Welcome to my poetry reading of 'On a Change of Masters at a Great Public School' by Lord Byron (1805). It was written when Dr Drury left Harrow and was superceded by Dr Butler. Do you have a favourite Byron poem?
#Byron #LordByron #poetry My poetry reading playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOkhbMqb35EqA0jxno4tE3goZ1MAvjf4Q
'On a Change of Masters at a Great Public School' by Lord Byron
Where are those honours, Ida! once your own,
When Probus fill'd your magisterial throne?
As ancient Rome, fast falling to disgrace,
Hail'd a Barbarian in her Cæsar's place,
So you, degenerate, share as hard a fate,
And seat Pomposus where your Probus sate.
Of narrow brain, yet of a narrower soul,
Pomposus holds you in his harsh controul;
Pomposus, by no social virtue sway'd,
With florid jargon, and with vain parade;
With noisy nonsense, and new-fangled rules,
(Such as were ne'er before enforc'd in schools.)
Mistaking pedantry for learning's laws,
He governs, sanction'd but by self-applause;
With him the same dire fate, attending Rome,
Ill-fated Ida! soon must stamp your doom:
Like her o'erthrown, for ever lost to fame,
No trace of science left you, but the name.
(Source: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/8861/8861-h/8861-h.htm#section15)