Graded reader
The Home Book of Verse — Volume 2
by Burton Egbert Stevenson
Free sample, no signup·Tap any word to translate·Audio narration included
About this book
About this book
The classic romance novel by Burton Egbert Stevenson.
What's inside
Contents
7 chapters in all. The first chapter is free to read with no account.
02Chapter 2 — Maud with her exquisite face, And wild voice pealing up to the sunny sky, And feet like sunny gems on an English green, Maud in the light of her youth and her grace, Singing of Death, and of Honor that cannot die, Till I well could weep for a time so sordid and mean, And myself so languid and base.
03Chapter 3 — Silence, beautiful voice! Be still, for you only trouble the mind With a joy in which I cannot rejoice, A glory I shall not find. Still! I will hear you no more, For your sweetness hardly leaves me a choice But to move to the meadow and fall before Her feet on the meadow grass, and adore, Not her, who is neither courtly nor kind, Not her, not her, but a voice.
04Chapter 4 — A breathing sigh, a sigh for answer, A little talking of outward things: The careless beck is a merry dancer, Keeping sweet time to the air she sings.
05Chapter 5 — A yellow moon in splendor drooping, A tired queen with her state oppressed, Low by rushes and swordgrass stooping, Lies she soft on the waves at rest.
06Chapter 6 — Can it be right to give what I can give? To let thee sit beneath the fall of tears As salt as mine, and hear the sighing years Re-sighing on my lips renunciative Through those infrequent smiles which fail to live For all thy adjurations? O my fears, That this can scarce be right! We are not peers So to be lovers; and I own, and grieve, That givers of such gifts as mine are, must Be counted with the ungenerous. Out, alas! I will not soil thy purple with my dust, Nor breathe my poison on thy Venice-glass, Nor give thee any love - which were unjust. Beloved, I only love thee! let it pass.
07Chapter 7 — Late tired with woe, even ready for to pine With rage of love, I called my Love unkind; She in whose eyes love, though unfelt, doth shine, Sweet said that I true love in her should find. I joyed; but straight thus watered was my wine, That love she did, but loved a love not blind; Which would not let me, whom she loved, decline From nobler cause, fit for my birth and mind: And therefore, by her love's authority, Willed me these tempests of vain love to fly, And anchor fast myself on Virtue's shore. Alas, if this the only metal be Of love new-coined to help my beggary, Dear! love me not, that ye may love me more!
The reading experience
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Questions
About reading The Home Book of Verse — Volume 2
You can read the sample chapter free, with no account. To read the full book — with tap-to-translate, audio narration and saved progress — start your trial at quiz.nikmas.studio.
It's the complete original text, exactly as Burton Egbert Stevenson wrote it — nothing rewritten or cut. The built-in translation, saved vocabulary and audio narration are what carry you through the original prose.
