Home1810 Edition

HEMISTICH

Volume 5 · 70 words · 1810 Edition

in Poetry, denotes half a verse, or a verse not completed.

Of this there are frequent examples in Virgil's Æneid; but whether they were left unfinished by design or not is disputed among the learned: such are, Ferro accincta vocat, Æn. ii. 614. And, Italiam non sponte sequor, Æn. iv. 361.

In reading common English verses, a short pause is required at the end of each hemistich or half verse.