Page 122 - English Expedition Class 4

‘Now tell us all about the war,
And what they fought each other for?’

‘It was the English,’ Kaspar cried,
6
‘Who put the French to rout ;
But what they fought each other for,

I could not well make out;
7
But everybody said,’ quoth he,
‘That ’twas a famous victory.’

‘And everybody praised the Duke
Who this great fight did win.’

‘But what good came of it at last?’
Quoth little Peterkin.
‘Why, that I cannot tell,’ said he;
‘But ’twas a famous victory.’

Robert Southey (abridged)

Robert Southey (1774–1843) was an English poet. He is remembered
for his prose more than his poetry and was great friends with other
prominent poets like Coleridge and Wordsworth. Among his great
contribution to English literature is recording the story of Goldilocks
and the three bears in narrative form for the fi rst time.

Comprehension

A. Read the lines and answer the following ques ons.

1. And he before his cottage door

Was sitting in the sun;
a. Who was sitting before his cottage door?

b. Who were with him? What were they engaged in?

c. What great event had taken place there?

6 rout: retreat 7 quoth: old-fashioned way of saying said
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