Another form of metrical variation is that in which there are too few or
too many syllables in a foot. This generally occurs at the end of a line,
but may occur at the beginning. If a syllable is added or omitted
skillfully, the rhythm will be unbroken.
When the feet are accented on the last syllable,--that is, when the verse
is iambic or anapestic,--an extra syllable may be added at the end of a
line.
U _ |U U _ |U _ | U
I stood on the bridge at midnight,
U U _ | U _ |U U _ |
As the clocks were striking the hour;
U U _ | U _ | U _|U
And the Moon rose o'er the city,
U _ | U _ | U _ |
Behind the dark church tower.
--Longfellow.
U _ | U _ |U _ | U _ | U _ | U _ |
Girt round with rugged moun[tains], the fair Lake Constance lies,
U _ | U _ | U _ | U _ | U _ |U _ |
In her blue heart reflect[ed] shine back the starry skies;
U _ | U _ | U _ | U _ |U _ | U _ |
And watching each white cloud[let] float silently and slow,
U _ | U _ | U _ | U _| U _ | U _|
You think a piece of heav[en] lies on our earth below.
--Adelaide A. Procter.
In the second illustration the extra syllables have the same relative
position in the metrical scheme as in the first, though they appear to be
in the middle of the line. The pauses fill in the time and preserve the
rhythm unbroken.
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