the other syllables are read
without stress. The eight syllables of each line fall naturally into
groups of two, an unaccented syllable followed by an accented
syllable, just as in the musical notation given, an unaccented eighth
note is followed by an accented quarter.

In "Hiawatha" the accented syllable comes first, and the unaccented
follows it.

| ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ |
| q e | q e | q e | q e |
"By the shores of Gitchee Gumee,
| ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ |
| q e | q e | q e | q e |
By the shining Big-Sea-Water,
| ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ |
| q e | q e | q e | q e |
Stood the wigwam of No komis,
| ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ |
| q e | q e | q e | q e |
Daughter of the Moon, No komis."

So, too, there are groups in which there are three syllables. The
accent may fall on any one of the three. In the following stanza from
"The Bridge of Sighs," the accent falls on the first syllable of each
group.

| ^ | ^ |
| e e e | e e e |
"Touch her not scornfully;
| ^ | ^ |
| e e e | e e e |
Think of her mournfully,
| ^ | ^ |
| e e e | e e e |
Gently and humanly,
| ^ | ^ |
| e e e | e e e |
Not of the stains of her;
| ^ | ^ |
| e e e | e e e |
All that re mains of her
| ^ | ^ |
| e e e | e e e |
Now is pure womanly."

The accent may be upon the second syllable of the group. This is not
common. The following is from "The Three Fishers."

| ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ |
| e e e | e e e | e e e | e q |
"Three fishers went sailing out into the West,
| ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ |
| e e e | e e e | e q | e q |
Out into the West as the sun went down;
| ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ |
| e e e | e e e | e e e | e q |
Each thought on the woman that loved him the best;
| ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ |
| [e] e e e | e e e | e e e | e q |
[And] the children stood watching them out of the town."

Or the accent may be upon the last syllable of the group. This form is