dochmiac

The base metrical scheme is: ‿ — — ‿ —, although any of the long syllables may be resolved (i.e., replaced by two shorts) and either of the two shorts may be replaced by a long (drag-in where the first is replaced, drag-out where the second is replaced, and double drag where both are replaced). Thus, in theory, 32 variants are possible, ranging from five longs — — — — — to eight shorts, ‿ ‿‿ ‿‿ ‿ ‿‿. The ones occurring most often are

: ‿ — — ‿ —,

: ‿ ‿‿ — ‿ —, and

: — ‿‿ — ‿ —.

Here is an example from Aeschylus' Seven against Thebes, lines 697-700, where the chorus in vain tries to withhold Oedipus' son Eteocles from a fatal battle with his brother Polynices. The first three lines here are pairs of — ‿‿ — ‿ — dochmiacs. Long syllables have been underlined. (The fourth line is a hagesichorean.) Note that dochmiacs and even whole lines can start and end in the middle of a word:

:{{lang|grc|ἀλλὰ σὺ μὴ ʼποτρύνου· κακὸς οὐ κεκλή-}}

:{{lang|grc|σῃ βίον εὖ κυρήσας· μελάναιγις δʼ· οὐκ}}

:{{lang|grc|εἶσι δόμων Ἐρινύς, ὅταν ἐκ χερῶν}}

:{{lang|grc|θεοὶ θυσίαν δέχωνται;}}

: {{grc-transl|ἀλλὰ σὺ μὴ ’ποτρύ/νου· κακὸς οὐ κεκλή-}}

: {{grc-transl|σῃ βίον εὖ κυρή/σας· μελάναιγις δ’ οὐκ}}

: {{grc-transl|εἶσι δόμων Ἐρι/νύς, ὅταν ἐκ χερῶν}}

: {{grc-transl|θεοὶ θυσίαν δέχωνται;}}

: | – u u – u – | – u u – u – |

: | – u u – u – | – u u – – – |

: | – u u – u – | – u u – u – |

: | u – – u – | u – – ||

:: No, don't you be excited; you won't be called a coward,

:: since you have prospered in life; but will not the black-shielded

:: Erinys (Avenging Spirit) leave your house, when from your hands

:: the gods will receive a sacrificial offering?

An example of the simplest double drag form (— — — — —) is when the chorus in Aeschylus' Suppliant Maidens, lines 892 and 901, twice sighs:

: {{lang|grc|ὦ πᾶ, Γᾶς παῖ, Ζεῦ.}}

: {{grc-transl|ὦ πᾶ, Γᾶς παῖ, Ζεῦ.}}

: | – – – – – |

:: O Father, Earth's son, Zeus!

Category:Types of verses

Category:Ancient Greek theatre

{{poem-stub}}