uxor in thalamō tibī̆ est, Cat. 61, 191.
[III. VERSIFICATION.]
By Herman W. Hayley, Ph.D.
[2511.] Rhythm (Gr. ῥυθμός, from ῥεῖν, to flow) is the effect of regularity produced by the discrimination of a movement or sound into uniform intervals of time. It is often marked by a stress or ictus recurring at fixed intervals.
Rhythm is by no means confined to verse. Music, dancing, and even the regular beat of a trip-hammer, have rhythm. Particular kinds of movement are often called rhythms, as anapaestic rhythms, dactylic rhythms, &c.
[2512.] Metre (Gr. μέτρον, a measure) is the definite measurement of verse by feet, lines, strophes, systems, &c.
[2513.] Latin verse is quantitative, the rhythm depending upon the quantity of the syllables (but see [2548]). The ictus naturally falls upon a long syllable (or its equivalent). English verse, on the other hand, is accentual, its rhythm depending upon the accent of words.
[2514.] Signs of Quantity. A long syllable is indicated by –, a short one by ⏑. A syllable which varies in quantity, being sometimes long, sometimes short, is indicated by ⏓ or ⏒.
In the following metrical schemes, ⏓ indicates that the long is more usual or more strictly in accordance with the rhythm than the short. The reverse is indicated by ⏒.