EXERCISE VIII.—SCANNING.
Divide the following VERSES into the feet which compose them, and distinguish by marks the long and the short syllables.
Example I.—"Our Daily Paths"—By F. Hemans.
"There's Beauty all around our paths, if but our watchful eyes
Can trace it 'midst familiar things, and through their lowly guise;
We may find it where a hedgerow showers its blossoms o'er our way,
Or a cottage-window sparkles forth in the last red light of day."
Example II.—"Fetching Water"—Anonymous.
"Early on a sunny morning, while the lark was singing sweet,
Came, beyond the ancient farmhouse, sounds of lightly-tripping feet.
'Twas a lowly cottage maiden, going,—why, let young hearts tell,—
With her homely pitcher laden, fetching water from the well."
Example III.—Deity.
Alone thou sitst above the everlasting hills
And all immensity of space thy presence fills:
For thou alone art God;—as God thy saints adore thee;
Jehovah is thy name;—they have no gods before thee.—G. Brown.
Example IV.—Impenitence.
The impenitent sinner whom mercy empowers,
Dishonours that goodness which seeks to restore;
As the sands of the desert are water'd by showers.
Yet barren and fruitless remain as before.—G. Brown.
Example V.—Piety.
Holy and pure are the pleasures of piety,
Drawn from the fountain of mercy and love;
Endless, exhaustless, exempt from satiety,
Rising unearthly, and soaring above.—G. Brown.
Example VI.—A Simile.
The bolt that strikes the tow'ring cedar dead,
Oft passes harmless o'er the hazel's head.—G. Brown.
Example VII.—A Simile.
"Yet to their general's voice they soon obey'd
Innumerable. As when the potent rod
Of Amram's son, in Egypt's evil day,
Wav'd round the coast, up call'd a pitchy cloud
Of locusts, warping on the eastern wind,
That o'er the realm of impious Pharaoh hung
Like night, and darken'd all the land of Nile."—Milton.
Example VIII.—Elegiac Stanza.
Thy name is dear—'tis virtue balm'd in love;
Yet e'en thy name a pensive sadness brings.
Ah! wo the day, our hearts were doom'd to prove,
That fondest love but points affliction's stings!—G. Brown.
Example IX.—Cupid.
Zephyrs, moving bland, and breathing fragrant
With the sweetest odours of the spring,
O'er the winged boy, a thoughtless vagrant,
Slumb'ring in the grove, their perfumes fling.—G. Brown.
Example X.—Divine Power.
When the winds o'er Gennesaret roar'd,
And the billows tremendously rose,
The Saviour but utter'd the word,
They were hush'd to the calmest repose.—G. Brown.
Example XI.—Invitation.
Come from the mount of the leopard, spouse,
Come from the den of the lion;
Come to the tent of thy shepherd, spouse,
Come to the mountain of Zion.—G. Brown.
Example XII.—Admonition.
In the days of thy youth,
Remember thy God:
O! forsake not his truth,
Incur not his rod.—G. Brown.
Example XIII.—Commendation.
Constant and duteous,
Meek as the dove,
How art thou beauteous,
Daughter of love!—G. Brown.