Kitap 9
2.101
The effect of the spondee is less weighty, if it be preceded by a palimbacchius and pyrrhic, as in iudicii Iuniani. The text is clearly corrupt as it stands, since the first syllable of Iuniani is long. Further, if iudici be read with the best texts of Cicero, there is no pyrrhic (u u) in the phrase, which is identical in rhythm with ausus est confiteri, praised just above. If iudicii is read the final spondee might be said to be preceded by a pyrrhic and a palimbacchius (i. e. iud/ĭcĭ/ī Iūnĭ/ānī ). The fact that the termination of both words is the same would account for the disappearance of one of them. The corruption may easily lie deeper still. But as the words quoted come from an actual speech of Cicero, the error is not likely to lie in the quotation, pro Cluent. i. 1. Still worse is the rhythm when the spondee is preceded by a paean, as in Brute, dubitavi, Or. i. I. I hesitated, Brutus. although this phrase may, if we prefer, be regarded as consisting of a dactyl and a bacchius. As a rule, endings composed of two spondees, a termination which causes comment even in a verse, are to be deprecated, unless the phrase is composed of three separate members, as in cur de perfiigis nostris copias comparat is contra nos? Why does he collect forces against us from our deserters? L. Crassus quoted in Or. lxvi. 223. where we have a word of two syllables preceded and followed by a monosyllable.
