When use of speech was not confined A forward Hare of swiftness vain, * He'd boast his flight 'twere vain to follow; 5 A Tortoise heard his vain oration, And vented thus his indignation: 6 "O Puss, it bodes thee dire disgrace When I defy thee to the race. 'Come 'tis a match ;-nay, no denial I'll lay my shell upon the trial." 'Twas done, and done, all fair, a bet, Judges prepared, and distance set. The scampering Hare 'outstripped the wind, 10 The creeping Tortoise lagged behind, And scarce had passed a single pole, 11 When Puss had almost reach'd the goal. 12 Friend Tortoise," 13 quoth the jeering Hare, 1466 Your burden's more than you can bear: To help your speed, it were as well That I should ease you of your shell: Jog on a little faster, prythee, I'll take a nap and then be with thee." 15 The Tortoise heard his taunting jeer, But still resolved to persevere, And to the goal securely crept The bets were won, the Hare awake, LLOYD. 5 39. Sin and Death. NARRATIVE MANNER: 3 'Disgust and Dread; Narrative manner, rising again into 3 Disgust and Dread; Narrative manner, deepening into Gloom, Horror, and Rage; renews the expression of Gloom and 10 Dread. 8 9 -Before Hell Gates there sat On either side a formidable shape; The one seemed woman to the waist, and fair ; 3 Nor uglier follow the night hag, when called In secret, riding through the air she comes, Lured with the smell of infant blood, to dance With Lapland witches, while the labouring moon 4 Eclipses at their charms. 5 The other shape, (If shape it might be called that shape had none Distinguishable in member, joint or limb; 6 Or substance might be called that shadow seemed, For each seemed either,) black it stood as The likeness of a kingly crown had on. 10 The grisly monster moving onward, came With horrid strides, Hell trembled as he strode. MILTON. 40. Opening of L'Allegro. GAIETY OF MANNER: 1 Scorn and Aversion; Delight and Love. 1 Hence! loathed Melancholy, Of Cerberus, and blackest midnight born, In Stygian cave forlorn Mongst horrid shapes, and shrieks, and sights unholy! Find out some uncouth cell, Where brooding Darkness spreads his jealous wings, And the night raven sings; There under ebon shades and low-browed rocks, As ragged as thy locks, In dark Cimmerian desert ever dwell. Quips, and cranks, and wanton wiles, And, in thy right hand, lead with thee To live with her and live with thee, MILTON. 41. Opening of Il Pensieroso. SOLEMNITY OF MANNER: 2 'Scorn and Aversion mingled with Pity; Awe, mingled with * Delight, sometimes relaxing into 1 Gloom. 1 Hence! vain deluding Joys, 4 The brood of Folly without father bred! bestead, How little you Or fill the fixed mind with all your toys! Dwell in some idle brain, And fancies fond with gaudy shapes possess, As thick and numberless As the gay motes that people the sun-beams; Or likest hovering dreams The fickle pensioners of Morpheus 'train. "But hail, thou goddess, sage and holy, Hail, divinest Melancholy ! Whose saintly visage is too bright To hit the sense of mortal sight, And therefore to our weaker view Q'erlaid with black, staid Wisdom's hue; Come pensive Nun, devout and pure, Sober, stedfast and demure, All in that robe of darkest grain Over thy decent shoulders drawn. |