Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE UNIVERSITY OF GOTTINGEN, by GEORGE CANNING


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE UNIVERSITY OF GOTTINGEN, by             Poet's Biography
First Line: Whenever with haggard eyes I view
Last Line: Music still continuing to play till it is wholly fallen.)
Variant Title(s): Song By Rogero;rogero's Song Of One Eleven Years In Prison
Subject(s): Prisons & Prisoners; Universities & Colleges; Convicts


WHENE'ER with haggard eyes I view
This dungeon, that I'm rotting in,
I think of those companions true
Who studied with me in the U-
-niversity of Gottingen--
-niversity of Gottingen.
(Weeps, and pulls out a blue 'kerchief, with which he
wipes his eyes; gazing lenderly at it, he proceeds.)

Sweet 'kerchief checked with heavenly blue,
Which once my love sat knotting in,
Alas, Matilda then was true,
At least I thought so at the U-
-niversity of Gottingen--
-niversity of Gottingen.
(At the repetition of this line Rogero clanks his chains
in cadence.)

Barbs! barbs! alas! how swift ye flew,
Her neat post-wagon trotting in!
Ye bore Matilda from my view;
Forlorn I languished at the U-
-niversity of Gottingen--
-niversity of Gottingen.

This faded form! this pallid hue!
This blood my veins is clotting in,
My years are many--they were few
When first I entered at the U-
-niversity of Gottingen--
-niversity of Gottingen.

There first for thee my passion grew,
Sweet! sweet Matilda Pottingen!
Thou wast the daughter of my tutor, Law Professor at the U.
-nivesity of Gottingen--
-niversity of Gottingen.

Sun, moon, and thou vain world, adieu,
That kings and priests are plotting in;
Here, doomed to starve on water-gruel, never shall I see the U-
-niversity of Gottingen--
-niversity of Gottingen!

(During the last stanza Rogero dashes his head repeatedly
against the walls of his prison; and, finally, so
hard as to produce a visible contusion. He then throws
himself on the floor in an agony. The curtain drops--the
music still continuing to play till it is wholly fallen.)





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