In the days of old,
Stories plainly told,
Lovers felt annoy. Old Ballad.
Of seven,
Fairest piece of well form'd earth,
Urge not thus your haughty birth. Waller.
In these measures the accent is to be placed on the odd syllables.
These are the measures which are now in use, and above the rest those of seven, eight, and ten syllables. Our ancient poets wrote verses sometimes of twelve syllables, as Drayton's Polyolbion.
Of all the Cambrian shires their heads that bear so high,
And farth'st survey their soils with an ambitious eye,