How to introduce line numbers on specified lines

Question

I'm trying to introduce line numbers in a hymn on specific lines. I'm using the lineno package but I'm having no luck with it. Ideally I'd like a macro that I can use to say place line number here. I'm manually breaking the lines using \\ so there is no confusion about where the lies will be. Any good packages or ideas?

Answer 1

The package verse can number verses with a certain interval between numbers. In the example I number every fifth verse. There are many customizations possible.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{verse}

\begin{document}

\settowidth{\versewidth}{Quid sum miser tunc dicturus?}
\verselinenumbersleft
\verselinenumfont{\footnotesize}
\setlength{\vrightskip}{-8em}

\poemtitle{Dies Irae}

\poemlines{5}

\begin{verse}[\versewidth]
Dies Irae, dies illa\\
solvet saeclum in favilla:\\
teste David cum Sybilla.\\!
Quantus tremor est futurus,\\
Quando judex est venturus,\\
Cuncta stricte discussurus.\\!
Tuba, mirum spargens sonum\\
per sepulcra regionum\\
coget omnes ante thronum.\\!
Mors stupebit et natura,\\
cum resurget creatura,\\
judicanti responsura.\\!
Liber scriptus proferetur,\\
in quo totum continetur,\\
unde mundus judicetur.\\!
Judex ergo cum sedebit,\\
quidquid latet, apparebit:\\
nil inultum remanebit.\\!
Quid sum miser tunc dicturus?\\
quem patronum rogaturus,\\
cum vix justus sit securus?\\!
Rex tremendae majestatis,\\
qui salvandos salvas gratis,\\
salva me, fons pietatis.\\!
Recordare, Jesu pie,\\
quod sum causa tuae viae\\
ne me perdas illa die.\\!
Quaerens me, sedisti lassus,\\
redemisti Crucem passus:\\
tantus labor non sit cassus.\\!
Juste judex ultionis,\\
donum fac remissionis\\
ante diem rationis.\\!
Ingemisco, tamquam reus,\\
culpa rubet vultus meus\\
supplicanti parce, Deus.\\!
Qui Mariam absolvisti,\\
et latronem exaudisti,\\
mihi quoque spem dedisti.\\!
Preces meae non sunt dignae,\\
sed tu bonus fac benigne,\\
ne perenni cremer igne.\\!
Inter oves locum praesta,\\
et ab haedis me sequestra,\\
statuens in parte dextra.\\!
Confutatis maledictis,\\
flammis acribus addictis,\\
voca me cum benedictis.\\!
Oro supplex et acclinis,\\
cor contritum quasi cinis:\\
gere curam mei finis.\\!
Lacrimosa dies illa,\\
qua resurget ex favilla\\!
Judicandus homo reus.\\
huic ergo parce, Deus:\\!
Pie Jesu Domine,\\
dona eis requiem. Amen.
\end{verse}
\end{document}

---

If specific lines must have a number, then a different approach can be used:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{verse}

\newcommand{\?}{%
  \makebox[0pt][r]{\footnotesize\makebox[1em][r]{\thepoemline}\hspace{2em}}%
\ignorespaces}


\begin{document}

\settowidth{\versewidth}{Quid sum miser tunc dicturus?}
\verselinenumbersleft
\verselinenumfont{\footnotesize}

\poemtitle{Dies Irae}
\begin{verse}[\versewidth]
Dies Irae, dies illa\\
solvet saeclum in favilla:\\
teste David cum Sybilla.\\!
Quantus tremor est futurus,\\
Quando judex est venturus,\\
\?Cuncta stricte discussurus.\\!
Tuba, mirum spargens sonum\\
per sepulcra regionum\\
\?coget omnes ante thronum.\\!
Mors stupebit et natura,\\
cum resurget creatura,\\
judicanti responsura.\\!
\?Liber scriptus proferetur,\\
in quo totum continetur,\\
unde mundus judicetur.\\!
Judex ergo cum sedebit,\\
quidquid latet, apparebit:\\
nil inultum remanebit.\\!
Quid sum miser tunc dicturus?\\
quem patronum rogaturus,\\
cum vix justus sit securus?\\!
Rex tremendae majestatis,\\
qui salvandos salvas gratis,\\
salva me, fons pietatis.\\!
Recordare, Jesu pie,\\
quod sum causa tuae viae\\
ne me perdas illa die.\\!
Quaerens me, sedisti lassus,\\
redemisti Crucem passus:\\
tantus labor non sit cassus.\\!
Juste judex ultionis,\\
donum fac remissionis\\
ante diem rationis.\\!
Ingemisco, tamquam reus,\\
culpa rubet vultus meus\\
supplicanti parce, Deus.\\!
Qui Mariam absolvisti,\\
et latronem exaudisti,\\
mihi quoque spem dedisti.\\!
Preces meae non sunt dignae,\\
sed tu bonus fac benigne,\\
ne perenni cremer igne.\\!
Inter oves locum praesta,\\
et ab haedis me sequestra,\\
statuens in parte dextra.\\!
Confutatis maledictis,\\
flammis acribus addictis,\\
voca me cum benedictis.\\!
Oro supplex et acclinis,\\
cor contritum quasi cinis:\\
gere curam mei finis.\\!
Lacrimosa dies illa,\\
qua resurget ex favilla\\!
Judicandus homo reus.\\
huic ergo parce, Deus:\\!
Pie Jesu Domine,\\
dona eis requiem. Amen.
\end{verse}
\end{document}

The line to be numbered are marked with \?; any number of spaces can follow this command.