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Evangeline: Prolog

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

This is the forest primeval.

The murmuring pines and the hemlocks,

Bearded with moss, and in garments green, indistinct in the twilight,

Stand like druids of eld, with voices sad and prophetic,

Stand like harpers hoar, with beards that rest on their bosoms.

Loud from its rocky caverns, the deep-voiced neighboring ocean

Speaks, and in accents disconsolate answers the wail of the forest.

Painting of Henry-Wadsworth-Longfellow.

1807-1882

This is the forest primeval; but where are the hearts that beneath it

Leaped like the roe when he hears in the woodland the voice of the huntsman?

Where is the thatch-roofed village, the home of Acadian farmers―

Men whose lives glided on like rivers that water the woodlands,

Darkened by shadows of earth, but reflecting an image of heaven?

Waste are those pleasant farms, and the farmers forever departed!

Scattered like dust and leaves when the mighty blasts of October

Seize them, and whirl them aloft, and sprinkle them far o'er the ocean.

Naught but tradition remains of the beautiful village of Grand-Pré.

 

Ye who believe in affection that hopes, and endures, and is patient,

Ye who believe in the beauty and strength of woman's devotion,

List to the mournful tradition still sung by the pines of the forest;

List to a Tale of Love in Acadie, home of the happy.

Evangeline, Longfellow's Epic poem with over 17,000 words, is present in its entirety on our website. The purpose for which is to enrich vocabulary and foster literary appreciation. It is accessible to Diamond, Gold, and Palladium members.

Desktops:

  • To listen to the poem, double left click on the first word of the beginning paragraph then, from the drop-down menu, right click and choose "Read aloud from here."

  • To hear definitions, double left click on a word then left click on the 3 dots that will appear above it, then click again on "define."

  • To increase culture awareness, get informed or be entertained, click on any word of the poem then choose "Search in sidebar for [that word.]" You'll see definitions, images, and videos.  ​​​

​      Dutch --

"Speach" ighlighted in Engllish and Dutch shown in Sidebar

 

Smartphones:

  1. To listen on a smartphone in one of the flag languages, press on the title or the first word of the prolog. Often those words are unresponsive. When this happens, tap on any word til you find one that is responsive.

  2. Then tap the three vertical lines on the horizontal menu. The menu will appear superimposed over the prolog.

  3. Next, tap "Read aloud." 

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*The bluish text on the bottom of your display will take you to another webpage. It is Bing's (or Edge's) AI-powered copilot for the web. There you could ask any questions, and learn such things as the history on which the poem is based. 

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