^ ^ ^ ^
eighth noteeighth noteeighth noteeighth notequarter noteeighth noteeighth noteeighth noteeighth noteeighth noteeighth note
“Not a drum was heard, not a funeral note,
^ ^ ^
eighth noteeighth noteeighth noteeighth noteeighth noteeighth noteeighth noteeighth noteeighth note[eighth note]
As his corse to the rampart we hur[ried];
^ ^ ^ ^
eighth noteeighth noteeighth noteeighth noteeighth noteeighth noteeighth notequarter noteeighth notequarter note
Not a soldier discharged his farewell shot
^ ^ ^
eighth noteeighth noteeighth noteeighth noteeighth noteeighth noteeighth noteeighth noteeighth note[eighth note]
O’er the grave where our hero we bur[ied].”

In reading this the first time, a person is not likely to notice that there are three feet in it containing but two syllables. The rhythm is perfectly smooth, and cannot be called irregular. The accent remains on the last syllable of the foot.

In the following selection from “Evangeline,” trochees are substituted for dactyls, yet there is no break in the rhythm. It does not seem in the least irregular.

^ ^ ^
quarter note eighth note eighth note eighth note eighth note quarter note eighth note
“Be hind them followed the watch-dog,
[278]^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
quarter note eighth note eighth note eighth note eighth note eighth note eighth note eighth note eighth note eighth note eighth note eighth note eighth note eighth note quarter note eighth note
Patient, full of im portance, and grand in the pride of his instinct,

Walking from side to side with a lordly air, and superbly

Waving his bushy tail, and urging forward the stragglers.”

^ ^ ^
quarter noteeighth noteeighth noteeighth noteeighth notequarter noteeighth note
“Behind them followed the watch-dog,
[278]^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
quarter noteeighth noteeighth noteeighth noteeighth noteeighth noteeighth noteeighth noteeighth noteeighth noteeighth noteeighth noteeighth noteeighth notequarter noteeighth note
Patient, full of importance, and grand in the pride of his instinct,

These examples are enough to illustrate the fact that one kind of foot may be substituted for another and not make the rhythm feel irregular. So long as the accent is not changed from the first syllable to the last, or from the last to the first, there is no jar in the flow of the lines. The trochee and the dactyl are interchangeable; and the iambus and the anapest are interchangeable.