| ⏑͐ –́ | ⏑ –̇ | ⏑͐ –́ | ⏑ –̇ | ⏑ –́ | –́ ⏑ |
| [⏑ ⏑́ ⏑] | ⏑ ⏑̇ ⏑ | ⏑ ⏑́ ⏑ | ⏑ ⏑̇ ⏑ | ||
| > ⏑́ ⏑ | > ⏑́ ⏑ | ||||
| ⏑ ⏑ –́ | |||||
An example is:
Fulsḗ|re quon|dam ‖ cán|didī| tibī́ | sṓlēs. (Cat. 8, 3.)
[2598.] (1). The anacrustic scheme (see [2529]) of the choliambus is:
| ⏑ ⏑̆͐ | –́ ⏑ | –̇ ⏑͐ | –́ ⏑ | –̇ ⏑ | ⏗́ | –́ ⏑ |
| ⏑́ ⏑ ⏑ | ⏑̇ ⏑ ⏑ | ⏑́ ⏑ ⏑ | ⏑̇ ⏑ ⏑ | |||
i.e. trochaic trimeter with anacrusis ([2529]), syncope ([2541]), and protraction ([2516]).
[2599.] (2.) Resolutions and substitutions are less common in the choliambus than in the ordinary trimeter. No monosyllable except est is admitted at the end of the line. The tribrach in the first foot is rare, and the fifth foot is regularly an iambus.
[2600.] (3). The verse is named Choliambus (i.e. “lame” or “limping iambus”) or Scazon (“hobbler”) from its odd, limping movement. It is sometimes called Hipponactean from its inventor Hipponax, and is chiefly used to produce a satiric or ludicrous effect. It was introduced into Roman poetry by Cn. Mattius, and was employed by Varro, Catullus, Persius, Petronius, Martial, and others.
[The Iambic Trimeter Catalectic.]
[2601.] The Iambic Trimeter Catalectic occurs in Horace (1, 4 and 2, 18). The caesura is regularly penthemimeral ([2544]). Resolutions are not admitted, except in one doubtful case, rēgumque puerīs (2, 18, 34), where pu͡erīs may be read (with synizesis: see [2499]). The scheme is: