Page 218 - Third Book of Reading Lessons

RE DING LESSONS. 217 LESSON IV.
IRISH MUSIC.
IN'TELLECT, n., the culty of mind which perceives or understands. F. intellect; om (L.) intelligere,-inter, and l ere, to choose,-to choose between ; to see or perceive the di erence between.
Ex'QUISITE, a., consummate, per ct-consequently, such as would be selected or sought out. L. exquisitus, om exquiro,-ex, and qu ­ ro, I search, I examine.
EFFu'sroNs, n., the things (here, the sweet, harmonious sounds or strains) elicited om or poured out. F. usions, om (L.) e undo, -ex, and /undo, I pour.
RETEN1TrVENEss, n., having the quality of retention, or of holding or keeping in the memory. ("Retention," and "Retentive," F.), om (L.) retineo,-re, and teneo, I hold, keep, or retain.
0ARRICKFER'Gus, n., a small town in Antrim, on a bay of the same name, noted r its castle : population about 4,000. Ir. Oarraig, a rock,-the castle stands on a rock,-and Fergus, om a king said to have been drowned near it.
BARD, n., a minstrel, a poet. The kind of song sung by the bards was called bar tus, om Ger. barten, to ght ; because their business was to kindle warlike courage by their song. The Druids of Ire­ land were likewise the poets, and were, by their learning, vastly superior to their continental brethren, who were rbidden to cul- tivate the use of letters.
PsAL1 ODY, n , the act of singing sacred songs to stringed or other instruments. L. psal odia, ftom psallo, G., I touch (the strings), and aeido, I sing.
HYPOTH1 ESis, n., a supposition; that which is placed under discussion. L. and G. hypothesis-hypo, or h o, under, and tithemi, I put or place.
GRATU'ITous, a., voluntary; granted om mere kindness:-in this place,-asserted without proof. L. gratuitus, from gratis, eely. AssmrP'TION, n., the supposition of anything without rther proof;
the taking a thing for granted. F. assomption, om (L.) asswno,
-ad, and sumo, I take.
For "Melody," see p. 189; "Medium," p. 168; "Monastery," p. 44;
and" Missionary,'' p. 59.
1. How little music, though so powerful in its in­ uence on the elings, either springs om, or is de­ pendant upon, intellect, appears om the ct, that some of the most exquisite e usions of this art have
I had their origin among people the most simple and· 1 unarti cial ; nor can all that taste and science bring
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