in conformity with the classical scheme: 

- - U - | - U - | - - U - | - U - |

Thus one metre evolves from another by a kind of rotation, which suggested to the Prosodists an ingenious device of representing them by circles (hence the name Dairah), round the circumference of which on the outside the complete Taf’il of the original metre is written, while each moved letter is faced by a small loop, each quiescent by a small vertical stroke[FN#453] inside the circle.  Then, in the case of this present Dairat al-Mukhtalif for instance, the loop corresponding to the initial f of the first Fa’ulun is marked as the beginning of the Tawil, that corresponding to its l (of the Sabab fun) as the beginning of the Madid, and that corresponding to the ’Ayn of the next Mafa’ilun as the beginning of the Basit.  The same process applies to all the following circles, but our limited space compels us simply to enumerate them, together with their Buhur, without further reference to the mode of their evolution.

B. Dairat al-Mutalif, circle of “the agreeing” metre, so called because all its feet agree in length, consisting of seven letters each.  It contains: 

1.  Al-Wafir, composed of twice

          Mufa.’alatun Mufa.’alatun Mufa.’alatun (ii. 3)

= U - U U - | U - U U - | U - U U - |

where the Iambus in each foot precedes the Anapaest, and its reversal: 

2.  Al-Kamil, consisting of twice

          Mutafa.’ilun Mutafa.’ilun Mutafa.’ilun (ii. 8)

= U U - U - | U U - U - | U U - U - |

where the Anapaest takes the first place in every foot.

C. Dairat al-Mujtalab, circle of “the brought on” metre, so called because its seven-lettered feet are brought on from the first circle.

1.  Al-Hazaj, consisting of twice

          Mafa.’ilun Mafa.’ilun Mafa.’ilun (ii. 2)

= U - - - | U - - - | U - - - | U - - - |

2.  Al-Rajaz, consisting of twice

          Mustaf.’ilun Mustaf.’ilun Mustaf.’ilun,

and, in this full form, almost identical with the Iambic Trimeter of the Greek Drama: 

- - U - | - - U - | - - U - |

3.  Al-Ramal, consisting of twice

          Fa.’ilatun Fa.’ilatun Fa.’ilatun,

the trochaic counterpart of the preceding metre

= - U - - | - U - - | - U - - |

D. Dairat al-Mushtabih, circle of “the intricate” metre, so called from its intricate nature, primary mingling with secondary feet, and one foot of the same verse containing a Watad majmu’, another a Watad mafruk, i.e. the iambic rhythm alternating with the trochaic and vice versa.  Its Buhur are: 

1.  Al-Sari’, twice

Mustaf.’ilun Mustaf.’ilun Maf’u.latu (ii. 6 and 9)
= - - U - | - - U - | - - - U |

2.  Al-Munsarih, twice

Mustaf.’ilun Mafu.latu Mustaf.’ilun (ii. 6. 9. 6)
= - - U - | - - - U | - - U - |

3.  Al-Khafif, twice