Práise Gód, | sang Théocríte. R. Browning, ii. 158.
This licence is of frequent occurrence in even-beat measures.
§ 87. Another metrical peculiarity caused by the influence of the rhythm is the lengthening of a word by the introduction of an unaccented extra syllable, commonly an e, to supply a thesis lacking between two accented syllables.
This occurs in Middle English and in Modern English poetry also. (i) In disyllabic words, commonly those with a first syllable ending with a mute, the second beginning with a liquid, e.g.:
Of Éng(e)lónd | to Cáunterbúry they wénde. Chauc. Prol. 16.
If yóu will tárry, | hóly píl(e)grím.
Shakesp. All’s Well, III. v. 43.
(ii) In Modern English poetry only in certain monosyllabic words ending in r or re, preceded by a diphthong, as e.g. in our, hour, fire, &c., e.g.:
So dóth he féel | his fíre mánifóld. Wyatt, 205.
This peculiarity will be mentioned again in the next chapter.