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67. INVOCATION TO MIRTH.

John Milton was born in England in 1608. He has been called the scholar's poet, because his writings are so filled with allusions to mythology and history that only a well-read person can understand most of them. Milton's greatest works are "Paradise Lost" and "Paradise Regained." They describe the sin and punishment of Adam and Eve, and give pictures of heaven and hell, as imagined by Milton.

The great Italian writer, Dante, a poet of the rank of Homer, wrote upon subjects somewhat like these about two hundred years before Milton. Both Dante and Milton borrowed largely from the myths, and a comparison of the work of these Christian poets with that of the pagan poets, Homer and Vergil, is very interesting. The extract here is from Milton's most joyous poem, "L'Allegro." There is a companion poem, "Il Penseroso," which suggests sadness as this suggests pleasure.

Articulation.-haste | thee; nods | and | becks | and | smiles; whets his scythe.

Haste thee, nymph, and bring with thee
Jest and youthful Jollity,

Quips, and cranks, and wanton wiles,
Nods, and becks, and wreathèd smiles,
Sport, that wrinkled Care derides,
And Laughter holding both his sides.
Come, and trip it as you go

On the light fantastic toe.

Come, in spite of Sorrow,

At my window bid good morrow
Through the sweet-brier, or the vine,
Or the twisted eglantine;

While the cock, with lively din,

Scatters the rear of darkness thin,
And to the stack, or the barn door,
Stoutly struts his dame before;

Oft listening how the hounds and horn
Cheerly rouse the slumbering morn,
While the plowman near at hand
Whistles o'er the furrowed land,
And the milk-maid singeth blithe,
And the mower whets his scythe,
And every shepherd tells his tale
Under the hawthorn in the dale.

-John Milton.

Definitions. Invocation, an address of invitation. Jest, joking. Quips, sharp answers. Cranks, changes of words, like puns. Wanton, full of sport. Wiles, tricks. Derides, makes fun of. Fantastic, wild, irregular. Struts, walks proudly. Furrowed, cut into channels. Blithe, gay. Whets, sharpens. Scythe, an implement for cutting hay. Dale, a low place between hills.

Spell: wrinkled; scythe; mower.

What reason for beginning the words jest, jollity, sport, laughter, care, and sorrow in this poem with capital letters? What other reason for beginning jest and sport with capitals? Tell what you seem to see the people doing in the first stanza. What is meant by "the rear of darkness"?

68. THE GOLDEN CITY.

The following is a sketch from the famous book "Pilgrim's Progress," written in jail by the poor tinker, John Bunyan. It describes the life of Christian on his way to Heaven, and all the sorrows and temptations of the journey. The sins and troubles and pleasures are called by names like people. Macaulay, a famous English writer, says: "During the latter part of the seventeenth century there were only two great creative minds in England. One gave us 'Paradise Lost,' the other 'Pilgrim's Progress.""

Articulation. - trumpeters | saluted; commandments.

Now, while they were thus drawing toward the gate, behold a company of the heavenly host came out to meet them; to whom it was said, by the other two shining ones: "These are the men who loved our Lord when they were in the world, and have left all for His holy name; and He hath sent us to fetch them; and we have brought them thus far on their desired journey, that they may go in and look their Redeemer in the face with joy." Then the heavenly host gave a great shout, saying: "Blessed are they that are called to the marriage supper of the Lord.”

There came, also, out at this time to meet them, several of the king's trumpeters, clothed in white and shining raiment, who, with melodious noises, made even the heavens to echo with their sound. These trumpeters

saluted Christian and his fellow with ten thousand welcomes, and this they did with shouting and sound of trumpet.

Then they walked on together; and as they walked, ever and anon these trumpeters would, by mixing their music with looks and gestures, still signify to Christian and his brother, how welcome they were into their company, and with what gladness they came to meet them; and now these two men were, as it were, in heaven, before they came at it, being swallowed up with the sight of angels, and with hearing their melodious notes.

Here, also, they had the city itself in view, and thought they heard all the bells therein to ring to welcome them thereto. But, above all, were the warm and joyful thoughts that they had about their own dwelling there with such company, and that forever and ever. O! by what tongue or pen can their glorious joy be expressed! Thus they came up to the gate.

Now, when they were come up to the gate, there was written over it, in letters of gold, "Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have a right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."

Then I saw, in my dream, that the shining men bid them call at the gate; the which, when they did, some from above looked over the gate, to whom it was said, "These pilgrims are come from the City of Destruction, for the love that they bear to the king of this place;" and then the pilgrims gave in unto them each man his certificate, which they had received in the beginning; those, therefore, were carried unto the king, who, when he had read them, said, "Where are the men?" To whom it was answered, "They are standing without the gate." The king then commanded to open the gate, "That the righteous nation," said he, "that keepeth truth, may enter in."

Now, I saw, in my dream, that these two men went in at the gate; and lo, as they entered, they were transfigured, and they had raiment put on that shone like gold. There were also that met them with harps and crowns, in token of honor. Then I heard, in my dream, that all the bells in the city rang again for joy, and that it was said unto them: "Enter ye into the joy of your Lord." I also heard the men themselves, that they sang with a loud voice, saying: "Blessing, honor, and glory, and power, be to Him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever."

Now, just as the gates were opened to let in the men, I looked in after them; and, behold, the city shone like the sun; the streets also were paved with gold, and in them walked many men with crowns on their heads, palms in their hands, and golden harps to sing praises withal. There were also of them which had wings; and they answered one another without intermission, saying: "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord." And after that they shut up the gates; which, when I had seen, I wished myself among them. - John Bunyan.

Definitions. Creative, having power to make new things. Host, a great multitude. Compassed, surrounded. Transfigured, made glorious. Raiment, clothing. Withal, with. Righteous, just. Ever and anon, now and then.

Spell: marriage; gestures; righteous.

Copy from this lesson three sentences containing expressions different from those now in common use. Name the men to whom Macaulay attributed the only two great creative minds in England during the latter part of the seventeenth century.

To be memorized:

Build thee more stately mansions, O my soul,

As the swift seasons roll!

Leave thy low vaulted past!

Let each new temple, nobler than the last,

Shut thee from heaven with a dome more vast.
From "The Chambered Nautilus." Holmes.

69. THE MADRONE.

Bret Harte is one of the famous early writers of California. His stories have much grace of description, but are not always true to life. "Truthful James," ," "Ah Sin," "Gabriel Conroy," "M'liss," and "Jack Hamlin," are some of the familiar characters from Mr. Harte's writings.

Articulation. - challengest; spreads its | sackcloth; strews | its |

ashes.

Definitions.

Captain of the western wood,
Thou that apest Robin Hood!
Green above thy scarlet hose,
How thy velvet mantle shows!
Never tree like thee arrayed,
O, thou gallant of the glade!
When the fervid August sun
Scorches all it looks upon,
And the balsam of the pine
Drips from stem to needle fine,
Round thy compact shade arranged,
Not a leaf of thee is changed.

When the yellow autumn sun
Saddens all it looks upon,

Spreads its sackcloth on the hills,
Strews its ashes in the rills,
Thou thy scarlet hose dost doff,
And, in limbs of purest buff,
Challengest the somber glade
For a sylvan masquerade.

Where, O! where shall he begin,
Who would paint thee, Harlequin?
With thy waxen burnished leaf,
With thy branches' red relief,
With thy poly-tinted fruit,

In thy spring or autumn suit,

Where begin, and O! where end,

Thou whose charms all art transcend?

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Robin Hood, a famous English outlaw of the century after the Norman conquest. (The Robin Hood ballads represent the common people, as the King Arthur stories represent the nobles.

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