Disorder'd stops to fhun the danger near,

Then walks with faintnefs on, and looks with fear;

Read thefe lines as if you abfolutely faw the object before you.

So feem'd the fire, when far upon the road,

The fhining spoil his wily partner fhow'd,

He stepp'd with filence, walk'd with trembling heart,
And much he wish'd, but durft not ask to part;
Murm'ring he lifts his eyes, and thinks it hard
That generous actions meet a bafe reward.
All these with apparent astonishment at what is done.

While thus they pafs, the fun his glory throuds,
The changing fkies hang out their fable clouds;
A found in air prefag'd approaching rain,

From the words "the fun" to the end of the last line to be spoken with a look above, as if you were observing the change in the elements.

And beasts to covert fcud across the plain.

Let this line go trippingly from the tongue-"fcud" is the only word you may mark.

Warn'd by the figns the wand'ring pair retreat,
To feek for shelter at a neighbouring feat.
'Twas built with turrets, on a rifing ground,
And strong, and large, and unimprov❜d around:
Its owner's temper, tim'rous and fevere,
Unkind and griping, caus'd a desert there.

As near the mifer's heavy doors they drew,
Fierce rifing gufts with fudden fury blew;
The nimble lightning mix'd with show'rs began,
And o'er their heads loud rolling thunder ran.
Here long they knock, but knock or call in vain,
Driv'n by the wind, and batter'd by the rain.

Give this description in a strong impressive manner—

At length fome pity warm'd the master's breast,
('Twas then, his threshold first receiv'd a guest)
Slow creaking turns the door with jealous care,

Speak the last line in a flow, cautious manner, as it were, to give full beauty to it,

And half he welcomes in the fhiv'ring pair;
One frugal faggot lights the naked walls,
And nature's fervor thro' their limbs recalls:
Bread of the coarsest fort, with eager wine,
(Each hardly granted) ferv'd them both to dine;
And when the tempest first appear'd to cease,
A ready warning bid them part in peace.

Those words which particularly mark the wretchedness defcribed, ought to be dwelt upon more than the othersfuch as frugal faggot, naked walls, bread of the coarseft fort, &c.

With still remark the pond'ring her nit view'd
In one fo rich, a life fo poor and rude;
"And why should fuch" (within himself he cried)
"Lock the loft wealth a thoufand want befide?"

But

But what new marks of wonder foon took place
In every fettling feature of his face!

When from his veft the young companion bore
That cup, the gen'rous landlord own'd before,
And paid profufely with the precious bowl
The ftinted kindness of this churlish soul.

Mark finted and churlish in the laft line.

But now the clouds in airy tumults fly,
The fun emerging opes an azure sky;

We always recommend, as we have frequently pointed out in several paffages, that when the poet describes the fky in a convulfed or ferener state, the reader occasionally to caft a look above, as during the course of a poem, the practice of this method, in proper places, gives a pleafing variety to your reading.

A frefher green the smelling leaves display,
And glitt'ring as they tremble, cheer the day;
The weather courts them from the poor retreat,
And the glad mafter bolts the wary gate.

While hence they walk, the pilgrim's bofom
wrought

With all the travel of uncertain thought;
His partner's acts without their cause appear,
'Twas there a vice, and feem'd a madness here:
Detesting that, and pitying this he goes,

Loft and confounded with the various flows..

Thefe lines in a manner expreffive of doubt and perplexity.

Now night's dim shades again involv'd the sky;
Look up as before recommended.

Again the wand'rers want a place to lie,
Again they fearch, and find a lodging nigh.
The foil improv'd around, the manfion neat,
And neither poorly low, nor idly great:
It seem'd to speak its master's turn of mind,
Content, and not for praise, but virtue kind.

Hither the walkers turn their weary feet,

Then bless the manfion, and the master greet: Their greeting fair, beftow'd with modeft guife, The courteous master hears, and thus replies: Alter your voice for the four following lines:

"Without a vain, without a grudging heart, "To him who gives us all, I yield a part; "From him you come, for him accept it here, "A frank and fober, more than coftly cheer." He spoke, and bid the welcome table spread, Then talk'd of virtue till the time of bed; When the grave household round his hall repair, Warn'd by a bell, and close the hours with pray'r. The latter part of the laft line grave and folemn.

At length the world renew'd by calm repose,
Was ftrong for toil, the dapple morn arofe;
Before the pilgrim's part, the younger crept

From the words "the younger crept" prepare by your look and manner the hearer for what is to follow.

I

Near

Near the clos'd cradle where an infant flept,

And writh'd his neck: the landlord's little pride,

Mark the word writh'd-the last part of the line affectingly expreffive.

O ftrange return! grew black, and gasp'd, and died.
Horror of horrors! what! his only fon!

Speak this line in a inanner expressive of horror.

How look'd the hermit when the fact was done?

With great amazement and terror.

Not hell, tho' hell's black jaws in funder part,
And breathe blue fire, could more affault his heart:
Confus'd and ftruck with filence at the deed,

He flies, but trembling fails to fly with speed."

Still keep up to the hearer by your whole manner the horror-ftruck fituation described by the poet.

His fteps the youth purfues; the country lay
Perplex'd with roads, a fervant shew'd the way;
A river crofs'd the path; the paffage o'er
Was nice to find; the fervant trod before;
Long arms of oaks an open bridge fupply'd,

And deep the waves beneath the bending glide.

In all defcriptions let your manner defcribe, as well as the page.

The youth who seem'd to watch a time to fin,
Approach'd the careless guide and thruft him in;,