ORDER IV.--DACTYLIC VERSE.
In pure Dactylic verse, the stress is laid on the first syllable of each successive three; that is, on the first, the fourth, the seventh, and the tenth syllable of each line of four feet. Full dactylic generally forms triple rhyme. When one of the final short syllables is omitted, the rhyme is double; when both, single. These omissions are here essential to the formation of such rhymes. Dactylic with double rhyme, ends virtually with a _trochee_; dactylic with single rhyme, commonly ends with a _caesura_; that is, with a long syllable taken for a foot. Dactylic with single rhyme is the same as anapestic would be without its initial short syllables.
Dactylic verse is rather uncommon; and, when employed, is seldom perfectly pure and regular.
MEASURE I.--DACTYLIC OF EIGHT FEET, OR OCTOMETER.
_Example.--Nimrod._
Nimrod the hunter was mighty in hunting, and famed as the ruler of cities of yore; Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, from Shinar's fair region his name afar bore.
MEASURE II.--DACTYLIC OF SEVEN FEET, OR HEPTAMETER.
_Example.--Christ's Kingdom._
Out of the kingdom of Christ shall be gathered, by angels o'er Satan vic -torious, All that of -fendeth, that lieth, that faileth to honour his name ever glorious.
MEASURE III.--DACTYLIC OF SIX FEET, OR HEXAMETER.
_Example I.--Time in Motion._
Time, thou art ever in motion, on wheels of the days, years, and ages; Restless as waves of the ocean, when Eurus or Boreas rages.
_Example II.--Where, is Grand-Pre?_
"This is the forest pri -meval; but where are the hearts that be -neath it Leap'd like the roe, when he hears in the woodland the voice of the huntsman?
Where is the thatch-roofed village, the home of A -cadian farmers?"
H. W. LONGFELLOW: _Evangeline_, Part i, l. 7--9.
MEASURE IV.--DACTYLIC OF FIVE FEET, OR PENTAMETER.
_Example.--Salutation to America._
"Land of the beautiful, beautiful, land of the free, Land of the negro-slave, negro-slave, land of the chivalry, Often my heart had turned, heart had turned, longing to thee; Often had mountain-side, mountain-side, broad lake, and stream, Gleamed on my waking thought, waking thought, crowded my dream.
Now thou dost welcome me, welcome me, from the dark sea, Land of the beautiful, beautiful, land of the free, Land of the negro-slave, negro-slave, land of the chivalry."
MEASURE V.--DACTYLIC OF FOUR FEET, OR TETRAMETER.
_Example 1--The Soldier's Wife._
"Weary way -wanderer, languid and sick at heart, Travelling painfully over the rugged road, Wild-visaged Wanderer! God help thee, wretched one!
Sorely thy little one drags by thee barefooted; Cold is the baby that hangs at thy bending back, Meagre, and livid, and screaming for misery.
Woe-begone mother, half anger, half agony, Over thy shoulder thou lookest to hush the babe, Bleakly the blinding snow beats in thy haggard face.
Ne'er will thy husband re -turn from the war again, Cold is thy heart, and as frozen as Charity!
Cold are thy children.--Now God be thy comforter!"
ROBERT SOUTHEY: _Poems_, Philad., 1843, p. 250.
_Example II.--Boys.--A Dactylic Stanza_.
"Boys will an -ticipate, lavish, and dissipate All that your busy pate hoarded with care; And, in their foolishness, passion, and mulishness, Charge you with churlishness, spurning your pray'r."
_Example III--"Labour."--The First of Five Stanzas_.
"Pause not to dream of the future be -fore us; Pause not to weep the wild cares that come o'er us: Hark, how Cre -ation's deep, musical chorus, Uninter -mitting, goes up into Heaven!
Never the ocean-wave falters in flowing; Never the little seed stops in its growing; More and more richly the rose-heart keeps glowing, Till from its nourishing stem it is riven."
FRANCES S. OSGOOD: _Clapp's Pioneer_, p. 94.
_Example IV.--"Boat Song."--First Stanza of Four._
"Hail to the chief who in triumph ad -vances!
Honour'd and bless'd be the ever-green pine!
Long may the tree in his banner that glances, Flourish, the shelter and grace of our line!
Heaven send it happy dew, Earth lend it sap anew, Gayly to bourgeon, and broadly to grow, While ev'ry Highland glen Sends our shout back agen, 'Roderigh Vich Alpine Dhu, ho! ieroe!'"
WALTER SCOTT: _Lady of the Lake_, C. ii, St. 19.
MEASURE VI.--DACTYLIC OF THREE FEET, OR TRIMETER.
_Example.--To the Katydid._
"Ka-ty-did, Ka-ty-did, sweetly sing,-- Sing to thy loving mates near to thee; Summer is come, and the trees are green,-- Summer's glad season so dear to thee.
Cheerily, cheerily, insect, sing; Blithe be thy notes in the hickory; Every bough shall an answer ring, Sweeter than trumpet of victory."
MEASURE VII.--DACTYLIC OF TWO FEET, OR DIMETER.
_Example I.--The Bachelor.--Four Lines from Many._
"Free from sa -tiety, Care, and anx -iety, Charms in va -riety, Fall to his share."--ANON.: _Newspaper_.
_Example II.--The Pibroch.--Sixteen Lines from Forty._
"Pibroch of Donuil Dhu, Pibroch of Donuil, Wake thy wild voice anew.
Summon Clan -Conuil.
Come away, come away!
Hark to the summons!
Come in your war-array, Gentles and commons!
"Come as the winds come, when Forests are rended; Come as the waves come, when Navies are stranded; Faster come, faster come, Faster and faster!
Chief, vassal, page, and groom, Tenant and master."--W. SCOTT.
_Example III.--"My Boy."_
_'There is even a happiness that makes the heart afraid.'_--HOOD.