1. Reading Lesson

This poem tells of the life of a Southern hero and his companion during our Revolutionary War. Recall all that you know about the adventures of Marion and his band, then read the poem.

The Song Of Marion's Men

Our band is few but true and tried,

Our leader frank and bold; The British soldier trembles

When Marion's name is told. Our fortress is the good greenwood,

Our tent the cypress-tree; We know the forest round us,

As seamen know the sea. We know its walls of thorny vines,

Its glades of reedy grass, Its safe and silent islands

Within the dark morass.

Woe to the English soldiery

That little dread us near ! On them shall light at midnight

A strange and sudden fear: When, waking to their tents on fire,

They grasp their arms in vain, And they who stand to face us

Are beat to earth again; And they who fly in terror deem

A mighty host behind, And hear the tramp of thousands

Upon the hollow wind.

Then sweet the hour that brings release

From danger and from toil: We talk the battle over,

And share the battle's spoil. The woodland rings with laugh and shout.

As if a hunt were up,

And woodland flowers are gathered

To crown the soldier's cup. With merry songs we mock the wind

That in the pine-top grieves, And slumber long and sweetly

On beds of oaken leaves.

Well knows the fair and friendly moon

The band that Marion leads - The glitter of their rifles,

The scampering of their steeds. 'Tis life to guide the fiery barb

Across the moonlight plain; 'Tis life to feel the night-wind

That lifts the tossing mane. A moment in the British camp -

A moment - and away Back to the pathless forest,

Before the peep of day.

Grave men there are by broad Santee,

Grave men with hoary hairs; Their hearts are all with Marion,

For Marion are their prayers. And lovely ladies greet our band

With kindliest welcoming, With smiles like those of summer,

And tears like those of spring. For them we wear these trusty arms,

And lay them down no more Till we have driven the Briton

Forever from our shore.

- William Cullen Brtant.

2. Study

Read any account you can find of Marion's band and of the country in which they lived and fought, then read the poem again and try to imagine your-self in the woodland with them.

Look up in the dictionary all the words of whose. meaning you are not sure. Find at least three unusual words for which you can use very common ones. Should you like the change?

Find three pairs of descriptive words that are connected by and and that begin with the same sound. Do you like the effect? Such repetition of sounds is called alliteration. How is it different from rhyme?

What lines in each stanza rhyme?

Read the poem aloud and try to give the spirit of it.