The New International Encyclopædia/Alcaics

ALCA′ICS. Certain kinds of Greek and Latin logaœdic verse, named from the poet Alcæus (q.v.), their reputed inventor. The greater Alcaic consists of a preliminary syllable (anacrusis), a trochaic dipody, cyclic dactyl, and trochaic dipody catalectic. In Horace the second foot is regularly an irrational spondee,

The lesser Alcaic is composed of two cyclic dactyls and a trochaic dipody acatalectic,

The Alcaic stanza consists of two greater Alcaics, a trochaic quaternarius, with anacrusis, and a lesser Alcaic.

Ius : tum et te|nacem | proposi|ti vi|rum
non : civium | ardor | prava iu | bentium,
  non : voltus | instan|tis ty | ranni
    mente qua|tit soli|da, neque | Auster