short vowel is followed by a final consonant.

2. «A syllable is long»,

_a._ If it contains a long vowel or a diphthong, as «cū´-rō»,
«poe´-nae», «aes-tā´-te».

_b._ If it ends in a consonant which is followed by another
consonant, as «cor´-pus», «mag´-nus».

NOTE. The vowel in a long syllable may be either long or short, and
should be pronounced accordingly. Thus in «ter´-ra», «in´-ter», the
first syllable is long, but the vowel in each case is short and should
be given the short sound. In words like «saxum» the first syllable is
long because _x_ has the value of two consonants (_cs_ or _gs_).

3. In determining quantity _h_ is not counted a consonant.

NOTE. Give about twice as much time to the long syllables as to the
short ones. It takes about as long to pronounce a short vowel plus a
consonant as it does to pronounce a long vowel or a diphthong, and so
these quantities are considered equally long. For example, it takes
about as long to say «cŭr´-rō» as it does «cū´-rō», and so each of these
first syllables is long. Compare «mŏl´-lis» and «mō´-lis», «ā-mĭs´-sī»
and «ā-mi´-sī».


ACCENT

«14.» Words of two syllables are accented on the first, as «mēn´-sa»,