Alexander Bain, in his ‘English Composition and Rhetoric’, (enlarged edition, Part II, 1888) states that the term alliteration is employed to signify the commencing of successive words with the same letter or syllable…. (I know – Yawn, yawn – blah, blah blah……)
To the tune of thunder there’s a tear in every eye. …
To the tune of thunder there’s no time t’ wonder why. …(from Drink Yer Glasses Empty – one of the most beautiful songs ever written)
….Unless (he continues) … it offends the ear: as in, “Birds in all Creation will be twittering in the trees”.
Now, I’m sorry, but ‘twittering in the trees’ has always offended my ears. So, it seems that alliteration is in the ear of the beholder.
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