Nor stooped their lamps the enthroned fires on high: Came wandering from afar, Gliding unchecked and calm along the liquid sky; As at a kingly throne, To lay their gold and odours sweet The earth and ocean were not hushed to hear And seraphs' burning lyres, Poured through the host of heaven the charmed clouds along, And when thou didst depart, no car of flame From fatal Calvary, With all thine own redeemed outbursting from their tombs. For thou didst bear away from earth But one of human birth; The dying felon by thy side, to be Nor o'er thy cross the clouds of vengeance brake: A little while the conscious earth did shake At that foul deed by her fierce children done; The world in darkness lay, Then basked in bright repose, beneath the cloudless sun Consenting to thy doom; Ere yet the white-robed angel shone Upon the sealed stone. And when thou didst arise, thou didst not stand Plaguing the guilty city's murtherous crew; Thy mother's coming feet, And bear the words of peace unto the faithful few EXERCISE XXI. A HYMN OF THE SEA. Bryant. [This example of blank verse requires attention to the full, slow, and stately utterance, which is its appropriate characteristic. The style of the piece, throughout, is that of sublimity, mingled with solemnity. Deep notes, prolonged "quantity," and full “median stress,” sustained by perfectly distinct articulation, are the main elements of expressive effect, in the reading of this piece. The "quality" is "effusive orotund." THE sea is mighty; but a Mightier sways His restless billows.-Thou, whose hands have scooped And keep her valleys green. A hundred realms ་ And treasure of dear lives, till, in the port, But who shall bide Thy tempest, who shall face Bears down the surges, carrying war, to smite These restless surges eat away the shores With herb and tree; sweet fountains gush; sweet airs [An example of perfect tranquillity and "pure tone," in its "subdued" form. A soft, but clear and distinct utterance prevails, throughout the reading. The movement" is "slow;" and the pauses are long.] O'ER the broad vault of heaven, so calmly bright, Fair empress of the sky! while viewing thee, With her, I view again my own dear home,- Thy rays are dancing on the gentle river, There, on its banks, I view the dear old home, Where those I most revered have borne their parts, Protect thy mouldering mansion, tend thy flowers, Listless remain, unknowing and unknown!— And hope, and fond delight, shall mingle there The following extract is an example of lively and beautiful description: it requires the "animated” utterance of "pure tone,” in its moderate force. The "movement" is varied with the character of the scene, — slow, where it is majestic, — rapid, where it is abrupt.] My second day upon the Rhine was more interesting than my first. The scenery was wilder; the castles were gloomThe rush of water was more rapid, and in a narrower bed, through narrower defiles. ier. An excellent road runs all along the banks of the river, at the foot of the mountains. The Englishman's coach was often seen upon it. The bugle of the Prussian postilion would sound now and then, and echo from hill to hill. Here and there was a cross, with some woman kneeling at its foot. The church bell would strike at times; the drum of the soldier was often rolled. Here, a chateau; there, the thickly clustering vineyards. Here, peeping over the cliffs on the plains above, the rich golden harvests waving in the breeze; and there, the hills feathered with little trees. Now the Rhine would branch off into the broad lake in quiet beauty, and, pent up anong the mountains, hiding its ingress and egress too, quite deceive you ; and anon it would foam, and fret, and chafe, in anger as it were, that it was passing in such a wild defile. Glorious river!-glorious in fact, and in fancy, too. Of all the things around, thou art alone unchanged. Castle has fallen; nations have thrown their flags upon thy cliffs; war has often vexed thy bosom; - but thou art the same as ever, in perpetual youth and beauty; and one does not marvel why feudal lord and fiery chief should seek thy sweet repose. All now is ruins, ruins, on the peak of almost every lofty cliff, - prettier, lighter, more classic, than the Gothic ruins of English castles. What dens for robbery on the far-reaching Rhine, its petty lords threw up! What a state of society, |