Leonine verse

Leonine verse is a form of versification characterized by an internal rhyme between a word within a line before a caesura and a word at the end of the line, commonly found in Latin poetry during the European Middle Ages. Though not typical in Classical Latin poetry, its proliferation is often linked to a possibly apocryphal figure named Leonius, a monk believed to have written *Historia Sacra*, preserved in Paris's Bibliothèque Nationale. However, it is unclear if this Leonius is the same as Leoninus, a 12th-century Benedictine musician, who may not have been its originator.

In English, Leonine verse is sometimes dismissed as "jangling verse" by critics like 19th-century antiquaries and classical purists, who viewed it as crude and offensive to classical ideals. Notable examples include Shakespeare's use in *The Tempest* and Edward Lear's humorous poem *The Owl and the Pussy-Cat*. The form also appears in medieval Latin texts, such as those by Virgil and Ovid, and in later works like the epitaph of Count Alan Rufus.

Leonine verse is distinct from end rhymes, with its structure often involving tripartition of lines rather than central caesuras. It has been noted for its historical significance, with examples spanning centuries and languages. The form's legacy continues to be studied and appreciated in both literary and musical contexts, such as Horatio Parker's 1893 cantata *Hora novissima*.