latter; and in the majority (at least) of the classical (and probably other) metres there is a sufficient amount of accentual elements to constitute metre; even independent of the quantitative ones.
[§ 661]. Latitude in respect to the periodicity of the recurrence of similarly accented syllables in English.—Metre (as stated in p. [499]), "is the recurrence, within certain intervals, of syllables similarly affected."
The particular way in which syllables are affected in English metre is that of accent.
The more regular the period at which similar accents recur the more typical the metre.
Nevertheless absolute regularity is not requisite.
This leads to the difference between symmetrical and unsymmetrical metres.
[§ 662]. Symmetrical metres.—Allowing for indifference of the number of syllables in the last measure, it is evident that in all lines where the measures are dissyllabic the syllables will be a multiple of the accents, i. e., they will be twice as numerous. Hence, with three accents there are six syllables; with four accents, eight syllables, &c.
Similarly, in all lines where the measures are trisyllabic the syllables will also be multiples of the accents, i. e., they will be thrice as numerous. Hence, with three accents there will be nine syllables, with four accents, twelve syllables, and with seven accents, twenty-one syllables.
Lines of this sort may be called symmetrical.
[§ 663]. Unsymmetrical metres.—Lines, where the syllables are not a multiple of the accents, may be called unsymmetrical. Occasional specimens of such lines occur interspersed amongst others of symmetrical character. Where this occurs the general character of the versification may be considered as symmetrical also.