An Introduction to the Study of Robert Browning's Poetry by Robert Browning
page 26 of 525 (04%)
page 26 of 525 (04%)
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"Could all this be forgotten? Yes, a schism
Nurtured by foppery and barbarism, Made great Apollo blush for this his land. Men were thought wise who could not understand His glories: with a puling infant's force They sway'd about upon a rocking-horse, And thought it Pegasus." (Alluding to the rocking-horse movement of the Popian verse.) "Ah dismal soul'd! The winds of heaven blew, the ocean roll'd It's gathering waves -- ye felt it not. The blue Bar'd its eternal bosom, and the dew Of summer nights collected still to make The morning precious: beauty was awake! Why were ye not awake? But ye were dead To things ye knew not of, -- were closely wed To musty laws lined out with wretched rule And compass vile: so that ye taught a school Of dolts to smooth, inlay, and clip, and fit, Till, like the certain wands of Jacob's wit, Their verses tallied. Easy was the task: A thousand handicraftsmen wore the mask Of Poesy. Ill-fated, impious race! That blasphem'd the bright Lyrist to his face, And did not know it, -- no, they went about, Holding a poor, decrepid standard out Mark'd with most flimsy mottoes, and in large The name of one Boileau!" |
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