Catalectic iambic tetrameter:
Ne sólde nó man dón a fírst | ne sléuhþen wél to dónne;
For mány man behóteð wél, | þet hít forȝét wel sóne.
Moral Ode, ll. 36–7.
They cáught their spéares, their hórses rán, | as thóugh there hád been thúnder,
And strúck them éach amídst their shíelds, | wherewíth they bróke in súnder.
Sir Lancelot du Lake, ll. 65–8.[124]
Acatalectic trochaic tetrameter (not represented in Middle English):
Wérther hád a lóve for Chárlotte, | súch as wórds could néver útter;
Wóuld you knów how fírst he mét her? | shé was cútting bréad and bútter.