Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO EDMUND GOSSE, WITH A FIRST EDITION OF ATALANTA IN CALYDON, by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO EDMUND GOSSE, WITH A FIRST EDITION OF ATALANTA IN CALYDON, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: At your pleasure here I hold
Last Line: Possibly, ambassador!
Alternate Author Name(s): Dobson, Austin
Subject(s): Swinburne, Algernon Charles (1837-1909)


AT your pleasure here I hold
'Atalanta snowy-souled':
Rather smudgy tho', -- the gold
Not so brilliant as of old;
FIRST EDITION, -- that is plain;
Monogram of J. B. PAYNE...
Dogg'rel this, but it was reckoned
Metre under GEORGE THE SECOND.
Then a man was thought a Bard
If by striving very hard
He could write -- say once a quarter,
Something just as long, or shorter.
Straight they crowned his head with bay,
Nobles took him home to 'tay';
Maids of honour for his muse
Quite forgot their 'P's' and 'Q's.'
See his name on all the posts;
People rush to buy in hosts
TONSON'S last impression with
Author's portrait, done by SMITH;
All his little words are quoted;
All his little airs are noted;
And, if he goes trickling on
From his paltry Helicon,
He is made Court-Footman or,
Possibly, Ambassador!





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