This metre is frequent in passages of lamentation, and as these are extremely numerous the dochmiac measure is one of the most important. It is also perhaps the most difficult, because of the many varieties admitted. In all, twenty-two[889] forms are said to be found, though several of these are rare; this great number is due to resolution and irrational long syllables. Thus— ἰὼ σκότου νέφος ἐμὸν ἀπότροπον, ἐπιπλόμενον ἄφατον ἀδάματόν τε καὶ δυσούριστον ὄν (_Œd. Tyr._, 1313). ⏑⁝⏘⏑|–ꞈ‖ ⏑⁝⏑⏑⏑⏑⏑|⏑⏑⏑‖⏑⏑⏑⏑⏑|⏑⏑ꞈ‖ ⏑⁝⏑⏑–⏑|–⏑‖– –⏑|–ꞈ‖. The second line of course would by itself have no rhythm at all, being so completely broken to pieces, in order to express the extreme limit of agitation possible in articulate speech. But it gains rhythm from the clearer lines of the context. The antistrophe shows a further variety—an irrational syllable in the last line:— ἰὼ φίλος, σὺ μὲν ἐμὸς ἐπίπολος ἔτι μόνιμος· ἔτι γάρ ὑπομένεις με τὸν τυφλὸν κηδεύων. (κηδευ͐ων). Evidently it is important to accustom one’s ear thoroughly to the basic form ⏑– –⏑– and to ⏑⏑⏑–⏑–. Another instance may be of use:— ἆρα πύλαι κλῄθροις χαλκόδετ’ ἔμβολά τε λαϊνέοισιν Ἀμφίονος ὀργάνοις τείχεος ἥρμοσται; (_Phœnissæ_, 114 _sqq._). ˃⁝⏑⏑–˃|–˃‖⏑⏑–⏑|⏑⏑ꞈ‖ ⏑⁝⏑⏑–⏑|–˃‖⏑⏑–⏑|–ꞈ‖ ˅⁝⏑⏑–˃|–ꞈ‖. The last division of our subject is the different types of period, the various ways in which cola are combined and correspond. It should be noted that a colon with anacrusis can correspond to one without; so of catalexis and τονή. (i) The simplest form is the _stichic_ (στίχος “a row”), in which the cola are of the same length. The scheme ⎧ _a_ ⎧ 2 ⎧ 4 ⎧ 6 ⎧ _a_ is ⎨ —that is ⎨ or ⎨ or ⎨ , etc.—or ⎨ _a_ and so forth: ⎩ _a_ ⎩ 2 ⎩ 4 ⎩ 6 ⎩ _a_ πᾶς γὰρ ἱππηλάτας καὶ πεδοστιβὴς λεώς (_Persæ_, 126 _sq._). –⏑|⏗|–⏑|–ꞈ‖ –⏑|–⏑|–⏑|–ꞈ〛. Where correspondence is indicated by ⎛ 4 ⎝ 4. It makes no difference that ⏗ is answered by –⏑ in the second foot. (ii) To the stichic corresponds the _palinodic_ period (παλινῳδία, “repetition”), in which not a single colon but a group of cola is repeated so far as length is concerned:— μείξουσιν ἢ πρὸς Πυθίαις ἢ λαμπάσιν ἀκταῖς, οὗ πότνιαι σεμνὰ τιθηνοῦνται τέλη (_Œd. Col._, 1047 _sq._). –⁝⏗⏑|– –|⏗⏑|– –‖–⏑⏑|– –‖ –⁝⏗⏑|⏘|–⏑⏑|– –‖⏗⏑|–ꞈ̄‖ ⎰ 4 ⎞ ⎛ ⎱ 2 ⎟ ⎞ ⎝ ⎰ 4 ⎠ ⎟ ⎱ 2 ⎠ This type of period is frequent in English poetry, where the use of rhyme and the absence of τονή make the cola perfectly plain, _e.g._:— Love still has something of the sea From whence his Mother rose; No time his slaves from care sets free, Or gives their hearts repose.—(Sedley.) ⎰ 4 ⎞ ⎛ ⎱ 3 ⎟ ⎞ ⎝ ⎰ 4 ⎠ ⎟ ⎱ 3 ⎠ (iii) _Antithetic_ periods are formed by the inverted repetition whether of different cola or of different groups of cola.