but is allowed in poetry. "Had sailed" (4): what pronoun is understood as the subject of this verb? III. The "Wreck of the Hesperus" is an example of the ballad, — which is a popular song, generally of a narrative character, in simple, homely verses. Change to the order: prose "Blue were her eyes." (2) "Colder and louder blew the wind." (6) "Down came the storm." (7) Copy and supply the words that express likeness (simile) :· (2) Her eyes were blue. (7) She shuddered and paused (15) The vessel swept (18) But the cruel rocks they gored her side Write in prose the story told in this ballad, using your own words as far as possible. 63. A Village Wedding in Sweden. chănt'i-eleer, a rooster. in-ter-lärd', to mix in. jō'vi-al, merry, joyous. kir'tle, short jacket. mĕaş'üreş, dance. trī-ŭmph'al, relating to a tri- 1. I WILL endeavor to describe a village wedding in Sweden. It shall be in summer-time, that there may be flowers, and in a southern province, that the bride may be fair. 2. The early song of the lark and of chanticleer are mingling in the clear morning air, and the sun, the heavenly bridegroom with golden locks, arises in the east, just as our earthly bridegroom with yellow hair arises in the south. In the yard there is a sound of voices and trampling of hoofs, and horses are led forth and saddled. The steed that is to bear the bridegroom has a bunch of flowers upon his forehead, and a garland of corn-flowers around his neck. 3. Friends from the neighboring farms come riding in, their blue cloaks streaming to the wind; and finally the happy bridegroom, with a whip in his hand, and a monstrous nosegay in the breast of his black jacket, comes forth from his chamber; and then to horse and away, towards the village where the bride already sits and waits. 4. Foremost rides the spokesman, followed by some half-dozen village musicians. Next comes the bridegroom between his two groomsmen, and then forty or fifty friends and wedding guests, half of them, perhaps, with pistols and guns in their hands. A kind of baggage-wagon brings up the rear, laden with food and drink for these merry pilgrims. 5. At the entrance of every village stands a triumphal arch, adorned with flowers, ribbons, and evergreens; and as they pass beneath it the wedding guests fire a salute. 6. On drawing near the house of the bride, four heralds ride forward to announce that a knight and his attendants are in the neighboring forest, and pray for hospitality. 7. "How many are you?" asks the bride's father. "At least three hundred," is the answer; and to this the host replies, "Yes; were you seven times as many you should all be welcome; and in token thereof receive this cup." 8. Hereupon each herald receives a can of ale; and soon after the whole jovial company comes storming into the farmer's yard, and, riding round the Maypole, which stands in the center, alights amid a grand salute and flourish of music. 9. In the hall sits the bride, with a crown upon her head and a tear in her eye, like the Virgin Mary in old church paintings. She is dressed in a red bodice and kirtle, with loose linen sleeves. There is a gilded belt around her waist; and around her neck strings of golden beads, and a golden chain. On the crown rests a wreath of wild roses, and below it another of cypress. Loose over her shoulders falls her flaxen hair; and her blue innocent eyes are fixed upon the ground. 10. O thou good soul! thou hast hard hands, but a soft heart! Thou art poor. The very ornaments thou wearest are not thine. They have been hired for this great day. Yet art thou rich: rich in health, rich in hope, rich in thy first young, fervent love. The blessings of heaven be upon thee! 11. After the parish priest has performed the simple marriage service, the dinner is served, and the bride sits between the bridegroom and the pastor. The spokesman delivers an oration, after the ancient custom of his fathers. He interlards it well with quotations from the Bible, and invites the Saviour to be present at the marriage feast, as he was at the marriage feast in Cana of Galilee. 12. The table is not sparingly set forth. Each makes a long arm, and the feast goes cheerily on. Strong drinks pass round between the courses, and here and there a pipe is smoked, while waiting for the next dish. They sit long at table; but, as all things must have an end, so must a Swedish dinner. 13. The dance follows, led off by the bride and the priest, who perform a solemn minuet together. Then the whole company join in merrier measures, till midnight comes to put a close to the village bridal. LANGUAGE EXERCISE. I. In paragraph 2 select a poetical synonym of horse. Which word (3) means very large? What expression (8) means arrives with great stir? What word (13) signifies dances? Explain "fair" (1); "chanticleer" (2); "groomsmen " (4); "sparingly" (12). Give a synonym of: "mingling" (2); "jovial" (8); “bridal" (13). II. Write the analysis : attendant marriage cheerily III. In paragraph 2 what is the sun spoken of as being? This is a figure of speech called a metaphor. Write answers as full sentences: How is a Swedish bride dressed? What does the spokesman do at the marriage feast? 64.- Great Lives Imperishable. chăn'nel, that through which | pros'trāte, stretched on the anything passes. ĕm'pire, power, dominion. ground. 1. To be cold and breathless,-to feel not and speak not, this is not the end of existence to the men who have breathed their spirits into the institutions of their country, who have stamped their characters on the pillars of the age, who have poured their hearts' blood into the channels of the public prosperity. 2. Tell me, ye who tread the sods of yon sacred height, is Warren dead? Can you not still see him, not pale and prostrate, the blood of his gallant heart pouring out of his ghastly wound, but moving resplendent over the field of honor, with the rose of heaven upon his cheek, and the fire of liberty in his eye? 3. Tell me, ye who make your pious pilgrimage to the shades of Vernon, is Washington indeed shut up in that cold and narrow house? |