But apart from this irrefutable proof of the four-beat scansion of the long line, the rhythmic congruity of it with the rhyming alliterative lines discussed in [§ 67] can easily be demonstrated by the reoccurrence of the same types, although a difference between the first and the second hemistich no longer seems to exist.

Type A, of course, is the most frequent, and occurs in many sub-types, which are distinguished chiefly by monosyllabic, disyllabic, or polysyllabic anacruses, disyllabic or polysyllabic theses between the first and second arsis, and monosyllabic, disyllabic, or trisyllabic theses after the latter. The most usual form of this type corresponds to the scheme (×)×–́××–́×, while the form –́××–́× is rarer. Type A1 likewise admits of polysyllabic anacruses and theses, corresponding mostly to the formula (×)×–́××–́, less frequently to –́××–́. Type B C (×)××–́×–́× is rare, type B C1 (×)××–́×–́, on the other hand, very common; type C (×)××–́–́× still occurs now and then, but type C1 (×)××–́–́ has become exceedingly scarce.

§ 69. Statistical investigations as to the frequency of occurrence, and especially on the grouping of these different types are still wanting, and would contribute greatly toward the more exact knowledge of the development of the iambic-anapaestic and the trochaic-dactylic metre out of the four-beat verse. Of course in such an investigation the use of anacrusis in the types A and A1 should not be neglected. According to the presence or absence of anacrusis in the two hemistichs four different kinds of line may be distinguished:

1. Lines with anacrusis in both hemistichs. These are the most numerous of all, and are chiefly represented by the combinations of types A(A1) + A(A1), A(A1) + B C1(B C):

A + A: For by méasure, i wárne you, | we thýnke to be gýdyd.
Skelt. Magn. 186.
A + A1:For mýschefe wyl máyster vs, | yf méasure vs forsáke. ib. 156.
A1 + B C:Full gréat I do abhór | this your wícked sáying.
Lusty Juventus, Dodsl. ii. 72.
A1 + B C1:You may sáy you were síck, | and your héad did áche,
That you lústed not this níght | any súpper máke.
Jack Juggler, ib. ii. 119.
A1 + A1:And you nóthing regárd | what of mé may betíde? Jacob and Esau, ib. ii. 216.
A1 + B C1:Our láwes are all óne, | though you do thré apére. Bale, Laws, line 63.
A + A1:Whome dáyly the déuyll | to great sýnne doth allúre. ib. 747.
A1 + B C1:By hým haue I góte | thys fowle dyséase of bódye,
A1 + A:And, ás ye se hére, | am now thrówne in a léprye. ib. 749–50.
A1 + B C:Regárde not the pópe, | not yet hys whórysh kýngedom. ib. 770.
A1 + A1:Such lúbbers, as háth | dysgysed héads in their hóodes. Bale, Johan, p. 2.
A + A:Peccávi mea cúlpa: | I submýt me to yowr hólynes. ib. p. 62.
A + A:With áll the ófsprynge, | of Ántichristes generácyon. ib. p. 102.
A + B C1:Maister Ráufe Royster Dóyster | is but déad and gón. Roister Doister, I. i. 43.
C + A:And as thré téachers, | to hým we yow dyréct. Bale, Laws, l. 67.
C + B C1:Of their fírst frédome, | to their most hýgh decáye. ib. 82.
A1 + C1:Such an óther is nót | in the whóle sóuth. ib. 1066.

2. Lines with anacrusis in the first section and without it in the second. These are almost exclusively represented by the combination A(A1) + A(A1); rarely by B C1(B C) + A(A1):

A + A1:For wélthe without méasure | sódenly wyll slýde. Skelton, Magn. 194.
A + A1:Howe sódenly wórldly | wélth dothe dekáy,
A + A1:How wýsdom thórowe wántonnesse | ványisshyth awáy. ib. 2579–80.
A + A1:Behóld, I práy you, | sée where they áre. Four Elements, Dodsl. i. 10.
B C + A1:I am your éldest són, | Ésau by my náme. Jacob and Esau, ib. ii. 249.

3. Lines without anacrusis in the first section and with anacrusis in the second; likewise chiefly represented by the types A (A1) + A (A1), rarely by A (A1) + B C (B C1):

A + A1:Méasure contínwyth | prospérite and wélthe. Skelton, Magn. 142.
A1 + A:Méasure and Í | will néuer be devýdyd. ib. 188.
A + A1:Síghing and sóbbing | they wéep and they wáil. Gammer Gurton’s Needle, Prol.
A + A :Ésau is gíven | to lóose and lewd líving. Jacob and Esau, Dodsl. ii. 196.
A1 + A1:Líving in this wórld | from the wést to the éast. Roister Doister, III. iii. 28.
A + A1:Chárge and enfórce hym | in the wáyes of vs to go. Bale, Laws, line 102.
A + A:Quáerite judícium, | subveníte opprésso. Bale, Johan, p. 6.
A + B C:Fór by conféssion | the holy fáther knóweth. ib. p. 11.
A + B C1:Dó they so in déde? | Well, they shall not dó so lónge. ib. p. 97.

4. Lines without anacrusis in either section, so that they are wholly dactylic in rhythm, only represented by A (A1) + A1 (A):