Does comma matter?

[Vicoland]

Well, this might be a strange question.

I am indulging in "conlang" (constructed language) like Esperanto and Toki Pona these days. And I am composing an epic in dactylic hexameter in my conlang, but I meet a question, so I want to see how Latin poets do.

I guess Latin poets don't use commas (lol), but I wonder that if a comma separates a "V+C" syllable, i.e., a vowel with a consonant from the next syllable that starts with a vowel, can we regard the former syllable as long? It seems that "brevis in longo" happens only at the end of a line, but if I don't stop, it is a little strange. (Or maybe, liaison is acceptable.)

For example (meaningless text):

...... laepitat, aps ......

I think liaison is not proper with the comma, but can we regard "tat" as long?

[consistebat]

It happens from time to time in Latin poets, but it is regarded as a quirk. Here for example is a treatment of the phenomenon in Virgil. Of course, the ancients didn't write commas, and modern editors are free to add them where they see fit. It's rather the rhythm and sense that determines where it is at all possible.

But in your conlang you are free to do whatever you want. Even if you're consciously imitating the classical hexameter, it would be unlikely to function identically in your conlang, which, presumably, has a different phonology, morphology etc. Indeed, Greek and Latin hexameter doesn't work quite the same. What we call hexameter in German or Swedish is another thing altogether.

[Vicoland]

It happens from time to time in Latin poets, but it is regarded as a quirk. Here for example is a treatment of the phenomenon in Virgil. Of course, the ancients didn't write commas, and modern editors are free to add them where they see fit. It's rather the rhythm and sense that determines where it is at all possible.

But in your conlang you are free to do whatever you want. Even if you're consciously imitating the classical hexameter, it would be unlikely to function identically in your conlang, which, presumably, has a different phonology, morphology etc. Indeed, Greek and Latin hexameter doesn't work quite the same. What we call hexameter in German or Swedish is another thing altogether.

Yes. It's free.
Well I choose to ignore the comma, since no one would recite or sing my poem.
But given the feature of my conlang, It is allowed by me to length the syllable with accent (usually the first syllable) to fit the prosody