Book 9
2.107
The cretic is excellent, both at the beginning (e.g. quod precatus a diis immortalibus sum pro Muren. i. 1. ) and at the close (e.g. in conspeclu populi Romani vomere postridie ). Phil. II. xxv. 63. The last example makes it clear what a good effect is produced when it is preceded by an anapaest or by that form of paean which is regarded as best suited to the end of a sentence. But the cretic may be preceded by a cretic, as in servare quam plurinos. pro Lig. xii. 38. It is better thus than when it is preceded by a chores, as in quis non turpe duceret? Phil. II. xxv. 63. assuming that we treat the final short syllable as long. However, for the sake of argument, let us substitute duceres for duceret.
2.108
Here, however, we get the rest of which I spoke: §51. for we make a short pause between the last word and the last but one, thus slightly lengthening the final syllable of turpe; otherwise quis non turpe duceret? will give us a jerky rhythm resembling the end of an iambic trimeter. So, too, if you pronounce ore excipere liceret Verr. v. xlv. 118. The licentious metre is Sotadean. without a pause, you will reproduce the rhythm of a licentious metre, whereas if triply punctuated and thus provided with what are practically three separate beginnings, the phrase is full of dignity.
