OBS. 4.—­The anapest, the dactyl, and the amphibrach, have this in common,—­that each, with one long syllable, takes two short ones.  Hence there is a degree of similarity in their rhythms, or in their several effects upon the ear; and consequently lines of each order, (or of any two, if the amphibrachic be accounted a separate order,) are sometimes commingled.  But the propriety of acknowledging an order of “Amphibrachic verse,” as does Humphrey, is more than doubtful; because, by so doing, we not only recognize the amphibrach as one of the principal feet, but make a vast number of lines ambiguous in their scansion.  For our Amphibrachic order will be made up of lines that are commonly scanned as anapestics—­such anapestics as are diversified by an iambus at the beginning, and sometimes also by a surplus short syllable at the end; as in the following verses, better divided as in the sixth example above:—­

“Th~ere c=ame t~o | th~e b=each a | poor Ex~ile | of Erin
The dew on | his thin robe | was heavy | and chill: 
F~or h~is co=un | -tr~y h~e s=ighed, | wh=en at tw=i
| -light r~ep=air | _-ing_
To wander | alone by | the wind-beat | -en hill.”

MEASURE II.—­ANAPESTIC OF THREE FEET, OR TRIMETER.

Example I.—­“Alexander Selkirk.”—­First Two Stanzas.

I.

“I am mon | -arch of all | I survey,
My right | there is none | to dispute;
From the cen | -tre all round | to the sea,
I am lord | of the fowl | and the brute. 
O Sol | -itude! where | are the charms
That sa | -ges have seen | in thy face? 
Better dwell | in the midst | of alarms,
Than reign | in this hor | -rible place.

    II.

    I am out | of human | -ity’s reach,
      I must fin | -ish my jour | -ney alone,
    Never hear | the sweet mu | -sic of speech,
      I start | at the sound | of my own. 
    The beasts | that roam o | -ver the plain,
      My form | with indif | -ference see;
    They are so | unacquaint | -ed with man,
      Their tame | -ness is shock | -ing to me.” 
        COWPER’S Poems, Vol. i, p. 199.

Example II.—­“Catharina.”—­Two Stanzas from Seven.

    IV.

    “Though the pleas | -ures of Lon | -don exceed
      In num | -ber the days | of the year,
    Cathari | -na, did noth | -ing impede,
      Would feel | herself hap | -pier here;
    For the close | -woven arch | -es of limes
      On the banks | of our riv | -er, I know,
    Are sweet | -er to her | many times
      Than aught | that the cit | -y can show.

    V.

    So it is, | when the mind | is endued
      With a well | -judging taste | from above;
    Then, wheth | -er embel | -lish’d or rude,
      ’Tis na | -ture alone | that we love. 
    The achieve | -ments of art