[*] 616. The Elegiac Stanza consists of two verses,—a Hexameter followed by a Pentameter.1 The Pentameter verse is the same as the Hexameter, except that it omits the last half of the third foot and of the sixth foot:— [*] a. The Pentameter verse is therefore to be scanned as two half-verses, the second of which always consists of two dactyls followed by a single syllable. [*] b. The Pentameter has no regular Cæsura; but the first half-verse must always end with a word (diœresis, § 611. c), which is followed by a pause to complete the measure.2 [*] c. The following verses will illustrate the forms of the Elegiac Stanza:—
- cum sŭbĭt | illī|us || trīs|tissĭmă | noctĭs ĭ|māgō quā mìní | suprē|mum [macrcirc] || tempŭs ĭn | urbĕ fŭ|ĭt, [macrcirc]
- cum rĕpĕ|tō noc|tem || quā | tot mĭhĭ | cāră rĕ|līquī, lābĭtŭr | ex ŏcŭ|līs [macrcirc] || nunc quŏquĕ | guttă mĕ|īs. [macrcirc]
- iam prŏpĕ | lūx ădĕ|rat || quā | mē dis|cēdĕrĕ | Caesar fīnĭbŭs | extrē|mae [macrcirc] || iussĕrăt | Ausŏnĭ|ae. [macrcirc]
- —Ov. Trist. 1.3.
[*] Note.--The Elegiac Stanza differs widely in character from hexameter verse (of which it is a mere modification) by its division into Distichs, each of which must have its own sense complete. It is employed in a great variety of compositions,—epistolary, amatory, and mournful,—and was especially a favorite of the poet Ovid. It has been illustrated in English verse, imitated from the German:—
- In the Hex|ameter | rises || the | fountain's | silvery | column;
- In the Pen|tameter | aye || falling in | melody | back.