At this still hour, the self-collected soul
Turns inward, and beholds a stranger there
Of high descent, and more than mortal rank;
An embryo God; a spark of fire divine,
Which must burn on for ages, when the sun,
Fair transitory creature of a day!-

Has closed his golden eye, and, wrapt in shades,
Forgets his wonted journey through the east.

SECTION VI.

LYRIC POETRY.

LYRIC POETRY, such as psalms, hymns, odes, etc., consists of lines, feet, and syllables, capable of being set to music.

All poetical compositions of this character are usually written in iambic, trochaic, or anapestic measure; or a combination of two or all of them.

The most common measures, in which sacred or devotional psalms and hymns are written, are designated thus : —

S. M. denotes Short Meter or Measure.

There are various other measures designated by figures, which denote the number of syllables in the different lines.

QUESTIONS. What is lyric poetry? In what measures are compositions of this character usually written? How are the most common measures, in which psalms and hymns are written, designated? What does S. M. denote? C. M., etc. ? How are other measures designated? What do the figures denote?

1. S. M., Iambic, 6s and 8s — three and four feet.

EXAMPLE.

Thě hill | ŏf Zi | on yields

A thousand sacred sweets,

Before we reach | the heaven | ly fields,
Or walk the golden streets.

2. C. M., Iambic, 8s and 6s — four and three feet.

EXAMPLE.

Hě cōmes | the brōk | ĕn heārt | tŏ hēal,
The bleeding soul to cure;
And, with the treasures of his grace,
T'enrich the humble poor.

3. L. M., Iambic, 8s-four feet.

EXAMPLE.

He guides our feet, | he guards | Ŏur way;
His morning smiles bless all the day;
He spreads the evening veil, and keeps
The silent hours while Israel sleeps.

4. L. P. M., Iambic, 8s -- four feet.

EXAMPLE.

I'll praise | mỹ Mā | ker with | mỹ breath;
And when my voice is lost in death,
Praise shall employ my nobler powers;
My days of praise shall ne'er be past,
While life, and thought, and being last,
Or immortality endures.

QUESTIONS. In what measure is Short Meter written? How many syllables do the lines contain? How many feet? In what measure is C. M. written? How many syllables do the lines contain? How many feet? In what measure is L. M. written? How many syllables in each line? How many feet? In what measure is L. P. M. written? How many syllables in each line? How many feet? Wherein does it differ from L. M.?

Ŏ how happy ǎre they,

Who the Saviour obey,

And have laid up their treasures above!

O what tongue can express

The sweet comfort and peace,

Of a soul in its earliest love!

8. Trochaic, 8s, 7s, and 4s-four, three, and two feet.

EXAMPLE.

Guide mě, Ō thoŭ | great Jě | hõvăh,

Pilgrim through this | barren | land;

I am weak, but thou art mighty;

Hold me in thy powerful hand :,

Bread of heaven,

Feed me till I want no more.

9. Iambic and Anapestic, 8s-three feet.

EXAMPLE.

Mỹ gracious Rēdēem | ĕr Ĭ lōve,

His praises aloud I'll proclaim,

QUESTIONS. In what measure is H. M. written? How many syllables do the lines contain? How many feet? Let the teacher ask similar questions on all the fol lowing examples.

And join with the armies above,
To shout his adorable name.

10. Trochaic, 8s - three feet, with an additional long syllable.

11. Trochaic, 3s and 7s — four and three feet.

How firmǎ fõundā | tion, ye saints of the Lord,

Is laid for your faith in his excellent word!

What more could his mercy and goodness have said

To those who for refuge, to Jesus have fled!

14. Anapestic, 12s and 9s — four and three feet.

EXAMPLE.

They have gone | to the land | where the pā | triarchs rēst,
Where the bones of the proph | ets are laid,

Where the chosen of Israel the promise possessed,
And Jehovah his wonders displayed.

15. Trochaic, 88, 7s, and 4s—four, three, and two feet.

EXAMPLE.

Hark, the judgment | trumpet | sounding,

Rends the skies and shakes the poles;

18. Anapestic, lambic, and Spondaic, 12s and 11s-four feet.

EXAMPLE.

Thou art gōne | to the grave | bŭt wě will | not deplōre | thee,
Though sorrows and darkness encompass the tomb;

The Saviour has passed through its portals before thee,
And the lamp of his love is thy guide through the gloom.