On Mrs. Kemble's Readings from Shakespeare
The speaker recalls evenings of Mrs. Kemble reading Shakespeare, when listeners' hearts glowed and trembled at her interpretation. Addressing reader and poet, the speaker imagines the poet's listening spirit rejoicing in her voice.
By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow · Genre: Sonnet, Literary Tribute · 153 words
First lines
O precious evenings! all too swiftly sped! / Leaving us heirs to amplest heritages / Of all the best thoughts of the greatest sages, / And giving tongues unto the silent dead! / How our hearts glowed and trembled as she read, / Interpreting by tones the wondrous pages / Of the great poet who foreruns the ages, / Anticipating all that shall be said! / O happy Reader! having for thy text / The magic book, whose Sibylline leaves have caught / The rarest essence of all human thought! / O happy Poet! by no critic vext! / How must thy listening spirit now rejoice / To be interpreted by such a voice!
Genres
- Sonnet — Fourteen rhymed lines move from recalling the readings to directly addressing the reader and poet.
- Literary Tribute — The speaker expresses gratitude for the readings and celebrates the reader's vocal interpretation of the poet's words.
Tags
sonnet · public readings · recitation · literary tribute · vocal interpretation
What this Textopian page supports
On Mrs. Kemble's Readings from Shakespeare is listed on Textopian as a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, dated Date unknown.
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- Work type: Poem
- Author: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Sonnet, Literary Tribute
- Length: 153 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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