| Arthur Quiller-Couch, comp. The Oxford Book of Victorian Verse. 1922. | | | | Austerity of Poetry | | By Matthew Arnold (1822–1888) |
| | | THAT son of Italy 1 who tried to blow, | |
| Ere Dante came, the trump of sacred song, | |
| In his light youth amid a festal throng | |
| Sate with his bride to see a public show. | |
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| Fair was the bride, and on her front did glow | 5 |
| Youth like a star; and what to youth belong, | |
| Gay raiment, sparkling gauds, elation strong. | |
| A prop gave way! crash fell a platform! lo, | |
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| Mid struggling sufferers, hurt to death, she lay! | |
| Shuddering they drew her garments off—and found | 10 |
| A robe of sackcloth next the smooth, white skin. | |
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| Such, poets, is your bride, the Muse! young, gay, | |
| Radiant, adorn’d outside; a hidden ground | |
| Of thought and of austerity within. | |
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