3 What though, in solemn silence, all Move round the dark terrestrial ball? What though no real voice nor sound Amid their radiant orbs be found: In Reason's ear they all rejoice, And utter forth a glorious voice, Forever singing as they shine, "The Hand that made us is divine." HELPS TO STUDY Who is the great "Original" of the heavens? Of what is the poet thinking when he speaks of the sun as "unwearied'? What is the "wondrous tale" which the moon takes up when the sun is gone? To whom does the moon tell the "story of her birth''? Read the "story of her birth" as told in the Book of Genesis: "And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good." What is the "dark terrestrial ball ''? What contrast to this expression is found in the fourth line of the same stanza? Read the line which tells what the sun, moon, and stars sing as they shine. How may we hear their song? THE SEA BRYAN WALLER PROCTER Bryan Waller Procter (1787-1874) was an English poet. He was born in London. He wrote under the name of Barry Cornwall. "The Sea" is one of his best poems. 1 The sea! the sea! the open sea! 2 I'm on the sea! I'm on the sea! I am where I would ever be; With the blue above, and the blue below, If a storm should come and awake the deep, 3 I love, oh, how I love to ride On the fierce, foaming, bursting tide, 4 I never was on the dull, tame shore, And a mother she was, and is, to me; 5 The waves were white, and red the morn, 6 I've liv'd since then in calm and strife, With wealth to spend and power to range, But never have sought nor sighed for change; WILLIAM WORDSWORTH* The Cock is crowing, The small birds twitter, The green field sleeps in the sun; Are at work with the strongest; Their heads never raising; There are forty feeding like one! The snow hath retreated, On the top of the bare hill; There's life in the fountains; Blue sky prevailing; The rain is over and gone! HELPS TO STUDY Notes and Questions What things mentioned in this poem have you noticed in the spring? What things mentioned in this poem may be seen in the city? *For Biography, see p. 89. What things can be seen only in the country? What is meant by "forty feeding like one' From what places has the snow retreated? Where does it still linger? What are the "fountains' of which the poet speaks? What tells you that the ploughboy feels happy? What comparison is made in the last stanza? Words and Phrases for Discussion "The green field sleeps in the "Blue sky prevailing”. sun", THE VOICE OF SPRING MARY HOWITT Mary Howitt (1804-1888), an English poet, was the wife of William Howitt, the poet and author. She was a Quakeress. She has written many beautiful poems for children. 1 I am coming, little maiden, With the flower and with the leaf; 2 I am coming, I am coming! 3 See the yellow catkins cover |