MEASURE VII.IAMBIC OF TWO FEET, OR DIMETER.

His "Ocean" has one hundred and forty-five of the latter, and two hundred and ninety-two of the species now under consideration; i.e., iambic dimeter.

Lines of two iambs are not very uncommon, even in psalmody; and, since we have some lines yet shorter, and the lengths of all are determined only by the act of measuring, there is, surely, no propriety in calling dimeters "hemistichs," merely because they are short.

There is a line of five syllables and double rhyme, which is commonly regarded as iambic dimeter with a supernumerary short syllable; and which, though it is susceptible of two other divisions into two feet, we prefer to scan in this manner, because it usually alternates with pure iambics.

MEASURE VII.TROCHAIC OF TWO FEET, OR DIMETER.

The error of this will be shown by examples belowexamples of true "Trochaic Monometer," and not of Dimeter mistaken for it, like Weld's, Hart's, or Murray's. OBS.

MEASURE III.ANAPESTIC OF TWO FEET, OR DIMETER.

Dimeter with Trimeter.

Example VII.Anapestic Dimeter with Tetrameter.

For reasons of choice in the latter case, see Observation 1st on Trochaic Dimeter.

The example may quite as well be regarded either as Trochaic Dimeter, cataletic, or as Amphimacric Monometer, acatalectic.

" MEASURE VII.DACTYLIC OF TWO FEET, OR DIMETER.

4.These six lines of Dactylic (or Composite) Dimeter are subjoined by the poet to four of Trochaic Tetrameter.

Here are fourteen stanzas of composite dimeter, each having two sorts of lines; the first sort consisting, with a few exceptions, of a dactyl and an amphimac; the second, mostly, of two iambs; but, in some instances, of a trochee and an iamb;the latter being, in such a connexion, much the more harmonious and agreeable combination of quantities.

What are the several combinations that form dimeter, trimeter, tetrameter, pentameter, hexameter, heptameter, and octometer?

Dimeter, line, iambic, examples of trochaic, do. anapæstic, do.

See also Dimeter, Trimeter, &c. Iambus, or iamb, defined Idea of unity, and of plurality, how formed Identity of words, the principle of, considered Identity, proper, RULE for, ("Same Cases.")

feet, number to be recognized in Eng., principal Eng., named and defined, kinds of, which form ORDERS OF VERSE, what combinations of, severally form dimeter, trimeter, &c., (See Dimeter, Trimeter, &c.) Poetic collocation of words, in prose, as offending against perspicuity, PREC.

feet, number to be recognized in Eng., principal Eng., named and defined, kinds of, which form ORDERS OF VERSE, what combinations of, severally form dimeter, trimeter, &c., (See Dimeter, Trimeter, &c.) Poetic collocation of words, in prose, as offending against perspicuity, PREC.

Some prosodists have taught the absurdity, that two feet are necessary to constitute a metre, and have accordingly applied the terms, monometer, dimeter, trimeter, tetrameter, pentameter, and hexameter,or so many of them as they could so misapply,in a sense very different from the usual acceptation.

And verses are to be denominated Monometer, Dimeter, Trimeter, &c., according to "THE NUMBER OF FEET."See ib.

According to these definitions, Dimeter has as many feet as Tetrameter; and Trimeter has as many as Hexameter!

When a verse consists of one foot, it is called a monometer; of two feet, a dimeter; of three feet, a trimeter; of four feet, a tetrameter; of five feet, a pentameter; and of six feet, a hexameter.

U U| U U | Dimeter.

So we have dactylic hexameter, trochaic pentameter, iambic trimeter, anapestic dimeter, etc.