Thoughts Suggested By A College Examination Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCDEE FFGGHHIIHHHHJJ HHKKLLMMNNHHOOPPHH QQHHHHRR HHSSTTUKHHVVWWMMHHRR HHXXHigh in the midst surrounded by his peers | A |
MAGNUS his ample front sublime up rears | A |
Placed on his chair of state he seems a god | B |
While Sophs and Freshmen tremble at his nod | B |
As all around sit wrapt in speechless gloom | C |
His voice in thunder shakes the sounding dome | D |
Denouncing dire reproach to luckless fools | E |
Unskill'd to plod in mathematic rules | E |
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Happy the youth in Euclid's axiorn tried | F |
Though littie versed in any art beside | F |
Who scarcely skill'd an English line tc pen | G |
Scans Attic metres with a critic's ken | G |
What though he knows not how his fathers bled | H |
When civil discord piled the fields with dead | H |
When Edward bade his conquering bands advance | I |
Or Henry trampled on the crest of France | I |
Though marvelling at the name of Magna Charta | H |
Yet well he recollects the laws of Sparta | H |
Can tell what edicts sage Lycurgus made | H |
While Blackstone's on the shelf neglected laid | H |
Of Grecian dramas vaunts the deathless fame | J |
Of Avon's bard remembering scarce the name | J |
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Such is the youth whose scientific pate | H |
Class honours medals fellowships await | H |
Or even perhaps the declamation prize | K |
If to such glorious height he lifts his eyes | K |
But lo no common orator can hope | L |
The envied silver cup within his scope | L |
Not that our heads much eloquence require | M |
Th' ATHENIAN'S glowing style or Tully's fire | M |
A manner clear or warm is useless since | N |
We do not try by speaking to convince | N |
Be other orators of pleasing proud | H |
We speak to please ourselves not move the crowd | H |
Our gravity prefers the muttering tone | O |
A proper mixture of the squeak and groan | O |
No borrow'd grace of action must he seen | P |
The slightest motion would displease the Dean | P |
Whilst everv staring graduate would prate | H |
Against what he could never imitate | H |
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The man who hopes t' obtain the promised cup | Q |
Must in one posture stand and ne'er look up | Q |
Nor stop but rattle over every word | H |
No matter what so it can not be heard | H |
Thus let him hurry on nor think to rest | H |
Who speaks the fastest's sure to speak the best | H |
Who utters most within the shortest space | R |
May safely hope to win the wordy race | R |
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The sons of science these who thus repaid | H |
Linger in ease in Granta's sluggish shade | H |
Where on Cam's sedgy banks supine they lie | S |
Unknown unhonour'd live unwept for die | S |
Dull as the pictures which adorn their halls | T |
They think all learning fix'd within their walls | T |
In manners rude in foolish forms precise | U |
All modern arts affecting to despise | K |
Yet prizing Bentley's Brunck's or Porson's note | H |
More than the verse on which the critic wrote | H |
Vain as their honours heavy as their ale | V |
Sad as their wit and tedious as their tale | V |
To friendship dead though not untaught to feel | W |
When Self and Church demand a bigot zeal | W |
With eager haste they court the lord of power | M |
Whether 'tis Pitt or Petty rules the hour | M |
To him with suppliant smiles they bend the head | H |
While distant mitres to their eyes are spread | H |
But should a storm o'erwhelm him with disgrace | R |
They'd fly to seek the next who fill'd his place | R |
Such are the men who learning's treasures guard | H |
Such is their practice such is their reward | H |
This much at least we may presume to say | X |
The premium can't exceed the price they pay | X |
George Gordon Byron
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