Chapter C: The Distribution of Rhythmic Accents

In verses of different length there are different rules with regard to the distribution of accents, but the following general rules should be observed.

Every verse must be accented upon the syllable nominally preceding the final syllable.

NOTE: It should be borne in mind that the actual final syllable in a versa _agudo_ counts as two syllables, and that the next to the last actual syllable in a verso _esdrújulo_ does not count.

Besides the necessary accent on the next to the last syllable, all verses of seven syllables or more must have other necessary accents, which are determined by the number of syllables in the line.

The syllable directly preceding the one that has the rhythmical accent should never be accented, for it obstructs the proper accentuation of the constituent syllable. A syllable so accented is called _obstruccionista_.