PRosodia is an Art that teaches the right pronunciation of words, according to their Proper Times or Quantities.

Time or Quantity is the measure of a Syllable in pronouncing.

Quantity is twofold, long and short.

The long Quantity is noted thus (¯) as spēs.

The short Quantity is noted thus ˘, as brĕvĭs.

Out of Syllables are made Feet.

A Foot is the setting together of two or more Syllables, ac­cording to the observation of their Quantities.

Feet are either Dissyllables, Trisyllables, or Tetrasyllables, that is, of two syllables, three syllables, or four syllables.

Of each which, we shall at Present mention but one or two.

A Spondee, is a foot, consisting of two long Syllables, as virtūs.

A Dactyl is a foot, consisting of three syllables, the first long, the last two short, as scrībĕrĕ.

* Which foot is sometimes put for a Dactyl.

A Proceleusmatick is a foot consisting of four short syllables, as tenŭerăt.

* Which is likewise sometimes put for a Dactyl.

Out of feet are made Verses.

A Verse is a speech, bound to a just and lawful number of Feet.

The dividing of a Verse into its several Feet, is called scan­ning, as,

In scanning there be four things to be considered, viz. 1. Synaloepha, which is the cutting off of a Vowel or Dip­thong [Page 2] at the end of a word, when the word following begins with a Vowel or Dipthong, as vita est, or vitae aeternae, will in scanning be vit' est, and vit' aeternae, (a) and (ae) being cut off by Synaloepha.

* Sometimes, in imitation of the Greeks, Synaloepha is omit­ted, as,

And then in imitation of them, the long Vowel or Dipthong that ends the sormer word, may be made short, as

The Interjections, heu alas! and O, oh! are never cut off, as

2. Eclipsis, which is che cutting off of (m) with the foregoing Vowel at the end of a word, when the word following begins with a Vowel or Dipthong, as, Monstrum horrendum informe, in scanning will be, Monstr' horrend' informe.

* Eclipsis is sometimes, but very rarely omitted, as

3. Synoeresis, which is the contraction of two Syllables into one, as alvaria for alvearia, Beehives; under which those words, Dii, Diis, &c, rankt by Lilly under Synaloepha, seem to me to be more regularly comprehended.

*4 Diaeresis, which is the dissolving of one Syllable into two, as evoluisse made to be a word of five syllables, instead of evol­visse so have unfolded, which has but four.

We shall at present treat of but three sorts of Verses, namely, Hexameter, Pentameter and Hypermeter.

An Hexameter (which is likewise call'd an Heroick or Long) Verse consists of six feet, Spondees and Dactyls.

* But sometimes a Proceleusmatick is used instead of a Dactyl, and sometimes an Anapest, as

The four first feet are either Spondees or Dactyls, or both, the fifth most commonly a Dactyl, the last always a Spondee, as,

An Elegiac (called also a Pentameter or short) Verse consists of two Penthemimers.

A Penthemimer consists of two feet and a long syllable.

The feet of the first Penthemimer may be either Dactyls or Spondees, or both; Those of the last Penthemimer, are alwayes Dactyls, as,

The last syllable of these Verses is alwayes long.

* An Hypermeter Verse, is a Verse having one syllable more than ordinary, which alwayes endeth in a Vowel, Dipthong, or (m), which last syllable is drowned in the following Verse, which alwayes begins with a Vowel or Dipthong, as

where ( [...]) in Latinorum is out off, and drowned in (ar [...]a) the first word of the following Verse.

The Quantities of first and middle syllables of words are to be known ten wayes, 1. By Position. 2. By a Vowel before a Vowel. 3. By Dipothong. 4. By Derivation. 5. By Composition. 6. By Preposition. 7. By Rule. 8. By Example or Authority. 9. By the encreasing of the Genitive Case. 10. By the Analogy of the Conjugation.

1. Position is, when a Vowel comes besore two Consonants, or a double one.

Position makes a syllable long.

Position is twofold, commonly used, and seldomly used.

Position commonly used is fourfold, first, when a Vowel comes before two or more Consonants, as, ōmnis all, ādspuo to spit up­on, secondly, before the same Consonant doubled, as āddo to add. Thirdly, Before a Consonant at the end of a word, the word fol­lowing beginning with another Consonant, as, sic dixit, so he said, or lastly, before a double Consonant, as ējus of him, āxis an axletree, as,

But in some compound words (j) is common, as rejicio to cast away, in others alwayes short, as quadrĭjugus drawn with four horses.

* The less usual Position is when a word endeth in a short Vowel, and the word following begins with two or more Conso­nants; which sometimes makes that syllable long, as,

But most commonly 'tis not taken notice of, as,

To Position's making syllables long, there are these exceptions. 1. If a Vowel come before a Mute, and a Liquid in the same [Page 5] word, it is sometimes common, (that is, either long or short,) as, ătlas, pătris of a Father; which syllable, if it be the last syl­lable save one, in a word of more then two syllables, is alwayes pronounc'd short in Prose, as, arbĭtror I suppose.

* 2. Sometimes the Latines in imitation of the Greeks, make (us) short at the end of a word, though the word following begin with a Consonant, as,

3 The antepenultima, or last syllable save two, of Polymne­stor, is short, of Clytemnestra common, and the penultima, or last syllable save one, of Smarăgdus an Emerald.

II. A Vowel before a Vowel in the same word, is short.

I. Except in Greek words, where 'tis most commonly long, as,

2. Except Adjectives, ending in three Vowels, deriv'd of Greek Proper Names, have the sirst of them alwayes long, and the second alwayes short, as,

3. Except the Genitive and Dative Cases singular of Nouns of the fifth Declension, when (e) comes between two (i's) as Genitivo facieī of a face, Dativo faciei to a face; But if there goes no (i) immediately before the (e), 'tis short.

* Though Lucretius makes the (e) even in those words long too. as, fidei of or to faith.

4. Except in Hebrew, and other Forreign words, when one vowel comes before another, 'tis usually common, as, Isrăel, Jŏannes.

5. Except the last syllable save one, of the Genitive Cases Sin­gular, [Page 6] of Nouns and Pronouns in (ius), which is common, as unius of one; (which Syllable is alwayes pronounced long in Prose) But in alterĭus of one of the two, that syllable is alwayes short; and in alius of another, 'tis alwayes long, to distinguish it from the Nominative alĭus.

6. Except fi in fio to be made or done, which is alwayes long, throughout all Moods and Tenses, unless when both (e) and (r) follow, as,

7. Except in the Interjections, Ohe, hold! and eheu, alas! which are alwayes long.

* 8. Except in Dipthong dissolv'd, as in pictāi for pictae, terrāi for terrae of the earth, which are long, as,

III. All Dipthongs are long, except a Vowel follow, as, aū­rum gold, praeeo to go before.

IV. Derivation. Derivatives retain the Quantities of their Primitives, as tĭmor fear, of tĭmeo. to fear.

1. Except some words which make those syllables long, which in their Primitives are short, as,

2. Except some words, which make those syllables short, which the Primitives make long, as,

3. Except words which make those syllables common, which in the Primitives are either only long, or only short, as quŏtĭ­die dayly, of quōtō die? what day? viĕtum to bind, the Su­pine of vieo viēvi. Abstĕmius abstinent, of tēmetum strong wine.

V. Composition. Compound words have the same quantity that the simple words have, as, clārus famous, praeclārus very famous.

VI. Preposition. These Prepositions á, de, é, pro, and these not used but in Composition, called inseparable Prepositions, be­cause they are never used alone, or separately, di, co, se, un­less a vowel follow, are long.

1. Except prŏ, which is common in these,

• Prŏcumbo to lye down flat.
• Prŏfessus that hath confessed openly.
• Prŏfluus which floweth continually.
• Prŏfugio to fly, or run away,
• Prŏsugus a vagabond.
• Prŏfundo to pour out in abundance.
• Prŏfundus deep.
• Prŏpago to propagate.
• Prŏpello to drive far away.
• Prŏpino to drink to.

And short in these.

• Prĕcella a storm.
• Prŏfanus profane.
• Prŏfari to speak out.
• Prŏfecto truly.
• Prŏfestus not holy.
• Prŏficiscor to go.
• Prŏfiteor to profess.
• Prŏnepos a Nephews Son.
• Prŏpago a stock.
• Prŏpero to make haste.
• Prŏph [...]ta a Prophet.
• Prŏpola a huckster.
• Prŏtervus sawcy.

And in all words written with the Greek short (o) [...].

2. Except (di) is short in dĭrimo to take away, and dĭsertus eloquent.

All other Prepositions are short, if not hindred by Position.

Except (re) in rĕficit he refresheth, and rĕperi I found by chance, which is common.

VII Rule.

1. Every Praeterperfect Tense of but two syllables, has the first long, as legi I have read, except in these six,

which are short,

2. Praeterperfect Tenses, that encrease a syllable at the begin­ning, make that syllable short, as spondeo to be surety for, spŏ­spondi: And if Position hinder not, they make the middle sylla­ble short too, as pello to drive away, pepŭli: Except pepedi I have broken wind backward, and cecĭdi I have cut, to distinguish it from cecĭdi I have fallen; in which 'tis long.

3. Praeterperfect Tenses ending in (vi) make the foregoing syllable long▪ as quaesivi I have sought for.

4. Supins of but two syllables, have the first syllable long, as mōtum to move.

1. Exc.

Which are short.

2. Except Statum to stand, which is common.

These Rules may be learnt by Children before they enter up­on the Moods and Tenses, or whilest they are in them.

5. In the Present and Preterimperfect Tenses of the Subjun­ctive Mood of both Voices, and in the Preterpluperfect Tense of the same Mood of the Active Voice, (a) and (e) before (m) or (t), or between two (r's), is long, as doceāmus, doceātis, le­gerēmus, legeretis, legātur, legeremur, legereris vel legerere.

6. In the first person Plural of the Indicative Mood of the Active voice (i) is short, as amavĭmus.

7. In the Praeterpluperfect Tense of the Indicative Mood of the Active voice, the Praeterperfect and Future Tenses of the Subjunctive Mood, of the same voice, (e) before (r) is alwayes short, as, amavĕram, amavĕrim, amavĕro. As also, in all Ten­ses of sum, and its compounds, as ĕram, fuĕram, ĕro, fuĕrim, fuĕro, adĕram I was present, adfuĕram, adĕro, adfuĕrim, ad­fuĕro.

VIII Example or Authority, which is only the example or au­thority of good Writers, viz. of those Romans which were counted Authentick, when the Latin Tongue was spoken in Rome.

IX. The encreasing of the Genitive Case, which, as to com­mon Nouns, may be had from Propria quae maribus; saving that some Monosyllables, which are reckon'd to be under the second Special Rule, have the first Syllable in the oblique Cases, short, as,

And mulier a woman, in the oblique cases is common.

These Rules may likewise be learnt by Children before they enter upon the Moods and Tenses, or whilest they are in them.

X. The Analogy of the Conjugation.

1. In Verbs of the first Conjugation, (a) is long, as, amāmus, amābam, &c. except in do to give, together with those com­pounds of it, that are of the first Conjugation, as dăbo I will give, circumdăbo I will compass about.

2. In Verbs of the second Conjugation (e) is long, as docēmus. Except when a Vowel follows. as, docĕamus, it is short.

3. In verbs of the third Conjugation (i) and (e) are short, as, legĭmus, legĭtis, legĕrem; except in the Preterimperfect and Fu­ture Tenses of the Indicative Moods of both voices, where (e) is long, as legēbam, legēmus, legētur.

4. In verbs of the fourth Conjugation (i) is long, as audīmus, audītis.

1. Except when a Vowel follows, as, audĭam, for then 'tis short.

2. Except in the Supins of eo to go, and queo to be able, to­gether with their derivatives and compounds, as ĭtum to go, [Page 13] adĭtum to go to, where 'tis short; but one compound of eo, viz. ambio to compass, makes ambītum long.

Of all these ten wayes, no one meddles with the last syllables, but Position, Dipthong and Preposition.

The last Syllables we'll treat of according to their Alphabeti­cal order.

A.

Words ending in (a) are long,

1. Except the Adverb pută to wit, ită so, quiă because, posteă afterwards, which are short.

2. Except contră against, which is common,

3. Except all cases in (a), as, problemă a hard question, tem­poră times, which are short.

1. Except the Ablative cases of the first Declension, as ab hâc musa from a song, which are long; but eădem the Ablative case of idem, the same is common.

2. Except the Vocative cases of Greek Nouns in (as) of the first Declension, as Vocativo Thomā O Thomas, which are sometimes long.

3. Except Nouns of number in (gintă) which are common.

B,

Latin words in (b) are short.

Hebrew words in (b), as Jōb, are long; but Jacŏb is common.

C.

Words ending in (c) are long;

1. Except nĕc neither, donĕc as long as, which are short.

2. Except hĭc this, făc do thou, which are common.

D.

Words ending in (d) are short.

E.

Words ending in (e) ar short.

1. Except the Ablative cases singular of the fifth Declension, as die in a day, together with those Adverbs that are thence de­riv'd, as hodiē to day, which are long.

2. Except the second person singular of the Imperative Mood, of the Active voice, of the second Conjugation, as doce teach, which are long; but cavĕ beware, and respondĕ answer, are common.

3. Except all Monosyllables, which are long; except n [...] whe­ther or no? ve or, and que and, at the ends of other words, the two first of which are short, and the last common; and so is fere almost.

4. Except ferme almost, together with Adverbs derived of Adjectives in (us), as avide greedily, which are long; but bene well, and malĕ ill, are short.

5. Except the Nominative, Dative, Vocative and Ablative cases Singular, of Nouns of the Feminine Gender, of the first Declension, as Nominativo, Dativo, Vocativo, Ablativo Pene­lopē, which are long.

H.

Words ending in (h), if not cut off, are long, as, āh! alas! Joseph, Lōth, Melchisadech, but Judĭth is common.

I.

Words ending in (i) are long;

1. Except mihĭ to me, tibĭ to thee, sibĭ to himself, to her self, to it self, or to themselves, cuĭ to whom, quasĭ as though, ubĭ where, ibĭ there, which are common.

2. Except the Dative and Vocative cases singular of Greek Nouns ending in (os) in the Genitive, as Dativo Phyllidĭ, Vo­cativo Phyllĭ, of Phyllis Phyllidos; as also, nisĭ unless, which are short.

L.

Words ending in (l) are short.

1. Except nīl nothing, sāl salt, sōl the sun, which are long.

2. Except Forreign words, as Michael, which are long.

M.

* Words ending in (m), if the Eclipsis be omitted, are short, as,

N.

Words ending in (n) are long;

1. Except forsăn perhaps, forsităn by chance, ăsn whether or no, tamĕn yet, attamĕn notwithstanding, veruntamĕn notwith­standing, which are short.

2. Except words ending in (in) compounded of the Prepositi­on (in), as exĭn afterwards, which are short.

3. Except words that lose a letter by Apocope, as mĕn'! what me! which are sometimes short.

4. Except words of the third special Rule in (en) which make (ĭnis) in the Genitive Case, as carmĕn carmĭnis a Verse; which are short.

5. Except Greek Nouns in (on) written by their short (o), as Peliŏn, Caucason; which are short.

6. Except Greek Accusative cases in (in) by (i), as Alexĭn, which are short.

7. Except Greek Accusative cases in (yn) by (y), as Ityn, which are short.

8. Except Greek Accusative cases in (an) of Nominative cases in (a), as Aeginăn of Aegina; which are short.

O.

Words ending in (o) are common.

1. Except Oblique cases in (o) as Dativo Magistrō, Ablativo Magistrō, which are alwayes long; but eŏdem the Ablative case of idem the same, is common.

2. Except Adverbs deriv'd of Adjectives, as falsō falsely, of falsus false, which are long; but sedulō carefully, mutuŏ mutu­ally, crebrŏ often, serŏ too late, citŏ quickly, which are com­mon.

3. Except all Monosyllables, as dō I give; which are long; to which add pondō a pound weight.

4. Except Greek words ending in their long (o omega), as Ddō, Herō, which are long.

5. Except modŏ so that, with its compounds, as dummodŏ so that, which are common.

R.

Words ending in (r) are short.

1. Except Far all manner of Corn, lār a houshold god, nār a river running into Tyber, vēr the spring, fūr a thief, cūr why? pār like, with its compounds, which are long.

2. Except Greek words ending in (er), with their long (e, eta) as aethēr the sky, which are long; but matĕr a mother, is short, and patĕr a father, is common.

3. Exeept cŏr a heart, vĭr a man, amŏr love, paritĕr likewise, which are common.

S. As.

Words ending in (as) are long.

1. Except Greek Nouns in (as), making their Genitive case Singular in (dis) or (dos) as Arcăs Arcadis, or Arcados, which are short.

2. Except Greek Accusative cases Plural of Nouns increasing in the Genitive case, as hos Heroăs, of Heros Herōis a Hero; which are short.

Es.

Words ending in (es) are long.

1. Except the Nominative and Vocative cases Singular of Nouns in (es) of the third special Rule, as milĕs, milĭtis a soul­dier, which are short; but aries a ram, abiēs a fir-tree, pariēs a wall, Cerēs the Goddess of Corn, and the compounds of pes a foot, are long, except quadrupĕs that hath four feet, which is common.

2. Except ĕs the second person singular of sum I am, together with its compounds, as potĕs thou canst, which are short; to which add penĕs in the power.

3. Except Greek nouns of the Neuter gender, as cacoethĕs an ill custom, and Greek Nominative, Accusative and Vocative cases Plural, as Nominativo hae Naiadĕs, Accusativo has Naiadĕs, Vo­cativo ô Naiadĕs, Nymphs of the Fountains, which are short.

Is.

Words ending in (is) are short.

1. Except oblique cases Plural in (is) as Dativo musīs, Abla­tivo musīs, which are long.

2. Except Nouns in (is), encreasing long in the Genitive case, as Simoīs Simoēntis a River by Troy, which are long; to which add forīs out of doors.

3. Except all Monosyllables, as glis a dormouse, which are long; but ĭs he, bĭs twice, and the Nominative case quĭs who, are short.

4. Except the second persons singular of Verbs, that make the last syllable save one of the second person Plural long, as audis auditis, in the future tense of the Subjunctive Mood, audiverīs audiverītis, which are long; but nescĭs thou knowest not, and possis thou canst, are common.

5. Except ignĭs fire, sanguĭs blood, erĭs thou shalt be, operĭs of a work, which are common.

Militia est operīs altera digna tui.

Os.

Words ending in (os) are long.

1. Except ŏs a bone, impŏs unable, exŏs without bones, which are short.

2. Except Greek nouns written with their short (o), as, chaŏs a confused heap, which are short.

3. Except compŏs that hath obtained, which is common.

Us.

Words ending in (us) are short.

1. Except Monosyllables, as thūs frankincense, which are long.

2. Except all Greek Nouns ending in their Dipthong ( [...] ous) as Panthūs, which are long.

3. Except all nouns of the second special Rule, as salŭs salūtis health, which are long; but palūs palūdis a marsh, is common.

4. Except all cases of the fourth Declension ending in (us), save the Nominative and Vocative case singular, as huj us manūs, hae manūs, has manūs, ô manūs, which are long.

5. Except fultūs underpropped, fatigamūs we weary, pavi­dūs fearful, gravidūs great with child, dapibūs of dapĕs dainties, pectoribūs of pectus a breast, futilibūs of futilis inconsiderable, which are long.

6. Except genŭs a stock, and succŭs juice, which are common.

Ys.

Words ending in (ys) are short.

Except Tethys the Goddess of the sea, which is common.

T.

Words ending in (t) are short.

1. Except words that lose a letter or syllable by Syncope, as petiĭt for petivit he sought for, which are long.

2. Except aberāt he was absent, perrupit he hath broken through, which are long.

3. Except nescĭt he knoweth not, timăt he is afraid, ĭf he go­eth, solĕt he is wont, capŭt a head, which are common.

U.

Words ending in (u) are long.

Y.

Words ending in (y), as Moly the herb all heal, are short.