A Latin Grammar for Schools and Colleges - George Martin Lane

[2628.] These are descending rhythms in 3/8 time. The fundamental foot is the trochee –́ ⏑, for which its metrical equivalent the tribrach ⏑́ ⏑ ⏑, the irrational spondee –́ >, the cyclic dactyl –́ ⏑ ⏑, the irrational anapaest ⏑́ ⏑ >, and (rarely) the proceleusmatic ⏑́ ⏑ ⏑ ⏑, are sometimes substituted.

[The Trochaic Tetrameter Catalectic (or Septenarius).]

[2629.] The Trochaic Tetrameter Catalectic is, next to the iambic trimeter, the verse most frequently used by the early Roman dramatists. It consists of seven and a half trochaic feet, or four trochaic dipodies (the last one being incomplete). The ictus on the second thesis of each dipody was probably weaker than that on the first thesis. The normal scheme is:—

–́ ⏑ | –̇ ⏑ | –́ ⏑ | –̇ ⏑ | –́ ⏑ | –̇ ⏑ | –́ ⏑ | –̇ ⌃

As in the case of the senarius, we may distinguish two periods in the usage:—

(A.) Early Period.

[2630.] The tribrach is admitted in any of the complete feet, and the irrational spondee, cyclic dactyl, and irrational anapaest in any of the first six feet. Terence does not admit the proceleusmatic in the Septenarius (nor in any other kind of trochaic verse), but Plautus admits it in the first foot. The seventh foot of the Septenarius is usually a trochee, but the tribrach sometimes occurs there. The principal break in the line is usually a diaeresis after the fourth foot (which in that case must not be a dactyl), often accompanied by a secondary diaeresis after the second foot. Sometimes, however, the principal break is a diaeresis after the fifth foot, in which case there is generally a secondary diaeresis after the third foot or a caesura in the fourth. The full scheme of substitutions is:—

–́ ⏑͐	–̇ ⏑͐	–́ ⏑͐	–̇ ⏑͐	–́ ⏑͐	–̇ ⏑͐	–́ ⏑	–̇ ⌃
⏑́ ⏑ ⏑	⏑̇ ⏑ ⏑	⏑́ ⏑ ⏑	⏑̇ ⏑ ⏑	⏑́ ⏑ ⏑	⏑̇ ⏑ ⏑	⏑́ ⏑ ⏑
–́ ⏖	–̇ ⏖	–́ ⏖	–̇ ⏖	–́ ⏖	–̇ ⏖	[–́ ⏖]
⏑́ ⏑ >	⏑̇ ⏑ >	⏑́ ⏑ >	⏑̇ ⏑ >	⏑́ ⏑ >	⏑̇ ⏑ >
[⏑́ ⏑ ⏖]

The following lines are examples of the Septenarius:—