Whispering with white lips: the foe! they come! they come!
Hush, I say, hush!
Other emotional states have their corresponding qualities of voice, such, for example, as the quality of oppressed feeling and the quality expressing agitation.
To conclude: it must be carefully borne in mind that the reader should never strive to produce a certain quality apart from the emotion which should precede. By force alone, for example, he will succeed in producing mere sound without the quality. Nor are any of the examples given above, in dealing with the various elements of vocal expression, intended for practice in voice gymnastics apart from the preliminary state of which they are the vocal expression. They are intended merely as illustrations of the laws which govern correct speech.
THE HIGH SCHOOL READER
THE BANNER OF ST. GEORGE
Words by Shapcott Wensley: music by Sir Edward Elgar
It comes from the misty ages, The banner of England's might, The blood-red cross of the brave St. George, That burns on a field of white! It speaks of the deathless heroes5 On fame's bright page inscrolled, And bids great England ne'er forget The glorious deeds of old!
O'er many a cloud of battle The banner has floated wide;10 It shone like a star o'er the valiant hearts That dashed the Armada's pride! For ever amid the thunders The sailor could do or die, While tongues of flame leaped forth below,15 And the flag of St. George was high!
O ne'er may the flag beloved Unfurl in a strife unblest, But ever give strength to the righteous arm, And hope to the hearts oppressed!20 It says to the passing ages: "Be brave if your cause be right, Like the soldier saint whose cross of red Still burns on your banner white!"
Great race, whose empire of splendour25 Has dazzled the wondering world! May the flag that floats o'er thy wide domains Be long to all winds unfurled! Three crosses in concord blended, The banner of Britain's might!30 But the central gem of the ensign fair Is the cross of the dauntless Knight!