Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, VERSES: THE FIFTH BOY, by JOHN BYROM



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VERSES: THE FIFTH BOY, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: When oxford saw in her radclivian dome
Last Line: Help'd the rare thief to raise up a design.
Subject(s): Crime & Criminals; Plagiarism; Poetry & Poets


When Oxford saw in her Radclivian dome
Greek skill and Roman rivall'd here at home,
Wond'ring she stood, till one judicious spark
Address'd the crowd, and made this sage remark,—
"The most unlicens'd plagiary,—this Gibbs!
"Nothing in all his pile but what he cribs.

"The ground he builds upon is not his own;
"I know the quarry whence he had his stone,
"The forest too where all his timber grow'd,
"The forge in which his fused metals flow'd;—
"Slightly survey the edifice intire,
"'Tis all a borrow'd work from base to spire."

Thus with our epic architect he deals,
Who says that Milton in his poem steals;
Steals, if he will;—"but without license?" No;
Pedlars in verse unmeaningly do so.
Him Phœbus licens'd; and the Muses nine
Help'd the rare thief to raise up A DESIGN.





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