How does Alexander Pope use sound to match meaning in An Essay on Criticism?

In his didactic poem An Essay on Criticism, Alexander Pope argues that a poet’s prosody should be more than just technically correct; he famously asserts that "The sound must seem an Echo to the sense."1

Pope demonstrates this principle by using onomatopoeia and rhythmic variation to mirror the actions described in his verse:

• Softness and Flow: When describing gentle movement, such as a breeze or a stream, Pope employs smooth, fluid language to mimic the subject matter.1
• Roughness and Force: When depicting powerful imagery, such as crashing waves, he utilizes "hoarse, rough" verse to replicate the sound of a torrent.1
• Effort and Speed: Pope manipulates the meter to reflect physical exertion; he uses slow, laborious phrasing when describing Ajax throwing a heavy rock, contrasting this with rapid, light-footed language to capture the speed of Camilla scouring a plain.1

By aligning the movement of the sound and meter with the meaning of the words, Pope illustrates his Neoclassical belief that poetic form should actively reinforce the content.1