Λαμπρους δυναστας εμ´πρεπον τας αιθερι.
Αψυχον εικω προ´σγελῳσα σωματος.
4. The eighth syllable preceded in the same word by three or more than three syllables.—This is equivalent to the fourth (or some syllable preceding the fourth) syllable occurring at the end of the word preceding; a state of things which would include the third and fourth feet in one and the same word. This concurrence is denounced in the Supplement to the Preface to the Hecuba; where, however, the rule, as in the case of the quasi-cæsura, from being based upon merely empirical evidence, requires limitation. In lines like
Και ταλλα πολλ' επει´κασαι | δικαιον ην,
or (an imaginary example),
Τοις σοισιν ασπιδη´στροφοις|ιν ανδρασι,
there is no violation of the iambic character, and consequently no reason against similar lines having been written; although from the average proportion of Greek words like επεικασαι and ασπιδηστροφοισιν, there is every reason for their being rare.
After the details just given, the recapitulation is brief.
1. It was essential to the character of the senarius that the sixth syllable, or latter half of the third foot, should have an arsis, ictus metricus, or accent in the English sense. To this condition of the iambic rhythm the Greek tragedians, either consciously or unconsciously, adhered.
2. It was the character of the Greek language to admit an arsis on the last syllable of a word only under circumstances comparatively rare.