⏑⏑
Κρατος Βια τε σφῳν μεν εντολη | Διος (Prom. Vinctus, 12)
(which is followed by a vowel—ἔχει). It matters little whether such syllables are marked as short, as long, or with the sign of doubtful quantity ( ᷋). Next, synizesis (συνίζησις, “collapse”) occurs now and then—two syllables coalesce and are scanned as one, e.g. μ̅η̅ ̅ο̅υ̅, πολε̅ω̅ς:—
– – ⏑ – – – ⏑ – – – ⏑ –
αλλ εα | με και | την εξ | εμου | δυσβουλ|ιαν (Antigone, 95).
– ⏑ – – ⏑ ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ –
ως μ̅η̅ ̅ε̅ι̅δ̅|οθ ητ|ις μ ετεκ|εν εξ | οτου τ|εφυν (Ion, 313).
– – ⏑ – – – ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ ⏑
σφαζ αιμ|ατου | θεας βωμ|ον η | μετεισ|ι σε (Andromache, 260).
(Synizesis is specially common in the various cases of θεός and θεά.)
Finally, two important rules of rhythm remain to be stated.
First, there must be a “cæsura”[862] in either the third or the fourth foot. A cæsura is a gap between words in the middle of a foot. Either the third foot, then, or the fourth must consist partly of one word, partly of another. It is indicated in scansion by the sign ‖. Many verses have this necessary cæsura in the third foot only, e.g.:—
⏑ – ⏑ – – – ⏑ – – – ⏑ ⏑
απανθ | ο μακρ|ος ‖ καν|αριθμ|ητος | χρονος (Ajax, 646).
Many show it in the fourth only:—