. The points which seem to mark the ictus, or rhythmical accent, are found on the first syllable of each of these two feet. If we assume that the first syllable of the iambus has the chief accent, the dochmius will be correctly expressed as a musical bar of the form—
If the first syllable of the cretic is accented, the dochmius is divided between two bars, and becomes—
The accompaniment or krousis, consisting of notes interposed between the phrases of the melody, is found by Dr. Wessely and Dr. Crusius in the following characters:
1. The character
appears at the end of every dochmius shown by the papyrus. After the first, third and fifth it is written in the same line with the text. After the seventh it is written above that line, between two vocal notes. Dr. Crusius takes it to be the instrumental Z, explaining the difference of shape as due to the necessity or convenience of distinguishing it from the vocal Z. If that were so the form
would surely have been permanent, and would have been given in the schemes of Alypius and Aristides Quintilianus. I venture to suggest that it is a mark intended to show the end of the dochmius or bar.