EXAMPLE. Incorrect Reading. I saw two clouds at morning, I thought that morning cloud was blest, Correct Reading. I saw two clouds at morning, Tinged with the rising sun; I thought that morning cloud was blest, GENERAL EXERCISES IN POETRY. [In reading the following exercises, the pupil should be careful to ob serve 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 | rět blōws, Whose 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 de 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, – 3. "And dost thou think," the Laurel cried, "And dost thou think I'll leave this bower, 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, 5. And such, said I, is beauty's power; 6. But in thy form, thou Laurel green, In life she cheers each different stage, EXERCISE II. MY COUNTRY.-ANON. Iambic measure. - Lines consisting of four and three feet. QUESTIONS. In what measure is the second exercise? How many feet in the lines? 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, 3. I love her forestş dark and lone, 4. Her forests and her valleys fair, Her flowers that scent the morning air, But more I love my country's name, EXERCISE III. ASPIRATIONS OF YOUTH.- MONTGOMERY. Trochaic measure. - Some lines of three feet with an additional long syllable, and others of three feet only. 1. Higher, higher, | will wě | climb, Up the mount of | glōrš, 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, Of what does a trochee consist? Which syllable is accented? contain? Deeper, deeper, let us toil, In the mines of knowledge; Win from school and college; 3. Onward, onward, may we press, 4. Closer, closer, let us knit Hearts and hands together, 5. Nearer, dearer bands of love, 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 the day when the hamlet is still, And mortals the sweets of forget | fulness prōve, QUESTIONS. In what measures is the fourth exercise written? Of what does an anapest consist? How accented? |