| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
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| 1727. Classical Criticism |
| | | By George Lynde Richardson |
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21 B. C.
OLD Horace on a summer afternoon, | |
| Well primed with sweet Falernian, let us say, | |
| Lulled by the far-off brooklet ’s drowsy croon | |
| To a half-doze in a haphazard way, | |
| Scratched off a half a dozen careless rhymes, | 5 |
| As was his habit. When next day he came | |
| Awake to work, he read them several times, | |
| In vain attempt to catch their sense and aim. | |
| “What was I thinking of? Blest if I know, | |
| Jupiter! What ’s the difference? Let them go!” | 10 |
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886 A. D.
“LINES twelve to twenty are in great dispute,” | |
| (Most learnedly the lecturer doth speak,) | |
| “I think I shall be able to refute | |
| Orelli’s claim they ’re taken from the Greek. | |
| I think, with Bentley, Horace’s purpose here | 15 |
| Is irony, and yet I do not know | |
| But Dillenberger’s reading is more clear, | |
| For which he gives eight arguments, although | |
| Wilkins gives twelve objections to the same”— | |
| So on (ad infinitum). Such is fame! | 20 |
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