[The Iambic Tetrameter Acatalectic (or Octonarius).]

[2604.] This verse consists of four iambic dipodies, or eight complete iambic feet. The substitutions enumerated in 2581 are admitted in the first seven feet; but the last foot is always an iambus. The principal break in the line is usually a diaeresis after the fourth foot (which in that case must be a pure iambus), or a caesura after the arsis of the fifth. The full scheme is:

⏑͐ –́⏑͐ –̇⏑͐ –́⏑͐ –̇⏑͐ –́⏑͐ –̇⏑͐ –́⏑ –̇
⏑ ⏑́ ⏑⏑ ⏑̇ ⏑⏑ ⏑́ ⏑⏑ ⏑̇ ⏑⏑ ⏑́ ⏑⏑ ⏑̇ ⏑⏑ ⏑́ ⏑
> ⏑́ ⏑> ⏑̇ ⏑> ⏑́ ⏑> ⏑̇ ⏑> ⏑́ ⏑> ⏑̇ ⏑> ⏑́ ⏑
⏖ –́⏑ ⏑ –̇⏑ ⏑ –́⏑ ⏑ –̇⏑ ⏑ –́⏑ ⏑ –̇⏑ ⏑ –́
⏖ ⏑́ ⏑⏑ ⏑ ⏑̇ ⏑⏑ ⏑ ⏑́ ⏑⏑ ⏑ ⏑̇ ⏑⏑ ⏑ ⏑́ ⏑⏑ ⏑ ⏑̇ ⏑⏑ ⏑ ⏑́ ⏑

[2605.] The following lines are examples of this metre:

Enĭm vḗ|rō, Dā|ve, nī́l|locīst # sēgníti|ae neque | sōcór|diae,

quant(um) ín|tellē|xī módo | senis # sentén|tiam | dē nū́|ptiīs:

quae sī́|nōn a|stū prṓ|viden|tur ‖ m(ē)aút|erum | pessúm | dabunt. (T. Andr. 206.)

⏖ –́> –̇⏑ –́⏑ –̇ # > ⏑́ ⏑> ⏑̇ ⏑> –́⏑ –̇
> –́> –̇> ⏑́ ⏑⏑ –̇ # > –́⏑ –̇> –́⏑ –̇
> –́> –̇> –́⏑ –̇ | > ‖ –́⏑ –̇> –́⏑ –̇

[2606.] Compare in English:

He smote the rock, and forth a tide of crystal waters streamed amain;