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"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 against a primary source]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2010-12-17
Line count: 18
Word count: 91