Sir Hornboook; or, Childe Launcelot's Expidition
I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII
II
Full six and twenty men were they,2
In line of battle spread:
The first that came was mighty A,
The last was little Z.
Six Vocal men Sir Hornbook had,3
Four Double men to boot,4
And four were Liquids soft and sad,5
And all the rest were Mute.6
He called his Corporal, Syllable,7
To range the scatter'd throng;
And Captain Word dispos'd them well 88
In bands compact and strong.
--"Now mark, Sir Childe,"--Sir Hornbook said:--
"These well-compacted powers,
Shall lead thy vent'rous steps to tread
Through all the Muses' bowers,
"If rightly thou thyself address,
To use their proffer'd aid:
Still unallur'd by idleness,
By labor undismay'd;
"For many troubles intervene,
And perils widely spread,
Around the groves of evergreen,
That crown this mountain's head:
But rich reward he finds, I ween,
Who through them all has sped."--
Childe Launcelot felt his bosom glow
At thought of noble deed;
Resolved through every path to go,
Where that bold knight should lead.
Sir Hornbook wound his bugle horn,
Full long, and loud, and shrill;
His merrymen all, for conquest born,
With armour glittering to the morn,
Went marching up the hill.
2 There are twenty-six letters, A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. U. V. W. X. Y. Z.
3 Of these are vowels, a. e. i. o. u. y.
4 Four are double letters j. w. x. z.
5 Four are liquids, k. m. n. r.
6 And twelve are mutes, b. c. d. f. g. h. k. p. p. s. t. v.
7 A syllable is a distinct sound of one or more letters pronounced in a breath.
8 Words are articulate sounds used by common consent, as signs of our ideas.