Do elided vowels still count with respect to scansion? For instance:
(D)πολλὰς δ' | (S)ἰφθί | (S)μους ψῡ | (S)χὰς Ἄι | (D)δι προΐ | (S)αψεν
I use (D) to indicate that the foot is a dactyl, and (S) a spondee, since using macrons, breves and bars on the line above might not line up properly depending on the reader's font. I assumed the first foot, with δὲ elided to δ', is a dactyl, and read the first iota in ἰφθίμους as long by position. I also read the last syllable in Ἄιδι and the α in προΐαψεν as long by position. How badly did I screw this up?
Also, how important do you think it is to learn prosody when learning Epic? I'd love to skip this part of the lessons, but am afraid it might get me into trouble.