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lished pronunciation; but, in some cases, it is best to give both the metrical and the customary accent; thus, in the lines,

"Our supréme foe in time may much relent
Encamp their legions, or, with obscure wing-

the accent is placed on both syllables of the words supreme and obscure.

In the reading of rhyme, great care is necessary in avoiding everything approaching to mere sing-song.

It is believed that the preceding remarks upon the art of reading, though very much condensed, embrace all the principles necessary to form a good reader; and it is hoped they will receive particular attention from the scholar, before he enters upon the following reading

exercises.

NOTE. The first two extracts are given as specimens of the old English orthography. Many words occur in the earlier English authors which are now obsolete, but it is believed the student, by taking a little pains, can readily acquaint himself with their meaning.

THE LITERARY READER.

I. ENGLISH LITERATURE.

[Author and date unknown.]

EPITAPH OF LADY EUDORA VENNOME,

COPIED FROM HER MONUMENT IN ONE OF THE CHURCH-YARDS OF YORK

SHIRE.

THIS shelle of stone within yt keepeth

One that dyeth not, but sleepeth,

And in her quiet slumber seemeth
As if of Heaven alone she dreameth.
Her forme, yt was so faire in seeminge,
Her eyne so holy in their beaminge,
A band of angelles thought that she
Was one of their bright companie,
And, on some homeward errand driven
Hurried her too away to heaven.

[Author and date unknown.]

FLOATING LEGENDS.

Of

BEYONDE the see was a noble ladie, on whose house alle-way the sone shone on the day, ande on the nighte the moone. this, many men mervaylede. Atte last, the fame of this came to the Byshope, a worthy man, ande he went for to see here, hopynge that she was of grete penaunce in clothinge, or in mete, or in these thinges. Ande when he come, he saw here alle-way mery ande glade. The Byshope saide, "Dame, what ete ye?"

She answerede ande saide, that dyverse metes ande delicate. Then he askede if she usede the hayre. She saide, nay. After this, the Byshope mervaylede that Gode wolde show so grete mervaylle for such a woman. Ande when he had take his leve of the ladie, and was gone on his way, he thought he wolde aske here more of anothere thinge, ande wente againe to here ande saide, "Love ye not mekille Jhesu Criste?" She saide, "Yes, I love him, for he is all my love; for when I think on his sweetnesse, I may not withholde myself, for gladnesse ande myrthe that I ever fele in him."

[Author and date unknown.]

A POET'S PRAISE OF HIS LADY.

GIVE place, you ladies, and be gone;
Boast not yourselves at all!
For here at hand approacheth one,
Whose face will stain you all!

The virtue of her lively looks
Excels the precious stone;
I wish to have none other books
To read or look upon.

In each of her two crystal eyes
Smileth a naked boy;
It would you all in heart suffice
To see that lamp of joy.

I think Nature hath lost the mould
Where she her shape did take;

Or else I doubt if Nature could

So fair a creature make.

She may be well compared
Unto the phoenix kind,

Whose like was never seen nor heard,
That any man can find.

In life, she is Diana chaste,

In troth, Penelope,

In word, and eke in deed, steadfast; -
What will you more we say?

Her roseal color comes and goes
With such a comely grace,

More ruddier too than doth the rose,
Within her lively face.

At Bacchus' feast none shall her meet,

Ne at no wanton play;

Nor gazing in an open street,
Nor gadding as a stray.

The modest mirth that she doth use
Is mixed with shamefacedness;
All vice she doth wholly refuse,
And hateth idleness.

Truly, she doth as far exceed
Our women now-a-days,
As doth the gilly-flower a weed,
And more, a thousand ways.

How might I do to get a graff
Of this unspotted tree?

For all the rest are plain but chaff,
Which seem good corn to be.

This gift alone I shall her give:
When Death doth what he can,
Her honest fame shall ever live

Within the mouth of man.

ROBERT FABIAN.-1512.

This author was one of the first writers of English prose history. He aimed at no literary excellence, nor any useful arrangement. His sole object was a narration of facts, without discrimination as to their comparative importance. He is very minute; among other things, noticing that a new weather-cock was placed on the top of St. Paul's steeple. He was an alderman, and a sheriff of London.

THE DEPOSITION OF KING VORTIGERN.

VORTIGERN had lost much of the affections of his people, by marriage with Queen Rowena. Over that, a heresy, called Arian's heresy, began to spring up in Britain. For the which, two holy bishops, named Germanus and Lupus, came into Britain, to reform the king, and all other that erred from the way of truth.

Of this holy man, Germanus, Vimcent Historial saith, that upon an evening when the weather was passing cold, and the snow fell very fast, he axed lodging of the King of Britain, for him and his company, which was denied. Then he, after sitting under a bush in the field, the king's herdman passed by, and seeing this bishop with his company sitting in the weather, desired him to his house, to take there such poor lodgings as he had. Whereof the bishop being glad and fain, went into the house of the said herdman, the which received him with glad cheer; and, for him and his company, willed his wife to kill his only calf, and dress it for his guest's supper; the which was also done. When the holy man had supped, he called to him his hostess, willing and desiring her, that she should diligently gather together all the bones of the dead calf, and them so gathered, to wrap together within the skin of the said calf, and then it lay in the stall before the rack near unto the dam. done, according to the commandment of the holy man, shortly after the calf was restored to life, and forthwith ate hay with the dam at the rack. At which marvel, all the house was greatly astonished, and yielded thanking unto Almighty God, and to that holy bishop.

Which

Upon the morrow, this holy bishop took with him the herdman, and went into the presence of the king, and axed of him, in sharp wise, why that over-night he had denied to him lodging. Wherewith the king was so abashed, that he had no power to

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