By far the commonest of these is the spondee, which consists of two long syllables (λο̄γχη̄, πᾱντω̄ν). This can occur in the first, third, or fifth places—one, two, or all three. Thus:—
– – ⏑– ⏑ – ⏑ – – – ⏑ –
δησαι | βιᾳ | φαραγγ|ι προς | δυσχειμ|ερῳ (Prom. Vinctus, 15).
– – ⏑ – – – ⏑ – ⏑– ⏑ –
ω τεκν|α Καδμ|ου του | παλαι | vεα | τροφη (Œd. Tyr., I).
Next, the lightness and variety is often greatly increased by the use of “resolved”[860] (or broken-up) feet. Each long syllable being regarded as equal to two “shorts,” it follows that the iambus can be “resolved” into ⏑⏑⏑, the spondee into –⏑⏑, ⏑⏑– (and ⏑⏑⏑⏑, but this last is not employed in iambics).
Of these three the tribrach (⏑⏑⏑) is much the most frequent. As it corresponds to the iambus, it can occur in any place, save the sixth; it is exceedingly rare in the fifth place:—
– – ⏑ ⏑ ⏑ – – ⏑ – – – ⏑ –
φαιδρωπ|ον εδιδ|ου τοισ|ιν Αιγ|ισθου | φιλοις (Orestes, 894).
⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑ ⏑ – – ⏑–
περιξ | εγω | καλυψ|α βοτρυ|ωδει | χλοῃ (Bacchæ, 12).
The dactyl (–⏑⏑) is allowed in those places to which the spondee is admitted, save the fifth (just as the tribrach is excluded from the sixth). Thus:—
– – ⏑ – – ⏑ ⏑ ⏑ – – – ⏑ –
ου φασ|ι πρωτ|ον Δανα|ον Αιγ|υπτῳ | δικας (Orestes, 872).