MEASURE

Measure is the arrangement and harmony of the syllables that compose a verse.

The reunion of two syllables is called pied, foot.

Thus a verse of twelve syllables has six pieds ; that of ten, five ; that of seven, three and a half; and so on.

French verses are generally divided into five classes, and are recognized by the number of their syllables.

* The name of verse is also given to a piece of poetry. In a song or ballad, a stanza is also called a verse.

Ist. Verses of twelve syllables.

Oui, c'est un Dieu caché que le Dieu qu’il faut croire;

Mais, tout caché qu'il est, pour révéler sa gloire,

Quels témoins éclatants devant moi rassemblés !

Répondez, cieux et mers; et vous, terre, parlez. L. Racine.

These verses are called Alexandrins,* heroical or grand vers, because their rhythm is noble and majestic. They are used only for serious works, such as epic poems, tragedies, high comedies, epistles, satires, &c.

2d. Verses of ten syllables.

J’ai vu la Paix descendre sur la terre,

Semant de l'or, des fleurs et des épis. Béranger.

This verse is elegant and graceful ; and belongs more especially to the heroi-comical, erotic, and facetious poems, to familiar epistles, epigrams, &c.

8d. Verses of eight syllables.

Ah! si du moins dans nos années Les jours perdus ne comptaient pas ! Lamartine.

This verse is capable of expressing force and grandeur, and is employed in heroic and moral odes, familiar epistles, de,

4th, Verses of seven syllables.

De ta tige détachée, Pauvre feuille desséchée, Où vas-tu ?—Je n’en sais rien. Arnault.

This verse is well adapted to pastoral poems, epistolary style, tales, songs, &c. q

5th. Verses of sir syllables.

Je sais sur la colline

Une blanche maison ;

Une tour la domine ;

Un verger d’aubépine

Est tout son horizon. Lamartine.

This verse is made use of for lyric compositions, tales, fables, &c.

* So called from having been the measure adopted by a poet who was the first to celebrate the exploits of Alexander the Great.