Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar for Schools and Colleges
J. B. Greenough, G. L. Kittredge, A. A. Howard, Benj. L. D'Ooge, Ed.

[*] a. The Iambic Tetrameter Catalectic ( Septēnārius ). This consists of seven and a half iambic feet, with diæresis after the fourth and with the same substitutions as in Iambic Trimeter:—

1. nam idcírcō arcés|sor, nū´ptĭā´s || quod mī ádpărā´|rī sē´nsĭt.
2. quĭbus quĭ´dĕm quam fă´cĭ|lĕ pŏ´tŭĕrát || quĭē´scī sī hī´c |quĭē´ssĕt !
—Ter. And. 690, 691.

The metrical scheme of these two verses may be represented as follows:—

Its movement is like the following:—

In góod king Chárles's gólden daýs, when lóyaltý no hárm meant.

1. —Vicar of Bray.

[*] b. The Iambic Tetrameter Acatalectic ( Octōnārius ). This consists of right full iambic feet with the same substitutions as in Iambic Trimeter. Like the Septenarius it is used in lively dialogue:—

1. dīcă´t ĕam dă´rĕ | nōs Phórmĭō´|nī || nū´ptum nē´ | suscē´nsĕă´t;
2. et mă´gĭs esse íl|lum ĭdō´nĕúm, || quī ipsī´ sitfă´mĭ|lĭā´rĭō´r.
—Ter. Ph. 720, 721.

The metrical scheme of these two verses may be represented as follows:—

[*] c. The Iambic Dimeter. This may be either acatalectic or catalectic.

1. The Iambic Dimeter Acatalectic consists of four iambic feet. It is used in combination with some longer verse (see § 618. a).
The Iambic Dimeter Catalectic consists of three and a half iambic feet. It is used only in choruses:—
1. quōnám crŭén|tă Maénās,
2. praecéps ămō´|rĕ saévō,
3. răpĭtúr quŏd ím|pŏténtī
făcĭnús părát | fŭrō´rĕ?—Sen. Med. 850-853.

[*] Note.--Owing to the fact that in modern music each measure begins with a downward beat, some scholars regard all these forms of Iambic verse as Trochaic verse with anacrusis (§ 618. c. N.).