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In this extract the accented lines are composed of two Iambics and an additional syllable.

Could love' forev'er
Run like a rivʼer,

And Time's' endeav'or

Be tried in vain,

No oth'er pleas'ure

With this could measure,

And, like a treasure,

We'd hug the chain.

IAMBIC TRIMETER.

Formula x ax3.

§ 498. In this extract the accented lines are composed of three Iambics.

We stand among the fallen leaves,

Young children at our play',

And laugh to see the yellow things

Go rust'ling on' their way'.-Mrs. NORTON.

Formula x ax3+.

In this extract the accented lines are composed of three Iambics, with an additional syllable.

Then out' spake brave' Hora'tius,

The captain of the gate:

To ev'ry man upon this earth,
Death cometh soon or late!
And how can man' die bet'ter
Than facing fearful odds
For the ash ́es of his fa'thers,

And the temple of his gods?-MACAULAY.

IAMBIC TETRAMETER.

Formula x ax4.

§ 499. In the following the law of the measure is, that there should be four Iambics in each line. Instead of an Iambus, there is occasionally a Trochee, as in the first foot. This is the common octosyllabic

verse.

Child of the country! free as air

Art thou', and as' the sun'shine fair':
Born, like' the lil'y, where' the dew'
Lies odorous when the day is new;

Fed 'mid the May-flowers, like the bee;
Nursed to sweet music on the knee;

Lull'd in the breast to that glad tune

Which winds make 'mong the woods of June:

I singof thee! 'Tis sweet to sing

Of such a fair and gladsome thing.-ALLAN CUNNINGHAM.

Formula x ax4+.

In this extract the accented lines are composed of four Iambics and

an additional syllable.

Wee, sleek' it, cow' rin', tim'rous beas'tie!

O what a panic's in thy breastie !
Thou needna start awa' sae hasty,

Wi' bickering brattle!

I wad be laith to rin an' chase thee

Wi' murdering pattle!

I'm truly sorʼry man's' domin'ion
Has broken Na'ture's so'cial unʼion
An' jus'tifies' that ill' opin'ion,

Which makes thee startle

At me', thy poor' earth-born' companion,

An' fellow-mortal!-BURNS.

IAMBIC PENTAMETER.

Formula x ax5.

§ 500. In these extracts the law of the measure is, that each line should consist of five Iambics. This is called Heroic measure.

Dim as the borrow'd beams' | of moon' | and stars

To lone'ly, wea'ry, wan'd'ring travelers'

Is Reason to the soul! and as on high

Those rolling fires discover but the sky,

Not light, as here; so Reason's glimmering ray
Was lent, not to assure our doubtful way,
But guide us upward to a better day.-DRYDEN.

O unexpected stroke! worse than of Death!

Must I leave thee, Paradise? thus leave

Thee, native soil? these happy walks and shades,
Fit haunt of gods? where I had hoped to spend
Quiet, though sad, the respite of that day
That must be mortal to us both!-MILTON.

Formula x ax5+.

In the following extract the accented lines are composed of five Iambics and an additional syllable.

Day-stars', that ope' your eyes with morn' | to twink'le,
From rainbow galaxies' of earth's' crea'tion,
And dew'-drops o'er' her love'ly al'tars sprink'le
As a libation.

Ye matin worshipers, who, bending lowly
Before the uprisen sun, God's lidless eye,
Throw from your chalices a sweet and holy

Incense on high!

IAMBIC HEXAMETER.

Formula x a×6.

§ 501. In this measure there are six Iambics. It is usually called the Alexandrine. The last line of the Spenserian stanza is of this character.

When Phoebus lifts his head' out of the winter's wave',

No sooner doth the earth her flow'ry bosom brave,

At such time as the year brings on the pleasant spring,

But hunts-up to the morn the feather'd sylvans sing;

And in the lower grove, as on the rising knoll,

Upon the highest spray of ev'ry mounting pole,

Those quiristers are perch'd with many a speckled breast.-DRAYTON.

IAMBIC HEPTAMETER.

Formula x ax7.

§ 502. In the following extract the lines are composed of seven Iambics.

She sits beneath' | the elder shade' | in that' | long mortal swoon',

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And piteously on her wan cheek looks down the gentle moon;

And when her senses are restored, whom sees she at her side

But her, believed in childhood to have wander'd off and died!-WILSON.

Formula x ax7+.

In this extract there are seven Iambics and an additional syllable. Had Ellen lost' | her mirth? | Oh no! | but she' was seldom cheerful; And Edward look'd as if he thought that Ellen's mirth was fearful:

So gentle Ellen now no more could make this sad house cheery;

And Mary's melancholy ways drove Edward wild and weary.-COLERIDGE.

TROCHAIC MEASURES.

TROCHAIC MONOMETER.
Formula a x.

§ 503. In the following extract the accented lines are composed of a single Trochee.

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Formula a x+.

In this extract there is in the accented lines one Trochee, with an additional syllable.

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§ 504. In the following extract the accented lines consist of two Trochees.

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In this extract there are in the accented lines two Trochees and an additional syllable.

All' that's bright' must | fade:

The brightest still the fleetest;
All' that's bright' must fade,

But to be lost when sweetest.

Stars' that shine' and fall,

The flower that drops in springing,

These, alas! are types of all

To which our hearts are clinging.-MOORE.

TROCHAIC TRIMETER.

Formula a x x 3.

§ 505. In the following extract the accented lines are composed of three Trochees.

When a round' thee, dy'ing,
Au'tumn leaves' are ly'ing,

Oh then remember me!

And' at night' when gaz'ing

On' the gay' hearth blazing,

Oh still remember me!-MOORE.

Formula a xx3+.

In each of these lines there are three Trochees and an additional

syllable.

Un'derneath this | marʼble | hearse
Lies' the sub'ject of all verse:
Sidney's sister, Pembroke's mother;
Death, ere thou hast slain another
Learn'd', and fair', and good' as she,

Time' shall throw' his dart' at thee!-BEN JONSON.

TROCHAIC TETRAMETER.

Formula a xx4.

§ 506. The accented lines are composed of four Trochees.
Then' her coun'tenance' all | o'ver
Pale again as death did prove;

But' he clasp'd' her like' a lov'er,

And he cheer'd her soul with love.

So' she strove' against' her weak'ness,

Though at times her spirit sank;

Shaped her heart' with wom'an's meek'ness
To all duties of her rank. -TENNYSON.

Formula a xx4+.

The accented lines consist of four Trochees and an additional syllable. Turn thee, fond mother!

From thy dead, oh turn!
Linger not, young brother,
Here to dream and mourn,

On'ly kneel' once more' around' the | sod,

Kneel', and bow' submit'ted hearts' to God!-Mrs. HEMANS.

TROCHAIC PENTAMETER.

Formula a x x 5.

§ 507. The accented lines consist of five Trochees.

Then methought I heard a hollow sound

Gathering up from all the lower ground,
Nar'rowing in' to | where' they sat' assembled,
Low', voluptuous | music | wind'ing | trem'bled,
Woven in circles. They that heard it sigh'd,

Panted hand-in-hand, with faces pale,

Swung themselves, and in low tones replied;
Till the fountain spouted, showering wide
Sleet of diamond-drift and pearly hail:

Then the music touch'd the gates, and died !-TENNYSON.

TROCHAIC HEXAMETER.

Formula a x×6.

§ 508. The following lines are composed of six Trochees. "On'amount'ain, | stretch'd' beneath' a | hoar'y | wil'low, Lay' a shepherd swain', and view'd' the roll'ing bil'low."

§ 509.

TROCHAIC HEPTAMETER.

Formula a xx7+.

Here' about the | beach' I wan ́der'd, | nour'ish|ing' a | youth' sublime
With the fairy tales of science, and the long results of time;
When the centuries behind me like a fruitful land reposed;
When I clung to all the Present for the promise that it closed;

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