Poulter's measure was so named because the first of
each pair of lines had twelve syllables and the second had fourteen, just
as a person selling eggs would put in two more for good measure if you
bought two dozen. These unwieldy lines ceased to be written after the Renaissance--except
that in some ways short
measure is the same thing, with the lines split up into 3, 3, 4, and
3 feet, or 6, 6, 8, and 6 syllables. The following is from "Davy Dicard's
Dream" by Thomas Churchyard (ca. 1550):
When faith in friends bear fruit and foolish fancies fade,
And crafty catchers come to nought and hate great
love hath made,
When fraud flieth far from town and lewters leave the field,
And rude shall run a rightful race and all men be
well will'd,
When gropers after gain shall carp for common wealth,
And wily workers shall disdain to fig and live by
stealth . . .