Κολχίδος τε γᾶς ἔνοικοι παρθένοι, μάχας ἄτρεστοι (_Prom. Vinctus_, 415). –⏑|–⏑|–⏑|–⏑‖ –⏑|–⏑|–⏑|–⏑‖. So in English:— Then, upon one knee uprising, Hiawatha aimed an arrow.—(Longfellow.) Resolution into tribrachs is frequent:— ⏑ ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ Αραβι|ας τ αρ|ειον | ανθος ‖ (_Prom. Vinctus_, 420). Anacrusis is common. (_b_) _Dactyls._—These are found pure, or mingled with spondees or quasi-trochees (⏗⏑). They are often employed to express excitement and awe:— ὦ Διὸς ἁδυεπὲς φάτι, τίς ποτε τᾶς πολυχρύσου[886] Πυθῶνος ἀγλάας ἔβας; (_Œd. Tyr._, 151). –⏑⏑|–⏑⏑|–⏑⏑‖–⏑⏑|–⏑⏑|– –‖ –⁝⏗⏑|⏗⏑|⏗⏑|–ꞈ̄‖ Anacrusis is found, as in the second line above and in _Medea_, 635:— – – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ – – ⏗ – – – ⏗ ⏑ – στεργ⁝οι δε με|σωφροσυν|α δωρ‖ημα | καλλιστ|ον θε|ωνꞈ̄‖. The tetrapody without spondees or catalexis gives an exquisite heaving effect in Soph. _Electra_, 147-9:— ἀλλ’ ἐμέ γ’ ἁ στονόεσσ’ ἄραρεν φρένας, ἃ Ἴτυν αἰὲν Ἴτυν ὀλοφύρεται, ὄρνις ἀτυζομένα, Διὸς ἄγγελος. Ariel’s lines in _The Tempest_ (V. i.):— Merrily, merrily, shall I live now, Under the blossom that hangs on the bough, are dactylic tetrapodies with catalexis. (_c_) _Spondees._—It is not certain that these are used as a base, though as a variant in anapæstic and dactylic metre they are common. _Iph. Taur._, 123-5, may be taken as spondees:— εὐφαμεῖτ’ ὦ πόντου δισσὰς συγχωρούσας πέτρας Ἀξείνου ναίοντες. – –|– –| – –|– –|– –|– –| – –|– –|– –|– –| But they may be quasi-anapæsts, the whole passage which they introduce being an anapæstic entrance-march, though heavily spondaic. _Ion_, 125-7: ὦ Παιάν, ὦ Παιάν, εὐαίων, εὐαίων εἴης, ὦ Λατοῦς παῖ, is scanned by Dr. J. H. H. Schmidt as molossi, a molossus being – – –. Spondaic systems are scarcely to be found in English.[887] (_d_) _Cretics._—This foot (–⏑–) is rare; it generally expresses piteous agitation:— φρόντισον, καὶ γενοῦ πανδίκως εὐσεβὴς πρόξενος· τὰν φυγάδα μὴ προδῷς, τὰν ἕκαθεν ἐκβολαῖς δυσθέοις ὀρμέναν (Æsch., _Supplices_, 418 _sqq._). –⏑–|–⏑–|–⏑–‖ –⏑–|–⏑–‖ –⏑⏑⏑|–⏑–‖ –⏑⏑⏑|–⏑–‖ –⏑–|–⏑–‖ Few cretics are found in English, though Tennyson’s brief poem _The Oak_ is written entirely in this metre, _e.g._:— All his leaves Fall’n at length, Look, he stands, Trunk and bough, Naked strength. Most English verse of cretic appearance is shown by the context to be trochaic with alternate τονή. So in _A Midsummer Nights Dream_, II. i.:— Over hill, over dale, Thorough bush, thorough brier, Over park, over pale, Thorough flood, thorough fire, which is followed by I do | wander | every|where ꞈ | Swifter | than the | moones | sphere ꞈ | etc.