Only three of the five old types, viz. those with an even number of members (A, B, C), are preserved in the second section of the verse, and those not in their original forms. They show further a certain tendency to assimilate to each other. In types B and C the variations with disyllabic anacrusis occurred most frequently, as was also the case in type A, and verses of this kind now become predominant. Furthermore, in the Old English alliterative line, endings consisting of an accented and an unaccented syllable (feminine endings) prevailed; and type B was the only one of the symmetrical types ending with an accented syllable. In Middle English the use of feminine endings goes so far that the original type B has disappeared altogether and given place to a new type with an unaccented last syllable corresponding to the form × × –́ × –́ ×. Prof. Luick very properly calls this type BC, holding that it originated from the variations × × –́ × ⏑́͜× and × × ⏑́͜× –́ × of the old types B and C in consequence of the lengthening of the originally short accented syllable. Verse-ends with two unaccented syllables, which might have arisen in the same way from –́ × = ⏑́͜× ×, did not become popular; and verse-ends with one unaccented syllable predominated. Lastly, an important feature of the later verse-technique deserves notice, that a monosyllabic anacrusis (an initial unaccented syllable) is generally allowed in types where it was not permitted in the Old English alliterative line. The consequence of these changes is that the rhythm of the verse which was in Old English a descending rhythm, becomes in Middle English ascending, and is brought into line with the rhythm of the contemporary even-beat metres. This is the state of development presented by the Middle English alliterative line in one of the earliest poems of this group, viz. in the fragments of _King Alisaunder_, the versification of which, as a rule, is very correct. Here the three types only which we have mentioned occur in the second hemistich. Type A is most common, corresponding to the formula (×)–́ × × –́ ×: _=l=órdes and óoþer_ 1, _=d=éedes of ármes_ 5, _=k=íd in his tíme_ 11, _=t=érme of his lífe_ 16, or with anacrusis: _or =st=érne was hólden_ 10, _and =s=óne beráfter_ 25. More than two unaccented syllables may occur _after_ the first accented syllable. These two peculiarities seldom occur together in one and the same second hemistich (though frequently in the first hemistich); but there are some examples: _is =t=úrned too him álse_ 165, _and =p=ríkeden abóute_ 382, _hee =f=áred òn in háste_ 79; in this last example with a secondary accent on the word _òn_ as also in the verse: _þe =m=éssengères þei cámme_ 1126. Type C, (×) × × –́ –́ ×: _was þe mán hóten_ 13, _þat his =k=íth ásketh_ 65, _as a =k=íng shólde_ 17, _withoute =m=íscháunce_ 1179. Type BC, (×) × × –́ × –́ ×: