8. To whom, in brief, thus Abdiel stern reply'd. 5 Yet chains in Hell, not realms expect: meanwhile From me, (return'd as erst thou saidst from flight,) This greeting on thy impious crest receive. (o) So saying, a noble stroke he lifted high, Which hung not, but so swift with tempest fell 10 On the proud crest of Satan, that no sight, Nor motion of swift thought, less could his shield, Such ruin intercept; ten paces huge He back recoil'd; the tenth on bended knee -Now storming fury rose, And clamor such as heard in Heav'n till now 20 Was never; arms on armour clashing, bray'd Horrible discord, and the maddening wheels Of brazen chariots rag'd; dire was the noise Of conflict; over head the dismal hiss Of fiery darts in flaming vollies flew, 25 And flying, vaulted either host with fire. So under fiery cope together rush'd Both battles main, with ruinous assault And inextinguishable rage; all Heaven Resounded; and had Earth been then, all Earth 30 Had to her centre shook. -Long time in even scale The battle hung; till Satan, who that day Prodigious pow'r had shown, and met in arms No equal, ranging through the dire attack 35 Of fighting Seraphim confus'd, at length Saw where the sword of Michael smote, and fell'd Squadrons at once; with huge two-handed sway, Brandish'd aloft, the horrid edge came down 40 Wide wasting; such destruction to withstand He hasted, and oppos'd the rocky orb Of tenfold adamant, his ample shield, A vast circumference. At his approach The great Archangel from his warlike toil Surceas'd, and glad, as hoping here to end In horror; from each hand with speed retired, voice. Should combat, and their jarring spheres confound. Milton. The following examples are selected as a specimen of those pas sages which are most favourable to the cultivation of a top to the In pronouncing these, the reader should aim to get up his voice to the highest note on which he can articulate with freedom and distinctness. See remarks, page 57, bottom. If the student wishes for more examples of this kind, he is referred to EXERCISE 5, p. 84. 9. Has a wise and good God furnished us with desires which have no correspondent óbjects, and raised expectations in our breasts, with no other view but to disappoint them?—Are we to be forever in search of happiness, without arriving at it, either in this world or the next?-Are we formed with a passionate longing for immortality, and yet destined to perish, after this short period of exístence ?— Are we prompted to the noblest actions, and supported through life, under the severest hardships and most delicate temptations, by the hopes of a reward which is visionary and chimérical, by the expectation of praises, of which it is utterly impossible for us ever to have the least knowledge or enjoyment? 10. (°) “Whence and what art thou, execrable shape. That dar'st, though grim and terrible, advance Thy miscreated front athwart my way To yonder gates? through them I mean to pass, 5 That be assured, without leave ask'd of thee: Retire, or taste thy folly; and learn by proof, Hell-born, not to contend with spirits of Heav'n." To whom the goblin full of wrath reply'd; (°) "Art thou that traitor Angel? art thou he, Drew after him the third part of Heav'n's sons, And reckon'st thou thyself with spi'rits of Heav'n, TRANSITION. Page 60. EXERCISE 20. The Exercises of the foregoing head were designed to accustom the voice to exertion on the extreme notes of its compass, high and b.w. The following Exercises under this head are intended to acistom the voice to those sudden transitions which sentiment often requires, not only as to pitch, but also as to quantity. The Power of Eloquence. AN ODE. I HEARD ye those loud contending waves, And bid the raging tumult cease? With syren tongue, and speaking eyes, Fastens on the Olynthian towers. The two preceding are good examples of the intensive, in distincun from the common slide. 3 (°) "Where rests the sword?-where sleep the brave? Awake! Cecropia's ally save From the fury of the blast; Burst the storm on Phocis' walls Up! or freedom breathes her last!" 4 (6) The jarring States, obsequious now, 5 Borne by the tide of words along, Let us conquer him—or die!" 6 (-) Ah Eloquence! thou wast undone Wast from thy native country driven, When Tyranny eclips'd the sun, And blotted out the stars of heaven. 7 When Liberty from Greece withdrew, And o'er the Adriatic flew, To where the Tiber pours his urn She struck the rude Tarpeian rock; Sparks were kindled by the shockAgain thy fires began to burn! 8 Now, shining forth, thou mad'st complian The Conscript Fathers to thy charms; Rous'd the world-bestriding giant, Sinking fast in Slavery's arms! 9 I see thee stand by Freedom's fane, 10 First-born of Liberty divine! Put on Religion's bright array; Speak! and the starless grave shall shine 11 Rise, kindling with the orient beam ; And point the way to heaven-to God. EXERCISE 21. Cary Hohenlinden....Description of a Battle with Firearms. 1 (0) On Linden, when the sun was low, All bloodless lay the untrodden snow, And dark as winter was the flow Of Iser rolling rapidly. 2 But Linden saw anòther sight, <) When the drum beat at dead of night, 3 By torch and trumpet fast arrayed, 4 (<) Then shook the hills with thunder riven, 5 And redder yèt those fires shall glow, Of Iser rolling rapidly. 6 'Tis morn, but scarce yon lurid sun Can pierce the war clouds, rolling dun, Shout in their sulph'rous canopy. 7 The combat deepens:-(0°) On, ye brave, Who rush to glory, or the grave! |