2691. These are rhythms of the Hemiolic class (2527), in 5/8 time. The
fundamental foot is the Cretic (-́ ⏑ -̇).
Either (but not _both_) of the two longs of a Cretic is sometimes
resolved (giving the First Paeon -́ ⏑̇⏑ or the Fourth Paeon ⏑́⏑ -̇); but
there is rarely more than one resolution in a single verse. The middle
short is sometimes replaced by an irrational long (giving -́ > -̇, or if
there is resolution, ⏑́⏑ > -̇ or -́ > ⏑̇⏑); but this never occurs in the
last foot of a verse, and but rarely when the middle syllable is the
penult of a spondaic word (e.g. #nṓs nostrās#).
2692. (1.) The ictus on the first long of the Cretic was probably
(at least in most cases) stronger than that on the second. The first
long and the short form the thesis, the second long the arsis, -́ ⏑ | -̇
2693. (2.) The impetuous, swinging movement of the Cretic rhythm fits it
for the expression of passionate emotion.