Page:The Journal of English and Germanic Philology Volume 18.djvu/253

 The Rythmical Line 247 arrangement of poetical ideas appears under the form of psy- chological interpretation as an inner necessity of perfect expression. Poetry, in its artistic features, is not limited to this principle of outer form, for there are other equally important require- ments of poetic style; picturesqueness, imaginativeness and ideality of expression and view, in all their various implications, and all that is called "inner form." But poetry as form, as an art in the sense of tectonic structure and symmetrical order of presentation absolutely demands rhythmical and regular form. It is needless to say that when we have only the outer form without poetical content, there is no real poetry, only verse, "unpoetical verse." But when poetical revolutionaries throw form aside, and "free verse" walks abroad on irregular feet and lines, we must be careful to distinguish between the freedom which has its source in artistic impotence, and the sincere efforts of vigorous innovators at widening and deepening the means of poetical expression. With free rhythms, well estab- lished as an entirely legitimate phenomenon, it must not be forgotten that they have hitherto always been restricted to certain occasions and moods. The Greeks used them only for choral, i.e., ceremonial purposes. Goethe did not return to them after the ferment of "storm and stress" had given way to mature artistic understanding. However, classical free verse is not entirely without certain restricting principles of form. Wundt says: "The variety of rhythmical forms is after all governed by certain general principles, and this is the strongest proof of the unchangeable character of the rhythmical sensa- tions." The question of the origin of rhythm and its historico- genetic development has thus far not been touched upon. Our knowledge of the innermost nature of mind and its func- tions, as well as of the psychophysical processes, is not as yet sufficient to enable us to say, what consciousness, emotion, will, ideation, in themselves really are. Experience and reflection have led to a reasoned view of the manifestations and develop- ment of these phenomena; but every view concerning their