The Speaker
A man (Longfellow, perhaps) who has come home on a cold, rainy evening filled with melancholy sentiments due to his day's toils and the cares of his soul. He asks his companion to choose a humble, simple poem to read to him in order to alleviate his loneliness.
The Companion
A woman whom the narrator asks to lend "thy beauty of thy voice" to the reading of a sweet, simple poem in order to banish his melancholy.
