Fugitive Pieces Part 8

3.

For such are the airs, Of these fanciful fairs, They think all our _homage_ a _debt_; But a partial neglect, Soon takes an effect, And humbles the proudest _coquette_.

4.

Dissemble your pain, And lengthen your chain, Nor seem her _hauteur_ to _regret_, If again you shall sigh, She no more will deny, That _yours_ is the rosy _coquette_.

5.

But if from false pride, Your pangs she deride, This whimsical virgin forget; Some _other_ admire, Who will _melt_ with your _fire_, And laugh at the _little_ coquette.

6.

For _me_, I adore, Some _twenty_ or more, And love them most dearly, but yet, Though my heart they enthral, I'd abandon them all, Did they act like your blooming _coquette_.

7.

No longer repine, But form this design, And break through her slight woven net; Away with despair, No longer forbear, To fly from the captious coquette.

8.

Then quit her, my friend!

Your bosom defend, Ere quite with her snares you're beset; Lest your deep wounded heart When incens'd by the smart, Should lead you to _curse_ the coquette.

BYRON, _October_ 27, 1806.

GRANTA, A MEDLEY.

Oh! could LE SAGE's[8] demon's gift, Be realized at my desire, This night my trembling form he'd lift, And place it on St. Mary's spire.

2.

Then would unroof'd old Granta's Halls Pedantic inmates full display, _Fellows_ who dream on _lawn_, or _stalls_, The price of hireling votes to pay.

3.

Then would I view each rival Wight, PETTY and PALMERSTON survey, Who canva.s.s now with all their might, Against the next elective day.

4.

One on his power and place depends, The other on the Lord knows what, Each to some eloquence pretends, But neither will convince by _that_.

5.

The first indeed may not demur, Fellows are sage reflecting men, And know preferment can occur, But very seldom, _now_ and _then_.

6.

They know the Chancellor has got, Some pretty livings in disposal, Each hopes that _one_ may be his _lot_, And therefore smiles at his proposal.

7.

Now from corruption's shameless scene, I'll turn mine eye, as night grows later, And view unheeded, and unseen, The studious sons of Alma Mater.

8.

There in apartments small and damp, The candidate for college prizes, Sits poring by the midnight lamp, Goes late to bed and early rises.

9.

He surely well deserves to gain them, And all the honours of His college, Who striving hardly to obtain them, Thus seeks unprofitable knowledge.

10.

Who sacrifices hours of rest, To scan precisely metres attic, And agitates his anxious breast, In solving problems mathematic.

11.

Who reads false quant.i.ties in Sele,[9]

Or puzzles o'er the deep triangle, And robs himself of many a meal, In _barbarous latin_[10] doom'd to wrangle.

12.

Renouncing every pleasing page, From authors of historic use, Preferring to the lettered sage, The square of the hypothenuse.[11]

13.

But harmless are these occupations, Which hurt none but the hapless student; Compared with other recreations, Which bring together the imprudent.

14.

Whose daring revels shock the sight, When vice and infamy combine, When drunkenness and dice unite, And every sense is steep'd in wine.

15.

Not so the methodistic crew, Who plans of reformation lay, In humble att.i.tude they sue, And for the sins of others pray.

16.

Forgetting that their pride of spirit, And exultation in their trial; Detracts most largely from the merit, Of all their boasted self-denial.

17.

'Tis morn,--from these I turn my sight, What scene is this which meets the eye, As numerous crowd array'd in white,[12]