As in D2, the thesis in the first foot is very rarely expanded.
| (1) | wīn-ærnes geweald, B. 655, | –́ –̀ × × | | –́ |
| (1) | Hafa nū ǫnd geheald, B. 659, | ˘́͜× –̀ × × | | –́ |
| (1) | searo-þǫncum besmiðod, B. 776, | ˘́͜× –̀ × × | | ˘́͜× |
Note.—Our ignorance of Old English sentence-stress makes it impossible for us to draw a hard-and-fast line in all cases between D2 and E1. For example, in these half-lines (already cited),
wyn eal gedrēas
feor oft gemǫn
Forð nēar ætstōp
if we throw a strong stress on the adverbs that precede their verbs, the type is D2. Lessen the stress on the adverbs and increase it on the verbs, and we have E1. The position of the adverbs furnishes no clue; for the order of words in Old English was governed not only by considerations of relative emphasis, but by syntactic and euphonic considerations as well.
(b) E2 –́ × –̀ | –́
This is the rarest of all types. It does not occur in the texts, there being but one instance of this type (l. 2437 (2)), and that doubtful, in the whole of Beowulf.