History & Politics
Book XIV, 15: The Laws of the Iambic Senarius
Translated by W. R. Paton (1916–18) · From The Greek Anthology (Loeb, vol. V, 1918)
Six feet in so many positions make the metre of an iambus, the spondee, the tribrachys (⏑ ⏑ ⏑), the dactyl, the anapaest, the pyrrhic (⏑ ⏑), and the iambus; and each has its proper habitation. The pyrrhic’s is the end; those feet whose first syllable is long are admitted to the first, third, and fifth place. The others walk in every road alike; the king, the iambus, alone is admitted to any place he wishes.
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Cite this poem
MLA
Anonymous (Greek Anthology). “Book XIV, 15: The Laws of the Iambic Senarius.” Translated by W. R. Paton. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-greek-anthology/817/.
Chicago
Anonymous (Greek Anthology). “Book XIV, 15: The Laws of the Iambic Senarius.” Translated by W. R. Paton. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-greek-anthology/817/.
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