The Project Gutenberg EBook of Narrative and Lyric Poems, by O. J. Stevenson

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Title: Narrative and Lyric Poems (first series) for use in the Lower School

Author: O. J. Stevenson

Release Date: August 15, 2004 [EBook #13184]

Language: English

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NARRATIVE AND LYRIC POEMS ***

Produced by Al Haines

NARRATIVE AND LYRIC POEMS

(FIRST SERIES)

FOR USE IN THE LOWER SCHOOL

WITH ANNOTATIONS BY

O. J. STEVENSON, M.A., D.PAED.,

Professor of English, Ontario Agricultural College.

TORONTO

THE COPP, CLARK COMPANY, LIMITED

Copyright, Canada, 1912, by THE COPP, CLARK COMPANY, LIMITED,

Toronto, Ontario.

PREFACE

The Narrative and Lyric Poems contained in this volume are those prescribed by the Department of Education for examination for Junior and Senior Public School Diplomas, and for the Senior High School Entrance, and Entrance into the Model Schools. (Circular 58.)

In arranging the order of the poems, the Editor has taken into consideration the character of the selections with the object both of grading them in the order of increasing difficulty, and of securing variety in the subjects treated. The teacher may, however, follow his own judgment as to the order in which the poems should be taken up in class.

In the annotations the chief points of difficulty have been explained. In the case of a number of the poems, different editions of the poets' works contain different readings. In such cases we have followed the readings that are best known and that have been recognized by the best authorities.

CONTENTS

The Meeting of the Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Moore

Jock o' Hazeldean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scott

Horatius . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Macaulay

Alice Brand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scott

The Solitary Reaper . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wordsworth

The Island of the Scots . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aytoun

Dickens in Camp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Harte

A Musical Instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. Browning

Gradatim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Holland

The Battle of the Lake Regillus . . . . . . . . Macaulay

The Vision of Sir Launfal . . . . . . . . . . . . Lowell

The Builders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Longfellow

British Freedom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wordsworth

The Courtship of Miles Standish . . . . . . . . Longfellow

Sohrab and Rustum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arnold

NARRATIVE AND LYRIC POEMS

THE MEETING OF THE WATERS.

  There is not in the wide world a valley so sweet
  As that vale in whose bosom the bright waters meet!
  Oh! the last rays of feeling and life must depart
  Ere the bloom of that valley shall fade from my heart.

  Yet it was not that nature had shed o'er the scene 5
  Her purest of crystal and brightest of green;
  'Twas not the soft magic of streamlet or hill,
  Oh! no—it was something more exquisite still.

  'Twas that friends, the beloved of my bosom, were near,
  Who made every dear scene of enchantment more dear, 10
  And who felt how the best charms of nature improve,
  When we see them reflected from looks that we love.

  Sweet vale of Avoca![1] how calm could I rest
  In thy bosom of shade with the friends I love best,
  Where the storms that we feel in this cold world should cease, 15
  And our hearts, like thy waters, be mingled in peace!

—Moore.

[1] Avoca. A valley and river in the County of Wicklow, Ireland. The name signifies "The Meeting of the Waters."

JOCK O' HAZELDEAN.

  "Why weep ye by the tide, ladie?
    Why weep ye by the tide?
  I'll wed ye to my youngest son,
    And ye sall[1] be his bride:
  And ye sall be his bride, ladie, 5
    Sae comely to be seen"—
  But aye she loot[2] the tears down fa'
    For Jock o' Hazeldean.

  "Now let this wilfu' grief be done,
    And dry that cheek so pale; 10
  Young Frank is chief of Errington,
    And lord of Langley-dale;
  His step is first in peaceful ha',
    His sword in battle keen"—
  But aye she loot the tears down fa' 15
    For Jock o' Hazeldean.

  "A chain of gold ye sall not lack,
    Nor braid to bind your hair;
  Nor mettled hound, nor managed[3] hawk,
    Nor palfrey fresh and fair; 20
  And you, the foremost o' them a'
    Shall ride our forest-queen"—
  But aye she loot the tears down fa'
    For Jock o' Hazeldean.

  The kirk was deck'd at morning-tide, 25
    The tapers glimmer'd fair;
  The priest and bridegroom wait the bride,
    And dame and knight are there.
  They sought her baith by bower and ha'.
    The ladie was not seen! 30
  She's o'er the border, and awa'
    Wi' Jock o' Hazeldean!

—Scott

[1] sall. shall.

[2] loot. let.

[3] managed. trained.

HORATIUS.

A LAY MADE ABOUT THE YEAR OF THE CITY CCCLX.

According to legend, Tarquinius Superbus, or Tarquin the Proud, the last of the early kings of Rome, was driven out of the city, partly on account of his own tyranny, and partly because of the misdeeds of his son Sextus Tarquin. The immediate cause of the expulsion of the Tarquins was "the deed of shame," committed by Sextus against Lucretia, the wife of one of the Roman governors. After two unsuccessful attempts to regain the throne, Tarquinius Superbus sought the aid of the Etruscans and Latins, and under the leadership of Lars Porsena, the head of the Etruscan League, the combined forces marched upon Rome. It was then that the incident recorded in the story of Horatius is supposed to have taken place. After the defence of the bridge by Horatius, Lars Porsena laid siege to the city and at last reduced it to submission. He did not, however, insist upon the reinstatement of the Tarquins. A fourth and last attempt was made by Tarquin the Proud to regain the throne, by the aid of his Latin allies, under