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Nat(um) an|t(e) ora pa|tris pat|rem qu(i) ob|truncat ad | aras
Rule 3. -- A vowel before another vowel or h in the same word is short. Examples: -- capo, mus, trho.
Note to Rules 2 & 3. Qu; the u which always follows q must be disregarded. It is not sounded separately nor does it combine with the
following vowel to form a diphthong thus quod is one syllable. The same is often the case with a u following g or s thus sanguis,
suades, pinguis, where the u is sounded like a w.
B. WORDS IN COMBINATION (CONSONANT + CONSONANT)
Note to Rule 1. --- A Final syllable ending in a consonant is long when the next word begins with a consonant (except h) as the vowel then stands before
two consonants. Thus in mont, the e is naturally short; mont illum and mont hos, the e remains short; and, mont nos, the e
becomes long.
C. WORDS IN COMBINATION (VOWEL + VOWEL; ELISION)
Note to Rules 1-3. --- A Final syllable ending in a vowel or diphthong or m is elided (i.e. cut off) when the next word begins with a vowel or h.
Thus arm(a) amens; scir(e) aliquid; div(um) incedo; terr(am) inter; laud(em) hanc; hinc atqu(e) hinc; convuls(ae) undis;
cert(ae) occumbere.
II. HEXAMETER
A Hexameter line consists of six divisions or feet.
Each foot in the Hexameter contains two or three syllables (Dactyls and Spondees).
Each three-syllable foot contains one long and two short syllables. This is called a Dactyl, and is marked thus .
Each two-syllable foot contains two long syllables. This is called a Spondee, and is marked thus .
III. SCANSION
The division of a line into feet and the marking of the quantities is called Scanning or Scansion. In order to scan a Hexameter-1. Mark off the last five syllables to form the 5th and 6th feet thus:-- | | x. (The 5th foot is almost always a dactyl. When it isn't, that fact will be
pointed out or it will be obvious. Also, the 6th foot is either a Spondee or Trochee. Since it doesn't matter for the purposes of meter which one it
is, it may be marked with an x, which signifies that the syllable is either long or short.)
2. Mark the first syllable in the line long.
3. Then mark any of the remaining syllables known by Rules 1, 2 and 3 and Notes.
4. The quantity of the syllables still unknown can generally be ascertained by a little consideration, thus:-As each of the first four feet of the line must be either a Dactyl or a Spondee , it is plain that:-Observation i. Each foot must begin with a long syllable.
Observation ii. A short syllable cannot stand alone; therefore (a) a single syllable standing between two syllables known to be long must be long; (b) If one
syllable is known to be short, the syllable either directly before or after must be short. Thus in the word concedunt, the first and last syllables are
long by Rule 1, therefore the middle syllable containing the vowel e must be long by Obs. ii (a). And in capient, the e is long by Rule 1 and the i
is short by Rule 3, therefore the a is short by Obs. ii. (b).
1.
Vowels
A final
E "
= short except
= short "
I "
= long
"
O "
U "
= long
= long.
"
AS final
ES "
= long.
= long except
IS "
OS "
US "
= short
= long.
= short
"
"
2. Consonants
With the aid of the above table and the preceding rules nearly any line can be scanned.
Observe that the case of Nouns and Adjectives can often be determined by the scansion especially words ending in -a.