III. Elegance. 50. What qualities of style have we studied thus far? Define each. If a selection is both clear and forcible, is there any further quality to be desired? Do you find any such quality in any of the following selections? How does it differ from Force? What shall we call it? Read aloud the following selections and tell what qualities you find in them and in what passage each quality is most prominent. 1. As I came down from Lebanon, Came winding, wandering slowly down In emerald, showed each minaret As I came down from Lebanon, I saw strange men from lands afar As I came down from Lebanon. 3. There was a sound of revelry by night, The lamps shone o'er fair women and brave men; Music arose with its voluptuous swell, Soft eyes looked love to eyes which spake again, And all went merry as a marriage bell; But hush! hark! a deep sound strikes like a rising knell ! Did ye not hear it? No; 'twas but the wind, On with the dance! let joy be unconfined; And nearer, clearer, deadlier than before! Arm! arm! it is it is- the cannon's opening roar ! Ah! then and there was hurrying to and fro, And gathering tears, and tremblings of distress, And cheeks all pale, which but an hour ago Blush'd at the praise of their own loveliness; And there were sudden partings, such as press The life from out young hearts, and choking sighs Which ne'er might be repeated: who could guess If ever more should meet those mutual eyes, Since upon night so sweet, such awful morn should rise! And there was mounting in hot haste: the steed, And swiftly forming in the ranks of war; Or whispering with white lips-"The foe! they come! they come !" BYRON. Here Ischia smiles O'er liquid miles; And yonder, bluest of the isles, Her sapphire gates Beguiling to her bright estates. I heed not, if My rippling skiff Float swift or slow from cliff to cliff; With dreamful eyes My spirit lies Under the walls of Paradise. Over the rail My hand I trail Within the shadow of the sail, A joy intense, The cooling sense Glides down my drowsy indolence. Yon deep bark goes Where Traffic blows, From lands of sun to lands of snows: This happier one, Its course is run From lands of snow to lands of sun. O happy ship, To rise and dip, With the blue crystal at your lip! O happy crew, My heart with you Sails, and sails, and sings anew! |