2708. In these, the fundamental foot is the Ionic, of which there are
two forms, the Ionic _ā māiōre_ -́ -̇ ⏑ ⏑, so called because it begins with
the greater part (i.e. the thesis) of the foot, and the Ionic _ā minōre_
⏑ ⏑ -́ -̇, which receives its name from the fact that it begins with the
less important part of the foot (i.e. the arsis).
2709. (1.) Ionics _ā minōre_ are often treated as Ionics _ā māiōre_ with
anacrusis, ⏖ | -́ -̇ ⏖, &c. See 2529 _ad fin_.
2710. (2.) Ionic verse shows numerous resolutions and irrational longs,
especially in early Latin. The accumulation of short syllables imparts
to the verse a wild and passionate character.
2711. (3.) _Anaclăsis_ (Gr. ανακλασις, “a bending back”) is an exchange
of place between a short syllable and the preceding long (e.g. -́ ⏑ -̇ ⏑
for -́ -̇ ⏑ ⏑ or ⏑ ⏑ -́ ⏑ | -̇ ⏑ -́ -̇ for ⏑ ⏑ -́ -̇ | ⏑ ⏑ -́ -̇), and is very
frequent in Ionic verse.
THE IONIC #ā māiōre# TETRAMETER CATALECTIC (or _Sotadean_).
2712. This verse consists of four Ionic _ā māiōre_ feet, the last foot
being incomplete. In the early Latin poets, beginning with Ennius, the
Sotadean is treated with much freedom: resolution, contraction (2518),
anaclasis (2711), and irrational longs are freely admitted. Examples
are:--
Nám quam varia | sínt genera po|ḗmatōrum, | Baébī,
quámque longē | dístinct(a) ali|(a) áb aliīs sīs, | nṓsce
(Accius, _Didasc_. p. 305 M.).
-́ - ⏑ ⏑ ⏑ | -́ ⏑ ⏑ ⏑ ⏑ | -́ ⏑ - > | -́ - ⌅
-́ ⏑ - > | -́ - ⏑ | ⏑́ ⏑ ⏑ - > | -́ - ⌅