I Could No More Define Poetry Than

I Think That To Transfuse Emotion - Not To Transmit Thought But To Set Up In The Reader's Sense A Vibration Corresponding To What Was Felt By The Writer - Is The Peculiar Function Of Poetry.

Mithridates, He Died Old. Housman's Passage Is Based On The Belief Of The Ancients That Mithridates The Great [c. 135-63 B.c.] Had So Saturated His Body With Poisons That None Could Injure Him. When Captured By The Romans He Tried In Vain To Poison Himself, Then Ordered A Gallic Mercenary To Kill Him.

On Wenlock Edge The Wood's In Trouble;his Forest Fleece The Wrekin Heaves;the Wind It Plies The Saplings Double, And Thick On Severn Snow The Leaves.

And Silence Sounds No Worse Than Cheers After Earth Has Stopped The Ears.

Happy Bridegroom, Hesper Brings All Desired And Timely Things. All Whom Morning Sends To Roam, Hesper Loves To Lead Them Home. Home Return Who Him Behold, Child To Mother, Sheep To Fold, Bird To Nest From Wandering Wide: Happy Bridegroom, Seek Your Bride.