While the above classical and Germanic forms would be considered
stichic, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese long poems favored
stanzaic forms, usually written in
terza rimaor especially
ottava rima.
Terza rima is a
rhyming verse stanza form that consists of an
interlocking three-line
rhyme scheme. An example is found in the first lines of the
Divine Comedy by
Dante, who originated the form: