Verborum_, or the mixing of Sounds of Words in rhym'd Verse.

"As o'er th'Aerial _Alps_ sublimely spread
Some aged Oak uprears his reverend Head.
_Pit_'s Æneid.

A Gentleman justly esteemed for his great Learning and excellent Skill
in Criticism, but not of so delicate an Ear as Mr. _Pit_, would have
had him writ, _As on th'Aerial Alps_.

But then the Verse would have wanted much of its Harmony, because
_O'er_ mingles in Sound with _A'er_ which _On_ does not; and the same
thing would have happen'd in the next Line, if it had stood thus--
_Some aged Oak uplifts his mighty Head_.--Because _uplifts_ and
_mighty_ have no Resemblance in Sound to each other, or to _Aged_ and
_Head_; but as the Line stands,

"Some aged Oak uprears his Reverend Head,

the Words all melt into one another, and the Musick dies along the
Verse from the Beginning to the End. This is the greatest Delicacy of
Poetry, neither are the other Graces wanting in this Verse. The Pause
is properly varied, the first Line is entirely suspended. There is in
it a double Alliteration, _Aerial Alps, sublimely spread_: And to
conclude all, the Rhyme is as perfect as possible.

Octob. 11. 1736.

_I am_, SIR, _&c._