Part 26 (1/2)

Palpitated, her hand shook, and we heard.

TENNYSON, The Princess, IV, 389.

Bearing all down, in thy precipitancy.

TENNYSON, Gareth, 8.

First as in fear, step after step, she stole Down the long tower stairs, hesitating.

TENNYSON, Lancelot and Elaine, 342 f.

This from Surrey's aeneid, because of its early date:

He with his hands strave to unloose the knots.

These two from Elizabethan drama--hundreds of interesting lines may be culled from this source, but the field is to be trodden with caution because of the uncertainties of the texts; though we quote 'Hamlet' we cannot be sure we are quoting Shakespeare, and in such a matter as this _certainty_ is indispensable--

Do more than this in sport.--Father, father.

King Lear, II, i.

Cover her face; mine eyes dazzle; she died young.

WEBSTER, d.u.c.h.ess of Malfi, IV, ii.

And finally, three examples from Samson Agonistes of interwoven tunes, a sort of counterpoint of two melodies sounding simultaneously--

My griefs not only pain me As a lingering disease, But, finding no redress, ferment and rage.

617 ff.

To boast Again in safety what thou would'st have done To Samson, but shalt never see Gath more.

1127 ff.

Force with force Is well ejected when the conqueror can.

1206 f.

He all their ammunition And feats of war defeats, With plain heroic magnitude of mind.

1277 ff.

Stevenson compared the writer of verse with a juggler who cleverly keeps several b.a.l.l.s in the air at one time. The comparison is suggestive, but is true only so far as it indicates the difficulty of the operation for those who are not jugglers. The juggler does not devote conscious attention to each individual ball. He has learned to keep them all moving at once, and when he starts them they go _of their own accord_.