Institutio Oratoria

For the mere fact that words are separated from each other involves an imperceptible length of time: for instance, the spondee forming the middle foot of a pentameter must consist of the last syllable of one word and the first of another, otherwise the verse is no verse at all. It is permissible, though less satisfactory, for the spondee to be preceded by an anapaest: e.g. muliere non solum nobili, verum etiami nota. [*](pro Cael. xiii. 31. A woman, not only of noble birth, but even notorious. )

Andit may also, in addition to the anapaest and cretic, be preceded by the iambus, which is a syllable less in length than both of them, thus making one short syllable precede three long. But it is also perfectly correct to place a spondee before an iambus, as in armis fui, or it may be preceded by a bacchius instead of a spondee, e.g. in armis fui, [*](pro Lig. iii. 9. I was in arms. ) thereby making the last foot a dochmiac.

From this it follows that the molossus also is adapted for use in the conclusion provided that it be preceded by a short syllable, though it does not matter to what foot the latter belongs: e.g. illud scimus, ubicunque sunt, esse pro nobis.

The effect of the spondee is less weighty, if it be preceded by a palimbacchius and pyrrhic, as in iudicii Iuniani. [*]( The text is clearly corrupt as it stands, since the first syllable of Iuniani is long. Further, if iudici be read with the best texts of Cicero, there is no pyrrhic (u u) in the phrase, which is identical in rhythm with ausus est confiteri, praised just above. If iudicii is read the final spondee might be said to be preceded by a pyrrhic and a palimbacchius (i. e. iud/ĭcĭ/ī Iūnĭ/ānī ). The fact that the termination of both words is the same would account for the disappearance of one of them. The corruption may easily lie deeper still. But as the words quoted come from an actual speech of Cicero, the error is not likely to lie in the quotation, pro Cluent. i. 1. ) Still worse is the rhythm when the spondee is preceded by a paean, as in Brute, dubitavi, [*](Or. i. I. I hesitated, Brutus. ) although this phrase may, if we prefer, be regarded as consisting

Even the dactyl ought not to precede a final spondee, since we condemn verse-endings at the period's close. The bacchius is employed at the conclusion, sometimes in conjunction with itself as in venenum timerss [*](pro Cael. xiv. 33. That you should fear poison. ) while it is also effective when a choreus and spondee are placed before it as in ut venenum timeres. Its opposite, the palimbacchius, is also employed as a conclusion (unless, of course, we insist that the last syllable of a sentence is always long), and is best preceded by a molossus, as in civis Romanus sum, [*](Verr. v. lxii. 162. ) or by a bacchius, as in quod hie potest, nos possemus. [*](pro Lig. iv. 10. )

It would, however, be truer to say that in such cases the conclusion consists of a choreus preceded by a spondee, for the rhythm is concentrated in nos possemus and Romanus sum. The dichoreus, which is the repetition of one and the same foot, may also form the conclusion, and was much beloved by the Asiatic school: Cicero illustrates it by Patris dictum sapiens temeritasfilii comprobavit. [*](Orat. Ixiii. 214. The wise temerity of the son confirmed the statement of the father. )

The choreus may also be preceded by a pyrrhic, as in omnes prope cives virtute, gloria, digitiate superabat. [*](pro Cael. xiv. 34. He surpassed almost all other citizens in virtue, glory and honour. ) The dactyl also may come at the close, unless indeed it be held that, when it forms the final foot, it is transformed into a cretic: e.g. muliercula nixus in litore. [*](Verr. v. xxxiii. 86. Leaning on a worthless woman on the shore. ) The effect will be good if it is preceded by a cretic or an iambus, but unsatisfactory if it is preceded by a

If preceded by a long syllable, the trochee becomes a paean, as is the case with phrases such as sipotero, or dirit hoc Cicero, or obstat invidia. But this form of paean is specially allotted to the beginnings of sentences. The pyrrhic may close a sentence if preceded by a choreus, thereby forming a paean. [*]( As he has in the preceding clause stated that this form of paean is regarded as specially adapted to the opening of a sentence, it cannot be supposed that he commends this employment of the pyrrhic. He mentions it only to illustrate another method of forming the paean (e.g. multa bene ) by two words, the first a chores, the second a pyrrhic. His view about the employment of this form of paean is that it is sometimes used at the end, but that such a position is not advisable. ) But all these feet which end in short syllables will lack the stability required for the cadence, and should as a rule only be employed in cases where speed is required and there is no marked pause at the ends of the sentences.