The fift Chapter, of the Iambick Dimeter, or English march.
THe Dimeter (so called in the former Chapter) I intend nest of all to handle, because it seems to be a part of the Iambick which is our most naturall and auncient English verse. We may terme this out English march, because the verse answers our warlick forme of march in similtude of number. But call it what you please, for I will not wrangle about names, only intending to set down the nature of true structure. It consists of two feete and one odde sillable. The first foote may be made either a Trochy, or a Sponde, or an Iambick at the pleasure of the composer, thought most naturally that place affects a Trochy or a Spondee; yet by the example of Catullus in his Hendicasillables, I adde in the first place sometimes an Iambick foote. In the second place we must euer insert a Trochy or a Tribrack, and so leave the last sillable (as in the end of a verse it is alwaies held) common. Of this kind I will subscribe three examples, the first being a peece of a Chorus in a Tragedy.
Raving warre begot
In the thirstye sands
Of the Libyan Iles
Wasts our empty fields,
What the greedye rage
Of fell wintrye stormes,
Coulde not turne to spoile,
Fierce Bellona now
Hath laid desolate,
Voyd of fruit, or hope.
Th'eger thriftye hinde
Whose rude toyle reuiu'd
Our skie-blasted earth
Himselfe is but earth,
Left a skorne to fate
Though seditious armes:
And that soile, aliue
Which he duly nurst,
Which him duly fed,
Dead his body feeds;
Yet not all the glebe
His tuff hands manur'd
Now one turfe affords
His poore funerall.
Thus still needy liues,
Thus still needy dyes
Th'unknowne multitude.
An example Lyrical
Greatest in thy wars,
Greater in thy peace
Dread Elizabeth;
Our muse only Truth
Figments can not vse
Thy ritch name to deck
That it selfe adornes:
But should now this age
Let all poesye fayne,
Fayning poesy could
Nothing faine at all
Worthy half thy fame.
An example Epigrammaticall.
Kind in euery kinde
This dear Nedresolue,
Neuer of thy prayse
Be too prodigall;
He that prayeth all
Can praise truly none.
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