an ornament of language chiefly used in poetry, and consisting in the repetition of the same letter at certain intervals.

We apprehend the principal operation of this ornament to be quite mechanical. It is easier for the organs of speech to resume, at short intervals, one certain conformation, than to throw themselves into a number of different ones, unconnected and discordant. For example, a succession of labials, interspersed at regular distances with dentals and gutturals, will be more easily pronounced than the succession of all the three at random. Sounds of which the articulation is easiest are most completely in the power of the speaker. He can pronounce them slowly or rapidly, softly or with force, at pleasure. In this, we imagine, the power and advantage of alliteration are founded; for we would not lay any stress on the pleasure which can result to the ear from the repetition of the same letter. It has been compared to the frequent returns of the key-note in a musical strain; but that analogy is extremely faint. The ear, we presume, can be pleased with alliteration only in so far as it contributes to the superior easiness of recitation; for what is recited with ease must naturally be more pleasing.

It is true, however, as is remarked by Dr Thomas Brown (Lect. 36), that though the alliteration itself consist only in the similarity of sounds, it is not indifferent on what words of the sentence the alliteration is made to fall. That ingenious writer mentions resemblance and contrast as the qualities which give particular point to alliterative expression, and cites as an example the line of Pope,

Puffs, powders, patches, bibbes, tillers-doues;

the first words indicating objects naturally connected, and the last deriving their point from the contrast of ideas.

These remarks might be confirmed and illustrated by numberless passages from the best poets. Some few lines will suffice, taken from Gray, who seems to have paid particular attention to this grace. He professed to have learned his versification from Dryden, as Dryden did from Spenser; and these three abound in alliteration above all the English poets. We choose Gray for another reason, that alliteration contributes not only to the sweetness, but also to the energy, of versification; for he uses it chiefly when he aims at strength and boldness. In the Sister Odes, as Dr Johnson styles them, almost every strophe commences and concludes with an alliterative line. The poet, we suppose, wished to begin with force, and end with dignity.

"Ruin seize thee ruthless king." "To high-born Hoel's harp, or soft Lleweellyn's lay." "Weave the warp, and weave the woof." Stamp we our vengeance deep and ratify his doom." "Regardless of the sweeping whirlwind's sway." "That hush'd in grim repose, expects his ev'n'ing prey."

It must be observed here, that we hold a verse alliterative which has a letter repeated on its accented parts, although those parts do not begin words; the repeated letter bearing a strong analogy to the bars in a musical phrase. Gray seems to have had a particular liking to those sorts of balanced verses which divide equally, and of which the opposite sides have an alliterative resemblance.

"Eyes that glow, and fangs that grin." "Thoughts that breathe, and words that burn." "Hoarsebark crash, and helmet ring."

All these lines have a force and energy, arising from alliteration, which renders them easy to be recited. For the same reason the following passage appears sad and solemn, by the repetition of the labial liquid.

"Mountains, ye mourn in vain." "Moderd, whose magic song."—&c.

If alliteration thus contribute to enforce the expression of a poetical sentiment, its advantages in poetry must be considerable. An epithet should not be selected merely for its initial letters, unless it suit the purpose well in every other respect; for the beauty of alliteration, when happy, is not greater than its deformity when affected. A couplet from Pope will exemplify both; the first line being bad, and the second good;

"Eternal beauties grace the shining scene, Fields ever fresh, and groves for ever green."

In the dearth of poetical talent in the middle ages, alliterative composition was cultivated as a distinct poetical exercise. As a specimen of these ridiculous feats of poetical legerdemain, we give three lines from the performance entitled *Pugna Porcorum per Publicum Porcium, Poetam*, a poem in which every word began with the letter *P*.

Propterex propterans Proconsul, populis prone, Precipitent Pilem, pro Patreum pace poposit. Persia paulapler, Pabes pro precarum; &c., &c.