EXAMPLE.

Incorrect Reading.

I saw two clouds at morning,

Tinged with the rising sun;*

And in the dawn, they floated on,
And mingled into one:

I thought that morning cloud was blest,

It moved so sweetly to the west.

Correct Reading.

I saw two clouds at morning,
Tinged with the rising sun;
And in the dawn, they floated on,
And mingled into one :

I thought that morning cloud was blest,
It moved so sweetly to the west.

GENERAL EXERCISES IN POETRY.

[In reading the following exercises, the pupil should be careful to observe the proper inflections of the voice, the emphatic words, the harmonic and grammatical pauses, the metrical accent and metrical changes; and, at the same time, be particular to avoid such sing-song utterance, as would destroy all poetic beauty. He should also practice scanning the different kinds of verse, until he becomes familiar with all the measures.]

EXERCISE I.

THE WOOD-ROSE AND LAUREL.-A FABLE.

Iambic measure.-Lines of various lengths, consisting of four, three, and two feet.

1. In these deep shades | ǎ flow | ret blōws,

Whōse leaves | ǎ thōu | sănd sweets | disclōse;

QUESTIONS. What fault is presented in the incorrect reading of the example' What is the pupil required to observe in reading the general exercises in poetry" What is scanning? In what kind of measure is the first exercise? Of how many feet do the lines consist?

+

With modest air it hides its charms,
And every breeze its leaves alarms;
Turns on the ground its bashful eyes,
And oft unknown, neglected dies.
This flower, as late I careless strayed,
I saw in all its charms arrayed;
Fast by the spot where low it grew,
A proud and flaunting Wood-Rose blew.

2. With haughty air her head she raised, And on the beauteous plant she gazed. While struggling passion filled her breast, She thus her kindling rage expressed: "Thou worthless flower,

Go, leave my bower,

And hide in humbler scenes thy head;
How dost thou dare,

Where roses are,
Thy scents to shed?

Go, leave my bower, and live unknown, -
I'll rule the field of flowers alone."

3. "And dost thou think," the Laurel cried,
And raised its head with modest pride,
While on its little, trembling tongue,
A drop of dew incumbent hung,-
"And dost thou think I'll leave this bower,
The seat of many a friendly flower,
The scene where first I grew?
Thy haughty reign will soon be o'er,

And thy frail form will bloom no more;

My flower will perish, too;

But know, proud Rose,

When winter's snows,

Shall fall where once thy beauties stood, My pointed leaf of shining green

Will still amid the gloom be seen,
To cheer the leafless wood."

-

4. "Presuming fool!" the Wood-Rose cried,
And strove in vain her shame to hide ;-
But ah! no more the flower could say;
For while she spoke, a transient breeze
Came rustling through the neighboring trees,
And bore her boasted charms away.

5. And such, said I, is beauty's power;
Like thee she falls, poor, trifling flower;
And if she lives her little day,
Life's winter comes with rapid pace,
And robs her form of every grace,
And steals her bloom away.

6. But in thy form, thou Laurel green,
Fair Virtue's semblance soon is seen:

In life she cheers each different stage,
Spring's transient reign, and summer's glow,
And autumn mild, advancing slow, -
And lights the eye of age.

—

EXERCISE II.

--

MY COUNTRY.-ANON.

Iambic measure. — Lines consisting of four and three feet
1. I love my country's pine- | clad hills,
Her thousand bright and gushing rills,
Her sunshine and her shade;
I
Her rough and rugged rocks that rear
Their hoary heads high in the air,

In wild, fantastic forms.

QUESTIONS. In what measure is the second exercise? How many feet in the ines? Of what does an iambic consist? How is iambic measure accented?

2. I love her rivers deep and wide,

Those mighty streams that seaward glide,
To seek the ocean's breast;

Her smiling fields, her pleasant vales,
Her shady dells, her flowery dales,-
The haunts of peaceful rest.

3. I love her forests dark and lone,
For there the wild bird's merry tone

I hear from morn till night;
And there are lovelier flowers, I ween,
Than e'er in eastern lands were seen,
In varied colors bright.

4. Her forests and her valleys fair,
Her flowers that scent the morning air,
Have all their charms for me;-
But more I love my country's name,
Those words, that echo deathless fame,
The Land of Liberty.

EXERCISE III.

ASPIRATIONS OF YOUTHI.—MONTGOMERY.

Trochaic measure. - Some lines of three feet with an additional long syllable. and others of three feet only.

1. Higher, higher, will we climb,
Up the mount of glōry,

That our names may live through time,
In our country's story;

Happy when our welfare calls,
He who conquers, he who falls.

QUESTIONS. In what measure is exercise third? How many feet do the lines contain? Of what does a trochee consist? Which syllable is accented?

2. Deeper, deeper, let us toil,
In the mines of knowledge;
Nature's wealth and learning's spoil,
Win from school and college;
Delve we there for richer gems,
Than the stars of diadems.

3. Onward, onward, may we press,
Through the path of duty;
Virtue is true happiness,

Excellence, true beauty;
Minds are of celestial birth;
Make we, then, a heaven of earth.

4. Closer, closer, let us knit

Hearts and hands together,
Where our fireside comforts sit
In the wildest weather;
O they wander wide who roam,
For the joys of life from home!

5. Nearer, dearer bands of love,
Draw our souls in union,
To our father's house above,

To the saints' communion;
Thither, every hope ascend,
There, may all our labors end.

EXERCISE IV.

THE

HERMIT.-BEATTIE.

Anapestic and Iambic measures.— The fifth line and the seventh of the second stanza, end with an additional long syllable.

1. At the close | Of thě dãy | whěn thế hãm | lět is still, And mōr | tǎls the sweets of forgēt | fulness prōve,

QUESTIONS. In what measures is the fourth exercise written? Of what does a anapest consist? How accented?