§609. Measures

The feet most frequently employed in Latin verse, to gether with their musical notation, are the following:—

a. TRIPLE OR UNEQUAL MEASURES (3/8)Called diplasic, the two parts (Thesis and Arsis) being in the ratio of 2 to 1

• Trochee ([figure]): as, rēgĭs.
• Iambus ([figure]): as, dŭcēs.
• Tribrach¹ ([figure]): as, hŏmĭnĭs.

b. DOUBLE OR EQUAL MEASURES (2/4)

• Dactyl ([figure]): as, cōnsŭlĭs.
• Anapæst ([figure]): as, mŏnĭtōs.
• Spondee ([figure]): as, rēgēs.

c. SIX-TIMED MEASURES (3/4)

• Ionic ā mâiōre ([figure]): as, cōnfēcĕrăt.
• Ionic ā minōre ([figure]): as, rĕtŭlissent.
• Choriambus ([figure]): as, contŭlĕrant.

d. QUINARY OR HEMIOLICCalled hemiolic, the two parts being in the ratio of 1 to 11/2, or of 2 to 3. MEASURES (5/8)

• Cretic ([figure]): as, cōnsŭlēs.
• Pæon prīmus([figure]): as, cōnsŭlĭbŭs.
• Pæon quārtus ([figure]): as, ĭtĭnĕrì.
• Bacchīus ([figure]): as, ămīcōs.

Irrational Feet

e. Feet with these apparent quantities do not always occupy equal time, but may be contracted or prolonged to suit the series in which they occur. They are then called irrational, because the thesis and arsis do not have their normal ratio.² Such are:—

Irrational Spondee: (in place of a Trochee) [acutemacr] > (in place of an Iambus) > [acutemacr] [figure]

Cyclic Dactyl (in place of a Trochee): [figure]

Cyclic Anapæst (in place of an Iambus): [figure]

The apparent dactyl > [acutebreve] ˘, as a substitute for an iambus, and the apparent anapæst [acutebreve] ˘ >, as a substitute for a trochee, occur frequently in the dramatic writers.

Thus a correct understanding of the rhythmical structure of the verse gives us the time, though not the tune, to which it was actually sung. The exact time, however, as indicated by the succession of long and short syllables, was varied according to certain laws of so-called “Rhythmic,” as will be explained below. In reading ancient verse it is necessary to bear in mind not only the variations in the relative length of syllables, but the occasional pause necessary to fill out the measure; and to remember that the rhythmical accent is the only one of importance, though the words should be distinguished carefully, and the sense preserved. Poetry should not be scanned, but read metrically.