30 How it swells! How it dwells On the Future! how it tells Of the rapture * that impels To the swinging and the ringing Of the bells, bells, bells, bells, 35 To the rhyming and the chiming of the bells! 40 Hear the loud alarum-bells- What a tale of terror, now, tells! their turbulency In the startled ear of night How they scream out their affright! * In a clamorous* appealing to the mercy of the fire, 45 In a mad expostulation with the deaf and 50 55 60 65 * frantic fire, By the twanging And the clanging, How the danger ebbs and flows Yet the ear distinctly tells, In the jangling, And the wrangling, ; How the danger sinks and swells By the sinking or the swelling in the anger of the bells Of the bells, Of the bells, bells, bells, bells, Bells, bells, bells, Rapture, very great delight or pleasure. Brazen bells, these are the bells that startle the sleepers in the night with the alarm of fire. Turbulency, tumult, great noise. In the clamour and the clangour* of the bells! together." Iron bells. these are Hear the tolling of the bells— the death knell or What a world of solemn thought their monody passing bells, which are tolled for a departing soul. Monody, lament. Menace, threat. Monotone, a repetition of the same note in music. Ghouls, demons in Paan, song of compels ! In the silence of the night, At the melancholy menace * of their tone! From the rust within their throats And the people-ah, the people- And who, tolling, tolling, tolling And their king it is that tolls; Rolls A pæan* from the bells! Keeping time, time, time, To the moaning and the groaning of the bells. THE SCRIPTORIUM.*-Longfellow. Ir is growing dark! Yet one line more, Let me pause awhile, and wash my pen; Thus have I laboured on and on, 15 20 25 Of this same gentle Evangelist,* * Ah me! when I think of that vision divine I stand in awe of the terrible curse, Like the trump of doom, in the closing verse. Record, write down, inscribe. Blemish, stain or spot. Mystery, something difficult to under stand. Take aught from the book of that Prophecy, Aught, anything. Lest my part too should be taken away From the Book of Life on the Judgment Day. This is well written, though I say it! * I should not be afraid to display it, 30 Or of Theodosius, who of old Wrote the Gospels in letters of gold! Would not bear away the palm* from mine, 35 If we should compare them line for line. * There, now, is an initial* letter! Saint Ulric himself never made a better ! Display, show. Folio, a book (literally, a leaf). The palm, the prize. Initial, the letter beginning a name. Scriptorium, a place set apart for transcribing, illuminating, and writing books. This extract is taken from The Golden Legend. How the swallows twitter under the eaves ! Gospel, good tidings; there are four of them. Parley, to speak, to confer. I can just catch a glimpse of her head and breast. I can see no more! Through the valley yonder The Devil's own and only prayer! The dusty road is brown with rain, 60 65 70 Corridor, a passageway. Maries, the holy women who ministered to Jesus Christ. It will do for the face of some beautiful Saint, I will go down to the corridor,' 75 And try to see that face once more; THE SHIPWRECK.-Byron. THERE were two fathers in this ghastly* crew, But he died early: and when he was gone, I can do nothing ;" and he saw him thrown Ghastly, ghost-like, pale, hideous. Robust, strong, healthy. Messmate, a mate or com panion who eats at the same table with another. The other father had a weaklier child, ΙΟ Of a soft cheek, and aspect* delicate; 20 With the deep, deadly thought, that they must part. And o'er him bent his sire,* and never raised Sire, father. His eyes from off his face, but wiped the foam come, And the boy's eyes, which the dull film half glazed, 25 The boy expired. The father held the clay, And looked upon it long; and when at last * &c., the rain so much desired, for the boy was dying of thirst. 30 'Twas borne by the rude wave wherein 'twas cast; Then he himself sunk down all dumb and shivering,* Shivering, And gave no sign of life, save his limbs quivering.* Wistfully, longingly. trembling. Quivering, shaking. 'Twas twilight, and the sunless day went down 35 Which, if withdrawn, would but disclose the frown |