Though Interjection sobb'd aloud,24
That he would go before.

Again his horn, Sir Hornbook blew
Full long, and loud, and shrill;
His merry-men all, so stout and true,
Went marching up the hill...

VII,

Sir Syntax dwelt in thick fir-grove,25
All strown with scraps of flowers, 26

to shew its relation to some word or sentence preceding, as, "the fisherman went down the river with his boat."

24

Interjection are words thrown in between the parts of a sentence to express passion or emotions; as, "Oh! Alas!"

25 Syntax is that part of Grammar which treats of the agréement and construction of words in a sentence.

26

Alluding to the poetical fragments with which Syntax is illustrated.

Which he had plucked to please his love
Among the muses' bowers.

27

His love was gentle Prosody,"

More fair than morning beam;

Who liv'd beneath a flowering tree,

Beside a falling stream.

And these two claimed, with high pretence,

The whole Parnassian ground,

Albeit some little difference,

Between their taste was found: Sir Syntax he was all for sense And Prosody for sound..

"Prosody is that part of grammar which treats of the true pronunciation of words, and the true rules of versification.

Yet in them both the muses fair,

Exceedingly delighted;

And thought no earthly thing so rare,
That might with that fond twain compare,
When they were both united.

Ho! yield Sir Syntax ;-Hornbook cried.

This youth must pass thy grove,

Led on by me, his faithful guide

In yonder bowers to rove."

Threat full much, Sir Syntax said,

But found resistance vain :

And through his grove Childe Launcelot sped With all Sir Hornbook's train.

They reach'd the tree where Prosody
Was singing in the shade:

Great joy Childe Launcelot had to see,
And hear that lovely maid.

Now, onward as they press'd along,
Did nought their course oppose;
Till full before the martial throng.
The Muses' gates arose.

There Etymology they found,34
Who scorned surrounding fruits;
And ever dug in deepest ground,

For old and mouldy Roots.

Sir Hornbook took Childe Launcelot's hand,
And tears at parting fell:

"Sir Childe," he said, "with all my band,

I bid you now farewell."

34 Etymology is that part of grammar, which investigates the roots, or derivation of words.

"Then wander through these sacred bowers, Unfearing and alone:

All shrubs are here, and fruits, and flowers, To happiest climates known."