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It might be supposed that this language, so smooth and flowing, would be favorable for the composition of poetry; and to poetry like that of the Hebrews, untrammeled by rhyme and modern poetic feet, perhaps it would adapt itself; but let a person attempt to write a few stanzas in this language, and he will soon find himself encompassed with difficulties. Poetic feet require a regular alternation of accented and unaccented syllables; but in this language the accent must, with a few unimportant exceptions, fall on the penultimate syllable. It matters not what is the length of a word, the penult must by invariable laws take the accent; and hence, as this language abounds in long words, it is impossible to make the laws of the language and the laws of metrical harmony coincide. ( Read more... )

The language, however, is not destitute of that higher kind of poetic beauty which consists in the thought, and not in the mere form of expression. ( Read more... )