Now, here's another :-When you paint to me XXV.-BRUCE AND THE SPIDER.-Eliza Cook, KING BRUCE of Scotland flung himself down in a lonely mood to think! 'Tis true he was monarch, and wore a crown, but his heart was beginning to sink. For he had been trying to do a great deed to make his people glad; He had tried and tried, but couldn't succeed, and so he became quite sad. He flung himself down in low despair, as grieved as man could be; And after a while, as he pondered there, "I'll give it all up," said he. Now just at that moment a spider dropped, with its silken cobweb clue; And the king, in the midst of his thinking stopped-to see what the spider would do! 'Twas a long way up to the ceiling dome; and it hung by a rope so fine, That how it would get to its cobweb home, King Bruce could not divine. It soon began to cling and crawl straight up with strong endeavour,- But down it came with a slipping sprawl, as near to the ground as ever. Again the spider swung below, but again it quickly mounted; Till up and down, now fast, now slow, nine brave attempts were counted. "Sure," cried the king, "that foolish thing will strive no more to climb, When it toils so hard to reach and cling, and tumbles every time." Up again it went, inch by inch, higher and higher he got; And a bold little run at the very last pinch, put him into his native spot. "Bravo, bravo!" the king cried out, "all honour to those who try: The spider up there defied despair; he conquered-and why shouldn't I?" Again King Robert roused his soul; and history tells the tale, That he tried once more,-'twas at Bannockburn,—and that time he did not fail! XXVI. THE SPINSTER'S COMPLAINT NUMBER ONE.-Thomas Hood. very hard! and so it is, to live in such a row, At Number Seven there was a sale-the goods had quite a run! And here I've got my single lot on hand at Number One! My mother often sits at work, and talks of props and stays, The Why can't he come again without the "Phoenix” and the "Sun"? We cannot always have a flue on fire at Number One. I am not old! I am not plain, nor awkward in my gait! XXVII.-THE WOMAN OF THREE COWS.-J. C. Mangan. O WOMAN of Three Cows, agragh! don't let your tongue thus rattle! Oh, don't be saucy-don't be stiff, because you may have cattle! I have seen and here's my hand to you, I only say what's true-a many a one with TWICE your stock, not half so proud as you. Good luck to you! don't scorn the poor, and don't be their despiser; for, worldly wealth soon melts away, and cheats the very miser; and death soon strips the proudest wreath from haughty human brows: then don't be stiff, and don't be proud, good Woman of Three Cows! See where Momonia's heroes lie, proud Owen More's descendants! 'Tis they that won the glorious name, and had the grand attendants! If they were forced to bow to fate, as every mortal bows, can you be proud-can you be stiff--my Woman of Three Cows? Your neighbour's poor-and you, it seems, are big with vain ideas-because, inagh! you've got three cows-one more, I see, than she has : that tongue of yours wags more, at times, than charity allows;-but, if you're strong, be merciful!— GREAT Woman of Three Cows! Ah! there you go!-You still, of course, keep up your scornful bearing! and I'm too poor to hinder you! but, by the cloak I'm wearing, if I had but FOUR Cows myself, even though you were my spouse, I'd thwack you well to cure your pride, my Woman of Three Cows! MISCELLANEOUS READINGS IN POETRY. To assist students in the attainment of Expression,-(the proper management of the voice and of the organs of speech, in combination with articulative distinctness, being familiarized by the first part of the Introduction, pages 18 to 78,)-marginal directions are inserted to suggest the proper spirit with which the various passages should be read. The poetical extracts are placed first; because experience has proved that the initiatory study of rhythmical reading has a most beneficial effect in imparting melody and variety to the irregular structure of the prosaic form. The mode of printing these introductory poetical extracts will be found useful in tending to destroy that measured monotony and unmeaning chant with which the unskilful reader associates the delivery of verse. A large portion of the poetry is, however, printed in the ordinary mode. I.-A PLEA FOR MERCY.-Shakspeare. ARGUMENTATIVE MANNER-MIDDLE TONE-EARNESTNESS-SLOW. THE quality of mercy is not strained; it droppeth, Exhortation as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath. It is twice bless'd; it blesseth him that Pleasure gives, and him that takes; 'tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes the throned monarch better than his crown; his sceptre shows the force of temporal power, the attribute to awe and majesty, wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings: but, mercy is above this sceptred sway; it is enthroned in the hearts of kings, it is an attribute to God him- Reverence self; and earthly power doth then show likest God's, when mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Man, though Earnest advice justice be thy plea, consider this, that, in the course tion of justice, none of us should see salvation. We do Solemn reflecpray for mercy; and that same prayer doth teach us all to render the deeds of mercy. II. THE SEVEN AGES.-Shakspeare. NARRATIVE MANNER-IMITATIVE. rative ALL the world's a stage, and all the men and women Serious narmerely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man, in his time, plays many Slight mimiory 1Sulkily 2Languishingly Animation Mock gravity parts; his acts being-Seven Ages. At first, the Infant,mewling and puking in the nurse's arms. And then, the whining School-boy, with his satchel and shining morning face; 'creeping, like snail, unwillingly to school. And then, the Lover, sighing like furnace, with a woful ballad made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then, a Soldier, full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard; jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel; seeking the bubble, reputation, even in the cannon's mouth. And then, the Justice, in fair round belly with good capon lined, with eyes severe and beard of formal cut, full of wise saws and modern instances;-and so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts into the lean and slippered Pantaloon, with spectacles on nose and pouch on side; his youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide for his Slightly imita shrunk shank; and his big, manly voice, turning again to childish treble, pipes and whistles in the sound. Last scene of all, that ends this strange, eventful history, is-second childishness and mere oblivion; sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste,-sans every thing! Seriously tive Solemnity Reproach Contempt Upbraiding Admiration Reproach Contempt III.-SPEECH OF MARULLUS TO THE ROMAN MOB. Shakspeare. VEHEMENT EXPRESSION-LOUD-QUICK. WHEREFORE rejoice? That Cæsar comes in tri- |