[CRETIC RHYTHMS.]
[2691.] These are rhythms of the Hemiolic class ([2527]), in 5/8 time. The fundamental foot is the Cretic (–́ ⏑ –̇).
Either (but not both) of the two longs of a Cretic is sometimes resolved (giving the First Paeon –́ ⏑ ⏑̇ ⏑ or the Fourth Paeon ⏑́ ⏑ ⏑ –̇); but there is rarely more than one resolution in a single verse. The middle short is sometimes replaced by an irrational long (giving –́ > –̇, or if there is resolution, ⏑́ ⏑ > –̇ or –́ > ⏑̇ ⏑); but this never occurs in the last foot of a verse, and but rarely when the middle syllable is the penult of a spondaic word (e.g. nṓs nostrās).
[2692.] (1.) The ictus on the first long of the Cretic was probably (at least in most cases) stronger than that on the second. The first long and the short form the thesis, the second long the arsis, –́ ⏑ | –̇
[2693.] (2.) The impetuous, swinging movement of the Cretic rhythm fits it for the expression of passionate emotion.
The Cretic Tetrameter Acatalectic.
[2694.] This verse consists of four complete Cretic feet. There is usually a diaeresis after the second foot, but sometimes there is instead a caesura after the first long of the third foot. Resolution is not admitted before the diaeresis or the end of the line. The irrational long middle syllable is admitted in the first and third feet. The scheme is:—
⏑͐
