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TROCHAIC VERSE.
620.
The most common form of Trochaic verse is the
Tetrameter Catalectic (Sept=en=arius), consisting of four dipodies,
the last of which lacks a syllable. There is regularly diaeresis after
the fourth foot: -
|| - - > | - - > || - - > | - - ||
In musical notation: -
*beginverse
ad te adveni=o, spem, salutem, || consilium,
auxilium expetens.
- Ter. And. 319.
*endverse
In English verse: -
-
- Tell me not in mournful numbers || life is
but an empty dream.
- -
Longfellow.
- a. In the stricter form of the
Septenarius substitutions are allowed only in the even feet, but in comedy
the tribrach , or an irrational spondee - >, cyclic dactyl - , or
apparent anapaest >, may be substituted for any of the first six feet;
a
tribrach for the seventh: -
- *beginverse
- itidem habet peta|sum ac vestitum: || tam
c=onsimilist | atque ego.
- sura, pes, sta| tura, tonsus, || ocul=i, nasum, | vel labra,
- malae, mentum, | barba, collus; || totus ! quid ver | bis opust ?
- si tergum ci|catr=icosum, || nihil h=oc similist |
similius.
- - Pl. Am. 443 - 446.
- *endverse
- The metrical scheme of these four verses is as follows: -
- || - | - > - > || - > > | - - ||
- || - - | - - || > - > | - - ||
- || - > - > | - - > || - > - > | - - ||
- || - > - | - > - > || - > > | - ||
- b. The Trochaic Tetrameter
Acatalectic
(Oct=on=arius), consisting of four complete
dipodies, occurs in the lyrical parts of comedy.
Substitutions as in the Septenarius are allowed except in the last
foot.
c. Some other forms of trochaic verse are
found in the lyric poets, in combination with other feet, either as whole
lines or parts of lines: -
-
- non ebur ne|que aureum. [Dimeter Catalectic.]
- mea reni|det in domo | lacunar. [Iambic Trimeter Catalectic.]
- - Hor Od. ii. 18.