Greek drama (Tragedy) -- History and criticism; Mythology, Greek, in literature
I II
⎛ 6 ⎛ 6
⎝ 6 ⎜ ⎰ 4
⎜ ⎛ ⎱ 4
⎜ ⎜ 6—mesode.
⎜ ⎜ ⎰ 4
⎜ ⎝ ⎱ 4
⎝ 6
To this the antistrophe of course corresponds, though here and there an
irrational long corresponds to a short (e.g. -εῑπε͐ι to ε̄ρπο̆ν); the
last syllable of πήματα is lengthened by the following φθ.
It should be noted that this scheme differs somewhat from that given
in Jebb’s edition of the _Antigone_ (pp. lxi. _sq._). One reader’s ear
differs from that of another: hence the frequent divergencies to be
observed between editors in the arrangement of many lyrics.
(_b_) The ancient writer Aristoxenus gives certain rules as to the
maximum length of cola. They may be stated as follows:—
(i) There are three types of colon, the equal, the unequal, and the
quinquepartite. The equal cola are the dipody of 1 + 1 feet, the
tetrapody of 2 + 2; the unequal are the tripody of 2 + 1, and the
hexapody of 4 + 2; the quinquepartite is the pentapody of 3 + 2.
(ii) Equal cola must not be of greater length than sixteen “shorts”.
Therefore we may have a dipody of any foot, and a tetrapody of any save
those of more than four shorts in value; that is (_e.g._) a dipody of
cretics (–⏑–) is allowed, but not a tetrapody of that foot, which would
give 5 × 4 = 20 “shorts”.
(iii) Unequal cola may have the length of eighteen “shorts”. A tripody,
therefore, of any foot is allowed, but a hexapody of trochees only: a
hexapody of spondees would give 4 × 6 = 24 “shorts”.
(iv) Quinquepartite cola may extend to the value of twenty-five “shorts”.
Pentapodies are therefore possible of trochees, dactyls, spondees and
five-time feet.
(_c_) Certain detailed hints may be added:—
(i) The tetrapody is the most frequent length, the pentapody the rarest.
(ii) The end of a colon is often indicated in dactyls by a spondee, in
trochees by a single long syllable (whether ⏗ or –ꞈ).
(iii) In any one period there is a tendency to conformity in length. If 6
+ 5 + 4 and 6 + 6 + 4 are _prima facie_ equally possible, the latter is
as a rule to be preferred. In spite of the difference in sum-total (6 +
6 + 4 = 16; 6 + 5 + 4 = 15), this question often arises, because of the
possibility of τονή. It has to be decided[884] whether (_e.g._) παντός at
the close of a colon is to be scanned as two feet or one:
⏗ –
παντ|οςꞈ‖
or
– ⏑
| παντος ‖.
* * * * *
It is now time to offer an account of the various feet used in lyrics.
(_a_) _Trochees._—With these we are now familiar. This foot is often
called a choree, chorees with anacrusis being iambi,[885] without
anacrusis trochees. The trochee is the most frequent foot in lyrics. Such
systems express ordinary strong interest. Whenever more definite emotion
is to be conveyed, either cyclic dactyls are introduced, or a change is
made to some other metre:—
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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