Kitap 6
20
With the truth or falsity of this note I am not concerned; but there is no doubt that ora has a more agreeable and musical sound than Nola. For the last vowel in the first line and the first vowel in the following line being the same, the sound is prolonged by an hiatus that is at the same time melodious and pleasing. Indeed, it is possible to find in famous poets many instances of such melody, which appears to be the result of art rather than accident; but in Homer they are more frequent than in all other poets. In fact, in one single passage he introduces a number of sounds of such a nature, and with such an hiatus, in a series of successive words; for example: Iliad xxii. 151. The other fountain e'en in summer flows, Like unto hail, chill snow, or crystal ice, The instances referred to are prore/ei ei)kui=a, xala/zh| h)\, and yuxrh=| h)\. and similarly in another place: Odyss. xi. 596.
