"The shortest form of the English Iambic," says Lindley Murray, "consists of an Iambus with an additional short syllable: as,
Disdaining,
Complaining,
Consenting,
Repenting.
We have no poem of this measure, but it may be met with in stanzas. The Iambus, with this addition, coincides with the Amphibrach."—Murray's Gram., 12mo, p. 204; 8vo, p. 254. This, or the substance of it, has been repeated by many other authors. Everett varies the language and illustration, but teaches the same doctrine. See E. Versif., p. 15.
Now there are sundry examples which may be cited to show, that the iambus, without any additional syllable, and without the liability of being confounded with an other foot, may, and sometimes does, stand as a line, and sustain a regular rhyme. The following pieces contain instances of this sort:—
Example I.—"How to Keep Lent."
"Is this | a Fast, | to keep
The lard | -er lean
And clean
From fat | of neats | and sheep?
Is it | to quit | the dish
Of flesh, | yet still
To fill
The plat | -ter high | with fish?
Is it | to fast | an hour,
Or ragg'd | to go,
Or show
A down | -cast look | and sour?
No:—'Tis | a Fast | to dole
Thy sheaf | of wheat,
And meat,
Unto | the hun | -gry soul.
It is | to fast | from strife,
From old | debate,
And hate;
To cir | -cumcise | thy life;