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ieu

1. Counts as two syllables in pi-eux, odi-eux, extéri-eur :

2. Is a diphthong in lieu, milieu, dieu, adieu, pieu.

io

1. Generally counts as two syllables:

2. Is a diphthong in pioche.

ion

1. Counts as two syllables in entri-ons, voudri-ons, mettri-ons, acti-on, attenti-on, nati-on:

2. Is a diphthong in aimions, sortions, aimerions.

oé, oè, oë

1. Count as two syllables in No-é, No-ël, po-ésie, po-ète :

2. Are diphthongs in poêle, moëlle, moelleux.

oin

Is a diphthong in loin, soin, besoin, point.

oua, oué, ouer, ouet, ouette,

1. Generally count as two syllables in avou-a, lou-ait, secou-ant, lou-er, jou-et, alou-ette, chou-ette, Rou-en:

2. Are diphthongs in fouet, fouetter.

oui

1. Generally counts as two syllables: 2. Is a diphthong in oui.

ouin

1. Generally counts as two syllables:

2. Is a diphthong in babouin, baragouin.

ua, ué, uer, ueux,

1. Generally count as two syllables:

2. Is a diphthong in écuelle.

ui

1. Counts as two syllables in flu-ide, ru-ine, ru-iner, bru-ine:

2. Is a diphthong in lui, aujourd'hui, fruit, suit.

2. "E MUTE.”

The rules followed in verse are based upon the assumption (§ 532) (a) that anywhere within the line e mute is pronounced before a consonant and silent before a vowel, and (b) that at the end of the line it is always silent.

1. It is never counted as a syllable at the end of either hemistich:

a. At the end of the first hemistich it is not allowed before a consonant, and is not sounded before a vowel:

1 2. 3 4

5

6

1 2 3 4 5 6

Eh quoi Mathan! d'un prêtr(e) est-ce là le langage?

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Moi nourri dans la guerr(e) aux horreurs du carnage.

B. At the end of the second hemistich it is allowed before a consonant or before a vowel, but is not counted in either

case:

1

2 3 4 5 6 1 2

3 4 5

6

Vous m'avez commandé de vous parler sans feint(e)
Madame: quel est donc ce grand sujet de crainte.

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Déjà je ne vois plus qu'à travers un nuag(e)

Et le ciel et l'époux que ma présence outrage.

2. Elsewhere than at the end of a hemistich it counts as a syllable before a consonant or aspirated h; but before a vowel or silent h it does not count.

1 2 3

4 56 1 23 4 5 6

Je ne veux point ici rappeler le passé

1

2 3 4 5 6 1 2

3 4 5 6

Ni vous rendre raison du sang que j'ai versé.

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Sur d'éclatants succès ma puissanc(e) établie.

3. The e mute in aie, vie, etc., is included in these rules; but not the e mute in aient (ending or not), soient, and in avouerez, prierai, etc., etc., where it is absorbed in a previous vowel or diphthong, is completely silent and is left unnoticed in the counting.

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§ 527. Hiatus in Verse. (§ 97.)

The rule for hiatus in verse is usually thus given: "Mute e is the only vowel at the end of a word which may be followed by another vowel or an aspirated h. With this exception, the meeting of two vowels forms hiatus, which is strictly forbidden. It would not be possible to put tu es, tu auras, si elle vient, elle y est." In this rule it has happened as in the rules for rhyme, that the eye has been consulted as well as the ear. The result is inconsistency and confusion.

A.

When a pause is necessary between two words, the hiatus is only apparent. Therefore, of the three following rules the first and partly the last are alone correct in principle.

1. Any two of the vowels a, e, i, o, u, may occur in succession, if the first ends the line. As a pause is required at the end of each line, there is no hiatus, and the rule is good; it satisfies the ear:

Dans un calme profond || Darius | endormi ||

Ignorait jusqu'au nom || d'un si faible | ennemi. ||

2. No two of the vowels a, e, i, o, u, may occur in succession at the full cæsura. The fact of there always being a pause at the middle of the line has been ignored; the rule is bad, for where there is a pause, there can be no hiatus.* The eye alone has been consulted.

3. No two of the yowels a, e, i, o, u, may occur within the hemistich. When a pause is necessary, there is no hiatus; the eye alone has been consulted, and the rule is bad. When no pause is necessary, the rule is good; it satisfies the ear.

*But as, in fact, the full cæsura often marks but a very weak pause, it would perhaps be more correct to say that the rule is too absolute. This applies to the minor cæsura in a still greater degree. But the rule has been constructed independently of any such pause, and no hiatus, real or apparent, is allowed within the line, when such real or apparent hiatus is caused by the juxtaposition in separate words of the vowels a, e, i, o, u. The absurdity of this rule is most easily seen in dialogue, or when in continuous lines a full stop occurs between the vowels.

B.

In each of the following cases, if a pause is required, there is no real hiatus-the rule is good, it satisfies the ear; if a pause is not possible, there is real hiatus-the rule is bad, it satisfies the eye alone.

1. An aspirated h* may be placed after a vowel.
Gardez qu'une voyelle, à courir trop hâtée

Ne soit d'une voyelle, à son chemin heurtée. (BOILEAU.)
Où courez-vous ainsi tout pâle et hors d'haleine?

(RACINE.) 2. A nasal vowel† may be placed before an ordinary vowel. Et transportant cent fois et le nom et le verbe. Sans cesse il me semblait que Néron en colère.

(BOILEAU.)

(RACINE.) (CORNEILLE.)

Qui vous donna la main et qui vous donna l'être.

La faim aux animaux ne faisait point la guerre.

(LA FONTAINE.)

Mais Rome veut un maître et non une maîtresse.

(RACINE.) 3. A consonant which does not admit of liaison may stand before a vowel.‡

Je reprends sur le champ le papier et la plume.

L'étranger est en fuite, et le Juif est soumis.

Dispersa tout son camp à l'aspect de Jéhu.

C.

(BOILEAU.)

(RACINE.)

(ID.)

Neither the ear nor the eye has been consulted in the following cases :

1. When an elided e mute leaves another vowel behind it, there is often real hiatus; but it is allowed. Où sa vie et ses biens se trouvent attachés. Une femme . . . . c'était Athalie elle-même.

(MOLIÈRE.) (RACINE.)

On aura, que je pense

Grande joie à me voir après dix jours d'absence.

Enfermée à la clef ou menée | avec lui.

(MOLIÈRE.) (ID.)

2. In the body of many words there is real hiatus (see § 526): obéir, gratuit; tua, obéi, gratuit; yet such words are allowed.

* §§ 127, 139.

t $ 77.

§ 100.

§ 528. Dialogue.

The rules which apply to ordinary lines, apply to the several parts of equal or unequal length of which dialogue is made up. Lines, so broken cannot be said to have rhythm; they only And as in imitate unbroken lines in which real rhythm exists. ordinary lines we find occasionally more than one minor accent, it is reasonable to expect that in dialogue this is still more likely to happen.

Qui lui, Madame ?

JOSABETH.

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Il est un peu blessé || sur certai | nes matières ||;
Chose étrange, de voir || comme avec | passion ||
Un chacun est chaussé || de son opinion ||

(Il frappe à sa porte)

Holà! |

Scene ii. ARNOLPHE; ALAIN, GEORGETTE (dans la maison).

Qui heur❘ te?

ALAIN.

ARNOLPHE.

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Ouvrez || (à part) On aura, | que je pense || Grande joie à me voir || après dix jours d'absence.

ALAIN.

Qui va là ? |

ARNOLPHE.

Moi.

ALAIN.

Georgette ||

GEORGETTE.

Eh bien? |

ALAIN.

Ouvre là-bas. ||
(MOLIÈRE.)

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