Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ON A CHANGE OF MASTERS AT A GREAT PUBLIC SCHOOL, by GEORGE GORDON BYRON


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ON A CHANGE OF MASTERS AT A GREAT PUBLIC SCHOOL, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Where are those honors, ida! Once your own
Last Line: No trace of science left you, but the name.
Alternate Author Name(s): Byron, Lord; Byron, 6th Baron
Subject(s): Schools; Students


WHERE are those honours, Ida! once your own,
When Probus filled your magisterial throne?
As ancient Rome, fast falling to disgrace,
Hail'd a barbarian in her Caesar's place,
So you, degenerate, share as hard a fate,
And seat Pomposus where your Probus sate.
Of narrow brain, yet of a narrower soul,
Pomposus holds you in his harsh control;
Pomposus, by no social virtue sway'd,
With florid jargon, and with vain parade;
With noisy nonsense, and new-fangled rules
Such as were ne'er before enforced in schools.
Mistaking pedantry for learning's laws,
He governs, sanction'd but by self-applause.
With him the same dire fate attending Rome,
Ill-fated Ida! soon must stamp your doom:
Like her o'erthrown, for ever lost to fame,
No trace of science left you, but the name.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net