χαῖρ’· οὐ γὰρ ἐχθαίρω σ’· ἀπώλεσας δ’ ἐμέ (Alcestis, 179).
ζητοῦσι τὸν τεκόντ’· ἐγὼ δὲ διαφέρω (Heracles, 76).
The other rule is that generally called “the rule of the Final Cretic”.[864] It is most simply stated thus: if there is a cæsura in the fifth foot, that foot must be an iambus, e.g.:—
⏑ – ⏑ –
μη με̄ στυγησῃς· ουχ εκων | γαρ ‖ αγγ|ελω (Troades, 710).
⏑ – ⏑ –
τον τουδε νεκρον ουκ αθαπτ|ον ‖ αν | λιποις (Ibid., 738).
This rule does not exclude from the first half of the foot long monosyllables which are in meaning and syntax closely connected with the “cretic” word or words. Thus τῶν σωμάτων is a quite correct ending, but not τούτων σωμάτων.
Subjoined is a scheme of the iambic verse as written by the tragedians. The writers of comedy allowed themselves licenses with which we are not here concerned. Euripides is much fonder of resolved feet than Æschylus or Sophocles.
1 2 3 4 5 6
⏑– ⏑– ⏑‖– ⏑‖– ⏑– ⏑–
⏑⏑⏑ ⏑⏑⏑ ⏑‖⏑⏑ ⏑‖⏑⏑ ⏑⏑⏑ ⏑⏑
– – [⏑⏑–] –‖– [⏑⏑–] – –
–⏑⏑ –‖⏑⏑ [⏑⏑–]
⏑⏑– [⏑⏑–]