Obs. From its nature, every foot has powers peculiar to itself; and it is upon the knowledge and right application of these powers, that the pleasure and effect of numbers chiefly depend.

555. All the feet used in poetry consist either of two, or of three syllables; and are reducible to eight kinds; namely, four of two syllables, and four of three, as follows:

556. A Trochee has the first syllable accented, and the last unaccented: as, "Hateful, péttish." 557. An Iambus has the first syllable unaccented, and the last accented; as, " Betray, consist."

558. A Spondee has both the words or syllables accented: as, "The pale moon."

559. A Pyrrhichas both the words or syllables unaccented: as "On the tall tree."

560. A Dactyl has the first syllable accented, and the two latter unaccented: as, "Labourer, póssible."

561. An Amphibrach has the first and last syllables unaccented: and the middle one accented: as, Dělightful, doméstic."

562. An Anapæst has the two first syliables unaccented, and the last accented: as, "Contrǎvēne, acquiesce."

563. A Tribrach has all its syllables unaccented: as, “Nūmērāblē, conquerable."

Scholium. Some of these feet may be denominated principal feet as pieces of poetry may be wholly, or chiefly, formed of any of them Such are the lambus, Trochee, Dactyl, and Anapæst. The others may be termed secondary feet; because their chief use is to diversi fy the numbers, and to improve the verse.

We shall first explain the Nature of the principal Feet.

564. Iambic verses may be divided into several species, according to the number of feet or syllables of which they are composed.

Example. 1. The shortest form of the English Iambic consists of an lambus, with an additional short syllable: as,

Disdaining,

Complaining,
Consenting,
Repenting.

Obs. We have no poem of this measure, but it may be met with in stanzas. The lambus, with this addition, coincides with the Amphibrach. (Art. 561.)

Example 2. The second form of lambic, is also too short to be continued through any great number of lines. It consists of two Iambuses.

as,

What place is here!

What scenes appear
To me the rose

No longer glows.

It sometimes takes, or it may take, an additional short syllable:

Example 3. The third form consists of three lambuses.

It sometimes admits of an additional short syllable: as,
Our hearts no longer längŭish.

Example 4. The fourth form is made up of four Iambuses.

Ånd

máy ǎt läst my weary age,

Find out the peaceful hermitage.

Example 5. The fifth species of English Iambic, consists of five

Iambuses.

How lov'd, how välŭ'd once, ǎvails thee not,
To whom related, or by whom begot:

A heap of dust alone remains of thee;
"Tis all thou art and all the proud shall be.
Bě wise to-day, 'tis madness to děfer;
Next day the fatal precedent will plead;
Thus on, till wisdom is pushed out of life.

Obs. This is called the heroic measure. In its simplest form it. consists of five Iambuses; but by the admission of other feet, as Trochees, Dactyls, Anapæts, &c. it is capable of many varieties. Indeed, most of the English common measures may be varied in the same way, as well as by the different position of their pauses.

Example 6. The sixth form of our Iambic, is commonly called the Alexandrine measure. It consists of six lambuses.

For thou art būt of dust: bě humble and be wise.

The Alexandrine is sometimes introduced into heroic rhyme; and when used sparingly, and with judgment, occasions an agreeable variety.

The seas shall waste, the skies in smoke decay,
Rocks fall to dust, and mountains melt away;
But fix'd his word, his saving pow'r remains:

Thy realm for ever lasts, thy own Messiah reigns,

Example 7. The seventh and last form of our lambic measure, is made up of seven lambuses.

The Lord descended from ǎbove, and bow'd the heavens high. This was anciently written in one line; but it is now broken into two; the first containing four feet, and the second three :

When all thy mercies, O my God!

My rising soul surveys,
Transported with the view, I'm lost

In wonder, love and praise.

Scholium. In all these measures, the accents are to be placed on even syllables; and every line considered by itself, is in general, more melodious, as this rule is more strictly observed.

565. Trochaic verse is of several kinds.

Example 1. The shortest Trochaic verse in our language, consists of one Trochee and a long syllable.

Tümŭlt cease

Sink to peace.

Obs. This measure is defective in dignity, and can seldom be used on serious occasions.

Example 2. The second English form of the Trochaic consists of two feet; and is likewise so brief, that it is rarely used for any very serious purpose.

On the mountăin

By a fountain.

It sometimes contains two feet or trochees, with an additional long syllable: as,

In the days of ōld

Fables plainly told.

Example 3. The third species consists of three trochees, as,
When our hearts are mourning:

or of three trochees, with an additional long syllable: as,
Restless mortals toil för nöught;

Bliss in vain from earth is sought;

Bliss, a native of the sky,

Never wanders. Mortals, try;

There you cannot seek in vain ;

For to seek her is to gain.

Example 4. The fourth Trochaic species consists of four tro

chees: as,

Round us roars the tempest louděr.

This form may take an additional long syllable, as follows:
Idle after dinner in his chair,

Sat a farmer, ruddy, fat, and fair.

But this measure is very uncommon.

Example 5. The fifth Trochaic species is likewise uncommon. It is composed of five trochees.

All that walk on foot or ride in chariots,

All that dwell in palaces and garrets.

Example 6. The sixth form of the English Trochaic consists of six trochees: as,

On a mountain, stretch'd beneath ǎ hoary willow,

Lay a shepherd swain, and view'd the rolling billow.

This seems to be the longest Trochaic line that our language admits.

Obs. In all these Trochaic measures, the accent is to be placed on the odd syllables.

566. The Dactylic measure being very uncommon, we shall give only one example of one species of it:

From the low pleasures of this făllen nätŭre,
Rise we to higher, &c.

-567. Anapæstic verses are divided into several species.

Example 1. The shortest anapastic verse must be a single anapæst: as,

But in vain,

They complain.

This measure is, however, ambiguous; for, by laying the stress of the voice on the first and third syllables, we might make it trochaic. And therefore the first and the simplest form of our genuine Anapæstic verse, is made up of two Anapasts: as,

But his courage 'găn fáil,

For no arts could avail.

This form admits of an additional short syllable.

Then his courǎge 'găn fail him,

For no arts could avail him.

Example 2. The second species consists of three Anapæsts.
Ŏ ye woods, spread your branches ăpâce ;

To your deepest recesses I fly,

I would hide with the beasts of the chase;
I would vanish from every eye.

This is a very pleasing measure, and much used, both in solemn and cheerful subjects.

Example 3. The third kind of English Anapastic, consists of four Anapæsts.

Mǎy I gōvěrn my passions with absŏlüte swây;

And grow wiser and better as life wears away.

This measure will admit of a short syllable at the end: as,
Ŏn the warm cheek of youth, smiles and rõsĕs ǎre blending.

Obs. The preceding are the different kinds of the principal feet, in their more simple forms. They are capable of numerous variations, by the intermixture of those feet with each other; and by the admission of secondary feet.

568. We have observed, that English verse is composed of feet formed by accent, (Illus. 2. Art. 553.); and that when the accent falls on vowels, the feet is equivalent to those formed by quantity. (Art. $54.)

Example 1. That the student may clearly perceive this difference, we shall produce a specimen of each kind.

O'er heaps of ruins stālk'd thě stātely hind.

Obs. Here we see the accent is upon the vowel in each second syllable. (Art. 552.) In the following line, we shall find the same Iambic movement, but formed by accent on consonants, except the last syllable.

Then rústling, cráckling, cráshing thúnder down.