Cf. also: _thing: wr+i+t+ý+ng_ ib. 325-6; _br+e+mst+óo+n: non_ ib. 629-30; _+a+le-st+á+ke: cake_ ib. 667-8; _g+o+dd+é+sse: gesse_ Chaucer, Knightes Tale, 243-4; _herde: +a+nsw+é+rde_ ib. 265-6; _ass+e+mbl+ý+nge: thynge_ Barclay, Ship of Fools, p. 20; similar examples are even to be met with in early Modern English poetry, e.g.: _n+o+th+í+ng: bring_ Sur. 15; _bem+oa+n+í+ng: king_ Wyatt, 206; _w+e+lf+á+re: snare_ ib. 92; _g+oo+dn+é+ss: accéss_ ib. 209; _m+a+n+é+re: chere_ Surrey, 124, &c. Sometimes it may be doubtful how a line should be scanned. In some cases of this kind the usage of the poet will decide the question; we know, for instance, that Orm never allows the omission of the first unaccented syllable. Where decisive evidence of this kind is wanting, the verse must be scanned in such a manner as to cause the least rhythmical difficulty. If a compound, or a word containing a syllable with secondary accent, does not fit in with the rhythmical accent, it is to be read, as a rule, with level stress when it occurs in the middle of a line (and, of course, always when it is the rhyme-word). On the other hand, if according to the rhythmical scheme of the line an unaccented syllable would be the bearer of the rhythmical stress, we must in most cases assume suppression of the anacrusis. It would not be admissible therefore to scan: _Love, thát l+i+v+é+th | and réigneth ín my thóught_, Surrey, p. 12. but: _Lóve that líveth | and réigneth ín my thóught._ The licence of displacement of accent is an offence against the fundamental law of accentual verse, and therefore becomes more and more rare as the technique of verse becomes more perfect. § =86=. Another metrical licence, which is not inadmissible, is =the absence of a thesis in the interior of a line=. This licence is not of the same origin in Middle English as in Modern English poetry. In Middle English it generally appears to be a relic of the ancient alliterative verse (Types C and D) and to be analogous to the similar usage of the contemporary Middle English alliterative line, as e.g.: _Ne léve nó mán to múchel | to chílde ne to wíue._ Moral Ode, line 24. _Þet ís al sóth fúl iwís._ Pater Noster, 2. _hálde wé gódes láȝe._ ib. 21. _Óf the próphéte | that hátte Séynt Iohán._ Passion, 26. Not unfrequently, also, this licence is caused by the rhyme, as in the following examples: _Myd Hárald Árfáger, | kýng of Nórthwéy: eye._ Rob. of Glouc. 22. _As wás king Róbert of Scótlánd: hand._ Barbour, Bruce, 27. _And gúd Schyr Iámes of Dóuglás: was._ ib. 29. _Súmwhat óf his clóþíng: king._ Rob. Mannyng, Handlyng Sinne, l. 5703.