Analysis of Lines Addressed To The Rev. J. T. Becher, On His Advising The Author To Mix More With Society
George Gordon Lord Byron 1788 (London) – 1824 (Missolonghi, Aetolia)
Dear Becher, you tell me to mix with mankind;
I cannot deny such a precept is wise;
But retirement accords with the tone of my mind:
I will not descend to a world I despise.
Did the senate or camp my exertions reuire,
Ambition might prompt me, at once, to go forth
When infancy's years of probation expire,
Perchance I may strive to distinguish my birth
The fire in the cavern of Etna conceal'd
Still mantles unseen in its secret recess;
At length, in a volume terrific reveal'd,
No torrent can quench it, no bounds can repress.
Oh! thus, the desire in my bosom for fame
Bids me live but to hope for posterity's praise.
Could I soar with the phoenix on pinions of flame
With him Iwould wish to expire in the blaze.
For the life of a Fox, of a Chatham the death,
What censure, what danger, what woe would I brave!
Their lives did not end when they yielded their breath;
Their glory illurnines the gloom of their grave.
Yet why should I mingle in Fashion's full herd?
Why crouch to her leaders, or cringe to her rules?
Why bend to the proud, or applaud the absurd?
Why search for delight in the friendship of fools?
I have tasted the sweets and the bitters of love;
In friendship I early was taught to believe
My passion the matrons prudence reprove;
I have found that a friend may profess, yet deceive.
To me what is wealth? - it may pass in an hour,
If tyrants prevail, or if Fortune should frown:
To me what is title? - the phantom of power;
To me what is fashion? - I seek but renown.
Deceit is a stranger as yet to my soul:
I still am unpractised to varnish the truth:
Then why should I live in a hateful control?
Why waste upon folly the days of my youth?
Scheme | ABABCXCX DEDE FGFG HIHI JKJK XLIL CMCM NONO |
---|---|
Poetic Form | |
Metre | 11011111111 1100110111 1010001101111 11101101101 10101110101 01011111111 111101001 01111101011 010001011001 11001011001 11001001001 11011111101 110010011011 111111111 11110101111 1111101001 101101101001 11011011111 11111111011 110101111 11111001011 11101011101 11101101001 11101001011 111001001011 01011011101 110010101 111101101101 111111110110 11001111011 111110010110 11111011101 01101011111 111111001 11111001001 11011001111 |
Closest metre | Iambic hexameter |
Characters | 1,640 |
Words | 320 |
Sentences | 19 |
Stanzas | 8 |
Stanza Lengths | 8, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4 |
Lines Amount | 36 |
Letters per line (avg) | 36 |
Words per line (avg) | 9 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 161 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 40 |
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on April 29, 2023
- 1:37 min read
- 104 Views
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"Lines Addressed To The Rev. J. T. Becher, On His Advising The Author To Mix More With Society" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/15129/lines-addressed-to-the-rev.-j.-t.-becher%2C-on-his-advising-the-author-to-mix-more-with-society>.
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