Ad Lectionem Suam

When Autumn's winds denude the grove, I seek my Lecture, where it lurks 'Mid the unpublished portion of My works,

And ponder, while its sheets I scan, How many years away have slipt Since first I penned that ancient man- uscript.

I know thee well--nor can mistake The old accustomed pencil stroke Denoting where I mostly make A joke,--

Or where coy brackets signify Those echoes faint of classic wit Which, if a lady's present, I Omit.

Though Truth enlarge her widening range, And Knowledge be with time increased, While thou, my Lecture! dost not change The least,

But fixed immutable amidst The advent of a newer lore, Maintainest calmly what thou didst Before:

Though still malignity avows That unsuccessful candidates To thee ascribe their frequent ploughs In Greats--

Once more for intellectual food Thou'lt serve: an added phrase or two Will make thee really just as good As new:

And listening crowds, that throng the spot, Will still as usual complain That "Here's the old familiar rot Again!"