186 VERS I PICA TIG X. 



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TERSIFICATIOX. 



Versifica'tion is the forming of that species of composition 



■which is called vei^se. 

 Poetic Feet. — A verse or line of poetry consists of successive 



combinations of syllables, called feet, viz. : 

 Iam'bus is a foot of one short syllable and one long one. 

 Tro'chee is a poetic foot of a long syllable and a short one. 

 An'apest is a poetic foot of two short syllables and a long 



one. 

 Dac'tyl is a poetic foot of one long syllable and two short 



ones. 

 Spon'dee is a poetic foot of two long syllables. 

 Ptr'rhic is a poetic foot of two short syllables. 

 Molosse' is a poetic foot of three long syllables. 

 Tri'brach is a poetic foot of three short syllables. 

 Am'phibrach is a poetic foot of three syllables, having both 



sides short, the middle long. 

 Am'phimac is a poetic foot of three syllables, having both 



sides long, the middle short. 

 Bac'chy is a poetic foot of one short syllable and two long 



ones. 

 Antibac'chy is a poetic foot of two long syllables and a 



short one. 

 Measure, or Metre, is the manner of ordering and combining 



the quantities, or the long and short syllables. 

 Catalec'tic is applied to a verse when a syllable is wanting. 

 Acatalec'tic is applied to averse when the measure is exact. 

 Hyper'3IETER is applied to verse when there is a redundant 



syllable. 

 Scan'siox is the dividing of poetry into feet. 

 Octom'eter. — A verse of eight metrical feet. 

 Heptam'eter. — A verse of seven metrical feet. 

 Hexam'eter. — A verse of six metrical feet. 

 Pentam'eter. — A verse of five metrical feet. 

 Tetram'eter. — A verse of four metrical feet. 

 Trim'eter. — A verse of three metrical feet. 

 Dim'eter. — A verse of two metrical feet. 



