Page:The Works of Lord Byron (ed. Coleridge, Prothero) - Volume 1.djvu/70

30 No borrow'd grace of action must be seen,

The slightest motion would displease the Dean;

Whilst every staring Graduate would prate,

Against what—he could never imitate.

The man, who hopes t' obtain the promis'd cup,

Must in one posture stand, and ne'er look up;

Nor stop but rattle over every word—

No matter what so it can not be heard:

Thus let him hurry on, nor think to rest:

Who speaks the fastest's sure to speak the best;

Who utters most within the shortest space,

May, safely, hope to win the wordy race.

The Sons of Science these, who, thus repaid,

Linger in ease in Granta's sluggish shade;

Where on Cam's sedgy banks, supine, they lie,

Unknown, unhonour'd live—unwept for die:

Dull as the pictures, which adorn their halls,

They think all learning fix'd within their walls:

In manners rude, in foolish forms precise,

All modern arts affecting to despise;

Yet prizing Bentley's, Brunck's, or Porson's note,