He knew the ocean's Lord on high;
They, that he scorned their senseless lie.

His throne was placed by ocean's side,
He lifted his scepter there,
Bidding, with tones of kingly pride,
The waves their strife forbear;
And while he spoke his royal will,
All but the winds and waves were still.

Louder the stormy blast swept by,

In scorn of idle word;

The briny deep its waves tossed high,
By his mandate undeterred;
As threatening, in their angry play,
To sweep both king and court away.

The monarch, with upbraiding look,

Turned to the courtly ring:

But none the kindling eye could brook
Even of his earthly king;

For in that wrathful glance they see
A mightier monarch wronged than he!

Canute, thy regal race is run;

Thy name had passed away,
But for the meed this tale hath won,
Which never shall decay:

Its meek, unperishing renown

Outlasts thy scepter and thy crown.

The Persian, in his mighty pride,

Forged fetters for the main,

And when its floods his power defied,
Inflicted stripes as vain;

But it was worthier far of thee

To know thyself than rule the sea!

1. This poem requires a careful reading to get its full meaning. Make sure you know the meanings of all the words.

2. Did Canute know he could not still the waves? Give proof of your answer. If he knew, why did he make the trial? Explain

line 20, page 106.

3. How did the Persian king try to chastise the sea? What is meant by the last two lines of the poem?

THE BATTLE OF BLENHEIM

BY ROBERT SOUTHEY

T WAS a summer evening;

IT

Old Kaspar's work was done,
And he before his cottage door

Was sitting in the sun;

And by him sported on the green
His little grandchild, Wilhelmine.

She saw her brother Peterkin

Roll something large and round,
That he beside the rivulet,
In playing there, had found:
She ran to ask what he had found,

That was so large and smooth and round.

Old Kaspar took it from the boy,
Who stood expectant by;

And then the old man shook his head,
And with a natural sigh,

""Tis some poor fellow's skull," said he,
"Who fell in the great victory."

"My father lived at Blenheim then,

Yon little stream hard by ;

They burned his dwelling to the ground,

And he was forced to fly;

So with his wife and child he fled,

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But things like that, you know, must be
At every famous victory.

"They say it was a shocking sight

After the field was won;

For many thousand bodies here

Lay rotting in the sun :

But things like that, you know, must be
After a famous victory.

"Great praise the duke of Marlborough won

And our good Prince Eugene."

"Why, 'twas a very wicked thing!"

Said little Wilhelmine.

"Nay, nay, my little girl," quoth he,
"It was a famous victory.

"And everybody praised the duke,
Who this great fight did win."

"But what good came of it at last?"
Quoth little Peterkin.

"Why, that I cannot tell," said he;

"But 'twas a famous victory."

1. On what battle ground did this conversation take place? The battle had been fought between what peoples? Who were some of the leaders? Who won?

2. Old Kaspar keeps referring to the battle as "a famous victory." Does he really believe that?

3. What do you think the poem teaches us? What do you think of war? Is it ever justified? Is there any better way to settle quarrels between nations?

Discuss.

TH

THE FOX HUNT

BY HENRY FIELDING

HE dusky night rides down the sky,
And ushers in the morn;

The hounds all join in glorious cry,

The huntsman winds his horn.

Away they fly to 'scape the rout,
Their steeds they soundly switch;

Some are thrown in, and some thrown out,
And some thrown in the ditch.

Sir Reynard now like lightning flies,

And sweeps across the vale;

And when the hounds too near he spies,
He drops his bushy tail.

Fond Echo seems to like the sport,

And joins the jovial cry;

The woods, the hills, the sound retort,
And music fills the sky.

At last his strength to faintness worn,
Poor Reynard ceases flight;
Then hungry, homeward we return,

To feast away the night.

- Don Quixote in England.

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