The third he once more uplifted the veil, UHLAND. [TRANSLATION OF J. S. DWIGHT.] AULD ROBIN GRAY. When the sheep are in the fauld, and the kye at hame, The waes o' my heart fa' in showers frae my ee, Young Jamie loo'd me weel, and socht me for his bride; He hadna been awa a week but only twa, When my mother she fell sick, and the cow was stown awa; My father cou'dna work, and my mother cou'dna spin; My heart it said nay, for I looked for Jamie back; My father argued sair-my mother didna speak, But she lookit in my face till my heart was like to break; I hadna been a wife, a week but only four, I saw my Jamie's wraith, for I cou'dna think it he, Oh sair, sair did we greet, and muckle did we say; We took but ae kiss, and we tore ourselves away: I wish I were dead, but I'm no like to dee; And why do I live to say, Wae's me? I gang like a ghaist, and I carena to spin; I daurna think on Jamie, for that wad be a sin; For auld Robin Gray is kind unto me. LADY ANNE BARNARD. JOHN ANDERSON, MY JO. JOHN ANDERSON, my jo, John, John Anderson, my jo, John, And sleep thegither at the foot, ROBERT BURNS. II. SOLEMNITY. In the expression of solemnity three things are necessary: First, Natural voice. Second, Effusive utterance. Third, Low pitch. Here, as in pathetic reading, the natural voice and effusive utterance are used, and the same care should be taken to secure perfect purity of tone and a gentle continuous emission of sound. Low pitch can be easily secured by striking the pitch of ordinary conversation, which is about the middle line of the voice, and descending on the musical scale four notes. The level of solemn expression will thus be reached, and with freedom from harshness of tone, united with an effusive utterance, the conditions of solemn reading will be fully met. SOLEMN SELECTIONS. THE OLD CLOCK ON THE STAIRS. SOMEWHAT back from the village street Tall poplar-trees their shadows throw, "Forever never! Never forever!” Half-way up the stairs it stands, And points and beckons with its hands Like a monk, who, under his cloak, With sorrowful voice to all who pass,- Never forever!" By day its voice is low and light; Through days of sorrow and of mirth, Of changeful time, unchanged it has stood, Never forever!" In that mansion used to be Free-hearted Hospitality; His great fires up the chimney roared; But, like the skeleton at the feast, Never - forever!" There groups of merry children played, Those hours the ancient timepiece told, "Forever never! Never forever!" - From that chamber, clothed in white, The dead lay in his shroud of snow; Never - forever!" All are scattered now and fled, Never-forever!" Never here, forever there, Sayeth this incessantly, "Forever never! Never-forever!" HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW. THE LAST LEAF. I SAW him once before, The pavement-stones resound They say that in his prime, Not a better man was found Through the town. |