You that the Gentleman who has just left us, is a Poet. You faw how he took fire at your reflection on Rhyme. Your affertion, that Blank Verfe is better adapted to the genius of Poetry, and the general improvement of Eloquence, cannot be dif puted, whenever the abuse of rhyme is car ried fo far, as that the Sound becomes more B the 1-2-367EB ALCat. the object of our attention than the Sense, or, that the force and beauty of Expreffion are facrificed to an infignificant jingle. Mr. Dryden, I remember, fpeaking of Rhyme, fays" What it adds to sweetness, it takes away from fenfe; and he who lofes least by it, may be called a gainer." Afp. AND yet there is fomething fo pleafing in the chiming of founds, or elfe, from the influence of early impreffions, we are fo accustomed to receive and feel it as a pleafure, that I am perfuaded, Eugenio's opinion, were it made public, would not have many followers. Eug. You do well, Aspasia, to distinguish between things pleafing in themselves, and fuch as are fo merely from the force of habit. Were there any thing truly delightful in the nature of Rhymes, it is not probable, that that the ancients fhould have over-looked this advantage; nor would it have been referved for a fet of trifling Monks, to fing them into reputation. But these are general reflections: in order to decide the matter in debate, it would be neceffary to make a particular inquiry into the Beauties of Verfification; and to determine from them the merits of its feveral modes. Afp. I WISH, Eugenio, you would undertake this task. One condition, however, I muft infift on, that in Love matters you fhew us fome indulgence. What will you Rhyme ? leave us, if you fteal our Hor. JINGLING is fo pretty a fubftitute of fentiment, it is fo wedded to gallantry, that it were a cruelty to divorce them. I will fecure you, Afpafia, against any fuch at tempt, by the authority of Shakespear; who, in the commerce of Love, places Rhymes in so respectable a light, that he fets them on a level even with bracelets, rings, and fweetmeatsThe paffage is decifive. ——— My gracious Duke, E. This man hath witch'd the bofom of my child: Thou, thou, Lyfander, thou haft giv'n ber rhymes, And ftol'n th' impreffion of her fantasie With bracelets of thy hair, rings, gawds, conceits, Knacks, trifles, nofegays, fweetmeats, (mef- This, Eugenio, is an authority which you must not dispute; and, as Aspasia has made con |