Scýldes éaferan Scédelandum ín. Beow. 19.
híldewǣ́þnum ond héaðowǣ́dum. Beow. 39;
less commonly by the formula a b | b a:
þā wǣ́ron mónige þe his mǣ́g wríðon. Beow. 2982.
hwī́lum for dúguðe dóhtor Hrṓðgà̄res.Beow. 2020;
verses corresponding to the formula a a | b b are not found in early poetry. No doubt certain instances of this double alliteration may be accidental, but others seem intentional.
The foregoing rules as to alliteration are strictly observed in the early and classic poetry, but in later times certain licences crept in. Three of these may be noticed. (i) The second accented syllable of the second hemistich is allowed to carry the alliteration instead of the first accented syllable,
lā́stas légde oððǽt hē gelǣ́dde. Gen. 2536.
(ii) Both accented syllables of the second hemistich alliterate with one accented syllable of the first hemistich,[84]
me séndon tṓ þē sǣ́men snélle. Byrhtnoth 29.