ALCAICKS, in the ancient Poetry, a Name common to several Kinds of Verses; thus called from the Poet Alcaeus, the Inventor thereof. See VERSE. The first Species of Alcaicks, consists of two Dactyls and two Trochees: As, Exilium impositura cymbae.There is another Kind, consisting of five Feet, of which the first is a Spondee or Iambic; the second an Iambic;the third a long Syllable; the fourth a Dactyl; the fifth a Dactyl or Amphimacer: As these of Horace, Omnes eodem cogimur, omnium Versatur urna, serius, ocius Sors exitura, —Besides these two Kinds of Verses, which are called Alcaick Dactylics, there is a third sort, called simply Alcaick whereof the first is an Epitrite, the second and third Choriambics, and the fourth a Bacchius; as, Cur timet flavum Tiberim tangere? Cur olivum?The Alcaick Ode, consists of four Strophes, each of which contains four Verses; the two first are Alcaick Verses of the second Kind; the third an Iambic Dimeter Hypercatalectic, i.e., of four Feet and a long Syllable: As, Sors exitura, et nos in æternum The fourth is an Alcaick of the first Kind.——The entire Alcaick Strophe is as follows;Omnes eodem cogimur, omnium Versatur urna, serius, ocius Sors exitura, et nos in æternum Exilium impositura cymbae.
ALEXANDRINE, or Alexandrian, in Poetry, the Name of a kind of Verse, which consists of twelve and thirteen Syllables alternately; the rest or Pause being always on the sixth Syllable. See VERSE. It is said to have taken its Name from a Poem on the Life of Alexander, intitled, the Alexandriad; written, or at least translated into this kind of Verse by some French Poets: though others will have it denominated from one of the Translators, Alexander Paris. This Verse is thought by some very proper in the Epopee, and the more sublime Kinds of Poetry: for which Reason it is also called Heroic Verse. See HEROIC.
AMPHIBRACHIUS, the Name of a Foot in the Latin and Greek Poetry; consisting of three Syllables, the first and last whereof are short, and that in the middle long. See FOOT, and VERSE. Such is the Word Amare. The Word comes from αμφί, around, and βραχύς, brevis, short; i.e., a Foot short at both Ends, and long in the middle.
AMPHIMACER, a Foot in the ancient Poetry, consisting of three Syllables; the first and last whereof are long, and that in the middle short. See FOOT, &c. Such are the Words Omnium, Castitas, &c. The Word comes from the Greek αμφί, around, and μακρός, longus, because both Extremes are long.
ANACREONTIC, in the Greek and Latin Poetry, something invented by Anacreon; or in the Manner and Taste of Anacreon. Anacreon, a Poet of Teios, who lived upwards of 400 Years before Christ, was famous for the Delicacy of his Wit; and the exquisite, yet easy and natural, turn of his Poetry.—We have several of his Odes still extant; and few of the modern Poets, but have Anacreontics in Imitation hereof. They are most of them composed in Verses of seven Syllables; or rather, of three Feet and a half, Spondees and Iambus's, though sometimes Anapests,—Hence, Verses in that Measure are usually called Anacreontics, or Anacreontic Verses. See VERSE.