In order to make the measure of poetry perceptible to the ear, there
should generally be a slight pause at the end of each line, even where the
sense does not require it.
There is, also, in almost every line of poetry, a pause at or near its
middle, which is called the caesura.
This should, however, never be so placed as to injure the sense of the
passage. It is indeed reckoned a great beauty, where it naturally
coincides with the pause required by the sense. The caesura, though
generally placed near the middle, may be placed at other intervals.
There are sometimes, also, two additional pauses in each line, called
demi-caesuras.
The caesura is marked (||), and the demi-caesura thus, (|), in the
examples given.
There should be a marked accent upon the long syllable next preceding
the caesura, and a slighter one upon that next before each of the
demi-caesuras. When made too prominent, these pauses lead to a singsong
style, which should be carefully avoided.
In the following examples, the caesura is marked in each line; the
demi-caesura is not marked in every case.