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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ITS ORIGIN, by NICOLAS BOILEAU-DESPREAUX Poem Explanation Poet's Biography
First Line: Apollo, at his crowded altars, tired
Last Line: While I no wreaths on rebel verse bestow
Alternate Author Name(s): Boileau, Nicolas
Subject(s): Sonnet (as Literary Form)
First Line: Apollo, at his crowded altars, tired
Last Line: While I no wreaths on rebel verse bestow
Alternate Author Name(s): Boileau, Nicolas
Subject(s): Sonnet (as Literary Form)
APOLLO, at his crowded altars, tired.
Of votaries, who for trite ideas thrown
Into loose verse, assume, in lofty tone,
The Poet's name, untaught, and uninspir'd,
Indignant struck the Lyre.-Straight it acquired
New powers, and complicate.
Then first was known
The rigorous Sonnet, to be framed alone
By duteous bards, or by just taste admir'd..
Go, energetic Sonnet, go, he cried,
And be the test of skill!-For rhymes that flow
Regardless of thy rules, their destin'd guide,
Yet take thy name, ah! let the boasters know.
That with strict sway my jealous laws preside,
While I no wreaths on rebel verse bestow.
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WHAT THE SONNET IS by EUGENE JACOB LEE-HAMILTON
ON A MAGAZINE SONNET by RUSSELL HILLARD LOINES
THE HOUSE OF LIFE: THE SONNET (INTRODUCTION) by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI
DRINKING SONG by NICOLAS BOILEAU-DESPREAUX