XCVII.-THE WAY TO HEAVEN. J. G. HOLLAND. 1. Heaven is not gained at a single bound; 2. I count this thing to be grandly true, That a noble deed is a step towards God,- 3. We rise by things that are 'neath our feet; 4. We hope, we aspire, we resolve, we trust, When the morning calls us to life and light, But our hearts grow weary, and, ere the night, Our lives are trailing the sordid dust. 5. We hope, we resolve, we aspire, we pray, And we think that we mount the air on wings While our feet still cling to the heavy clay. 6. Wings for the angels, but feet for the men! We may borrow the wings to find the way— We may hope and resolve and aspire and pray, But our feet must rise, or we fall again. 7. Only in dreams is a ladder thrown From the weary earth to the sapphire walls; But the dreams depart, and the vision falls, And the sleeper wakes on his pillow of stone. 8. Heaven is not reached at a single bound; QUESTIONS.-What lesson is this poem intended to teach? Show clearly what it is. First Stanza. What does "heaven" mean, in the first line? What "ladder" is meant, in the second line? What are the "vaulted skies"? Second Stanza. What is meant by being "grandly true"? What is the meaning of the second line? What is spoken of as "lifting the soul"? What is meant by this? Does the doing of a good deed help us to see the truth more clearly than before, and to see more of it? Explain the last line. What is the advantage of “ pure air"? Third Stanza. Explain the first line. What is meant by " the pride deposed"? "the passion slain"? How may pride be deposed? How may passion be slain? Explain the last line. Fourth Stanza. Tell as carefully as you can in your own language the meaning of this stanza. Seventh Stanza. Find in the Bible the story alluded to in this stanza. What is the meaning of the stanza? Point out the beauty and aptness of the comparison. XCVIII. “HE GIVETH HIS BELOVED SLEEP." ELIZABETH B. BROWNING. 1. Of all the thoughts of God that are Along the Psalmist's music deep, 2. What would we give to our beloved? The poet's star-tuned harp, to sweep, 3. What do we give to our beloved? The whole earth blasted for our sake.- 4. Sleep soft, beloved!" we sometimes say, Sad dreams that through the eyelids creep. But never doleful dream again Shall break the happy slumber when 5. O earth, so full of dreary noises! 6. His dews drop mutely on the hill ; Though on its slope men sow and reap. 7. Ay, men may wonder while they scan Confirmed in such a rest to keep; 8. For me, my heart that erst did go That sees through tears the mummers leap, 9. And, friends, dear friends,-when it shall be That this low breath is gone And round my bier ye come to weep, Let One, most loving of you all, Say, "Not a tear must o'er her fall ; QUESTIONS.-What kind of poetry is this? Is it joyous, sad, pathetic, plaintive? How much force does it require? What degree of pitch? of speed? What feelings ought to be expressed in the reading of it? First Stanza. What "thought of God" is mentioned in this stanza? What precedes in thought the word "of" at the beginning of the first line? Convert the stanza into prose so as to show this. What is the meaning of the word afar," " and what does it modify? Meaning of " for " in the fifth line? Second Stanza. What is meant by the "hero's heart"? "the poet's startuned harp"? Why is it called "star-tuned"? What is declared about "the hero's heart, the poet's harp, the patriot's voice, the monarch's crown?" Third Stanza. Explain the second, third, fourth, and fifth lines, and show how they answer the question in the first line. What is the meaning of the word "undisproved"? "overweep"? Fifth Stanza. What part of speech is the word "heap" in the third line? What is the meaning of "delvéd"? Compare the fourth and fifth stanzas, and show the difference which the author points out between us and God. Seventh Stanza. What is the meaning of " scan"? Why "may men wonder," and at what? Eighth Stanza. What is the meaning of the word "mummers"? To whom is it applied in this stanza? XCIX.-THE FALL OF WOLSEY. SHAKSPEARE. Wolsey. Farewell! a long farewell, to all my greatness! |