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


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

VERSES: THE FOURTH BOY, by             Poet's Biography
First Line: A critic once to a miltonian made
Last Line: "poh! Hold thy tongue! He stole the devil,—did he?"
Subject(s): Crime & Criminals; Plagiarism


A critic once to a Miltonian made
Of Milton's plagiarisms a long parade,
To prove his work not owing to his genius,
But to ADAMUS EXUL and MASENIUS,
That he had stol'n the greater part by much
Both of his plan and matter from the Dutch.

His Abdiel, finest characters, he took,
And heav'nly scenes, from such and such a book;
His hellish too the same,—from such a one
He stole his Pandemonium,—and so on;—
Till Milton's friend cried out at last, quite giddy,
"Poh! hold thy tongue! He stole the devil,—did he?"





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