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[79] But, having stated that all prose rhythm consists of feet, I must say something on these as well. Different names are given to these feet, and it is necessary to determine what we shall call each of them. For my part I propose to follow Cicero1 (for he himself followed the most eminent Greek authorities), with this exception, that in my opinion a foot is never more than three syllables long, whereas Cicero includes the paean2 and the dochmiac (u – – u –), of which the former has four and the latter as many as five syllables.

1 Or. ch. lxiv. 7.

2 For paean see § 96. The two varieties with which Quintilian is concerned are– u u u and u u u –.

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