And gaily prefs'd and fmil'd;

And, fkill'd in legendary lore,

The ling'fing hours beguiï'd.

Around in fympathetic mirth
Its tricks the kitten tries;
The cricket chirrups in the hearth;
The crackling faggot flies.

Although we recommend in the foregoing verfes an impreffive defcriptive manner of delivery, ftill the whole muft go off trippingly from the tongue, and not hurt the ear with the least heaviness, except in thofe parts which we fhall point out,-In the next verse assume something more of the melancholy, so as to prepare the reader for what is to follow.

But nothing-could-a-charm-impaṛt=
To-footh-the-ftranger's-woe;

་

For

For grief lay heavy-at-his-heart,!!!
And tears-began-to-flow.!!

"Heavy" in the third line with a tone long, and, as it

were, dragging.

His rifing cares, the hermit fpy'd,

With anfwering care oppreft;

"And whence, unhappy youth!" he cry'd,

"The forrows of thy breast?

From the beginning of the third line you alter your voice, as if the hermit was in the act of speaking.

"From better habitations fpurn'd,

You ought to deliver the last line with a figh, and peculi arly affecting, as it comes home fo nearly to his own fituation.

"And those who prize the paltry things,

More trifling ftill than they.

"And what is friendship but a name?
"A charm that lulls to fleep;

"A fhade that follows wealth or fame,

66

Andfleaves the wretch to weep?

"And

Pause a little after the word "love" with the voice up.

"The modern fair-one's [jeft:
"On earth unfeen, or only found,
"To warm the turtle's neft.

"For fhame! fond youth, thy forrows hush,

"And spurn the fex," he said; But, while he fpoke, a rifing blush

The bashful gueft betray'd.

Change your voice from the third line as you resume the defcriptive part, but at the fame time take care to keep up the interest of the scene by your tone, look, and manner.

Surpris'd he fees new beauties rife,

Swift mantling to the view;
Like colours o'er the morning fkies,
As bright, as tranfient too.

Your whole manner must express surprise to accord with the meaning of the verfe. In the third line caft a look upwards as you read it.

Her bashful look, her rising breast,.

Alternate spread alarms:

The lovely ftranger ftands confeft

A maid in all her charms.

Speak the last line with a glow of expreffion, as you thereby properly mark to the hearer the discovery made. The ftranger's account of herself you must read in an affecting modeft manner.

"And

"And ah! forgive a stranger rude,
"A wretch forlorn" fhe cry'd;
"Whofe feet unhallow'd thus intrude,
"Where heav'n, and you refide. !!!

"But let a maid thy pity share,
"Whom love has taught to ftray;
"Who feeks for reft, but finds defpair
"Companion of her way.

"My father liv'd befide the Tyne,
"A wealthy lord was he;

"And all his wealth was mark'd as mine,

"He had but only me.

"To win me from his tender arms,

"Unnumber'd fuitors came;

"Who prais'd me for imputed charms,
"Or felt, or feign'da flame.

"Each morn, the mercenary crowd
"With richest proffers ftrove:
"Among the reft young Edwin bow'd,
66 But never talk'd of love."!!

"In humbleft, fimpleft habit clad,
"No wealth nor pow'r had he;
"Wifdom and worth were all he had,
But these were all to me.!!!

66

"The bloffom op'ning to the day,

"The dews of heav'n refin'd, "Could naught of purity display,

"To emulate his mind.

"The

"The dew, the bloffom of the tree,
"With charms inconstant shine;
"Their charms were his, but woe to me!
"Their conftancy was mine."

"For ftill I try'd each fickle art,

"Importunate and vain;

"And while his paffion touch'd my heart,

66

I triumph'd in his pain.

"Till quite dejected with my fcorn,

"He left me to my pride;

"And fought a folitude forlorn,
"In fecret, where he died.

"But mine the forrow, mine the fault,!!!

Through the whole of the foregoing you ought to be simply affecting in your utterance, and in the concluding verfes you may use the pathetic with great advantage.

"Forbid it heav'n!" the hermit

And clafp'd her to his breast:

D

cry'd,

The