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[107] The cretic is excellent, both at the beginning (e.g. quod precatus a diis immortalibus sum1) and at the close (e.g. in conspeclu populi Romani vomere postridie).2 The last example makes it clear what a good effect is produced when it is preceded by an anapaest or by that form of paean which is regarded as best suited to the end of a sentence. But the cretic may be preceded by a cretic, as in servare quam plurinos.3 It is better thus than when it is preceded by a chores, as in quis non turpe duceret?4 assuming that we treat the final short syllable as long. However, for the sake of argument, let us substitute duceres for duceret.

1 pro Muren. i. 1.

2 Phil. II. xxv. 63.

3 pro Lig. xii. 38.

4 Phil. II. xxv. 63.

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