Excerpt from English Metres

The aim of this book is to provide a brief explanation of the nature of English verse and of the means used to analyze and describe it, together with a description and history of the more frequent metrical forms. The examples are for the greater part from poems commonly studied in courses in English and American literature. It has seemed best to recognize that many points in metrical theory are still debatable. The method of marking scansion that has been employed is, of course, only one of many, but is that which, on the whole, most commends itself to the writer. For further study are recommended R. M. Alden, English Verse; C. F. Andrews, The Writing and Reading of Verse; Robert Bridges, Milton's Prosody; C. F. Jacob, The Foundation and Nature of Verse: T. S. Omond, English Metrists. The work last mentioned gives a complete history of the subject, with full bibliography. To these works the writer wishes to record his obligations. He takes this occasion to express his thanks to his colleagues Professors Martin Sampson, F. C. Prescott, and F. E. Fiske, for helpful comments on his manuscript, and Mr. J. H. Nelson, for assistance in reading the proof.