POETIC DICTION POETIC DICTION A STUDY OF EIGHTEENTH CENTURY VERSE BY THOMAS QUAYLE METHUEN & CO. LTD. 36 ESSEX STREET W.C. LONDON _First Published in 1924_ PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. THE AGE OF PROSE AND REASON 1 II. THE THEORY OF DICTION 5 III. THE “STOCK” DICTION 25 IV. LATINISM 56 V. ARCHAISM 80 VI. COMPOUND EPITHETS 102 VII. PERSONIFICATION AND ABSTRACTION 132 VIII. THE DICTION OF POETRY 181 INDEX 207 PREFACE The studies on which this book is based were begun during my tenure of the “William Noble” Fellowship in English Literature at the University of Liverpool, and I wish to thank the members of the Fellowship Committee, and especially Professor Elton, under whom I had for two years the great privilege of working, for much valuable advice and criticism. I must also express my sincere obligation to the University for a generous grant towards the cost of publication. POETIC DICTION CHAPTER I THE AGE OF PROSE AND REASON