The Anapaestic Dimeter Catalectic (or Paroemiac).
[2688.] This verse consists of two anapaestic dipodies or four anapaestic feet, the last foot being incomplete. The third thesis is sometimes resolved. There is no fixed caesura. The scheme is:—
| ⏑ ⏑ –́ | ⏑ ⏑ –̇ | ⏑ ⏑ –́ | ⏑ ⌅ |
| – –́ | – –̇ | – –́ | |
| – ⏑́ ⏑ | – ⏑̇ ⏑ | – ⏑́ ⏑ | |
| ⏑ ⏑ ⏑́ ⏑ | ⏑ ⏑ ⏑̇ ⏑ | ⏑ ⏑ ⏑́ ⏑ |
Examples are:—
Volucér | pede cor|pore púl|cher (Ausonius).
Nimĭs tán|d(em) eg(o) ăbs tē | conté|mnor.
Quipp(e) égo | tē nī| conté|mnam,
stratiṓ|ticus homo| quī clúe|ar? (Pl. Ps. 916).
[2689.] (1.) The Paroemiac is generally used to close a system of acatalectic anapaestic dimeters; but sometimes several paroemiacs in succession form a system (as in the second example above), especially in Ausonius, Prudentius, and other late poets.
[2690.] (2.) Other anapaestic verses sometimes occur, especially in the early comedy, but they are rare.