Page:The grammar of Dionysios Thrax.djvu/9

Rh (ῥαψῳδία).

A Rhapsody is a part of a poem including a certain (definite) argument. It is called a rhapsody, that is, rhabdody, because those who recited the Homeric poems were girt with a laurel branch (ῥάβδος).

(στοιχεῖον).

There are twenty-four letters from to. They are called letters (γράμμα) from being formed of lines and scratches. For to write (γράφω), among the ancients, meant to scratch (ξύω), as in Homer:

They are also called elements from being in a certain series (στοῖχος) or arrangement. Of these letters, seven are Vowels:, , , , , , and. They are called vowels (φωνῆεν) because they form a complete sound (φωνή) by themselves. Of the vowels, two are long, and ; two are short,  and ; and three are doubtful,, ,. They are called doubtful because they may be either lengthened or shortened. Five of the vowels are prepositive,, , , ,. They are called prepositive because, when placed before or, they form a syllable, as ,. Two are subjunctive, and. is sometimes prepositive to, as in , , , and the like. There are six diphthongs,, , , , ,. The remaining seventeen letters are Consonants,, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,. They are called consonants because by themselves they have no sound, but produce a sound only when they are combined with vowels. Of the