The man who hopes t' obtain the promised cup Must in one posture stand, and ne'er look up; Nor stop, but rattle over every word- Who utters most within the shortest space The sons of science these, who, thus repaid, 49 Linger in ease in Granta's sluggish shade; Where on Cam's sedgy banks supine they lie, Unknown, unhonour'd live, unwept for die: Dull as the pictures which adorn their halls, They think all learning fix'd within their walls: In manners rude, in foolish forms precise, More than the verse on which the critic wrote: Vain as their honours, heavy as their ale, Sad as their wit, and tedious as their tale; To friendship dead, though not untaught to feel 61 When Self and Church demand a bigot zeal. What though we never silence broke, day: 30 Awake, with it my fancy teems; In sleep, it smiles in fleeting dreams; Alas! again no more we meet, May Heaven so guard my lovely quaker, For her each hour new joys discover, THE CORNELIAN 40 50 [This prologue was written by Byron, between stages, on his way from Harrowgate to Southwell, in 1806, where he took part in private theatricals.] SINCE the refinement of this polish'd age Has swept immoral raillery from the stage; Since taste has now expunged licentious wit, Which stamp'd disgrace on all an author writ; Since now to please with purer scenes we seek, Nor dare to call the blush from Beauty's cheek; Oh! let the modest Muse some pity claim, And meet indulgence, though she find not fame. Still, not for her alone we wish respect, Clip not our pinions ere the birds can fly: Drooping, alas! we fall to rise no more. 20 Not one poor trembler only fear betrays, Who hopes, yet almost dreads, to meet your praise; But all our dramatis personæ wait In fond suspense this crisis of their fate. No venal views our progress can retard, Your generous plaudits are our sole reward; For these, each Hero all his power displays, Each timid Heroine shrinks before your gaze. Surely the last will some protection find; None to the softer sex can prove unkind: While Youth and Beauty form the female shield, 31 |