A history of English literature : $b A practical text-book

Name: A history of English literature : $b A practical text-book
Author: Albert, Edward

Albert, Edward

English literature -- History and criticism

_Preface to the “Fables”_


3. The extracts given below illustrate the development of the stopped
couplet. Point out briefly the change that comes over the meter, paying
attention to (_a_) the regularity of the accent, (_b_) the pause, and
(_c_) the cæsura.

    (1) The sable mantle of the silent night
        Shut from the world the ever-joysome light.
        Care fled away, and softest slumbers please
        To leave the court for lowly cottages.
        Wild beasts forsook their dens on woody hills,
        And sleightful otters left the purling rills;
        Rooks to their nests in high woods now were flung,
        And with their spread wings shield their naked young.
        When thieves from thickets to the cross-ways stir,
        And terror frights the lonely passenger;
        When naught was heard but now and then the howl
        Of some vile cur, or whooping of the owl.
                                         WILLIAM BROWNE, 1620

    (2) Oh, virtue’s pattern, glory of our times,
        Sent of past days to expiate the crimes;
        Great King, but better far than thou art great,
        Whom state not honours but who honours state;
        By wonder born, by wonder first installed,
        By wonder after to new kingdoms called;
        Young, kept by wonder from home-bred alarms,
        Old, saved by wonder from pale traitor’s harms,
        To be for this thy reign, which wonders brings,
        A king of wonder, wonder unto kings.
        If Pict, Dane, Norman, thy smooth yoke had seen,
        Pict, Dane, and Norman, had thy subjects been;
        If Brutus knew the bliss thy rule doth give,
        E’en Brutus joy would under thee to live.
        For thou thy people dost so dearly love,
        That they a father more than prince thee prove.
                                               DRUMMOND, 1630

    (3) The seas are quiet when the winds give o’er;
        So, calm are we when passions are no more!
        For then we know how vain it was to boast
        Of fleeting things, so certain to be lost.
        Clouds of affection from our younger eyes
        Conceal that emptiness which age descries.

        The soul’s dark cottage, battered and decayed,
        Lets in new light through chinks that time has made;
        Stronger by weakness, wiser, men become
        As they draw near to their eternal home.
        Leaving the old, both worlds at once they view,
        That stand upon the threshold of the new.
                                               WALLER, 1687

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

A history of English literature : $b A practical text-bookAlbert, Edward

History

A history of English literature : $b A practical text-book

Albert, Edward

English literature -- History and criticism

_Preface to the “Fables”_


3. The extracts given below illustrate the development of the stopped
couplet. Point out briefly the change that comes over the meter, paying
attention to (_a_) the regularity of the accent, (_b_) the pause, and
(_c_) the cæsura.

    (1) The sable mantle of the silent night
        Shut from the world the ever-joysome light.
        Care fled away, and softest slumbers please
        To leave the court for lowly cottages.
        Wild beasts forsook their dens on woody hills,
        And sleightful otters left the purling rills;
        Rooks to their nests in high woods now were flung,
        And with their spread wings shield their naked young.
        When thieves from thickets to the cross-ways stir,
        And terror frights the lonely passenger;
        When naught was heard but now and then the howl
        Of some vile cur, or whooping of the owl.
                                         WILLIAM BROWNE, 1620

    (2) Oh, virtue’s pattern, glory of our times,
        Sent of past days to expiate the crimes;
        Great King, but better far than thou art great,
        Whom state not honours but who honours state;
        By wonder born, by wonder first installed,
        By wonder after to new kingdoms called;
        Young, kept by wonder from home-bred alarms,
        Old, saved by wonder from pale traitor’s harms,
        To be for this thy reign, which wonders brings,
        A king of wonder, wonder unto kings.
        If Pict, Dane, Norman, thy smooth yoke had seen,
        Pict, Dane, and Norman, had thy subjects been;
        If Brutus knew the bliss thy rule doth give,
        E’en Brutus joy would under thee to live.
        For thou thy people dost so dearly love,
        That they a father more than prince thee prove.
                                               DRUMMOND, 1630

    (3) The seas are quiet when the winds give o’er;
        So, calm are we when passions are no more!
        For then we know how vain it was to boast
        Of fleeting things, so certain to be lost.
        Clouds of affection from our younger eyes
        Conceal that emptiness which age descries.

        The soul’s dark cottage, battered and decayed,
        Lets in new light through chinks that time has made;
        Stronger by weakness, wiser, men become
        As they draw near to their eternal home.
        Leaving the old, both worlds at once they view,
        That stand upon the threshold of the new.
                                               WALLER, 1687

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

A history of English literature : $b A practical text-book — John Shaqi

A history of English literature : $b A practical text-book

A history of English literature : $b A practical text-book

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