as being a representation of Heroes , or great and fortunate men , and accordingly requiring a certain state and Majesty suitable to the persons it represents . Some , in Mr. Johnson's time , vainly attempted to write a Heroick poem , in imitation of the Greeks and Latines , by the measures of Spondey and Dactyl , without any regard to rime . Of that number was he , who sent him a coppy of verses beginning thus ,

In this kind were written by the Ancients , all kind of Historical Poesie , performed by most of the Europian Languages , till of late , by way of Stanza's .

A second species of Posie is the Lyrick , which is of such extent , that it may be made use of on any occasion . To this head are referred Madrigals , Sonnets , Hymnes , Ballets , Odes , whereof some are amorous , some rural , some military , some jovial , made for drollery and drinking ; in a word , what suits best with the Poets humour . To these may be added , Epithalamiums , written upon occasion of Nuptials , Epinicions , of Victories , Genethliacks of Nativities , Congratulatories , &c. The most eminent of all writers of this kind , were among the Latines Horace and Catullus .

A third species is that of Elegies , Threnodies , and such like long-breathed Poems on luctiferous subjects . To this is reducible , what ever may be said on sad and dolefull occasions . Of this Ovid in his book de Tristibus , is , as it were , the Grand Exemplar .

A fourth kind is that which is called Dramatick Poesie , divisible into diverse species , and comprehending , Tragedies , Comedies , Interludes , Masks , Entertainments , Dialogues , Satyres , Frolicks , Georgicks , Pastoralls , Piscatories , Nauticals ( which three last , passe commonly under the name of Eclogues ) Memoralls and the like . In these the Poet is not strictly obliged to rhime , but only to measure , being such as are principally intended for the stage , the main grace hereof consists in representation and action . Of all these , the most ancient is the Satyre , a kind of writing , reproving common and popular abuses , so called , for the bitternesse and invectives thereof , which was such that to regul●te and reforme their licentiousresse and exorbitance Tragedies and Comedies were introduc'd .

A fift is the Epigram , a facetious kind of writing , full of spirit , humour , and fancy . It is of a vast extent , as comprehending Epitaphs , Characters , Emblems , Devices , Motto's , Hieroglyphicks , Definitions , Aphorisms , Distributions , Paradoxes , Rebus's , Problems , It is full of mirth and salt , sententious , directive , as to Morality , proverbiall , Mythologicall , Enigmaticall , in a word hath all humane actions and accidents to work upon , closing up all with a certain smartnesse of conceit . The numerous brood of it , are , ingenious fallacies in , and extra dictionem , Encomiasticks , Vituperatories , Scoffs , Sarcasms , Jeers , Jests , Quibbles , Clinches , Quippes , Bulls , Anagrams , Chronograms , Acrosticks , Criticismes , in a word whatever is of Succinct and concise Poetry , on what subject soever , handsomly couched , and worded .

To these may lastly be added certain Poeticall Treatises concerning Learning , Science , or some particular sect of Philosophy , such as that of Lucretius , Epistolary writings , such as those of Ovid , wherein he hath been imitated by Mr. Drayton , and Historicall as Lucan , imitated by the same Drayton and Daniel , and translated and supplied by Mr. Thomas May , both in Latine and English .

Having thus made a hasty dissection of Poesie into its severall species , it is now time we descend to some few particular instructions , which duly observed , may contribute something to the ornament and embellishment thereof . There is , as we hinted before , a certain harmony in Prose , much more necessary is it in Verse , whereof the grace and advantage consists altogether in the Symphony and cadence .

The first Observation then , shall be to endeavour such a disposition of the words , as that , without much labour to the tongue , they make a cerrain melody in the ear , which no sooner hears it , but she judges whether the words be placed so , as to be pronounced without violence by the accent ; whence this verse ; though it hath the just number of feet , runs harshly to the ear , by reason of the misplacing of the accent .

None think reward rendred worthy his worth .

The case is the same when by an inconsiderable alteration , as haply that of one word , makes what was before harsh become smooth and pleasant .

For instance this ,

Though death doth consume , yet verue preserves , with a little transposition will run well enough thus ,

Though death doth ruine , vertue yet preserves .

This discovers of what consequence the exact observation of the accent is , which , like right time in Musick , produces harmony , the want of it harshnesse , and discord . In like manner Rhime depends altogether on the accent ; whence it comes that many words terminating alike , yet never rhime well , such as wéaknesse and confésse , náture and endúre , fortune and importune , &c. This is soon discovered by the ear .

The second , to avoid as much as may be long Parentheses , which are a certain torture to the Reader , forcing him to alter his tone till he come to the close of the Parenthesis , and causing in the hearer a distraction and suspence till the sense be united . Examples of this are so frequent , we need not quote any . Some late writers have endeavoured to avoid them even in Prose , and the attempt ought to be cherished and seconded , nor indeed is it very difficult .

To this head may be added a certain licentiousnesse , which some English Poets have in imitation of the Greek and Latine , presumed on to dismember , and disjoyn things that should naturally march together ; placing some words at such a distance one from another , as will not stand with the English Idiome . Nay sometimes they fall down into flat prose ; a kind of Licentia poetica by no means allowable in English , such is that of these verses .

A third caution i● , to avoid , as much as may be , frequent Apostrophe's , because of harshnesse and disturbance consequent thereto , such we have in this verse .

Where the words as and he , are apostrophated , which cannot be well admitted . It is ordinary with the same Author to apostrophate us , his , by , to , be , very , &c. very harshly , and not without violence to the ear .

A fourth is to avoid feminine rimes , such as charity and parity , double and trouble , Dunstable , and Constable , &c. which in a verse of ten syllables or Heroick , speaks a certain flatnesse derogatory from the Majesty thereof , and if any where they may be allowed , it is in Ditties and Sonnets , and there hardly , Poesie being now arrived to such purity and perfection .

With this we forbid the use of polysyllables , such as are proper to prose , and come not into verse without a certain violence , such as representation , skilfulness , remediles , reciprocally , convertible , sprightfully ; as also the frequent use of words , that have the accent on the fourth sillable from the termination ; as territory , disputable , protonotary , & the like .

A fifth , may be an exact observation of the rime , as that wherein all the symphony and musick of a verse consists . In this Sir Thomas Urquhart , a man of an extraordinary fancy , may be said to be negligent , or indeed it is the fault of his Countrey , which being obliged to France for many things , derive thence a liberty not admittable in English Poesie . Such is that of terminating with the same letters , as conceive , and receive , sun , and son , resent and consent , &c. frequent in French Poetry , or such as not allowed , Poesie , would be lost among them .

As also that of making two words that have but any affinity in sound , to serve for rhime , as effects , and takes , expression and copulation , lean and den , late and set ; frequent in Scotch Poets , as it were in imitation of the French , among whom it is tolerable .

Lastly , for the Epithets , which well placed and significant , are no small ornament in a Poeme . These we would have to adde something to the signification of the Substantive , that it may not be thought they onely fill up the line . Thus to say , briny sea , is no more than to say , the sea , the woody grove is no more than a grove , nor were it amisse to avoid a sort of harsh compound words , much affected by some , such as Thunder-thumping Jove , tempest-raising winds , which reading and experience will soon discover to be the issues of hollow brains , filled with nought but wind .

Thus having run through this short Anatomy of Poesie , all now remains to do is , in few words , to give some little account of the Author , and the design and scope of the present work , for the Author he had sometime the charge and management of a private School at Hadley near Barnet in the County of Middlesex , kept in the house of a worthy Gentleman , one Mr. Francis Atkinson , who out of a design truly generous , and publick , endevouring to prevent the inconveniences of irregulated youth , set up a School or Academy , for the education of a select number of Gentlemens sons of good quality . There , it seems , as he confesseth in his Epistle to the said Mr. Atkinson , he writ this elaborate piece . But this is not his first appearance in the world ; for in the year 1655. came forth a book of his called the ENGLISH ACCIDENCE , very usefull for such as it was intended for , as teaching a way to make him that can but indifferently read English , to turn any sentence into pure and elegant Latine , Printed for R. Lownds at the white Lion in Pauls Churchyard .

For the Work , he hath divided it into three parts . The first treats of all rhimes imaginable in English ( as the base and foundation of Poesie ) according to their severall terminations . The second furnishes the diligent Lover of the Muses , with excellent choice and variety of apposite Epithets , somewhat in imitation of Textors in the Latine . The third is an ample treasury of phrases , and elegant expressions , gathered out of the best esteemed English Authors that have writ in the severall kinds of Poesie , not unlike that of Thesaurus Poeticus , in Latine . And all this is performed by such an excellent method , and a certain alphabetical disposition , for the greater ease and convenience of those that shall be desirous to advance themselves thereby , that it may be confidently said , the design is absolutely new , there having not any thing of this kind appeared upon the English stage before .

So that there seems nothing requisite to compleat the great structure of this ENGLISH PARNASSUS , or Poeticall Institution , but a Rhetoricall Treatise , such as m●y acquaint and furnish the industrious student with these advantages and imbellishments , that advance as well Prose , as Poetry to the highest pitch . And such a Treatise there is already in the Printers hands , to be suddenly put into the Presse , intituled , ENGLISH RHETORICH , and that drawn by the same hand , and polished by the same indefatigable industry , as this PARNASSUS , And of that RHETORICH , there is the like presumption , that proceeding from the same Author , th●● is , being such as pruned off whatever is burd●●●ome , and unnecessary , and comprehending all that is beneficiall and conducing to the improvement o● such as shall desire it , it will meet with a reward suitable to an undertaking of such concernment to all learning , a generall encouragement acceptation , and applause .