The Grammar of English Grammars Part 217

Falsely luxurious will not man awake And springing from the bed of sloth enjoy The cool the fragrant and the silent hour _Thomson_

Yet thus it is nor otherwise can be So far from aught romantic what I sing _Young_

Thyself first know then love a self there is Of virtue fond that kindles at her charms _Id_

How far that little candle throws his beams So s.h.i.+nes a good deed in a naughty world _Shakspeare_

You have too much respect upon the world They lose it that do buy it with much care _Id_

How many things by season seasoned are To their right praise and true perfection _Id_

Canst thou descend from converse with the skies And seize thy brothers throat For what a clod _Young_

In two short precepts all your business lies Would you be great--_be virtuous_ and _be wise Denham_

But sometimes virtue starves while vice is fed What then is the reward of virtue bread _Pope_

A life all turbulence and noise may seem To him that leads it wise and to be praised But wisdom is a pearl with most success Sought in still waters and beneath clear skies _Cowper_

All but the swellings of the softened heart That waken not disturb the tranquil mind _Thomson_

Inspiring G.o.d who boundless spirit all And unremitting energy pervades Adjusts sustains and agitates the whole _Id_

Ye ladies for indifferent in your cause I should deserve to forfeit all applause Whatever shocks or gives the least offence To virtue delicacy truth or sense Try the criterion tis a faithful guide Nor has nor can have Scripture on its side. _Cowper_

EXERCISE VIII.--SCANNING.

_Divide the following_ VERSES _into the feet which compose them, and distinguish by marks the long and the short syllables_.

_Example I.--"Our Daily Paths"--By F. Hemans_.

"There's Beauty all around our paths, if but our watchful eyes Can trace it 'midst familiar things, and through their lowly guise; We may find it where a hedgerow showers its blossoms o'er our way, Or a cottage-window sparkles forth in the last red light of day."

_Example II.--"Fetching Water"--Anonymous_.

"Early on a sunny morning, while the lark was singing sweet, Came, beyond the ancient farmhouse, sounds of lightly-tripping feet.

'Twas a lowly cottage maiden, going,--why, let young hearts tell,-- With her homely pitcher laden, fetching water from the well."

_Example III.--Deity_.

Alone thou sitst above the everlasting hills And all immensity of s.p.a.ce thy presence fills: For thou alone art G.o.d;--as G.o.d thy saints adore thee; Jehovah is thy name;--they have no G.o.ds before thee.--_G. Brown_.

_Example IV.--Impenitence_.

The impenitent sinner whom mercy empowers, Dishonours that goodness which seeks to restore; As the sands of the desert are water'd by showers.

Yet barren and fruitless remain as before.--_G. Brown_.

_Example V.--Piety_.

Holy and pure are the pleasures of piety, Drawn from the fountain of mercy and love; Endless, exhaustless, exempt from satiety, Rising unearthly, and soaring above.--_G. Brown_.

_Example VI.--A Simile_.

The bolt that strikes the tow'ring cedar dead, Oft pa.s.ses harmless o'er the hazel's head.--_G. Brown_.

_Example VII.--A Simile_.

"Yet to their general's voice they soon obey'd Innumerable. As when the potent rod Of Amram's son, in Egypt's evil day, Wav'd round the coast, up call'd a pitchy cloud Of locusts, warping on the eastern wind, That o'er the realm of impious Pharaoh hung Like night, and darken'd all the land of Nile."--_Milton_.

_Example VIII.--Elegiac Stanza._

Thy name is dear--'tis virtue balm'd in love; Yet e'en thy name a pensive sadness brings.

Ah! wo the day, our hearts were doom'd to prove, That fondest love but points affliction's stings!--_G. Brown_.

_Example IX.--Cupid._

Zephyrs, moving bland, and breathing fragrant With the sweetest odours of the spring, O'er the winged boy, a thoughtless vagrant, Slumb'ring in the grove, their perfumes fling.--_G. Brown_.

_Example X.--Divine Power._

When the winds o'er Gennesaret roar'd, And the billows tremendously rose, The Saviour but utter'd the word, They were hush'd to the calmest repose.--_G. Brown_.

_Example XI.--Invitation._

Come from the mount of the leopard, spouse, Come from the den of the lion; Come to the tent of thy shepherd, spouse, Come to the mountain of Zion.--_G. Brown_.

_Example XII.--Admonition_.

In the days of thy youth, Remember thy G.o.d: O! forsake not his truth, Incur not his rod.--_G. Brown._

_Example XIII.--Commendation._

Constant and duteous, Meek as the dove, How art thou beauteous, Daughter of love!--_G. Brown._

EXERCISE IX.--SCANNING.

_Mark the feet and syllables which compose the following lines--or mark a sample of each metre._

_Edwin, an Ode_.

I. STROPHE.

Led by the pow'r of song, and nature's love, Which raise the soul all vulgar themes above, The mountain grove Would Edwin rove, In pensive mood, alone; And seek the woody dell, Where noontide shadows fell, Cheering, Veering, Mov'd by the zephyr's swell.

Here nurs'd he thoughts to genius only known, When nought was heard around But sooth'd the rest profound Of rural beauty on her mountain throne.

Nor less he lov'd (rude nature's child) The elemental conflict wild; When, fold on fold, above was pil'd The watery swathe, careering on the wind.

Such scenes he saw With solemn awe, As in the presence of the Eternal Mind.

Fix'd he gaz'd, Tranc'd and rais'd, Sublimely rapt in awful pleasure undefin'd.