577. Of all these, the principal are the Iambus, Trochee, Anapest, and Dactyl. The other four feet are used chiefly in connection with these, in order to give variety to measure. 578. A Trochee has the first syllable accented, and the last unaccented; as, nōblě, mūsic. 579. An Iambus has the first syllable unaccented, and the last accented; as, ădōre, děfind. 580. A Spondee has both the words or syllables accented; as, vain män. 581. A Pyrrhic has both the words or syllables unaccented; as, Ŏn ă (hill). 582. A Dactyl has the first syllable accented, and the two last unaccented; as, virtuoūs. 583. An Amphibrach has the first and the last syllable unaccented, and the middle one accented; as, conténtměnt. 584. An Anapast has the two first syllables unaccented, and the last accented; as, intèrcēde. 585. A Tribrach has all its syllables unaccented; as, nu | měrăble. 586. A verse is usually named from the name of the foot which predominates in it; thus, Iambic, Trochaic, &c. I. IAMBIC VERSE. 587. An Iambic verse consists of iambuses, and consequently has the accent on the second, fourth, sixth, &c. syllable. It has different metres, as follows: 1. Iambic Monometer. The shortest form of Iambic verse consists of one iambus; as, How bright The light! It sometimes assumes an additional or hypermeter syllable; as, to. a Consenting, sthave no poem of this measure, but it is sometimes a curluced into stanzas. 2. Iambic Dimeter. The second form of our Iambic is also too short to be continued through any number of lines. It consists of two iambuses; as, With Thee wě rise, With Thee | wě rēign, This form sometimes assumes an hypermeter syllable ; as, Upon | ǎ mōun | tăin, Běside | ǎ foun | tăin. 3. Iambic Trimeter. The third form consists of three iambuses, and is continued only for a few lines; as, In places far | or near, Or famous ōr | obscure, Where whole | some is | the air, Or where the most impūre. This form sometimes admits an additional short sylla ble; as, Oŭr heārts | nò lõng | ĕr lán | guish. 4. Iambic Tetrameter. The fourth form may extend through a considerable number of verses; it consists of four iambuses; as, How sleep the brave | who sink | to rest By all their country's wishes blést! This also admits an hypermeter syllable; as, From house wife cares | ǎ mi | nŭte bōr | row. 5. Iambic Pentameter. The fifth species, or Heroic measure, consists of five iambuses; as, Ye glit t'ring towns, | with wealth | ănd splen | doŭr crown'd; Ye fields, where summer spreads profusion round; Ye lakes, whose vessels catch the busy gale; Ye bending swains, that dress the flow'ry vale. This verse without rhyme constitutes the common blank verse. Such is Milton's Paradise Lost. The Elegiac Stanza consists of four lines pentameter rhyming alternately; as, The curfew tōlls | the knell | of pārt | ing dãy; The lowing herd winds slowly o'er the lea; This measure frequently admits an additional syllable; as, Worth mākes | thě mãn, | the wānt | of it | thě fel | lăng 6. Iambic Hexameter. The sixth form of our Iambic is commonly called the Alexandrine measure; it consists of six iambuses. For thōu | art būt ¦ čf dūst : bě hūm | blẽ ānd | bě wise. The Alexandrine is sometimes introduced into heroic rhyme, and particularly into stanzas after the manner of Spenser, in his "Faery Queen;" and when used sparingly, and with judgment, occasions an agreeable variety. To sit on rocks, to muse o'er flood and fell, To slowly trace the forest's shady scene, Where things that own not man's dominion dwell, Converse with Na | ture's charms, | and view | her stores | unroll'd. This also admits an hypermeter syllable; as, The shepherd him | pursues, | ănd to his dōg | doth hōl ¦ low. 7. Iambic Heptameter. The seventh and last form of Iambic verse consists of seven iambuses. Thě Lōrd | dèscẽnd | èd frōm | ăbōve, | ănd bōw'd | thẽ hẽa ¦ vens high. This was anciently written in one line; but it is now divided into two, the first containing four feet, and the second, three; as, Thou didst, O mighty God! ¦ exist | Ere time began its race; Before the ample elements Fill'd up the void of space. This is what is called Common Metre. The Short. Metre Stanza consists of four lines, of which the first, second and fourth contain three feet, and the third, four. Long Metre has four feet in each line, as above (No. 4). II. TROCHAIC VERSE. 588. Trochaic verse consists of trochees, and consequently has the accent on the first, third, fifth, &c. syllable. 1. Trochaic Monometer. The shortest form consists of one foot; as, Cheering, It sometimes admits an additional long syllable; as Tūmult | cease, Sink to peace. 2. Trochaic Dimeter. The next form contains two trochees; as, Wishes rising, Thoughts surprising, Pleasures courting, Charms transporting. Sometimes this form admits an additional syllable; as, In the days of | ōld, Stories plainly | tōld. 3. Trochaic Trimeter. The third species contains three trochees; as, When our hearts ăre | mõurning. This form frequently has an additional syllable; as, Vital spark of | heav'nly | flume, Quit, oh | quit, this | mortal | früme! 4. Trochaic Tetrameter. of four trochees; as, The fourth form consists Round us | roars the | tempest | lõudĕr. This form sometimes assumes an additional syllable; as, Where the woōd is | waving | greến ănd | high. 5. Trochaic Pentameter. The fifth species is not very common; it is composed of five trochees; as, All thǎt | walk on | foɔ̃t čr | ride în | chariots, All that dwell in palaces or garrets. 6. Trochaic Hexameter. The sixth and last form consists of six trochees; as, On ǎ | mountain, | strētch'd bě | neath ǎ | hōary | willow, Lay a shepherd swain, and viewed the rolling billow. Both the fifth and sixth species sometimes take an additional syllable, in which case the line is usually divided into two; thus, 5. Hail to thee, blithe | spirit! | bird thoŭ | nēvěr | wērt. Divided thus, Hail to thee, blithe | spirit! Bird thou never wert. 6. Night and mōrning | wēre åt | meēting, | ōvér | Wätěr | loō. Divided thus, Night and morning | were at | meeting, Over | Waterloo. III. ANAPESTIC VERSE. 589. Anapastic verse consists chiefly of anapasts, and, when pure, has the accent on every third syllable. 1. Anapastic Monometer. This measure consists of one foot; as, In ǎ sweet |