Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Dissertation On The Modern Art Of Scribbling.
Some authors are very often put to their shifts in procuring these useful conveniencies of pen , ink , and paper : and here the Verse-tinner has vastly the advantage oyer the Prnse- ^ spinneiyas his words lie in a closer compass , and he ' never sets down his lines till he has made his tag ; whereas the other always runs on in a continued course , as fast as he can , clapping down the first sentence that comes in his head ,
before he has considered , or even knows what the next shall be . — This leads me to account for the superiority of the ancients over modern authors : for as paper was little usedamong the Grecians or the Romans , they were obliged to digest their thoughts , and methodise them into some order , before they transcribed them into their volumes : and the convenience of printing could ' not give occasion for
the vending of any crudities that happen to proceed , as -is . often- the case at present , from a weak and distempered brain . But to return , I shall now proceed to say something of the various branches of scribbling ; and as a Poet , according to the etymology of the word , is a mere maker , I . will begin with the art of making verses . —Every man is naturally born a Poet : our very squalling at our first coming into , the world is metrically harmonious ; apd the first words
we are taught to articulate are in rhyme , as ma-ma ,, pa-pa , & c . No wonder then that every body has an equal capacity for this species ' of scribbling , and that it is practised by so many with the same share of success . i ' ¦ . To tag rhymes together requires some proficiency in the science of Crambo , and is therefore attended with some difficulty ; . but . the easiest of ] all . is to writein blank verseas it is call'dthis requiringlittlemore
, , , than . a collection of hard words , obscure p hrases , arid quaint allusions . The Rhymer is , obliged first to pick out the . two words that are to jingle at the end of the line to each other ; after . which . he must fill up the vacant space , with syllables of a length exactly , suiting ; like Procrustes' bed , cramping or . stretching outthe matter to fit itto the measure . The writer of blank verseon the contrarywire-draws bis
, , , sentiments as finely as he can , piecing them with , pompous sounding epithets : and when , he can ' t spin them out any further ,, brings them to , a period , generally in the middle of a line ; by which means he . never stands still , or is at , a loss formatter . This is one reason wh y so many make tragedy , it being so very easy to find language , which is looked upon to be the main requisite in . this . kind of composition .
The province of prose is so wide , that it is hardly possible to fix any limitations to those who are employed in it . I shall perhaps take occasion hereafter to point out some particulars herein to be observed , and illustrate them with specimens ; as I may also do with-regard to poetry . The only general rule that can be laid down for either is , to observe no rule at all . By this you will find yourself at liberty to indulge your own fancy ; and by this we are sure at leastof variety
. , as every single author stands alone , and is in himself an original . It is the business of a scribbler to be ever on the watch , and ready to lay hold on what is most likel y to catch the notice of the public . Hence an Elegy , Epithalamium , Epistle . Apology , Address , or the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Dissertation On The Modern Art Of Scribbling.
Some authors are very often put to their shifts in procuring these useful conveniencies of pen , ink , and paper : and here the Verse-tinner has vastly the advantage oyer the Prnse- ^ spinneiyas his words lie in a closer compass , and he ' never sets down his lines till he has made his tag ; whereas the other always runs on in a continued course , as fast as he can , clapping down the first sentence that comes in his head ,
before he has considered , or even knows what the next shall be . — This leads me to account for the superiority of the ancients over modern authors : for as paper was little usedamong the Grecians or the Romans , they were obliged to digest their thoughts , and methodise them into some order , before they transcribed them into their volumes : and the convenience of printing could ' not give occasion for
the vending of any crudities that happen to proceed , as -is . often- the case at present , from a weak and distempered brain . But to return , I shall now proceed to say something of the various branches of scribbling ; and as a Poet , according to the etymology of the word , is a mere maker , I . will begin with the art of making verses . —Every man is naturally born a Poet : our very squalling at our first coming into , the world is metrically harmonious ; apd the first words
we are taught to articulate are in rhyme , as ma-ma ,, pa-pa , & c . No wonder then that every body has an equal capacity for this species ' of scribbling , and that it is practised by so many with the same share of success . i ' ¦ . To tag rhymes together requires some proficiency in the science of Crambo , and is therefore attended with some difficulty ; . but . the easiest of ] all . is to writein blank verseas it is call'dthis requiringlittlemore
, , , than . a collection of hard words , obscure p hrases , arid quaint allusions . The Rhymer is , obliged first to pick out the . two words that are to jingle at the end of the line to each other ; after . which . he must fill up the vacant space , with syllables of a length exactly , suiting ; like Procrustes' bed , cramping or . stretching outthe matter to fit itto the measure . The writer of blank verseon the contrarywire-draws bis
, , , sentiments as finely as he can , piecing them with , pompous sounding epithets : and when , he can ' t spin them out any further ,, brings them to , a period , generally in the middle of a line ; by which means he . never stands still , or is at , a loss formatter . This is one reason wh y so many make tragedy , it being so very easy to find language , which is looked upon to be the main requisite in . this . kind of composition .
The province of prose is so wide , that it is hardly possible to fix any limitations to those who are employed in it . I shall perhaps take occasion hereafter to point out some particulars herein to be observed , and illustrate them with specimens ; as I may also do with-regard to poetry . The only general rule that can be laid down for either is , to observe no rule at all . By this you will find yourself at liberty to indulge your own fancy ; and by this we are sure at leastof variety
. , as every single author stands alone , and is in himself an original . It is the business of a scribbler to be ever on the watch , and ready to lay hold on what is most likel y to catch the notice of the public . Hence an Elegy , Epithalamium , Epistle . Apology , Address , or the