22. Explain the expression "silly thoughts." (St. VIII., line 8.) What is the earlier form of silly, and what change has taken place in the meaning of the word?

23. What part of what verb is the word "strook"? (St. Ix.) Give the modern forms.

24. What is the subject of the verb "took" in St. IX., line 6. " in the same

25. What force has the word " line?

as

26. What does "noise" mean in St. IX., line 5 ? Does it differ in meaning from the word we use, and if so, how ?

27. What is the mythological meaning of Cynthia ? (St. x.)

28. What is the nominative of "thrilling" in St. x., line 3 ?

29. What is the exact meaning of the word "displayed" in St. XI., line 6?

30. Explain the word "unexpressive line 8), and give its modern equivalent.

(St. XI.,

31. Give the Bible reference in the three first lines of St. XII.

32. Of what passage in Shakspere does Stanza XIII. remind us, and how did the idea originate?

33. Why "ninefold harmony"? (St. XIII., line 7.) 34. What is the meaning of the word "consort in St. XIII., line 8, and how would it now be expressed?

35. What is the "Age of Gold"? 36. What class of verb is "sicken" 37. What does the word "like line 3, and to what does it refer?

(St. XIV.)

in St. XIV., line 5? mean in St. xv.,

38. What is the derivation of the prefix "y" in "ychained"? (St. xvI., line 7.)

39. Explain the word "session." (St. XVII., line 7.) 40. In the first two lines and a half of Stanza XVIII., explain the use of the present tense "is," and the meaning of "but now begins."

41. To what beliefs in ancient history does Stanza XIX. refer?

42. In the six following verses explain all the mythological allusions, and refer each to its own mythology. 43. What is the exact meaning of the word "quaint"? (Stanza xxI., line 6), and what are "flamens"? 44. What is the force of the word " peculiar" in Stanza XXI., line 8?

45. Explain the expression "shrinks his horn"? (St. XXII., line 7.)

46. What old force had the letter "n in "eyn"? (St. xxv., line 3.) Give modern examples.

47. What was the state of the English nation during the sixty-five years of Milton's life?

LESSON XVII.

SUNDAY IN THE COUNTRY: SIR ROGER AT CHURCH.

BY JOSEPH ADDISON.

(From the "Spectator," No. 112.)

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE.

1. JOSEPH ADDISON was born in the year 1672, of respectable and learned parentage, and received a good education in the Charterhouse and Oxford. Circumstances seem to have been favourable to him, for not only did he distinguish himself in college, but his merits seem to have been recognized in a more than ordinary degree. A pension, which enabled him to travel abroad, was procured for him while still at a very early age, and after the death of William III., in whose reign he was born, and by whose favour the pension was bestowed, he began to be sought out by the new

government, and eventually occupied some of the highest offices of the state.

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2. Political rewards were in those days often bestowed for literary merit, and Addison had won the approval of the ministers by the manner in which he had celebrated the recent triumph of the Duke of Marlborough in the battle of Blenheim. This performance was in verse, and was followed by other poems and plays which were much admired, notably a Roman play called Cato," which contains a somewhat famous soliloquy on suicide. It is, in manner, an imitation of the French classical style in tragedy, stately, cool, and oratorical, as distinct from the plays of an earlier century as the poetry of Pope, soon to follow, is from that of the present day. But the poetical spirit of the 18th century ushered in, so to speak, by Dryden, who, however, died in its first year, was in accordance with the principles of preciseness and correct and moderate good taste.

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3. It is, however, with Addison as a prose writer that we have at present to do, and it is as a prose writer that we must ever regard him, not only with admiration, but with affection. In the "Spectator "a paper issued daily, and without which no tea-table or coffee-house (and those were the days of coffee-houses, fine gentlemen, tea-tables, powder, patches, court gossip, and games of ombre-see Pope's Rape of the Lock") was considered complete-Addison has given us an inimitable series of Essays, thoughtful, critical, gay, humorous and domestic. He has, in his imaginary Club, created a number of characters which will be recognized and loved wherever English is read. The prose of these exquisite Essays is perfect, as a specimen of the very best work of the era. To the young student it will, of course, have something of an oldworld flavour, but its quaintness and pleasantness will amply repay him for any unfamiliarity with the terms of expression of the day. It is always clear and easy, free from pomposity, pedantry, and verbosity, deeply

religious in feeling, and tenderly humorous in expression. This characteristic humour was indeed peculiar to Addison, who in the character of the "Spectator" is supposed to depict himself. It would take us too long to enter here upon the history of those numerous papers or journals which came out during this era-it was the era of the British Essayists—it is enough to say that the "Spectator" has universally been considered to bear off the palm, animated as it is with the gentle, humorous, always delightful spirit of Joseph Addison.

4. In 1716, Addison married the Dowager Countess of Warwick, whose son he had educated, and took up his abode in Holland House. In 1717 he was made Secretary of State, having previously been Chief Secretary for Ireland, and in 1719 he died. Jn character he was amiable and gentle, though shy and retiring, and was universally beloved and respected.

5. The portions of his work given for analysis are, a description of Sir Roger de Coverley (the most famous of his characters) at church, and part of some very noble thoughts on the Immortality of the Soul. After what has been already said, they may be left to the reader without any further comment.

SUNDAY IN THE COUNTRY : SIR ROGER AT CHURCH.

I am always very well pleased with a country Sunday, and think, if keeping holy the Sabbath day were only a human institution, it would be the best method that could have been thought of, for the polishing and civilizing of mankind. It is certain that the country people would soon degenerate into a kind of savages and barbarians, were there not such frequent returns of a stated time, in which the whole village meet toge

ther with their best faces, and in their cleanliest habits, to converse with one another upon indifferent subjects, hear their duties explained to them, and join together in adoration of the Supreme Being. Sunday clears away the rust of the whole week, not only as it refreshes in their minds the notions of religion, but as it puts both the sexes upon appearing in their most agreeable forms, and exerting all such qualities as are apt to give them a figure in the eye of the village. A country fellow distinguishes himself as much in the churchyard, as a citizen does upon the Change, the whole parish politics being generally discussed in that place either after sermon or before the bell rings.

My friend, Sir Roger, being a good churchman, has beautified the inside of his church with several texts of his own chusing; he has likewise given a handsome pulpit-cloth, and railed in the communion table at his own expence. He has often told me that at his coming to his estate he found his parishioners very irregular; and that in order to make them kneel and join in the responses, he gave every one of them a hassock and a common-prayer book; and at the same time employed an itinerant singing-master, who goes about the country for that purpose, to instruct them rightly in the tunes of the psalms; upon which they now very much value themselves, and indeed outdo most of the country churches that I have ever heard.

As Sir Roger is landlord to the whole congregation, he keeps them in very good order, and will suffer nobody to sleep in it besides himself; for if by chance he has been surprised into a short nap at sermon, upon recovering out of it he stands up and looks about him,