Mortadello

109 A NOTE ON THE ALEXANDRINE UE to the harmonious genius of ever-glorious Queen Alexandra as (every schoolboy knows it) the Alex- andrine is, it may seem mere impertinence on my part to write in that measure, and worse to introduce innovations. This I cannot help. The Classical Alexandrine was really two lines of six syllables, for the caesure was supposed to fall invariably at the end of the third foot. Victor Hugo claimed to have destroyed ce grand niasis d’Alexandria, but he never did much good. Verlaine appears to have been the first who really appreci- ated the possibilities of the measure. In England nobody has hitherto attempted it except Browning, who never suspected that music could enter into aught but short lyrics. 1. The Classical: Ay, to this end, indeed was marriage first ordained, And to this end to-day is by the Church sustained. 2. Idem, marked by a rime : Listen ; in all good faith, I gladly grant you much, Not prone to scoff, and scathe the scutcheon with a smutch. D