8. Heaven is not reached at a single bound;
But we build the ladder by which we rise
From the lowly earth to the vaulted skies,
And we mount to its summit round by round.

QUESTIONS.-What lesson is this poem intended to teach? Show clearly what it is.

First Stanza.

What does "heaven" mean, in the first line? What "ladder" is meant, in the second line? What are the "vaulted skies"?

Second Stanza.

What is meant by being "grandly true"? What is the meaning of the second line? What is spoken of as "lifting the soul"? What is meant by this? Does the doing of a good deed help us to see the truth more clearly than before, and to see more of it? Explain the last line. What is the advantage of" pure air"?

Third Stanza.

Explain the first line. What is meant by " the pride deposed"? "the passion slain"? How may pride be deposed? How may passion be slain? Explain the last line.

Fourth Stanza.

Tell as carefully as you can in your own language the meaning of this stanza.

Seventh Stanza.

Find in the Bible the story alluded to in this stanza. What is the meaning of the stanza? Point out the beauty and aptness of the comparison.

XCVIII.-" HE GIVETH HIS BELOVED SLEEP."

ELIZABETH B. BROWNING.

1. Of all the thoughts of God that are
Borne inward unto souls afar,

Along the Psalmist's music deep,
Now tell me if there any is,
For gift or grace, surpassing this-
He giveth His belovéd, sleep!

2. What would we give to our beloved?
The hero's heart, to be unmoved,

The poet's star-tuned harp, to sweep,
The patriot's voice, to teach and rouse,
The monarch's crown, to light the brows?—
He giveth His beloved, sleep.

3. What do we give to our beloved?
A little faith all undisproved,
A little dust to overweep,

And bitter memories to make

4.

The whole earth blasted for our sake.-
He giveth His beloved, sleep.

Sleep soft, beloved!" we sometimes say,
But have no time to charm away

Sad dreams that through the eyelids creep.

But never doleful dream again

Shall break the happy slumber when
He giveth His belovéd, sleep.

5. O earth, so full of dreary noises !
O men, with wailing in your voices!
O delvéd gold, the wailers heap!
O strife, O curse, that o'er it fall!
God strikes a silence through you all,
And giveth His belovéd, sleep.

6. His dews drop mutely on the hill;
His cloud above it saileth still,

Though on its slope men sow and reap.
More softly than the dew is shed,
Or cloud is floated overhead,

He giveth His belovéd, sleep.

7. Ay, men may wonder while they scan
A living, thinking, feeling man

8. For me, my heart that erst did go
Most like a tired child at a show,

That sees through tears the mummers leap,
Would now its wearied vision close,
Would childlike on His love repose

Who giveth His belovéd, sleep.

9. And, friends, dear friends,-when it shall be
That this low breath is gone from me,
And round my bier ye come to weep,

Let One, most loving of you all,
Say, "Not a tear must o'er her fall;
He giveth His belovéd, sleep!"

QUESTIONS.-What kind of poetry is this? Is it joyous, sad, pathetic, plaintive? How much force does it require ? What degree of pitch? of speed? What feelings ought to be expressed in the reading of it?

First Stanza.

What "thought of God" is mentioned in this stanza? What precedes in thought the word "of" at the beginning of the first line? Convert the stanza into prose so as to show this. What is the meaning of the word "afar," and what does it modify? Meaning of " for " in the fifth line?

Second Stanza.

What is meant by the "hero's heart"? "the poet's startuned harp"? Why is it called "star-tuned"? What is declared about "the hero's heart, the poet's harp, the patriot's voice, the monarch's crown?"

Third Stanza.

Explain the second, third, fourth, and fifth lines, and show how they answer the question in the first line. What is the meaning of the word "undisproved"? "overweep"?

Fifth Stanza.

What part of speech is the word "heap" in the third line? What is the meaning of "delvéd"? Compare the fourth and fifth stanzas, and show the difference which the author points out between us and God.

Seventh Stanza.

What is the meaning of "scan"? Why "may men wonder,” and at what?

Eighth Stanza.

What is the meaning of the word "mummers"? To whom is it applied in this stanza?

XCIX. THE FALL OF WOLSEY.

SHAKSPEARE.

Wolsey. Farewell! a long farewell, to all my greatness!
This is the state of man: to-day he puts forth
The tender leaves of hope, to-morrow blossoms,
And bears his blushing honors thick upon him :
The third day comes a frost, a killing frost,
And,-when he thinks, good easy man, full surely
His greatness is a-ripening,―nips his root,
And then he falls, as I do. I have ventured,
Like little wanton boys that swim on bladders,

This many summers in a sea of glory,

But far beyond my depth: my high-blown pride
At length broke under me; and now has left me,
Weary and old with service, to the mercy

Of a rude stream, that must for ever hide me.
Vain pomp and glory of this world, I hate ye:
I feel my heart new opened. O! how wretched
Is that poor man that hangs on princes' favors.
There is, betwixt that smile we would aspire to,
That sweet aspect of princes, and their ruin,
More pangs and fears than wars or women have ;
And when he falls, he falls like Lucifer,
Never to hope again.-

Enter CROMWELL, and stands amazed.

Why, how now, Cromwell!

Cromwell. I have no power to speak, sir.
Wolsey.
What! amazed
At my misfortunes? can thy spirit wonder,

A great man should decline? Nay, an you weep,
I am fallen indeed.

Cromwell.

Wolsey.

How does your grace?

Why, well:

Never so truly happy, my good Cromwell.
I know myself now; and I feel within me

A peace above all earthly dignities,

A still and quiet conscience. The king has cured me,

(I humbly thank his grace,) and from these shoulders,
These ruined pillars, out of pity, taken

A load would sink a navy-too much honor!
O! 'tis a burden, Cromwell, 'tis a burden,

Too heavy for a man that hopes for heaven.

Cromwell. I am glad your grace has made that right

use of it.

Wolsey. I hope I have: I am able now, methinks,

(Out of a fortitude of soul I feel,)

To endure more miseries, and greater far,

Than
my
weak-hearted enemies dare offer.
What news abroad?