Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

A heritage, it seems to me,

One scarce would wish to hold in fee.

4

What doth the poor man's son inherit?
Stout muscles and a sinewy heart,
A hardy frame, a hardier spirit;

King of two hands, he does his part
In every useful toil and art;

A heritage, it seems to me,
A king might wish to hold in fee.

5

What doth the poor man's son inherit?
Wishes o'erjoyed with humble things,
A rank adjudged by toil-won merit,
Content that from employment springs,
A heart that in his labor sings;

A heritage, it seems to me,
A king might wish to hold in fee.

6

What doth the poor man's son inherit?
A patience learned of being poor,
Courage, if sorrow come, to bear it,

A fellow-feeling that is sure
To make the outcast bless his door;

A heritage, it seems to me,
A king might wish to hold in fee.

7

O, rich man's son! there is a toil,
That with all others level stands;
Large charity doth never soil,

But only whiten, soft white hands,

[blocks in formation]
[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

3

Where'er a human heart doth wear
Joy's myrtle-wreath or sorrow's gyves,
Where'er a human spirit strives
After a life more true and fair,
There is the true man's birthplace grand,
His is a world's wide fatherland!

4

Where'er a single slave doth pine,
Where'er one man may help another,-
Thank God for such a birthright, brother,
That spot of earth is thine and mine!
There is the true man's birthplace grand,
His is a world-wide fatherland!

HELPS TO STUDY.

Notes and Questions.

How many questions are asked in

the first stanza?

Which of these questions is an

swered by "Oh, yes''?

To what do the words "such

scant borders" refer? Which of the questions in the second stanza is answered by "Oh, yes''?

What have you noticed about the fifth and sixth lines of each of these stanzas?

What does this add to the poem? Myrtle was used by the Greeks to make a wreath for the victor in battles or in games.

How does the poet use this fact! What are gyves?

With what word in the preceding stanza does the word "gyves' form a contrast?

Why may sorrow be compared to gyves?

What is a birthright?

Whom does the poet address as

"brother" in the last stanza! What is the birthright for which we should thank God?

Why should the true man feel that his fatherland is world wide?

Words and Phrases for Discussion.

""fatherland"

"yearning"

"scorn"

"'world-wide"

THE SHEPHERD OF KING ADMETUS.

JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL.

1

There came a youth upon the earth,

Some thousand years ago,

Whose slender hands were nothing worth,
Whether to plough, or reap, or sow.

2

Upon an empty tortoise-shell

He stretched some chords, and drew Music that made men's bosoms swell Fearless, or brimmed their eyes with dew.

3

Then King Admetus, one who had
Pure taste by right divine,

Decreed his singing not too bad
To hear between the cups of wine:

4

And so, well-pleased with being soothed
Into a sweet half-sleep,

Three times his kingly beard he smoothed,
And made him viceroy o'er his sheep.

5

His words were simple words enough,
And yet he used them so,

That what in other mouths was rough
In his seemed musical and low.

« AnteriorContinuar »