"Myself will to my darling be In earth and heaven, in glade and bower, "She shall be sportive3 as the fawn, "The floating clouds their state shall lend Nor shall she fail to see Even in the motions of the storm, Grace that shall mould the maiden's form "The stars of midnight shall be dear To her; and she shall lean her ear In many a secret place Where rivulets dance their wayward round, Shall pass into her face. "And vital feelings of delight Shall rear her form to stately height," Her virgin bosom swell; Such thoughts to Lucy I will give, (1) Law and impulse-These words and the synonymous phrase, "a power to kindle or restrain," are admirably chosen to denote the apparently opposite, yet really harmonious results produced in the mind by external nature. (2) With me, &c.-i. e. while she is in company with me among the "rocks," &c., she shall be conscious of my superintending power to animate and tranquillise the mind. (3) She shall be sportive, &c.-This stanza beautifully exemplifies the last. (4) Silence, calm-See note 1, p. 90. (5) Where rivulets, &c.-A very picturesque line, and most delicately versified. Try the effect of substituting some word of two syllables for "rivulets." (6) Stately height, &c.-Joy, it is well known, expands and elevates the form, while sorrow depresses it. Thus Nature spake. The work was done-- She died, and left to me This heath, this calm, and quiet scene; The memory of what has been, And never more will be. Wordsworth. PRIDE AND HUMILITY.' THE self-applauding bird, the peacock, see- Not so the pheasant on his charms presumes, Cowper. THE COTTAGER. YON Cottager, who weaves at her own door- (1) The comparison of the proud and humble believer to the peacock and the pheasant, and the parallel between Voltaire and the poor cottager, are exquisite pieces of eloquence and poetry."-Hazlitt. (2) Weaves-i. e. weaves lace with bobbins upon a pillow. (3) Cheerful, gay-He is cheerful who is habitually lively; gay who is occasionally or accidentally so. Cheerfulness is an evergreen; gaiety a passing flower, more brilliant for a time, but not permanent. Receives no praise; but though her lot be such, Ar the close of the day, when the hamlet is still, While his harp rang symphonious, a hermit began ; He thought as a sage, though he felt as a man:- Mourn, sweetest complainer, man calls thee to mourn; Now, gliding remote on the verge of the sky, The moon, half-extinguished, her crescent displays; She shone, and the planets were lost in her blaze. (1) Much-much praise to God. (2) Frenchman-Voltaire, who was a scoffer at religion. (3) Symphonious-from the Greek σúv, together, and pwvý, a sound—making one sound, accordant; the harp sounded at the same time with the voice. (4) Philomela-See note 3, p. 71. Roll on, thou fair orb, and with gladness pursue 66 "Tis night, and the landscape is lovely no more: I mourn; but, ye woodlands, I mourn not for you; Kind nature the embryo blossom shall save: ""Twas thus, by the light of false science betrayed, Oh pity, great Father of light, then I cried, Thy creature, that fain would not wander from thee; From doubt and from darkness thou only canst free. "And darkness and doubt are now flying away; On the cold cheek of death smiles and roses are blending, Beattie. THE DESTRUCTION OF SENNACHERIB'S ARMY. THE Assyrian came down like a wolf on the fold, (1) Wont-i. e. were once wont. (2) Cohorts-A cohort is strictly a troop of Roman soldiers only; it is here employed in a general sense, like the Greek word phalanx. I Like the leaves of the forest when summer is green,' For the angel of death spread his wings on the blast, And there lay the steed with his nostril all wide, And there lay the rider, distorted and pale, And the widows of Asshur are loud in their wail, Byron. THE POET'S PLEA, WHEN LONDON WAS THREATENED WITH ASSAULT.3 CAPTAIN, or Colonel, or Knight in arms, 4 Whose chance on these defenceless doors may seize, Guard them, and him within protect from harms. (1) The comparison of the living and dead host respectively to the spring and autumn leaves, is very apt and impressive. (2) And the might, &c.-This couplet forms a splendid close to the poem. (3) This exquisite sonnet was written in 1642, when the King's army, by its near approach, alarmed the citizens of London. (4) Milton was then living in Aldersgate Street, London. (5) Charms that call, &c.-The poet's power is like that attributed to the charms and spells of the magician-he can make thee famous-spread thy name, &c. |