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by John Keats (1795 - 1821)

The Gothic looks solemn
Language: English 
The Gothic looks solemn,
The plain Doric column
Supports an old Bishop and Crosier;
The mouldering arch,
Shaded o'er by a larch
Stands next door to Wilson the Hosier.

Vice -- that is, by turns, --
O'er pale faces mourns
The black tassell'd trencher and common hat;
The Chantry boy sings,
The Steeple-bell rings,
And as for the Chancellor -- dominat.

There are plenty of trees,
And plenty of ease,
And plenty of fat deer for Parsons;
And when it is venison,
Short is the benison, --
Then each on a leg or thigh fastens.

About the headline (FAQ)

Also titled "On Oxford"

Text Authorship:

  • by John Keats (1795 - 1821), "Lines rhymed in a letter from Oxford", first published 1883 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

  • by Dominick Argento (1927 - 2019), "On visiting Oxford", 1968, published 1969 [ mixed chorus a cappella ], from A Nation of Cowslips, no. 3, NY: Boosey & Hawkes [sung text not yet checked]

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2010-12-17
Line count: 18
Word count: 91

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–Emily Ezust, Founder

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