1. Reading By Teacher

The Leap Of Roushan Beg L

Mounted on Kyrat strong and fleet, His chestnut steed with four white feet,

Roushan Beg, called Kurroglou, Son of the road and bandit chief, Seeking refuge and relief,

Up the mountain pathway flew.

Such was Kyrat's wondrous speed, Never yet could any steed

Reach the dust-cloud in his course. More than maiden, more than wife, More than gold and next to life

Roushan the Robber loved his horse.

In the land that lies beyond Erzeroum and Trebizond,

Garden-girt his fortress stood; Plundered khan, or caravan Journeying north from Koordistan,

Gave him wealth and wine and food.

1Used by special arrangement with the Houghton Mifflin Company.

Seven hundred and fourscore Men at arms his livery wore,

Did his bidding night and day; Now, through regions all unknown, He was wandering, lost, alone,

Seeking without guide his way.

Suddenly the pathway ends, Sheer the precipice descends,

Loud the torrent roars unseen; Thirty feet from side to side Yawns the chasm; on air must ride

He who crosses this ravine.

Following close in his pursuit, At the precipice's foot

Reyhan the Arab of Orfah Halted with his hundred men, Shouting upward from the glen,

"La Illah illa Allah!"

Gently Roushan Beg caressed Kyrat's forehead, neck, and breast;

Kissed him upon both his eyes, Sang to him in his wild way, As upon the topmost spray

Sings a bird before it flies.

"0 my Kyrat, O my steed, Round and slender as a reed,

Carry me this peril through! Satin housings shall be thine, Shoes of gold, O Kyrat mine,

O thou soul of Kurroglou!

"Soft thy skin as silken skein, Soft as woman's hair thy mane,

Tender are thine eyes and true; All thy hoofs like ivory shine, Polished bright; O life of mine,

Leap, and rescue Kurroglou!"

Kyrat, then, the strong and fleet, Drew together his four white feet,

Paused a moment on the verge, Measured with his eye the space, And into the air's embrace

Leaped as leaps the ocean surge.

As the ocean surge o'er sand Bears a swimmer safe to land,

Kyrat safe his rider bore; Rattling down the deep abyss, Fragments of the precipice

Rolled like pebbles on a shore.

Roushan's tasselled cap of red Trembled not upon his head,

Careless sat he and upright; Neither hand nor bridle shook, Nor his head he turned to look,

As he galloped out of sight.

Flash of harness in the air, Seen a moment like the glare

Of a sword drawn from its sheath; Thus the phantom horseman passed, And the shadow that he cast

Leaped the cataract underneath.

Reyhan the Arab held his breath While this vision of life and death

Passed above him. "Allahu 1" Cried he. "In all Koordistan Lives there not so brave a man

As this Robber Kurroglou!"

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

2. Study

You will like to read this poem for yourself. Notice just the lines that answer these questions:

Who was Roushan Beg?

What lines show his love for his horse?

Where was his fort?

How did he get his wealth?

Who were his companions?

What was Roushan doing the day on which the story begins?

What dangers threatened him? To whom does he turn for help? Read the lines he speaks to Kyrat. What do they mean? How did Kyrat answer his master?

What lines describe Roushan Beg after the danger is over? Who saw him leap? What did Reyhan think? Do you agree with him?

3. Exercises

1. Write synonyms for these words: steed.

fleet.

speed.

regions.

journeying.

peril.

verge.

caressed.

torrent.

Read the lines of the poem, using your words instead of those the author used. How do you like them?

2. Make a list of the words in the poem which contain the apostrophe. Tell why it is used in each word.

3. Which lines in each stanza rhyme? Write the words which rhyme in the second, fifth, and twelfth stanzas.

4. Choose two stanzas that show good pictures. Learn to recite them.

5. Make a list of words that describe Roushan Beg. Another list that describe his horse.

4. Oral Work

Read again Tubal Cain, on page 21. Which story do you like better, that one, or the one you have just studied?

Which of the men do you admire more?

Which do you think did more good?

Be ready to tell your reasons in class.

5. Written Composition

Write the story of Roushan Beg. Use this outline:

1. Who Roushan Beg was.

2. The kind of horse he had.

3. His getting lost.

4. His dangers.

5. His escape.