Episode 06: Lyric Poetry - Romantic Weather: Shelley, Keats, Clare, Byron
Cambridge English Audio

Episode 06: Lyric Poetry - Romantic Weather: Shelley, Keats, Clare, Byron

B1IntermediateNovember 2, 202631 min

Recorded on 9 December 2011 in the Judith E. Wilson Drama Studio, these recordings bring together scholars, poets, and researchers from the University of Cambridge’s Faculty of English. Spanning six centuries of verse, from medieval lyrics to the poetry of the Romantics, this nine-part educational archive explores the changing voice, shape, and structure of the English lyric. Originally created in connection with the teaching of English at Cambridge, the episodes feature readings of a wide range of poems and explore the development of song, poetic form, wit, and expressions of love across the centuries. Episode 06: Lyric Po...

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to echo from its rising swell how heroes fought and nations fell

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0:00

I wish to tune my quivering lyre to deed of fame and notes of fire, to echo from its rising swell how heroes fought and nations fell when Atris's sons advanced to war or Tyrion Cadmus roved afar. But still to martial strains unknown, my lyre occurs to love alone.

0:22

Fired with the hope of future fame, I seek some nobler hero's name. The dying chords are strung anew, To war, to war my harp is due, With glowing strings the epic strain To Jove's great sun I raise again, Al-Sidées and his glorious deeds Beneath whose arm the Hydra bleeds.

0:43

All, all in vain, My wayward lyre wakes silver notes of soft desire. Adyur he chief's renowned in arms, Adyur the clang of war's alarms, To other deeds my soul is strung, And sweeter notes shall now be sung, My harp shall all its powers reveal To tell the tale my heart must feel.

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