Thy goodness beyond thought, and power divine. 2. Fairest of stars, last in the train of night, If better thou belong not to the dawn, Sure pledge of day, that crownest the smiling morn 3. Ye mists and exhalations, that now rise From hill or steaming lake, dusky or gray, His praise, ye winds that from four quarters blow, 4. Join voices, all ye living souls; ye birds, The earth and stately tread or lowly creep; To hill or valley, fountain or fresh shade, I. Verse 1.-What "great epic poem"? An epic is a narrative poem of elevated character, generally describing the exploits of heroes.-Who wrote the Iliad?-the Eneid?-the Divina Commedia? [Dan'te wrote the latter.] Tell what you can about them. V. 3. What "king's trial"?-Meaning of "polemical"?-What is meant by "freedom of the press" ?-Who was the "Protector"? V. 4. What is meant by "restoration of Charles the Second"?— "Public life"? V. 6. A typical poem" is one that has certain leading characteristics, of which the one referred to is the type, and which other poems imitate or copy. "Samson Agonistes" [Samson the Athlete].-Meaning of "buskin and mask"?" Hellas," Greece. What figure of speech is here used?-Sophocles, a Greek tragic poet, born about 495 B.C.-Meaning of tragic, tragedy, tragedian.-" Unities of the drama." See p. 106, v. 3. "Germanic feelings and ideas." See the "Puritan austerity." Who were the Puritans?" Classical See p. 106, v. 3. same. forms." V. 7. Who were the "three poets" here referred to? V. 8.-" Titan," one of the fabled giants of ancient mythology.— What figures are embraced in the phrases, "an intellectual Titan," a blind Samson,' "" the Philistines"? II. What simile in the last verse of The Death of Samson ? — V. 5. "Lyrical poetry"-among the ancients, poetry sung to the lyre; among the moderns, poetry that expresses the individual emotions of the poet, as opposed to epic poetry, which details external circumstances and events. III. Point out the numerous examples of apostrophe and personification in this selection.-V. 2. "Fairest of stars." The planet Venus, at certain seasons called "the evening star," at others, "the morning star." CHAPTER IV.-MISCELLANEOUS. I.-Elsie. 1. On the table a goblet of sweet, fresh milk; On the sofa a banner of crimson silk; Over the picture a garland of flowers; On the hearth a bright fire, giving cheer to the hours; 2. Baby drank up the fresh goblet of milk; - John marched away with the banner of silk; Like flowers blooming fair from a wayside seed. Mrs. E D. Harrington. What are here represented as fleeting and transitory ?-Designed to picture forth what?" Planting a thought." What figure is this?— What simile at the close of the second verse? 1. II.-Hannah Binding Shoes. Poor lone Hannah, Sitting at the window binding shoes, Sitting, stitching, in a mournful muse. Bright-eyed beauty once was she, Spring and winter, Hannah's at the window binding shoes. 2. 3. 4. 5. Not a neighbor Passing, nod or answer will refuse "Is there from the fishers any news?" Hannah's at the window binding shoes. Fair young Hannah, Ben, the sunburnt fisher, gayly wooes; For a willing heart and hand he sues. And the waves are laughing so! Hannah leaves her window and her shoes. May is passing; 'Mid the apple-boughs a pigeon cooes. Hannah shudders, For the mild south wester mischief brews. Hannah's at the window binding shoes. "Tis November; Now no tear her wasted cheek bedews. Not a sail returning will she lose, Whispering hoarsely, "Fishermen, Hannah's at the window binding shoes. Bleach and tear the ragged shore she views. Never one has brought her any news. Chase the white sails o'er the sea: Hopeless, faithful, Hannah's at the window binding shoes. Lucy Larcom. CHAPTER V.-JOHN BUNYAN, 1628-1688. I.-Biographical. 1. Right in the midst of the great and shining lights of the Augustan Age of English literature, appears John Bunyan, the celebrated author of the world-renowned Pilgrim's Progress from this World to that which is to come. The history of this man, and the character and reputation of his writings, illustrate, in a very marked manner, the times in which he lived. Of his style of writing, Southey says, "His is a homespun style, not a manufactured one. If it is not a well of English undefiled to which the poet as well as the philologist must repair, if they would drink of the living waters, it is a clear stream of current English, the vernacular speech of his age, sometimes, indeed, in its rusticity and coarseness, but always in its plainness and its strength." 2. The poet Cowper thus alludes to Bunyan, but does not name him, lest the name should provoke a sneer! 66 'Ingenious dreamer! in whose well-told tale Sweet fiction and sweet truth alike prevail: Whose humorous vein, strong sense, and simple style, |