FINAL FANTASY III Scansion of Bards' Songs in Duster

Warriors Of Darkness

Long ago there were men who sought power,

but that light would the world soon devour.

When the strength overflowed

nothing could make it slow

so the mortals on earth could but cower.

But four heroes of darkness did come

to banish the light that has strung

the realm to its limit

now the light is diminished

and to darkness the world will succumb.

Lŏng ăgó / thĕre wĕre mén / whŏ sŏught pówer,

bŭt thăt líght / wŏuld thĕ wórld / sŏon dĕvóur.

Whĕn thĕ stréngth / ŏvĕrflówed

nŏthĭng cóuld / măke ĭt slów

sŏ thĕ mór- / tăls ŏn éarth / cŏuld bŭt cówer.

Bŭt fŏur hé- / rŏes ŏf dárk- / nĕss dĭd cóme

tŏ bán- / ĭsh thĕ líght / thăt hăs strúng

thĕ réalm / tŏ ĭts lím(ĭt)

nŏw thĕ líght / ĭs dĭmín(ĭshed)

ănd tŏ dárk- / nĕss thĕ wórld / wĭll sŭccúmb.

An anapestic trimeter with some short dimetric lines in it—looks like a limerick with double length, if there isn't a better name for this format.

Leviathan

Slumbering shadow beneath the lake,

bides his time for the day he awakes

and the chains of darkness he shall break.

Lord of the deep, Leviathan

Slŭmbĕríng / shădŏw bé- / nĕath thĕ láke,

bĭdes hĭs tíme / fŏr thĕ dáy / hĕ ăwákes

ănd thĕ cháins / ŏf dărknéss / hĕ shăll bréak.

Lŏrd óf / thĕ déep, / Lĕví- / ăthán

The accents shown above are what are expected from the feet, ignoring inversion or substitution. I scanned this as an anapestic trimeter, with the last line being an iambic tetrameter (difference in rhyme suggests difference in meter).

Odin

Odin, most righteous and chivalrous knight,

for fear of his awesome and terrible might,

sealed it away in a castle so tight,

lest his dark soul eclipse even the light.

Ódĭn, mŏst / ríghteŏus ănd / chívălrŏus / kníght,

(fŏr) féar ŏf hĭs / áwesŏme ănd / térrĭblĕ / míght,

séaled ĭt ă- / wáy ĭn ă / cástlĕ sŏ / tíght,

lést hĭs dărk / sóul ĕclĭpse / évĕn thĕ / líght.

A dactylic tetrameter.

Bahamut

Lord Bahamut, greatest dragon of all,

awaits a warrior great or small.

Should such a hero bring his fall,

his power would be at their beck and call.

(Lŏrd) Băhămút, / grĕatĕst drá- / gŏn ŏf áll,

ăwăits á / wărrĭór / grĕat ŏr smáll.

Shŏuld súch / ă hĕró / brĭng hĭs fáll,

hĭs pŏwer wóuld / bĕ ăt théir / bĕck ănd cáll.

An anapestic trimeter, I think (like in Leviathan, the accents shown are what are expected from the feet).

Item

Heeere is a song for an item or thiiing,

that into one's pocket fair fortune may briiing.

Hére ĭs ă / sóng fŏr ăn / ítĕm ŏr / thíng,

(thăt) íntŏ ŏne's / póckĕt făir / fórtŭne măy / bríng.

A dactylic tetrameter.

Chocobo

Choc, choco-choco-bo!

Choc-choc chocobo-bo-bo,

choc-chocobo choc-chocobooo!

Hey!

I tried to fit this in the chocobo theme, but I couldn't find an obvious way.

(Added) Two Songs In Castle Saronia

In the top of Castle Saronia, there are two bards who sing songs—both in anapestic trimeter.

Noah's Lute can resound within dreams,

But it now lies dormant, some would deem,

In the Temple of Time, or so it seems.

Nŏăh's Lúte / căn rĕsóund / wĭthĭn dréams,

Bŭt ĭt nów / lĭes dŏrmánt, / sŏme wŏuld déem,

Ĭn thĕ Tém- / plĕ ŏf Tíme, / (ŏr) sŏ ĭt séems.

Beneath the seas, under waves that mourn,

Lies a temple, abandoned and torn,

In South Saronia, between the horns.

Bĕnĕath thé / sĕas, ŭndér / wăves thăt móurn,

Lĭes ă tém- / plĕ, ăbán- / dŏned ănd tórn,

(Ĭn) Sŏuth Săró- / nĭă, bé- / twĕen thĕ hórns.

(substitution/inversion ignored, as before)

Source: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2601102011

Scansion of Bards' Songs in Duster