Upon the Duke of Marlborough's House at Woodstock. Poems: 1713-17. Alexander Pope. 1903. Complete Poetical Works

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Alexander Pope (1688–1744). Complete Poetical Works. 1903.

Poems: 1713–17

Upon the Duke of Marlborough’s House at Woodstock

	Atria longa patent; sed nec coenantibus usquam,
	Nec somno, locus est: quam bene non habitas.
	Martial.

These verses were first published in 1714. There is no actual proof that they are Pope’s, but as his editors have always retained them, they are here given.

SEE, Sir, here ’s the grand approach,
This way is for his Grace’s coach;
There lies the bridge, and here ’s the clock;
Observe the lion and the cock,
The spacious court, the colonnade,	5
And mark how wide the hall is made!
The chimneys are so well design’d,
They never smoke in any wind.
This gallery’s contrived for walking,
The windows to retire and talk in;	10
The council-chamber for debate,
And all the rest are rooms of state.
Thanks, Sir, cried I, ’t is very fine,
But where d’ ye sleep, or where d’ye dine?
I find by all you have been telling	15
That ’t is a house, but not a dwelling.

CONTENTS · BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

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