Thewindsofheavenblew,theoceanroll’dIt’sgatheringwaves——yefeltitnot。TheblueBar’ditseternalbosom,andthedewOfsummernightscollectedstilltomakeThemorningprecious:beautywasawake!
Whywereyenotawake?ButyeweredeadTothingsyeknewnotof,——werecloselywedTomustylawslinedoutwithwretchedruleAndcompassvile:sothatyetaughtaschoolOfdoltstosmooth,inlay,andclip,andfit,Till,likethecertainwandsofJacob’swit,Theirversestallied。Easywasthetask:
AthousandhandicraftsmenworethemaskOfPoesy。Ill-fated,impiousrace!
Thatblasphem’dthebrightLyristtohisface,Anddidnotknowit,——no,theywentabout,Holdingapoor,decrepidstandardoutMark’dwithmostflimsymottoes,andinlargeThenameofoneBoileau!”
ItwastheselinesthatraisedtheireofByron,whoregardedthemasanirreverentassaultuponhisfavoritepoet,Pope。