62 EXTRACTS AND EXERCISES But eheerly still; and said, "I pray thee then, Write me as one that loves his fellow-men." The angel wrote and vanished. The next night Tt came again with a great wakening light, And showed the names whom love of God had blessed, And lo Ben Adhem's name led all the rest. LEIGU HUNT JA*CTAR garFar, the |3armeeide, the good Vizier. The poor man's hope, the friend without a peer, Jaltar was dead, slain by a doom unjust; And guilty Haroun, sullen with misirust + Of what the good and e'en the bad might say. Ordained that no man living from that day Should dare to speak his name on pain of death— All Araby and Persia held their breath. All but the brave Mondeer—He, proud to show| How far for love a grateful soul could go, And facing death for very scom and grief, (For his great heart wanted a great relief), Stood forth in Bagdad, daily in the square Where once had stood a happy house, and there Harangued the tremblers at the seymitar, On all they owed to the divine Jaffar. "Bring me this man," the caliph cried. The man Was brought—was gazed upon. The mutes began To bind his arms. "Welcome, brave cords," cried he; "From bonds far worse Jaffir delivered me;FOUR POEMS 68 From wants, from shames, from loveless household fears; Made a man's eyes friends with delicious tears; Restored me, loved me, put me on a par With his great self. How can I pay Jane?" Hamm, who felt that on a soul like this The mightiest vengeance could but fall amiss, Now deigned to smile, as one great lord of fate Might smile upon another half as great. Te said, "Let worth grow frenzied, if it will; The caliph's judgment shall ble master still. Go: and since gifts so move thee, take this gem, The richest in the Tartar's diadem, And hold the giver as thou dcemest fit." " Gifts I" cried the friend. He took; and holding it High towards the heavens, as though to meet his star, Exclaimed, "This too I owe to thee, Jan.'s." LeIGIT Hum. THE GRASSHOPPER AND THE CRICKET fon a December day in 1816 Leigh Hunt suggested to his friend and brother-poet, John Keats, that they should both write, "then, there, and to time," a sonnet on the Grasshopper and the Cricket. The following arc the poems that they wrote.] I GREEN little vaulter in the sunny grass, Catching your heart up at the feel of June, Sole voice that's heard amidst the lazy noon, When even the bees lag at the summoning brass;64 EXTRACTS AND EXERCISES And you, warm little housekeeper, who class With those who think the candles come too soon, Loving the fire, and with your tricksome tune Nick the glad, silent moments as they pass: Oh sweet and tiny cousins, that belong, One to the fields, the other to the hearth, Both have your sunshine; both, though small, are strong At your clear hearts; and both seem given to earth To sing in thoughtful ears this natural song— Indoors and out, summer and winter, Mirth. Lama Run IL Tire poetry of earth is never dead : When all the birds are faint with the hot sun, And hide in cooling trees, a voice will run From hedge to hedge about the new-mown mead: That is the grasshopper's—he takes the lead In summer luxury,—he has never done With his delights, for when tired out with fun, He rests at ease beneath some pleasant weed. The poetry of earth is ceasing never: On a lone winter evening, when the frost Has wrought a silence, from the hearth there shrills The cricket's song, in warmth increasing ever, And seems, to one in drowsiness half lost, The grasshopper's among some grassy hills. JOIENKEATS EXERCISES (A) THE USE OF WORDS Without changing the sense, substitute other words for those printed in italics:FOUR POEMS 65 (i) The occasion is divine. (ii) The presence in the room (iii) Sullen with mistrust. (iv) Harangued the tremblers. (v) Green little vaulter. (vi) The summoning brass. (B) SENTENCES AND PARAGRAPHS Combine and group these sentences so as to form a flowing piece of composition. The grasshopper rejoices in the sultry days of June. He jumps about in the grass. His is the only voice we hear in the heat of midday. Then even the bees are languid. The cricket loves the fire. He hates to see the candles come. His cheerful tune marks those happy moments spent round the fire. One belongs to the fields. The other belongs to the hearth. Both are full of sunshine. Both bring us a message of joy. (© PUNCTUATION Arrange in poetical form and punctuate: Jaffa:. the Barmecide the good Vizier the poor man's hope the friend without a. peer Jogar was dead slain by a doom unjust and guilty Hamm sullen with mistrust of what the good and e’en the bad might say ordained that no man living from that day should dare to speak his name on pain of death all Araby and Persia held their breath. (1) THE CHOICE OF WORDS. Study carefully the rhythm of the following lines. Mark the accented syllables as in this enunple: 1 And hold I the g'v Cr as I thou deem ; est fit £15,00.thos imam; (1) He said, "Let worth grow frenzied, if it will: The caliph’s judgment shall be master still.”66 * EXTRACTS AND EXERCISES (ii) The bloody foam above the bars came whisking through re air. Gii) Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!) Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace. (iv) Oh sweet and tiny cousins, that belong, One to the fields, the other to the hearth (8) ADDITIONAL EXERCISES (i) Write a prose description of the scene portrayed in The Glove and the Liens. (ii) Ifyou had been De Lorge, what would you have done when challenged to fetch the glove? (ui) Find out all the information you can concerning the grass- hopper and cricket, and write a brief description of each. (tv) What do you suppose the Caliph felt on receiving Mondecr's answer? (v)Notice the imitative effect of the line: Ramped and roared the lions, with horrid laughing jaws. When read aloud it suggests exactly the sounds which came from the arena. You will find many more examples in the same poem: mention the one which strikes you most forcibly. (vi) Search in your dictionary for the meaning of the word ‘repartee, and then find an example of it from these poems.VII AN EQUESTRIAN ADVENTURE MR PICKWIckK found that his three companions liad risen, and were waiting his arrival to commence breakfast, which was ready laid in tempting display. They sat down to the meal; and broiled ham, eggs, tea, coffee, and sundries, began to disappear with a rapidity which at once bore testimony to the excellence of the fare, and the appetites of its consumers: "Now, about Manor Farm," said Mr Pickwick. "How shall we go ?" "We had better consult the waiter, perhaps," said Mr Tupman, and the waiter was summoned accordingly. "Dingley Dell, gentlemen—fifteen miles, gentlemen— cross road—post-chaise, sir?" "Post-chaise won't hold more than two," said Mr Pickwick. "True, sir—beg your pardon, sit —Very nice four- wheeled chaise, sir—seat for two behind—one in front for the gentleman that drives —oh! beg your pardon, sir — that'll only hold three." "What's to be done ?" said Mr Snodgrass. "Perhaps one of the gentlemen would like to ride, sir?” suggested the waiter, looking towards Mr Winkle; "very good saddle horses, sir--any of Mr Wardle's men coming to Rochester bring 'cm back, sir." "The very thing,” said Mr Pickwick. "Winkle, will you go on horseback?" 6EXTRACTS AND EXERCISES Mr Winkle did entertain considerable misgivings in the very lowest recesses of his own heart, relative to his equestrian skill; but, as he would not have them even suspected on any account, he at once replied with great hardihood, "Certainly. I should enjoy it, of all things.” Mr Winkle had rushed upon his fate; there was no resource. "Let them be at the door by eleven," said Mr Pickwick. "Very well, sir," replied the waiter. The waiter retired; the breakfast concluded; and the travellers ascended to their respective bedrooms, to pre- pare a change of clothing, to take with them on their approaching expedition, Mr Pickwick had made his preliminary arrangements, and was looking over the coffee-room blinds at the passengers in the street, when the waiter entered, and announced that the chaise was ready—an announcement which the vehicle itself confirmed, by forthwith appear- ing before the coffee-room blinds aforesaid. It was a curious little green box on four wheels, with a low place liken wine-bin for two behind, andan elevated perch for one in front,drawn by an immense brown horse, displaying great symmetry of bone. An hostler stood near, bolding by the bridle another immense horse— apparently a near relative of the animal in the chaise— ready saddled for Mr Winkle. "Bless. my soul!" said Mr Pickwick, as they stood upon the pavement while the coats were being put in. "Bless my soul! who's to drive? I never thought of that.” "Ohl you, of course," said Mr Tupinan. "I" exclaimed Mr Pickwick. "Not the slightest fear, sir,” interposed the hostler.||AN EQUESTRIAN ADVENTURE 69 “Warrant him quiet, sir; a hinfant in arms might drive him." "He don't shy, does he?" inquired Mr Pickwick. "Shy, sir?—lie wouldn't shy if he was to meet a vaggin-load of monkeys with their tails burnt off." The last recommendation was indisputable. Mr Tup- man and Mr Snodgrass got into the bin; Mr Pickwick ascended to his perch, and deposited his feet on a floor- clothed shelf, erected beneath it for that purpose. "Now, shiny Villiam," said the hostler to the deputy hostler, "give the gen'Im’n the ribbius." "Shiny Villiam "—so called, probably, from his sleek hair and oily countenance—placed the reins in Mr Pickwick's left hand; and the upper hostler thrust a whip into his right. "Wo-ol" cried Mr Pickwick, as the tall quadruped evinced a decided inclination to back into the coffee-room window. "tiro-o!" echoed Mr Tupman and Mr Snodgrass from the bin. "Only his playfulness, gcn'lm'n,"” said the head hostler encouragingly; "just kitch hold on him, Villiam." The deputy restrained the animal's impetuosity, and the principal ran to assist Mr Winkle in mounting. "Tother side, sir, if you please." "Mowed if the gen'lm'n worn't a gettin’ up on the wrong side," whispered a grinning post-boy to the in- expressibly gratified waiter. Mr Winkle, thus instructed, climbed into his saddle, with about as much ,,difficulty as he would have ex- perienced in getting up the side of a first-rate man-of-war. "All right?" inquired Mr Pickwick, with an inward pre \ rid iment that it was all wrong. "All right," replied Mr Winkle faintly.70 EXTRACTS AND EXERCISES "Let 'em go," cried the hostler—"Hold him in, sir," and away went the chaise, and the saddle-horse, with Mr Pickwick on the box of the one, and Mr Winkle on the back of the other, to the delight and gratification of the whole inn-yard. "What makes him go sideways?" said Mr Snodgrass in the bin, to Mr Winkle in the saddle. "I can't imagine," replied Mr Winkle. His horse was drifting up the street in the most mysterious manner— side first, with his head towards one side of the way, and his tail towards the other. Mr Pickwick had no leisure to observe either this or any other particular, the whole of his faculties being concentrated in the management of the animal attached to the chaise, who displayed various peculiarities, highly interesting to a bystander, but by no means equally amusing to anyone seated behind him. Besides con- stantly jerking his head up, in a very unpleasant and uncomfortable manner, and tugging at the reins to an extent which rendered it a matter of great difficulty for Mr Pickwick to hold them, he had a singular propensity for darting suddenly every now and then to the side of the road, then stopping short, and then rushing forward for some minutes, at a speed which it was wholly im- possible to control. "What can he mean by this?" said Mr Snodgrass, when the horse had executed this manoeuvre for the twentieth time. "I don't know," replied Mr Tupman; "it /ooks very like shying, don't it ?" Mr Snodgrass'was about to reply, when he was interrupted by a shout from Mr Pickwick. ina said that gentleman; "I have dropped my whip."|AN EQUESTRIAN ADVENTURE 71 "Winkle," said Mr Snodgrass, as the equestrian came trotting up on the tall horse, with his hat over his ears, and shaking all over, as if he would shake to pieces, with the violence of the exercise, " pick up the whip, there's a good fellow." Mr Winkle pulled at the bridle of the tall horse till he was black in the face; and having at length succeeded in stopping him, dismounted, handed the whip to Mr Pickwick, and grasping the reins, prepared to remount. Now whether the tall horse, in the natural playfulness of his disposition, was desirous of having a little innocent recreation with Mr Winkle, or whether it occurred to him that he could perform the journey as much to his own satisfaction without a rider as with one. are points upon which, of course, we can arrive at no definite and distinct conclusion. By whatever motives the animal was actuated, certain it is that Mr Winkle had no sooner touched the reins, than he slipped them over his head, and darted backwards to their full length. "Poor fellow," said Mr Winkle soothingly—" poor fellow—good old horse." The "poor fellow" was proof against flattery: the more Mr Winkle tried to get near him, the more he sidled away; and, notwithstanding all Kinds of coaxing and wheedling, there were Mr Winkle and the horse going round and round each other for ten minutes, at the end of which time each was at precisely the same distance from the other as when they first commenced—an unsatisfactory state of things under any circumstances, but particularly so in a lonely road, where no assistance can be procured. "What am I to do?" shouted Mr Winkle, after the dodging had been prolonged for a considerable time. "What am Ito do? I can't get on him."72 EXTRACTS ,AND EXERCISES "You had better lead him till we come to a turnpike," replied Mr Pickwick from the chaise. "But he won't comet" roared Mr Winkle. "Do come, and hold him.” Mr Pickwick was the very personation of kindness and humanity: he threw the reins on the horse's back, and having descended from his scat, carefully drew the chaise into the hedge, lest anything should come along the road, and stepped back to the assistance of his distressed companion, leaving Mr Tupman and Mr Snodgrass in the vehicle. The horse no sooner beheld Mr Pickwick advancing towards him with the chaise whip in his hand, than he exchanged the rotatory motion in which he had pre- viously indulged, for a retrograde movement of so very determined a character, that it at once drew Mr Winkle, who was still at the end of the bridle, at a rather quicker rate than fast walking, in the direction from which they had just come. Mr Pickwick ran to his assistance, but the faster Mr Pickwick ran forward, the faster the horse ran backward. There was a great scraping of feet. and kicking up of the dust; and at last Mr Winkle, his arms being nearly pulled out of their sockets, fairly let go his hold. The horse paused, stared, shook his head, turned round, and quietly trotted home to Rochester, leaving Mr Winkle and Mr Pickwick gazing on each other with countenances of blank dismay. A rattling noise at a little distance attracted their attention. They looked up. "Bless my soul!" exclaimed the agonized Mr Pick- wick, "there's the other horse running away!" It was but too true. The animal was startled by the noise, and the reins were on his back. The result may be guessed. He tore off with the four-wheeled chaiseAN EQUESTRIAN ADVENTURE 78 behind him, and Mr Tupman and Mr Snodgrass in the four-wheeled chaise. The heat was a short one. Mr Tup- man threw himself into the hedge, Mr Snodgrass followed his example, the horse dashed the four-wheeled chaise against a wooden bridge, separated the wheels from the body, and the bin from the perch; and finally stood stock still to gaze on the ruin lie had made. The first care of the two unspilt friends was to extricate their unfortunate companions from their bed of quick- set—a process which gave them the unspeakable satis- faction of discovering that they had sustained no injury, beyond sundry rents in their garments, and various lacerations from the brambles. The next thing to be done was, to unharness the horse. This complicated process having been effected, the party walked slowly forward, leading the horse among them, and abandoning the chaise to its fate. OMIILES DICKENS, The Piclacick Papers EXERCISES (4) THE USE OF WORDS Rewrite this passage, avoiding any awkward repetition by the usc of pronouns : Mr Pickwick had no leisure to observe either this or any other particular, the whole of Mr Pickwick's faculties being concentrated in the management of the animal attached to the chaise, who displayed various peculiarities highly interest- ing to a bystander but by no means equally amusing to any one seated behind the animal. Besides constantly jerking the animal's head up in a very unpleasant and uncomfortable manner, and tugging at the reins to an extent which rendered it a matter of great difficulty for Mr Pickwick to hold the reins, the animal had a singular propensity for darting suddenly to the side, then stopping short and then rushing forward at a great speed.VII MORTE D'ARTHUR So all day long the noise of battle roll'd Among the mountains by the winter sea; Until King Arthur's table, man by man, Had fall'n in Lyonnesse about their Lord, King Arthur: then, because his wound was deep, The bold Sir Bedivere uplifted him, Sir Bedivere, the last of all his knights, And bore him to a chapel nigh the field, A broken chancel with a broken cross, That stood on a dark strait of barren land. On one side lay the Ocean, and on one Lay a great water, and the moon was full. Then spake King Arthur to Sir Bedivere: "The sequel of to-day unsolders all The goodliest fellowship of famous knights Whereof this world holds record. Such a sleep They sleep—the men I loved. I think that we Shall never more, at any future time, Delight our souls with talk of knightly deeds, Walking about the gardens and the halls Of Camelot, as in the days that were. I perish by this people which I made,Tho' Merlin sware that I should come again To rule once more—hut let what will be, be, I am so deeply smitten thro' the helm That without help I cannot last till morn.MORTE D'ARTHUR 77 Thou therefore take my brand Excalibur, Which was my pride: for thou rememberest how In those old days, one summer noon, an arm Rose up from out the bosom of the lake, Clothed in white samite, mystic, wonderful, Holding the sword—and how I row’d across And took it, and have worn it, like a king: And, wheresoever I am sung or told Tn aftertime, this also shall be known: But now delay not: take Excalibur, And fling him far into the middle mere: Watch what thou seest, and lightly bring me word." To him replied the bold Sir Bcdivere: "Tt is not meet, Sir King, to leave thee thus, Aidless, alone, and smitten thro' the helm. A little thing may harm a wounded man. Yet I thy hest will all perform at full, Watch what I see, and lightly bring thee word." So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stept And in the moon athwart the place of tombs, Where lay the mighty bones of ancient men, Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang Shrill, chill, with flakes of foam. He, stepping down By zig-zag paths, and juts of pointed rock, Came on the shining levels of the lake. There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all the halt twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth work’ Of subtlest jewellery. He gazed so long That both his eyes were dazzled, as he stood,78 EXTRACTS AND EXERCISES This way and that dividing the swift mind, In act to throw: But at the last it seem'd Better to leave Excalibur coneeal'd There in the many-knotted waterflags, That whistled stiff and dry about the marge. So strode he back slow to the wounded King. Then spake King Arthur to Sir Bedivere: "Nast thou performed my mission winch I gave? What is it thou hast seen? or what hast heard?" And answer made the bold Sir Bedivere: "T heard the ripple washing in the reeds, And the wild water lapping on the crag.” To whom replied King Arthur, faint and pale: "Thou host betray'd thy nature and thy name, Not rendering true answer, as beseem'd Thy fealty, nor like a noble knight: For surer sign had follow'd, either hand, Or voice, or else a motion of the mere. This is a shameful thing for men to lie. Yet now, I charge thee, quickly go again As thou art lief and dear, and do the thing I bad thee, watch, and lightly bring me word." Then went Sir Bedivere the second time Across the ridge, and paced beside the mere, Counting the dewy pebbles, rued in thought; But when he saw the wonder of the hilt, How curiously and strangely chased, he smote His palms together, and he cried aloud. "And if indeed I east the brand away, Surely a precious thing, one worthy note, Should thus be lost for ever from the earth, Which might have pleased the eyes of many men. What good should follow this, if this were done?|rsIORTE D'ARTHUR 79 ‘What harm, undone? deep harm to disobey, Seeing obedience is the bond of rule. Were it well to obey then, if a king demand An act unprofitable, against himself? The King is sick, and knows not what he does. What record, or what relic of my lord Should be to aftertime, but empty breath And rumours of a doubt? but were this kept, Stored in some treasure house of mighty kings, Some one might show it at a joust of arms, Saying, 'King Arthur's sword, Exealibur, Wrought by the lonely maiden of the Lake. Nine years she wrought it, sitting in the deeps Upon the hidden bases of the hills.’ So might some old man speak in the aftertime To all the people, winning, reverence. But now much honour and much fame were lost." So splice he, clouded with his own conceit, And hid Exealibur the second time. And so strode back slow to the wounded King. Then spoke King Arthur, breathing heavily: "What is it thou bast seen? or what had heard?" And answer made the bold Sir Bedivere: "I heard the water lapping on the crag, And the long ripple washing in the reeds.” To whom replied King Arthur, much in wrath: "Ah, miserable and unkind, untrue, Unknightly, traitor-hearted! Woe is mel Authority forgets a dying king, Laid widow'd of the power in his eye That bow'd the will. I see thee what thou art, For thou, the latest-left of all my knights, In whom should meet the offices of all,80 EXTRACTS AND EXERCISES Thou would'st betray me for the precious hilt; Either from lust of gold, or like a girl Valuing the giddy.pleasure of the eyes. Yet, for a man may fail in duty twice, And the third time may prosper, get thee hence But, if thou spare to fling Excalibur, I will arise and slay thee with my hands." Then quickly rose Sir Bedivere, and ran And, leaping down the ridges lightly, plunged Among the bulrush-beds, and clutch'd the sword, And strongly wheed and threw it. The great brand Made lightnings in the splendour of the moon, And flashing round and round, and whirl'd in an arch, Shot like a streamer of the northern morn, Seen where the moving isles of winter shock By night, with noises of the northern sea. So flash'd and fell the brand Excalibur: But ere he dipt the surface, rose an arm Clothed in white samite, mystic, wonderful, And caught him by the hilt, and brandish'd him Three times, and drew him under in the mere. And lightly went the other to the King. Then spake King Arthur, drawing thicker breath: "Now see I by thine eyes that this is done. Speak out: what is it thou hast heard, or seen?" "Sir King, I closed mine eyelids, lest the gems Should blind my purpose, for I never saw, Nor shall see, here or elsewhere, till I die, Not the' I live three lives of mortal men, So great a miracle as yonder hilt. Then with both hands I flung him, wheeling him: But when I look'd again, behold an arm Clothed in white samite, mystic, wonderful |MORTE D'ARTIIUR 81 That caught him by the hilt, and brandish'd him Three times, and drew him under in the mere.” And answer made King Arthur, breathing hard: "My end draws nigh; 'tis time that I were gone. Make broad thy shoulders to receive my weight, Anti bear me to the margin; yet I fear My wound hath taken cold, and I shall die.” So saying, from the pavement he half rose, Slowly, with pain, reclining on his arm, And looking wistfully with wide blue eyes As ina picture. Him Sir Bedivere Remorsefully regarded thro' his tears, And would have spoken, but he found not words, Then took with care, and kneeling on one knee, O'er both his shoulders drew the languid hands, And rising bore him thro' the place of tombs. But, as he walk'd, King Arthur panted hard, Like one that feels a nightmare on his bed When all the house is mute. So sigh'd the King, Muttering and murmuring at his ear "Quick, quick1 fear it is too late, and I shall die." But the of her swiftly strode from ridge to ridge, Clothed with his breath, and looking as he walk'd, Larger than human on the frozen hills. lie heard the deep behind him, and a cry Before. His own thought drove him like a goad. Dry clash'd his harness in the icy caves And barren chasms, and all to left and right The bare black cliff clang'd round him, as he based His feet on juts of slippery crag that rang Sharp- smitten with the dint, of armed heels— And on a sudden, lo | the level lake, And the long glories of the winter moon.84 EXTRACTS AND EXERCISES But now farewell. I am going a long way With these thou seest—if indeed I go— (For all my mind is clouded with a doubt) To the island-valley of Avalon: Where falls not hail, or rain, or any snow, Nor ever wind blows loudly; but it lies Deep-meadow'd, happy, fair with orchard-lawns And bowery hollows crown'd with summer sea, Where I will heal me of my grievous wound." So said he, and the barge with oar and sail Moved from the brink, like some full-breasted swan That, fluting a wild carol ere her death, Ruffles her pure cold plume, and takes the flood With swarthy webs. Long stood Sir Bedivere Revolving many memories, till the hull Looked one black dot against the verge of dawn, And on the mere the wailing died away. LORD TENNYSON EXERCISES (A) THE USE OF WORDS Correct mistakes in the following sentences: i) Arthur had seen his knights go one by one, and Sir Bedivere was the last of any. (ii) The goodliest of any fellowship of famous knights that ever existed was unsoldered. (iii) Ttwas the subtlest of any jewellery ever seen in a sword handle. (iv) Although Arthur was severely wounded and weak in body, Sir Bedivere was the weakest in mind.IMORTE D'ARTHUR 85 (w) Excalibur was more wonderful than all swords. (wi) There were three queens in the barge, and the taller andsfairer of them called Arthur by name. (13) SENTENCES AND PARAGRAPHS Join the following sentences by using relative pronouns: (i) Arthur writhed in pain. He said that he perished by the people he had made. (ii) Sir Bediverc was the last of Arthur's knights. He flung Excalibur into the middle mere. (iii) But first Bedivere tried to hide it. Re thought it was a shame to throw away so fine a sword, (iv)Arthur hated all deceit. He reproached Bedivere bitterly. (v) There was an arm clothed in white samite. It caught Exealibur by the hilt. (vi) The knight was overcome with grief. He bore his precious load to the margin of the lake. (©) PUNCTUATION Make a distinction between possessives and plurals by inserting apostrophes wherever they are required in the following sentences: (1) Of all the swords that Sir Bedivere had ever handled there was none so grand as Arthurs. (ii) The Round Table was dissolved: the knights places were vacant. (iii)Sir Bediveres eyes were dazzled (iv)He nuxde up his mind to disregard the kings whims. (v) Exealibnr was a lonely maidens work. She wrought it nine years as she Sat in the deeps upon the hidden bases of the86 EXTRACTS AND EXERCISES (D) THE CHOICE OF WORDS It will be noticed that some poetry requires to be said quickly. while other poetry loses all its beauty and all its meaning unless said slowly. There are examples of both in this poem. You cannot read this passage slowly: Then quickly rose Sir Bedivero, and ran And, leaping down the ridges lightly, plunged Among the bulrush-beds, and clutch'd the sword, And strongly wheel'd and threw it. Neither can you read this quickly: Long stood Sir Bedivero Revolving many memories, till the hull Looked one black dot against the verge of dawn, And on the mere the wailing died away. Find two similar examples, one of ‘fast time,’ and the other of “slow time,’ and notice in each case how well the time suits the meaning. @®) ADDITIONAL EXERCISES (ji) Mat are "greaves and euisses "? Get a picture showing a knight in armour and make a sketch from it. ii) Notice how appropriate the hissing sound is in the lines: The sea-wind sang Shrill, chill, with flakes of foara. Try to find a similar instance for yourself in any book of poetry you have. (iii) Write a description of the "island-valley of Avilion," and say what yon imagine happened to Arthur there. (iv) What were Sir Bedivere's excuses for disobeying the dying king? Were they reasonable? What would you have done in Sir Bedivere's place? (v) The wintermoon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt,Ix SIR ROGER AT CHURCH I ex always very well pleased with a country Sunday, and think, if keeping holy the seventh day were only a human institution, it would be the best method that could have been thought of for the polishing and civiliz- ing of mankind. It is certain the country people would soon degenerate into a kind of savages and barbarians. were there not such frequent returns of a stated time, in which the whole village meet together with their best faces, and in their cleanliest habits, to converse with one another upon indifferent subjects, hear their duties ex- plained to them, and join together in adoration of the Supreme Being. Sunday clears away the rust of the whole week, not only as it refreshes in their minds the notions of religion, but as it puts both the sexes upon appearing in their most agreeable forms, and exerting all such qualities as are apt to give them a figure in the eye of the village. A country fellow distinguishes himself as much in the churchyard, as a citizen does upon the Change, the whole parish-politics being generally dis- cussed in that place either after sermon or before the bell rings My friend Sir Roger, being a good churchman, has beautified the inside of his church with several texts of his own choosing. He has likewise given a handsome pulpit- cloth, and railed in the communion table at his. own expense. He has often told me, that at his coming to hisSIR ROGER AT CHURCH 89 estate he found his parishioners very irregular; and that in order to make them kneel and join in the responses, he gave every one of them a hassock and a common-prayer book: and at the same time employed an itinerant sing- ing-master, who goes about the country for that purpose, to instruct them rightly in the tunes of the psalms; upon which they now very much value themselves, and indeed outdo most of the country churches that I have ever heard. As Sir Roger is landlord to the whole congregation, he keeps them in very good order, and will suffer nobody to sleep in it besides himself: for if by chance he has been surprised into a short nap at sermon, upon recover- ing out of it he stands up and looks about him, and if he sees anybody else nodding, either wakes them himself, or sends his servants to them. Several other of the old knight's peculiarities break out upon these occasions. Sometimes he will be lengthening out a verse in the singing psalms, half a minute after the rest of the congre- gation have done with it; sometimes when lie is pleased with the matter of his devotion, he pronounces amen three or four times to the same prayer; and sometimes stands up when everybody else is upon their knees, to count the congregation, or see if any of his tenants are missing. I was yesterday very much surprised to hear my old friend, in the midst of the service, calling out to one John Matthews to mind what he was about, and not disturb the congregation. This John Matthews it seems is re- markable for being an idle, fellow, and at that time was kicking his heels for his diversion. This authority of the knight, though exerted in that odd manner which accompanies him in all circumstances of life, has a very92 EXTRACTS AND EXERCISES (B) SENTENCES AND PARAGRAPHS. Avoid the use of and in the following sentences by using a parti- ciple. Thus, instead of "Sir Roger is a good churchman and has beautified the inside of his church," write: "Sir Roger, being a good churchman, has beautified the inside of his church." (i) We know London as it. is now and we find it very hard to realize what it was in the days of Addison. (i) It had not long recovered from the ravages of plague and fire and it was filled with new buildings. (ii) The church spires and the great new dome of St Paul's gleamed white over the roofs and were a sight to behold. (iv) The citizen's were mostly traders and they were noted for their sturdy independence. (v) The Londoner scarcely ever went on a journey and was quite content with the sights of his own city. (©) PUNCTUATION Punctuate the following sentences: (i) Why said Sir Roger is your husband not at church this morning. (ii) Is it likely that meny country squires were as kindly as old Sir Roger (iii) What are you doing said my old Mend to John Matthews (iv) Do the old knights peculiaritics make you smile (v) Isnot the church beautiful asked Sir Roger with pride (D) THE CHOICE OP WORDS Read through the essay again very carefully, paying particular attention to the style in which it is written. It will be noticed that the sentences are fairly long, and that the style is smooth and flow- ing, admirably suiting the subject.matter. Rewrite the following so as to make flowing sentences as nearly as possible in the style of Addison:SIR ROGER AT CHURCH 98 Joseph Addison was born near Amesbury in 1672. His father was a clergyman. Joseph had a great fondness for writing Latin poetry. In those days ability to write verses in Latin was the key to success. So Addison rose to he Secretary of State. Ile also wrote much poetry in English. This has almost been forgotten, except for one or two hymns. These are often sung in churches. It is, however, as an essayist that he has won lasting fame. The essays, especially those of The Spectator, had a great circulation. They secured for him great popularity. "Sir Roger at Church" is taken front The Spectator. It gives a good idea of Addison's style. (E) ADDITIONAL EXERCISES (i) What part of a church is the chancel? Draw a sketch-plan of any church you know showing the chancel. (ii) Set out the reasons which Addison gives in favour of keep- ing Sunday as a day of rest. (iii) Write an essay on "A Sunday in the Country." (iv) Suppose that you are John Matthew of your bad behaviour in church. (v) Explain what is meant by the following phrases: "an itinerant singing-master"; "a secret reprimand"; "the present incumbent." (vi) Imagine that you are one of Sir Roger's tenants: write a letter to hint explaining your absence from church on Sunday last. write a brief defencex THE FORSAKEN MERMAN COME, dear children, let us away; Down and away below. Now my brothers call from the bay; Now the great winds shorewards blow; Now the salt tides seawards flow; Now the wild white horses play, Champ and chafe and toss in the spray. Children dear, let us away. This way, this way. Call her once before you go. Call once yet. Ina voice that she will know: "Margaret! Margaret I" Children's voices should be dear (Call once more) to a mother's ear: Children's voices, wild with pain. Surely she will come again. Call her once and come away. This way, this way. "Mother dear, we cannot stay." The wild white horses foam arid fret. Margaret! Margaret! Come, deur children, come away down. Call no more. One last look at the white-wall'd townTHE FORSAKEN MERMAN 05 And the little grey church on the windy shore. Then come down. She will not come though you call all day. Come away, conic away. Children dear, was it yesterday We heard the sweet bells over the bay? In the caverns where we lay, Through the surf and through the swell. The far-off sound of a silver bell? Sand-strewn caverns, cool and deep, Where the winds are all asleep; Where the spent lights quiver and gleam; Where the salt weed sways in the stream; Where the sea-beasts ranged all round Feed in the ooze of their pasture ground; Where the sea-snakes coil and twine, Dry their mail and bask in the brine; Where great whales come sailing by, Sail and sail, with unshut eye, Round the world for ever and aye? When did music come this way? Children dear, was it yesterday? Children dear, was it yesterday (Call yet once) that she went away? Once she sate with you and me, On a red gold throne in the heart of the sea, And the youngest sate on her knee. She comb'd its bright hair, and she tended it well. When down swung the sound of the far-off bell. She sigh'd, she look'd up through the clear green| sea.96 EXTRACTS AND EXERCISES She said: "I must go, for my kinsfolk pray In the little grey church on the shore to-day. ‘Twill be Easter-time in the world—ah me T And I lose my poor soul, Merman, here with thee.” I said; "Go up, dear heart, through the waves: Say thy prayer. and come back to the kind sea-caves." She smil'd, she went up through the surf in the bay. Children dear, was it yesterday? Children dear, were we long alone? "The sea grows stormy, the little ones moan. Long prayers," I said, "in the world they say. Come," I said, and we rose through the surf in the bay. We went up the beach, by the sandy down Where the sea-stocks bloom, to the white-wall'd town. Through the narrow pav'd streets, where all was still. To the little grey church on the windy hill From the church came a murmur of folk at their prayers, But we stood without in the cold blowing airs. We climb'd on the graves, on the stones, worn with rains, And we gazed up the aisle through the small leaded panes. She sate by the pillar; we saw her clear: "Margaret, hist | come quick, we are here. Dear heart," I said, "we arc long alone. The sea grows stormy, the little ones moan." But, ah, she gave me never a look, For her eyes were seed to the holy book. "Loud prays the priest; shut stands the door.” Come away, children, call no more. Come away, come down, call no more. Down, down, down. Down to the depths of the sea.THE FORSAKEN MERMAN 97 She sits at her wheel in the humming town, Singing most joyfully. Hark what she sings: "0 joy, 0 joy, For the humming street, and the child with its toy. For the priest, and the bell, and the holy well. For the wheel where I spun, And the blessed light of the sun." And so she sings her fill, Singing most joyfully, Till the shuttle falls from her hand, And the whizzing wheel stands still She steals to the window, and looks at the sand; And over the sand at the sea; And her eyes are set in a stare; And anon there breaks a sigh, And anon there drops a tear, From a sorrow-clouded eye, And a heart sorrow-laden, A long, long sigh, For the cold strange eyes of a little Mermaiden, And the gleam of her golden hair. Come away, away, children. Conic, children, come down. The hoarse wind blows colder; Lights shine in the town. She will start from her slumber When gusts shake the door; She will hear the winds howling, Will hear the waves roar. We shall see, while above us The waves roar and whirl, A ceiling of amber,08 EXTRACTS AND EXERCISES A pavement of pearl. Singing, "Here came a mortal. But faithless was she. And alone dwell for ever The kings of the sea." But, children, at midnight, When soft the winds blow; When clear falls the moonlight; When spring-tides are low: When sweet airs come sea-ward From heaths starr'd with broom; And high rocks throw mildly On the blaneh'd sands a gloom: Up the still, glistening beaches, Up the creeks we will hie; Over banks of bright seaweed The ebb-tide leaves dry. We will gaze from the sand-hills, At the white, sleeping town; At the church on the hill-side- And then come hack down. Singing, "There dwells a lov'd one, But cruel is she. She left lonely for ever The kings of the sea." ‘MiaiHEW ARNOLD EXERCISES (el) THE USE OF WORDS Say whether the verbs in the following Sentences are active or passive; then rewrite, changing active to passive, and vice versa:THE FORSAKEN MERMAN 99 ™M The far-off sound of a silver bell was heard by us yester- (ii) My poor soul is lost, merman, here with thee. (ii) In the world they say long prayers. (iv) That loved one who dwells in the white town left the kings of the sea. (v) The children were told by the merman to come away down and call no more. (vi) They took one last fond look at the white-walled town. (B) SENTENCES AND PARAGRAPHS Join the following pairs of sentences by using one or other of these connectives: but, yel, and, for. (i) The children called long and loud. Their mother did not hear. (ii) The strong winds howled. The wild waves roared. (iii) It was growing cold and dark. They were reluctant to go back to the sea cavern. (iv) She would not come. She was afraid that site might lose her soul. (v) The mother was faithless. The children loved her. (vi) When itis tine we will gaze at the little town. Then we will return. (©) PUNCTUATION Arrange in poetical form and punctuate: Come dear children come away down call no more one last look at the white walled town and the little grey chureh on the windy shore then come down she will not come though you call all day come away conic away children dear was it yester- day we heard the sweet bells over the bay in the caverns where we My through the surf and through the swell the far- off sound of a silver bell.100 EXTRACTS AND EXERCISES (1) THE CHOICE OF WORDS, In prose-writing careless repetition is a fault, but in poetry a very striking effect is ofien produced by repeating a word or sound. There are many good instances in this poem—e, Let us away This way, this way. Write the stanza which you think contains the best examples. and underline the repeated words. (&) ADDITIONAL EXERCISES (i) Ina previous exercise you saw how Browning used allitera- tion; many instances will be found here also. Search out three good examples. (ii) This poem is full of pathos:+ the author makes us feel very sorry for the lonely merman and the children who were bereft of a mother's care. 11 kink of all the other pathetic stories you have read, whether in poetry or prose, and write a short account of the saddest of them. (iii) Write a piece of descriptive prose entitled, "The Merman's Abode." (iv) Children dear, was it yesterday (Call yet once) that she went away? Once she sate with you and me, On a red gold throne in the heart of the sea. Read these lines to yourself, and mark the accent by beating time. Then write them out, marking off the feet, and placing a dash (") over each accented syllable. (¥) In the following lines it will be noticed how well the sound suggests the sense: Now the wild white horses play, Champ and chafe and toss in the spray. Find a similar example. (vi) Study carefully the weather descriptions in the poem, and show how wind and wave provide a suitable setting for the story.XI A DISSERTATION UPON ROAST PIG MANKIND, says a Chinese manuscript, for the first seventy thousand ages ate their meat raw, clawing or biting it, from the living animal. just as they do in Abyssinia to this day. The manuscript goes on to say, that the art of roasting, or rather broiling (which I take to be the elder brother), was accidentally discovered in the manner following. The swineherd, Ho-ti, having gone out into the woods one morning, as his manner was, to collect mast for his hogs, left his cottage in the care of his eldest son Bo-bo, a great Iubberly boy, who being fond of playing with fire, as younkers of his age commonly are, let some sparks escape into a bundle of straw, which, kindling quickly, spread the conflagration over every part of their poor mansion, till it was reduced to ashes. Together with the cottage (a sorry antediluvian makeshifi of a building, you may think it), what was of much more importance, a fine litter of new-farrowed pigs, no less than nine in number, perished. China pigs have been esteemed a luxury all over the East from the remotest periods that we read of. Bo-bo was in utmost consternation, as you may think, not so much for the sake of the tenement, which his father and he could easily build up again with a few dry branches, and the labour of an hour or two, at any time, as for the loss of the pigs. While he was thinking what he should say to his father, and wringing his hands over the smoking102 EXTRACTS AND EXERCISES remnants of one of those untimely sufferers, an odour assailed his nostrils, unlike any scent which he had before experienced. What could it proceed from?—not from the burnt cottage—he had smelt that smell before— indeed this was by no means the first accident of the kind which had occurred through the negligence of this unlucky young fire-brand. Much less did it resemble that of any known herb, weed, or flower. A premonitory moistening at the same time overflowed his nether lip. He knew not what to think. He next stooped down to feel the pig, if there were any signs of life in it. He burnt his fingers, and to cool them he applied them in his booby fashion to his mouth. Some of the crumbs of the scorched skin had come away with his fingers, and for the first time in his life (in the world’s life indeed, for before him no man had known it) he rasted—crackling! Again he felt and fumbled at the pig. It did not burn him so much now, still he licked his fingers from a sort of habit. The truth at length broke into his slow understanding, that it was the pig that smelt so, and the pig that tasted so delicious: and, surrendering himself up to the newborn pleasure, he fell to tearing up whole handfuls of the scorched skin with the flesh next it, and was cramming it down his throat in his beastly fashion, when his sire entered amid the smoking rafters, armed with retribu- tory cudgel, and finding how affairs stood, began to rain blows upon the young rogue's shoulders, as thick as hailstones, which 130-bo heeded not any more than if they had been flies. The tickling pleasure which he experienced in his lower regions had rendered him quite callous to any inconveniences he might feel in those remote quarters. His father might lay on, but he could not beat him from his pig, till he had fairly made an endA DISSERTATION UPON ROAST PIG 108 of it, when, becoming a little more sensible of his situa- tion, something like the following dialogue ensued. "You graceless whelp, what have you got there devour- ing? Is it not enough that you have burnt me down three houses with your dog's tricks, and be hanged to you, but you must be eating fire, and I know not what-what have you got there, I say?" "0, father, the pig, the pig, do come and taste how nice the burnt pig cats." The ears of Ho-ti tingled with horror. He cursed his son, and he cursed himself that ever he should beget a son that should eat burnt pig. Bo-bo, whose scent was wonderfully sharpened since morning, soon raked out another pig and fairly rending it asunder, thrust the lesser half by main force into the fists of Ho-ti, still shouting out "Eat, cat, eat the burnt pig, father, only taste-O Lord,"—with such-like bar- barous ejaculations, cramming all the while as if he would choke. Ho-ti trembled in every joint while he grasped the abominable thing, wavering whether he should not put his son to death for an unnatural young monster, when the crackling scorched his lingers, as it had done his son's, and applying the same remedy to them, he in his turn tasted some of its flavour, which, make what sour mouths he would for a pretence, proved not altogether displeas— ing to him. In conclusion (for the manuscript here is a little tedious) both father and son fairly sat down to the mess, and never left off till they had despatched all that remained of the litter. Bo_be was strictly enjoined not to let the secret escape, for the neighbours would certainly have stoned them for a couple of abominable wretches, who could think of im-104. EXTRACTS AND EXERCISES proving upon the good meat which God had sent them. Nevertheless, strange stories got about. It was observed that Ho-ti's cottage was burnt down now more frequently than ever. Nothing but fires from this time forward. Some would break out in broad day, others in the night- time. As often as the sow farrowed, so sure was the house of Io-ti to be in a blaze; and Ho-ti himself, which was the more remarkable, instead of chastising his son, seemed to grow more indulgent to him than ever. At length they were watched, the terrible mystery dis- covered, and father and son summoned to take their trial at Peldn, then an inconsiderable assize town, Evidence ‘was given, the obnoxioixs food itself produced in court, and verdict about to be pronounced, when the foreman of the jury begged that some of the burnt pig, of which the culprits stood accused, might be handed into the box. ‘He handled it, and they all handled it, and burning their fingers, as Bo-bo and his father had done before them, and nature prompting to each of them the same remedy, against the face of all the facts, and the clearest charge which judge had ever given—to the surprise of the whole court, townsfolk, strangers, reporters, and all present— without leaving the box, or any manner of consultation whatever, they brought in a simultaneous verdict of Not Guilty. The judge, who was a shrewd fellow, winked at the manifest iniquity of the decision; and when the court was dismissed, went privily, and bought up all the pigs that could be had for love or money. In a few days his Lordship's town house was observed to be on fire. The thing took wing, and now there was nothing to be seen but fires in every direction. Fuel and pigs grew enor- mously dear all over the district. The insurance officesA DISSERTATION UPON ROAST PIG 105 one and all shut up shop. People built slighter and slighter every day, until it was feared that the very science of architecture would in no long time be lost to the world. Thus this custom of firing houses continued, till in process of time, says my manuscript, a sage arose who made a discovery, that the flesh of swine, or indeed of any other animal, might be cooked (burnt, as they called it) without the necessity of consuming a whole house to dress it. Then first began the rude form of a gridiron. Roasting by the string, or spit, came in a cen- tury or two later, I forget in whose dynasty. By such slow degrees, concludes the manuscript, do the most useful, and seemingly most obvious arts, make their way among mankind. Without placing too implicit faith in the account above given, it must be agreed, that if a worthy pretext for so dangerous an experiment as setting houses on fire (especially in these days) could be assigned in favour of any culinary object, that pretext and excuse might be found in Roast Pic. CHARLES LAMB EXERCISES (A) THE USE OP WORDS Expand the following sentences by inserting relative clauses, thus: Charles Lamb, (who wrote this essay), lived in London. (1) The swine-herd, Ho-ti, ( ), left the cottage in the care of his eldest son, Bo-bo. (ii) While he was thinking what he should say, an odour ) assailed his nostrils. (iii) B o-be paid no heed to the blows ( ) but continued eating. (iv) The father and son were summoned to take their trial at Pekin (106 EXTRACTS AND EXERCISES, (v) The gentlemen of the jury (_) brought in a simultaneous verdict of Not Guilty (vi) T he judge ( ) bought up all the pigs that could be had for love or money. (B) SENTENCES AND PARAGRAPHS ‘As a sentence is the expression of a single thought, it should con- tain no more than is necessary to convey that one thought. Re- write the following passage, breaking up the sentences where this rule is not obeyed: The cottage, a poor makeshift of a building, Was left in the charge of Bo-bo, who was extremely fond of playing with fire. He let some sparks escape into a bundle of straw which kindled quickly and made such a blaze that their poor mansion was reduced to ashes together with a fine litter of new-farrowed pigs. and this was much more important. Bo-bo, wondering what he should say to his father, was in great trouble over the loss of the pigs, which was indeed a serious matter, when a strange odour assailed his nostrils. It was unlike any scent which he had before experienced, and he knew it did not come from the burnt cottage. He had smelt that smell before. It was not the first accident of the kind which had occurred through his carelessness, and his mouth began to water. He felt the pig and burnt his fingers. To cool them, lie put them to his mouth and tasted—erackling! (C) PUNCTUATION Change into direct speech: (i) Bo-bo asked his father to come and taste the burnt pig. (ii) Ho-ti asked his son what he had got there devouring. (iti) The foreman of the jury said he should like to have some of the burnt pig. (iv)Ho-ti told his son not to let the secret escape (v) The angry father told the boy that he had already burnt down three houses. (vi) The reporter said that it was the oddest verdict he had ever known.A DISSERTATION UPON ROAST PIG 107 ()) THE CHOICE OF WORDS Charles Lamb in this essay often uses high-sounding phrases in order to produce a humerous effect. Notice the following ex-an mles, and rewrite. expressing the same idea as simply as possible: (i) Ils sire entered, armed with retributory cudgel. (ii) He shouted out, "Only taste-0 Lord," —with suchlike barbarous ejaculations. (iii) A premonitory moistening overflowed his nether lip. (iv) An odour assailed his nostrils, unlike any scent which he had before experienced. (v) The tickling rendered him. quite callous to any MoonWide:1M he might feel in those remote quarters. (vi) Bo-bo was in utmost consternation, as you may think. (B) ADDITIONAL EXERCISES (i) Write an account entitled "The Discovery of Roast Pig. according to Bo-bo.” (ii) Give a version of the trial at Pekin supposed to have been written by a reporter who was present. (iii) Write an essay on "My Favourite Dish." (iv) Imagine that you have discovered a paragraph cut from an old newspaper giving an account of the sudden rise in the price of fuel and pigs. Write out this paragraph. (v) Write a short conversation that took place between Ho-ti and Bo-bo after the trial. (vi) Search for the meanings of these words, and then use cach in a sentence: consternation, wringing, negligence, asunder, mani- fest.XI SOME GALLOPING POEMS, How THEY BROUGHT THE GOOD NEWS FROM GHENT TO AIX ISPRANG to the stirrup, and Joris, and he; I galloped, Dirck galloped, we galloped all three; "Good speed!" cried the watch, as the gate-bolts un- drew; "Speed!" echoed the wall to us galloping through; Behind shut the postern, the lights sank to rest, And into the midnight we galloped abreast. Not a word to each other; we kept the great pace Neck by neck, stride by stride, never changing our place; I turned in my saddle and made its girths tight, Then shortened each stirrup, and set the pique right. Re-buckled the cheek-strap, chained slacker the bit, Nor galloped less steadily Roland a whit. 'Twas moonset at starting: but while we drew near Lokeren, the cocks crew and twilight dawned clear; At Boom, a great yellow star came out to see; At Duffield, 'twas morning as plain as could be; And from Mecheln church-steeple we heard the half- chime, So, Joris broke silence with, " Yet there is time!"SOME GALLOPING POEMS 109 At Aerschot, up leaped of a sudden the sun, And against him the cattle stood black every one, To stare thro' the mist at us galloping past, And I saw my stout galloper Roland at last, With resolute shoulders, each butting away The haze, as some bluff river-headland its spray. And his low head and crest, just one sharp ear bent back, For my voice, and the other pricked out on his track: And one eye's black intelligence—ever that glance O'er its white edge at me, his own master, askance! And the thick heavy spume-flakes which aye and anon His fierce lips shook upwards in galloping on. By Hasselt, Dirck groaned; and cried Joris, "Stay spur! Your Roos galloped bravely, the fault's not in her, We'll remember at Aix "—for one heard the quick wheeze Of her chest, saw the stretched neck and staggering knees, And sunk tail, and horrible heave of the flank, As down on her haunches she shuddered and sank. So we were left galloping, Joris and I, Past Looz and past Tongres, no cloud in the sky; The broad sun above laughed a pitiless laugh, ‘Neath our feet broke the brittle bright stubble like chaff; Till over by Dalhem a dome-spire sprang white, And "Gallop," gasped Joris, "for Aix is in sight!" "How they'll greet us !"—and all in a moment his roan Rolled neck and croup over, lay dead as a stone; And there was my Roland to bear the whole weight Of the news which alone could save Aix from her fate,110 EXTRACTS AND EXERCISES With his nostrils like pits full of blood to the brim, And with circles of red for his eye-sockets' rim. Then I cast loose my buffcoat, each holster let fall, Shook off both my jack-boots, let go belt and all, Stood up in the stirrup, leaned, patted his ear, Called my Roland his pet-name, my horse without peer; Clapped my hands, laughed and sang, any noise, bad or good, Till at length into Aix Roland galloped and stood. And all I remember is—friends flocking round As I sat with his head 'twixt my knees on the ground; And no voice but was praising this Roland of mine. As I poured down his throat our last measure of wine, Which (the burgesses voted by common consent) eso re than his due who brought good news from ent RODE= BROWNING LOCUINVAR, 0, YouNG Loehinvar is come out of the west, Through all the wide border his steed was the best; And, save his good broadsword, he weapons had none, He rode all unarmed, and he rode all alone. So faithful in love, and so dauntless in war, There never was knight like the young Lochinvar. He staid not for brake, and he stopped not for stone, He swam the Eske river where ford there was none; But ere he alighted by Netherby gate, The bride had consented, the gallant came late; For a laggard in love, and a dastard in war, Was to wed the fair Ellen of brave Lochinvar.SOME GALLOPING POEMS 111 So boldly he entered the Netherby Hall, Among bride's-men, and kinsmen, and brothers, and all: Then spoke the bride's father, his hand on his sword, (For the poor craven bridegroom said never a word), "O come ye in peace here, or come ye in war, Or to dance at our bridal, young Lord Lochinvar?" "T long wooed your daughter, my suit you denied;— Love swells like the Solway, but ebbs like its tide— And now am I come, with this lost love of mine, To lead but one measure, drink one cup of wine. There are maidens in Scotland more lovely by far, That would gladly be bride to the young Lochinvar." The bride kissed the goblet: the knight took it up, He quaffed off the wine, and he threw down the cup. She looked down to blush, and she looked up to sigh, With a smile on her lips, and a tear in her eye. He took her soft hand, ere her mother could bar,-- "Now tread we a measure I" said young Lochinvar. So stately his form, and so lovely her face, Thai never a hall such a galliard did grace: While her mother did fret, and her father did fume, And the bridegroom stood dangling his bonnet and plume: And the bride-maidens whispered, " "Twere better by far, To have matched our fair cousin with young Lochinvar." One touch to her hand, and one word in her car, When they reached the hall-door, and the charger stood near; So light to the croupe the fair lady he swung, So light to the saddle before her he sprung I112 EXTRACTS AND EXERCISES "She is won! we are gone, over bank, bush, and scaur; They'll have fleet steeds that follow," quoth young Lochinvar. There was mounting 'mong Graemes of the Netherby clan; Faqrsters, Fenwicks, and Musgraves, they rode and they ran: There was racing and chasing on Cannobie Lee, But the lost bride of Netherby ne'er did they see. So daring in love, and so dauntless in war, Have ye e'er heard of gallant like young Lochinvar? SIR WALTER SCOTT BANNERMAN OF THE DANDENONO ' TRopE through the Bush in the burning noon Over the hills to my bride,— The track was rough and the way was long, And Bannerman of the Dandenong, He rode along by my side. A day's march off my Beautiful dwelt, By the Murray streams in the West;— Lightly lilting a gay love-song Rode Bannerman of the Dandenong, With a blood-red rose on his breast. "Red, red rose of the Western streams" Was the song he sang that day— Truest comrade in hour of need; Bay 3.4athinna his peerless steed—I had my own good grey. By permission of Miss Alice Werner.SOME GALLOPING POEMS 113 There fell a spark on the upland grass— The dry Bush leapt into flame;— And I felt my heart go cold as death, And Bannerman smiled and caught his breath,— But I heard him name Her name. Down the hill-side the fire-floods rushed. On the roaring eastern wind;—Neck and neck was the reckless race,—Ever the bay mare kept her pace, But the grey horse dropped behind. He turned in the saddle—"Let's change, I say!" And his bridle rein he drew. lie sprang to the ground" Look sharp I" he said, With a backward toss of his curly head— "T ride lighter than you!" Down and up—it was quickly done— No words to waste that day!—Swift as a swallow she sped along, The good bay mare from Dandenong,— And Bannerman rode the grey. The hot air scorched like a furnace blast From the very mouth of Hell:- The blue gums caught and blazed on high Like flaming pillars into the sky;... The grey horse staggered and fell. "Ride, ride, lad—ride for her sake!" he cried; Into the gulf of flame Were swept, in less than a breathing space, The laughing eyes, and the comely face, And the lins that named Her name114 EXTRACTS AND EXERCISES She bore me bravely, the good bay mare,— Stunned, and dizzy and blind, Theard the sound of a mingling roar- 'Twas the river's rush that I heard before, And the flames that rolled behind. Safe—safe, at Nammoora gate, T fell, and lay like a stone. 0 love! thine arms were about me then, Thy warm tears called me to life again,- But-0 God! that I came alone!— Tand my Beautiful dwelt in peace, By the Murray streams in the West,— But oft through the mist of my dreams along Rides Bannerman of the Dandenong, With the blood-red rose on his breast. ALICE WERNER EXERCISES (A) THE USE OF WORDS Rewrite the following passage, making the necessary corrections in the tenses: It was sunrise when I rose from my resting-place and re- sumed my journey. What a &angel All was waste. The sun had set upon a prairie still clothed in its natural garb of herb- age. It rose upon a scene of desolation. Not a single weed— not a blade of grass is left. The tall grove now spreads a labyrinth of scorched and naked branches—the very type of ruin. A thin covering of grey ashes was sprinkled upon the ground beneath, and several large dead trees were still blazing or sending up long spires of smoke. In every direction barren- ness marks the track of the flames. It has even worked its course against the blast, hugging to the roots of tall grass. The wind was still raging; cinders and ashes are drifting andSOME GALLOPING POEMS 115 (73) SENTENCES AND PARAGRAPHS Use the following phrases in complete sentences: (i) broke silence; (ii) horrible heave of the flank; (iii) cast loose; (iv) dauntless in war; (v) lightly lilting; (vi) a breath- ing-space. (©) PUNCTUATION, Punctuate the following sentences, and supply capital letters where necessary: (i) good speed cried the watch as we galloped through ii) joris broke silence with yet there is time iii) gallop gasped he for aix is in sight (iv) joris cried stay spur (v) now tread we a measure said young lochinvar (vi) he turned in the saddle lets change I say (13) THE CHOICE OF WORDS Rearrange the words so as to restore the galloping rhythm to these lines: (i) And at last I saw my stout galloper Roland. (ii) As down his throat I poured our last measure of wine. (iii)But they did ne'er see the lost bride of Netherby. (iv) 0, out of the west young Lochinvar is come. (v) But behind dropped the grey horse. (vi) She, the good bay mare, bore me bravely. (£) ADDITIONAL EXERCISES (1) Write a descriptive sketch entitled "A Ride for Life." (ii) Examine the following lines, and notice how the sound helps the sense: The broad sun above laughed a pitiless laugh, "Neigh our feet broke the brittle bright stubble like chaff. The b's convey just the crisp, snapping effect which the poet desired. Search for other examples.XU DOBBIN'S FIGHT WITH CUFF Cum's fight with Dobbin, and the unexpected issue of that contest, will long be remembered by every man who was educated at Dr Swishtail's famous school. The latter youth (who used to be called Heigh-ho Dobbin, Gee-ho Dobbin, and by many other names indicative of puerile contempt) was the quietest, the clumsiest, and, as it seemed, the dullest of all Dr Swishtail's young gentlemen. His parent was a grocer in the City: and it was bruited abroad that he was admitted into Dr Swishtail's academy upon what are called "mutual principles "—that is to say, the expenses of his board and schooling were de- frayed by his father in goods, not money; and he stood it-almost at the bottom of the school—in his scraggy corduroys and jacket, through the seams of which his great big bones were bursting—as the representative of so many pounds of tea, candles, sugar, mottled-soap, plums (of which a very mild proportion was supplied for the puddings of the establishment), and other commodities. A dreadful day it was for young Dobbin when one of the youngsters of the school, having run into the town upon a poaching excursion for hardbake and polonies, espied the cart of Dobbin and Budge, Grocers and Oilmen, Thames Street, London, at the Doctor's door, discharging a cargo of the wares in which the firm dealt.118 EXTRACTS AND EXERCISES Young Dobbin had no peace after that. The jokes were frightful, and merciless against him. "Hullo, Dobbin," one wag would say, "here's good news in the paper. Sugar is ris', my boy." Another would set a sum—" If a pound of mutton-candles cost sevenpence-halfpenny, how much must Dobbin cost ?" and a roar would follow from all the circle of young knaves, usher and all, who ‘rightly con- sidered that the selling of goods by retail is a shameful and infamous practice, meriting the contempt and scorn of all real gentlemen. "Your father's only a merchant, Osborne," Dobbin said in private to the little boy who had brought down the storm upon him. At which the latter replied haughtily, "My father's a gentleman, and keeps his carriage," and Mr William Dobbin retreated to a remote outhouse in the playground, where he passed a half- holiday in the bitterest sadness and woe. Now, William Dobbin, from an incapacity to acquire the rudiments of the Latin language, as they are pro- pounded in that wonderful book the Eton Latin Grammar, was compelled to remain among the very last of Dr Swishtail's scholars, and was "taken down" continually by little fellows with pink faces and pinafores when he marched up with the lower form, a giant amongst them, with downcast stupefied look, his dog's- eared primer, and his tight corduroys. High and low, all made fun of him. They sewed up those corduroys, tight as they were. They cut his bed-strings. They upset buckets and benches, so that he might break his shins over them, which he never failed to do. They sent him parcels, which, when opened, were found to contain the paternal soap and candles. There was no little fellow but had his ieer and ioke at Dobbin: and he bore everv-DOBBIN'S FIGHT WITH CUFF 119 thing quite patiently, and was entirely dumb and miserable. Cuff, on the contrary, was the great chief and dandy of the Swishtail Seminary. He smuggled wine in. He fought the town-boys. Ponies used to come for him to ride home on Saturdays. He had his top-boots in his room, in which ho used to hunt in the holidays. He had a gold repeater: and he took snuff like the Doctor. He had been to the Opera, and knew the merits of the princi- pal actors, preferring Mr Kean to Mr Kemble. He could knock you off forty Latin verses in an hour. He could make French poetry. What else didn't he know, or couldn't he do ? They said even the Doctor himself was afraid of him. Cuff, the unquestioned king of the school, ruled over his subjects, and bullied them, with splendid superiority. This one blacked his shoes : that toasted his bread, others would fag out, and give him balls at cricket during whole summer afternoons. 'Figs ' was the fellow whom he despised most, and with whom, though always abuse 1 o him, and sneering at him, he scarcely ever conde- litcathi to hold personal communication. hie day in private, the two young gentlemen had had a (III re rielle Figs, alone in the schoolroom, was blunder- ing flyer a home letter; when Cuff, entering, bade him go upon some message, of which tarts was probably the subject. "I can't," says Dobbin; "I want to finish my letter." "You can't! says Mr Cuff, laying hold of that docu- ment (in which many words were scratched out, many were misspelt, on which had been spent I don't know how much thought. and labour. and tears: for the voor fellow120 EXTRACTS AND EXERCISES was writing to his mother, who was fond of him, although she was a grocer's wife, and lived in a back parlour in Thames Street). "You can't?" says Mr Cuff: "I should like to know why, pray? Can't you write to old Mother Figs to-morrow ?" "Don't call names," Dobbin said, getting off the bench very nervous. "Well, sir, will you go ?" crowed the cock of the school. "Put down that letter," Dobbin replied; "no gentle- man readth lettefth." "Well, now will you go ?" says the other. "No, I won't. Don't strike, or I'll ##mzash you," roars out Dobbin, springing to a leaden inkstand, and looking so wicked, that Mr Cuff paused, turned down his coat sleeves again, put his hands into his pockets, and walked away with a sneer. But he never meddled personally with the grocer's boy after that; though we must do him the justice to say he always spoke of Mr Dobbin with contempt behind his back. Some time after this interview, it happened that Mr Cuff, on a sunshiny afternoon, was in the neighbourhood of poor William Dobbin, who was lying under a tree in the playground, spelling over a favourite copy of The Arabian Nights which he had—apart from the rest of the school, who were pursuing their various sports—quite lonely, and almost happy. William Dobbin had for once forgotten the world, and was away with Sinbad the Sailor in the Valley of Diamonds, or with Prince Ahmed and the Fairy Peri- banou in that delightful cavern where the Prince found her, and whither we should all like to make a tour; when shrill cries, as of a little fellow weeping, woke up hisDOBBIN'S FIGHT WITH CUFF 121 pleasant reverie; and looking up, he saw Cuff before him, belabouring a little boy. It was the lad who had peached upon him about the grocer's cart; but he bore little malice, not at least towards the young and small. "How dare you, sir, break the bottle ?" says Cuff to the little urchin, swinging a yellow cricket-stump over him. The boy had been instructed to get over the play- ground wall (at a selected spot where the broken glass had been removed from the top, and niches made con- venient in the brick); to run a quarter of a mile; to purchase a pint of rum-shrub on credit; to brave all the Doctor's outlying spies, and to clamber back into the playground again; during the performance of which feat, his foot had slipt, and the bottle was broken, and the shrub had been spilt, and his pantaloons had been damaged, and he appeared before his employer a perfectly guilty and trembling, though harmless, wretch. "How dare you, sir, break it?" says Cuff; "you blundering little thief. You drank the shrub, and now you pretend to have broken the bottle. Hold out your hand, sir." Down came the stump with a great heavy thump on the child's hand. A moan followed. Dobbin looked up. The Fairy Peribanou had fled into the inmost cavern with Prince Ahmed: the Roe had whisked away Sinbad the Sailor out of the Valley of Diamonds out of sight, far into the clouds: and there was everyday life before honest William; and a big boy beating a little one without cause. "Hold out your other hand, sir," roars Cuff to his little school-fellow, whose face was distorted with pain.122 EXTRACTS AND EXERCISES Dobbin quivered, and gathered himself up in his narrow old clothes. "Take that, you little rascal!" cried Mr Cuff, and down came the wicket again on the child's hand. Dobbin started up. I can't tell what his motive was. Up he sprang, and screamed out, "Hold off, Cuff, don't bully that child any more; or I'l]—" "Or you'll what?" Cuff asked in amazement at this interruption. "Hold out your hand, you little beast." "I'll give you the worst thrashing you ever had in your life," Dobbin said, in reply to the first part of Cuffs sentence; and little Osborne, gasping and in tears, looked up with wonder and incredulity at seeing this amazing champion put up suddenly to defend him : while Cuff's astonishment was hardly less. Fancy our late monarch George III when he heard of the revolt of the North American Colonies : fancy brazen Goliath when little David stepped forward and claimed a meeting; and you have the feelings of Mr Reginald Cuff when this rencontre was proposed to him. "After school," says he, of course; after a pause and a look, as much as to say, "Make your will, and communi- cate your last wishes to your friends between this time and that." "As you please," Dobbin said. "You must be my bottle-holder, Osborne." "Well, if you like," little Osborne replied; for you see his papa kept a carriage, and he was rather ashamed of his champion. ‘Yes, when the hour of battle came, he was almost ashamed to say, "Go it, Figs "; and not a single otherDOBBIN'S FIGHT WITH CUFF 128 boy in the place uttered that cry for the first two or three rounds of that famous combat, at the commencement of which the scientific Cuff, with a contemptuous smile on his face, and as light and as gay as if he was at a ball, planted his blows upon his adversary, and floored that unlucky champion three times running. At each fall there was a. cheer; and everybody was anxious to have the honour of offering the conqueror a knee. "What a licking I shall get when it's over," young Osborne thought, picking up his man. "You'd best give in," he said to Dobbin; "it's only a thrashing, Figs, and you know I'm used to it." But Figs, all whose limbs were in a quiver, and whose nostrils were breathing rage, put his little bottle-Holder aside, and went in for a fourth time. As he did not in the least know how to parry the blows that were aimed at himself, and Cuff had begun the attack on the three preceding occasions, without ever allowing his enemy to strike, Figs now determined that he would commence the engagement by a charge on his own part; and accordingly, being a left-handed man, brought that arm into action, and hit out a couple of times with all his might—once at Mr Cuff's left eye, and once on his. beautiful Roman nose. Cuff went down this time, to the astonishment of the assembly. "Well hit, by Jove," says little Osborne, with the air of a connoisseur, clapping his man on the back. "Give it him with the left, Figs, my boy." Figs' left made terrific play during the rest of the combat. Cuff went down every time. At the sixth round, there were almost as many fellows shouting out, "Go it, Figs," as there were youths exclaiming, "Go it, Cuffs." At the twelfth round the latter champion was124 EXTRACTS AND EXERCISES all abroad, as the saying is, and had lost all presence of mind and power of attack or defence. Figs, on the con- trary, was as calm as a Quaker. His face being quite pale, his eyes shining open, and a great cut on his under lip bleeding profusely, gave this young fellow a fierce and ghastly air, which perhaps struck terror into many spectators. Nevertheless, his intrepid adversary pre- pared to close for the thirteenth time. Cuff coming up full of pluck, but quite reeling and groggy, the Fig- merchant put in his left as usual on his adversary's nose, and sent him down for the last time. "T think that will do for him," Figs said, as his op- ponent dropped as neatly on the green as I have seen Jack Spot's ball plump into the pocket at billiards; and the fact is, when time was called, Mr Reginald Cuff was not able, or did not choose, to stand up again. And now all the boys set up such a shout for Figs as would have made you think he had been their darling champion through the whole battle; and as absolutely brought Dr Swishtail out of his study, curious to know the cause of the uproar. He threatened to flog Figs violently, of course; but Cuff, who had come to himself by this time, and was washing his wounds, stood up and said, "It's my fault, sir—not Figs'—not Dobbin's. I was bullying a little boy; and he served me right." By which magnanimous speech he not only saved his conqueror a whipping, but got back all his ascendency over the boys which his defeat had nearly cost him. w.M TFIACKERAY, Vanity PairDOBI3IN'S FIGHT WITH CUFF 125 EXERCISES (A) THE USE OF WORDS Rewrite the following passage in the present tense: William Dobbin had for once forgotten the world, and was away with Sinbad the Sailor in the Valley of Diamonds, or with Prince Ahmed and the Fairy Peribanou in that delightful cavern where the Prince found her, and whither we should all like to make a tour; when shrill cries, as of a little fellow weeping, woke up his pleasant reverie: and looking up. he saw Cuff before him, belabouring a little boy. It was the little lad who had peached upon him about the grocer's cart; but he bore little malice, not at least towards the young and small. (B) SENTENCES AND PARAGRAPHS Rewrite the following passage, altering the phrasing so as to omit the word 'then!: Thaekeray. who was born at Calcutta, was sent to the famous Charterhouse School in London which he nicknamed the "Slanghterhouse." Then he went to Cambridge where he made friends with Tennyson and many others who afterwards became famous. By them he was always affectionately called "Old Thack.” Then he went abroad; and then he returned home to enjoy the fortune which his father had left him. Then he lost a gteat portion of this fortune through gambling and then he realized that he would have to work for his living. Then he set to work and started on his career as a writer. So that what seemed at the time a great disaster was really a blessing both for Thackeray himself and for us who read his books. (C) PUNCTUATION Change into direct speech: (1) The wags told Dobbin that sugar was ris’. (ii) Dobbin reminded Osbome that his father was only a merchant.