Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


ITS ORIGIN by NICOLAS BOILEAU-DESPREAUX

Poem Explanation

First Line: APOLLO, AT HIS CROWDED ALTARS, TIRED
Last Line: WHILE I NO WREATHS ON REBEL VERSE BESTOW
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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