Pyrrhic or Dibrach, u u =body, spirit.
Tribrach, u u u =nobody, (hastily pronounced).
Iambus u ' =deli'ght.
Trochee, ' u =li'ghtly.
Spondee, ' ' =Go'd spa'ke.
The paucity of spondees in single words in English and, indeed, in the modern languages in general, makes, perhaps, the greatest distinction, metrically considered, between them and the Greek and Latin.
Dactyl, ' u u = me'rrily. Anapæst, u u ' = a propo's, or the first three syllables
of ceremo'ny.
Amphibrachys, u ' u = deli'ghtful.
Amphimacer, ' u ' = o'ver hi'll.
Antibacchius, u ' ' = the Lo'rd Go'd.
Bacchius, ' ' u = He'lve'llyn.
Molossus, ' ' ' = Jo'hn Ja'mes Jo'nes.
These simple feet may suffice for understanding the metres of Shakspeare, for the greater part at least;—but Milton cannot be made harmoniously intelligible without the composite feet, the Ionics, Pæons, and Epitrites.
'Ib.' sc. 2. Titania's speech:—(Theobald adopting Warburton's reading.)
Which she, with pretty and with swimming gate
Follying (her womb then rich with my young squire)
Would imitate, &c.
Oh! oh! Heaven have mercy on poor Shakspeare, and also on Mr. Warburton's mind's eye!
Act v. sc. 1. Theseus' speech:—(Theobald.)
And what poor {willing} duty cannot do,
Noble respect takes it in might, not merit.
To my ears it would read far more Shakspearian thus:—