Eulactic Deign on the passing world to turn thine eyes, JOHNSON. The groves of Eden, vanished now so long, And where, though all things differ, all agree. Right against the eastern gate, Where the great sun begins his state, And every shepherd tells his tale Under the hawthorn in the vale. MILTON. In this, our happy and "progressive" age, When beardless boys to sudden sages grow, May not, uncensured, an Attorney sing? - SAXE. handwolve Stay & Busber!"k. In the street I heard a thumping; and I knew it was the stumping Of the Corporal, our old neighbor, on that wooden leg he wore, With a knot of women round him, it was lucky I had found him, So I followed with the others, and the Corporal marched Just across the narrow river O, so close it made me shiver ! Jenny kissed me when we met, Jumping from the chair she sat in. Time, you thief! who love to get Sweets into your list, put that in. Say I'm weary, say I'm sad; HOLMES. Say that health and wealth have missed me; Say I'm growing old, but add — Jenny kissed me. - LEIGH HUNT. Those evening bells! those evening bells! Of youth, and home, and that sweet time Those joyous hours are passed away; And hears no more those evening bells. MOORE. There was a time when meadow, grove, and stream, To me did seem Apparelled in celestial light, The glory and the freshness of a dream. By night or day, The things which I have seen I now can see no more. WORDSWORTH. Abide with me! fast falls the even-tide; Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day; Change and decay in all around I see; O Thou who changest not, abide with me! - LYTE. When I consider how my light is spent Ere half my days in this dark world and wide, And that one talent which is death to hide, That murmur, soon replies, "God doth not need Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best; his state : And post o'er land and ocean without rest; They also serve who only stand and wait.” — MILTON. NOTE In addition to these selections the student might classify, as far as possible, the poetical extracts previously given. In some cases, owing to brevity, this classification will be difficult. Furthermore, the teacher might assign particular didactic, descriptive, satirical, or lyric poems for special study as to form, content, and mood. The special criteria of this chapter should be applied. A comparative study of Pope's "Windsor Forest," Goldsmith's "Deserted Village," and Wordsworth's "Tintern Abbey" would be specially instructive, as showing the different ways of treating nature. CHAPTER IX EPIC AND DRAMATIC POETRY 59. The Epic. The epic is a long poem celebrating in stately verse some important and heroic event of the past. It may be based either on history or tradition, though in our greatest epics there is a commingling of the two. The method of the epic is chiefly narrative and descriptive. The theme is generally stated in the beginning, and the narrative, frequently interspersed with episodes, pursues an even course. Homer thus begins the "Iliad ”: "Of Peleus' son Achilles, sing, O Muse, The direful wrath, which sorrows numberless Of youthful heroes, slain untimely, sent To Pluto's dark abode, their bodies left A prey to dogs and all the fowls of heaven." Vergil begins the "Eneid" in a similar manner, and the opening lines of "Paradise Lost" follow classic models. The structure of the epic may be determined from the fundamental conception of its nature. As a narrative of an important and heroic event, it should be simple, direct, and dignified in its treatment. The incidents should be introduced in a natural order, and their prominence should be regulated according to their |