Graded Literature Readers: Fourth Book

"Make haste, Prince Jason! For your life, make haste!"

90. With one bound, he leaped aboard. At sight of the glorious radiance of the Golden Fleece, the nine and forty heroes gave a mighty shout, and Orpheus, striking his harp, sang a song of triumph, to the cadence of which the galley flew over the water, homeward bound, as if careering along with wings.

I. Jā´sȯn.Ĭ ŏl´c̵hŏs.Çĕn´ta̤urs̝. C̵hī´rŏn.Ǣ´sȯn.Pē´lĭ ăs.Săn´dals̝: shoes consisting of soles strapped to the feet. Tûr´bū̍ lent: disturbed; roused to great commotion. Nĕp´tū̍ne. Gärb: dress.

II. Măl´ĭçe: ill will. Quĕst: search. Scĕp´tẽr: a staff carried by a king as a sign of his authority.

III. Dō dō´nȧ.Är´gus.Găl´ley̆: a vessel with oars, used by ancient people. Prow: the forepart of a vessel. Stûr´dy̆: strong. Ĕn coun´tẽr: meet.

IV. Cŏl´c̶hĭs.Ǣ ē´tēs̝.Mĕd´ĭ tāte: intend; think seriously. Sō̍ lĭ´çĭt: ask earnestly. Vŭl´can.Căd´mus.Är´gō̍ na̤uts. Cŏm´plā̍isănt ly̆: politely. Mē dē´ȧ.

V. Ŏb scū´rĭ ty̆: darkness. Clăṉ´gor: a sharp, harsh, ringing sound. Prō̍ trūd´ĕd: thrust out. Bat tal´ion: body of troops.

VI. Ō̍ bēi´sançe: bow. Sŭs pĕnd´ĕd: hung. Mēed: reward. Po´tion: drink; dose; usually of liquid medicine. Ĭl lū´mĭ nāt ĕd: lighted up; brightened. Or´pheus.Cā´dençe: the close or fall of a strain of music.

The Star-Spangled Banner

By Francis Scott Key

Francis Scott Key (1780-1843): An American lawyer, who will be remembered as the author of "The Star-Spangled Banner."

During the second war with England, in 1814, the British made an attack upon the city of Baltimore. The British war ships moved up near Fort McHenry and opened a heavy fire of cannon balls, bomb shells, and rockets. These latter were made like our well-known sky rockets, and could be thrown at the enemy.

During the battle some Americans, one of whom was Francis Scott Key, carried a flag of truce out to the British fleet to secure the release of an American citizen who had been taken prisoner. The Americans were detained over night on a ship far to the rear of the attack. During the night they listened anxiously to the sound of the guns, and watched the red rockets and the bursting bombs, being sure that, as long as the firing continued, the fort still held out; but late in the night the guns became silent. Did it mean that the attack had been repulsed? Or had the fort surrendered? Only daylight would tell.

Before dawn the anxious Americans were watching. The first faint light of day showed them the stars and stripes still floating over the fort; then they knew that the attack had failed and that the Americans were victorious.

While on the deck of the British war ship, Mr. Key composed the poem which has become our national anthem.

1. Oh, say! can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming —
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the clouds of the fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say! does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

2. On that shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, now conceals, now discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam;
In full glory reflected now shines on the stream;
'Tis the star-spangled banner; oh! long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

3. And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul foot-steps' pollution;
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave;
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

4. Oh! thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and war's desolation!
Blessed with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto, "In God is our trust;"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Răm´pärts: walls surrounding a place for its defence. Tow´ẽr ĭng: very high. Väunt´ĭng ly̆: boastingly; braggingly. Hăv´ŏc: destruction; ruin. Pol lu´tion: uncleanness. Hīre´lĭng: one who serves for gain only.

Young men, you are the architects of your own fortunes. Rely on your own strength of body and soul. Take for your star self-reliance. Energy, invincible determination, with a right motive, are the levers that move the world. Love your God and your fellowmen. Love truth and virtue. Love your country and obey its laws.

    PORTER

My Native Land

By Sir Walter Scott

Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832): A Scotch poet and novelist. "Marmion," "The Lady of the Lake," and "The Lay of the Last Minstrel" are considered the best of his poems; and of his many novels probably "Ivanhoe" and "Kenilworth" are most read. Children enjoy "The Tales of a Grandfather," stories from Scottish history written for his own little grandson.

This selection is from "The Lay of the Last Minstrel."

1. Breathes there the man with soul so dead,
Who never to himself hath said,
"This is my own, my native land!"
Whose heart hath ne'er within him burned,
As home his footsteps he hath turned
From wandering on a foreign strand?

2. If such there breathe, go, mark him well!
For him no minstrel raptures swell.
High though his titles, proud his name,
Boundless his wealth as wish can claim —
Despite those titles, power, and pelf,
The wretch, concentered all in self,
Living shall forfeit fair renown,
And, doubly dying, shall go down
To the vile dust from whence he sprung,
Unwept, unhonored, and unsung.

Strănd: shore. Pĕlf: money; riches. Cŏn çĕn´tẽred: concentrated; fixed.