Laurel · John Addington Symonds · Wine, Women and Song

On the Order of Wandering Students

John Addington Symonds (1840–1893) · 1884

trochaic tetrameter · ABABCDCD · 128 lines · from Wine, Women and Song

At the mandate, Go ye forth,Through the whole world hurry!Priests tramp out toward south and north,Monks and hermits skurry,Levites smooth the gospel leave,Bent on ambulation;Each and all to our sect cleave,Which is life's salvation.

In this sect of ours 'tis writ:Prove all things in season;Weigh this life and judge of itBy your riper reason;'Gainst all evil clerks be youSteadfast in resistance,Who refuse large tithe and dueUnto your subsistence.

Marquesses, Bavarians,Austrians and Saxons,Noblemen and chiefs of clans,Glorious by your actions!Listen, comrades all, I pray,To these new decretals:Misers they must meet decay,Niggardly gold-beetles.

We the laws of charityFound, nor let them crumble;For into our order weTake both high and humble;Rich and poor men we receive,In our bosom cherish;Welcome those the shavelings leaveAt their doors to perish.

We receive the tonsured monk,Let him take his pittance;And the parson with his punk,If he craves admittance;Masters with their bands of boys,Priests with high dominion;But the scholar who enjoysJust one coat's our minion!

This our sect doth entertainJust men and unjust ones;Halt, lame, weak of limb or brain,Strong men and robust ones;Those who flourish in their pride,Those whom age makes stupid;Frigid folk and hot folk friedIn the fires of Cupid.

Tranquil souls and bellicose,Peacemaker and foeman;Czech and Hun, and mixed with thoseGerman, Slav, and Roman;Men of middling size and weight,Dwarfs and giants mighty;Men of modest heart and state,Vain men, proud and flighty.

Of the Wanderers' order ITell the Legislature--They whose life is free and high,Gentle too their nature--They who'd rather scrape a fatDish in gravy swimming,Than in sooth to marvel atBarns with barley brimming.

Now this order, as I ken,Is called sect or section,Since its sectaries are menDivers in complexion;Therefore hic and haec and hocSuit it in declension,Since so multiform a flockHere finds comprehension.

This our order hath decriedMatins with a warning;For that certain phantoms glideIn the early morning,Whereby pass into man's brainVisions of vain folly;Early risers are insane,Racked by melancholy.

This our order doth proscribeAll the year round matins;When they've left their beds, our tribeIn the tap sing latins;There they call for wine for all,Roasted fowl and chicken;Hazard's threats no hearts appal,Though his strokes still thicken.

This our order doth forbidDouble clothes with loathing:He whose nakedness is hidWith one vest hath clothing:Soon one throws his cloak asideAt the dice-box calling;Next his girdle is untied,While the cards are falling.

What I've said of upper clothesTo the nether reaches;They who own a shirt, let thoseThink no more of breeches;If one boasts big boots to use,Let him leave his gaiters;They who this firm law refuseShall be counted traitors.

No one, none shall wander forthFasting from the table;If thou'rt poor, from south and northBeg as thou art able!Hath it not been often seenThat one coin brings many,When a gamester on the greenStakes his lucky penny?

No one on the road should walk'Gainst the wind--'tis madness;Nor in poverty shall stalkWith a face of sadness;Let him bear him bravely then,Hope sustain his spirit;After heavy trials menBetter luck inherit!

While throughout the world you rove,Thus uphold your banners;Give these reasons why you proveHearts of men and manners:"To reprove the reprobate,Probity approving,Improbate from approbateTo remove, I'm moving."

Words in this poem 31

ambulation n.: The act of walking. Sir T. Browne. [L. ambulatio.]
glorious a.: Exhibiting attributes, qualities, or acts that are worthy of or receive glory; noble; praiseworthy; excellent; splendid; illustrious; inspiring admiration; as, glorious deeds. [OF. glorios, glorious, F. glorieux, fr. L. gloriosus. See Glory, n.]
tonsured a.: Having the tonsure; shaven; shorn; clipped; hence, bald.
pittance n.: An allowance of food bestowed in charity; a mess of victuals; hence, a small charity gift; a dole. [OE. pitance, pitaunce, F. pitance; cf. It. pietanza, LL. pitancia, pittantia, pictantia; perh. fr. L. pietas pity, piety, or perhaps akin to E. petty. Cf. Petty]
punk n.: Wood so decayed as to be dry, crumbly, and useful for tinder; touchwood. [Cf. Spunk.]
admittance n.: The act of admitting.
folk n.: In Anglo-Saxon times, the people of a group of townships or villages; a community; a tribe. [AS. folc; akin to D. volk, OS. & OHG. folk, G. volk, Icel. f, Sw. & Dan. folk, Lith. pulkas crowd, and perh. to E. follow.]
cupid: The god of love, son of Venus; usually represented as a naked, winged boy with bow and arrow. [L.Cupido, fr. cupido desire, desire of love, fr. cupidus. See Cupidity.]
bellicose a.: Inclined to war or contention; warlike; pugnacious. [L. bellicosus, fr. bellicus of war, fr. bellum war. See Duel.]
peacemaker n.: One who makes peace by reconciling parties that are at variance. Matt. v. 9. --Peace"mak`ing, n.
foeman n.: An enemy in war. [AS. fhman.]
czech n.: One of the Czechs.
middling a.: Of middle rank, state, size, or quality; about equally distant from the extremes; medium; moderate; mediocre; ordinary.
sooth a.: True; faithful; trustworthy. [OE. soth, AS. s, for san; akin to OS. s, OHG. sand, Icel. sannr, Sw. sann, Dan. sand, Skr. sat, sant, real, genuine, present, being; properly p. pr. from a root]
brimming a.: Full to the brim; overflowing.
divers a.: Different in kind or species; diverse. [F. divers, L. diversus turned in different directions, different, p. p. of divertere. See Divert, and cf. Diverse.]
complexion n.: The state of being complex; complexity. [F. complexion, fr. L. complexio. See Complex, a.]
multiform a.: Having many forms, shapes, or appearances. [L. multiformis; multus much, many + forma shape: cf. F. multiforme.]
proscribe v. t.: To doom to destruction; to put out of the protection of law; to outlaw; to exile; as, Sylla and Marius proscribed each other's adherents. [L. proscribere, proscriptum, to write before, to publish, proscribe; pro before + scribere to write. See Scribe. The sense of this word originated in the Roman ]
nakedness n.: The condition of being naked.
vest n.: An article of clothing covering the person; an outer garment; a vestment; a dress; a vesture; a robe. [L. vestis a garment, vesture; akin to Goth. wasti, and E. wear: cf. F. veste. See Wear to carry on the person, and cf. Divest, Invest, Travesty.]
nether a.: Situated down or below; lying beneath, or in the lower part; having a lower position; belonging to the region below; lower; under; -- opposed to upper. [OE. nethere, neithere, AS. ni, fr. the adv. ni downward; akin to neo below, beneath, D. neder down, G. nieder, Sw. nedre below, nether, a. & adv., and also to S]
shall v. i.: To owe; to be under obligation for. [OE. shal, schal, imp. sholde, scholde, AS. scal, sceal, I am obliged, imp. scolde, sceolde, inf. sculan; akin to OS. skulan, pres. skal, imp. skolda, D. zullen,]
gamester n.: A merry, frolicsome person. [Game + -ster.]
sadness n.: Heaviness; firmness.
bravely adv.: In a brave manner; courageously; gallantly; valiantly; splendidly; nobly.
reprobate a.: Not enduring proof or trial; not of standard purity or fineness; disallowed; rejected. [L. reprobatus, p. p. of reprobare to disapprove, condemn. See Reprieve, Reprove.]
probity n.: Tried virtue or integrity; approved moral excellence; honesty; rectitude; uprightness. [F. probité, fr. L. probitas, fr. probus good, proper, honest. Cf. Prove.]
approving a.: Expressing approbation; commending; as, an approving smile.
improbate v. t.: To disapprove of; to disallow. [L. improbatus, p. p. of improbare to disapprove; pref. im- not + probare to approve.]
approbate a.: Approved. Elyot. [L. approbatus, p. p. of approbare to approve.]

Definitions and etymologies from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913.

About this text

On the Order of Wandering Students is in the public domain. This text is taken from Wine, Women, and Song Mediaeval Latin Students' songs; Now first translated into English verse, Project Gutenberg ebook #18044; the transcription's header, footer and licence were removed and nothing else was changed. You may copy, print and reuse it freely.

Cite as: John Addington Symonds, On the Order of Wandering Students, in Wine, Women and Song (1884), text of Project Gutenberg ebook #18044, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/symonds-wine-women/on-the-order-of-wandering-students.html, id L11807.

Form and metre

On the Order of Wandering Students is 128 lines in 16 stanzas of 8 lines each. The rhyme scheme is ABABCDCD, complete in 9 of its 16 stanzas. The metre is trochaic tetrameter, measured from the stress the words themselves fix (confidence 89%). 96% of its stressed syllables fall where the metre puts the beat. The lines average 6.5 syllables. 63 lines end on an unstressed syllable, a feminine ending. 28% of the lines run on without a stop at the line end.

See other poems in trochaic tetrameter.

Measured by Laurel's pipeline, not copied from a handbook: how stress and metre are counted, how rhyme is lettered, how a drifted rhyme is found. Where the dictionary cannot confirm a rhyme the letter is withheld, not guessed.

Rhyme words, stanza by stanza

The word that ends each line, lettered by the rhyme it makes; a dash is a line whose rhyme the dictionary could not confirm.

1 ABABCDCD forth^A · hurry^B · north^A · skurry^B · leave^C · ambulation^D · cleave^C · salvation^D
2 ABABCDCD writ^A · season^B · it^A · reason^B · you^C · resistance^D · due^C · subsistence^D
3 AAAABCBC bavarians^A · saxons^A · clans^A · actions^A · pray^B · decretals^C · decay^B · beetles^C
4 -A-ABCBC charity · crumble^A · we · humble^A · receive^B · cherish^C · leave^B · perish^C
5 ABABCDCD monk^A · pittance^B · punk^A · admittance^B · boys^C · dominion^D · enjoys^C · minion^D
6 ABABCDCD entertain^A · ones^B · brain^A · ones^B · pride^C · stupid^D · fried^C · cupid^D
7 -A-ABCBC bellicose · foeman^A · those · roman^A · weight^B · mighty^C · state^B · flighty^C
8 ABABCDCD i^A · legislature^B · high^A · nature^B · fat^C · swimming^D · at^C · brimming^D
9 ABABCDCD ken^A · section^B · men^A · complexion^B · hoc^C · declension^D · flock^C · comprehension^D
10 ABABCDCD decried^A · warning^B · glide^A · morning^B · brain^C · folly^D · insane^C · melancholy^D
11 ABAB-C-C proscribe^A · matins^B · tribe^A · latins^B · all · chicken^C · appal · thicken^C
12 A-A-B-B- forbid^A · loathing · hid^A · clothing · aside^B · calling · untied^B · falling
13 ABABCDCD clothes^A · reaches^B · those^A · breeches^B · use^C · gaiters^D · refuse^C · traitors^D
14 ABABCDCD forth^A · table^B · north^A · able^B · seen^C · many^D · green^C · penny^D
15 ABABC-C- walk^A · madness^B · stalk^A · sadness^B · then^C · spirit · men^C · inherit
16 -A-A-B-B rove · banners^A · prove · manners^A · reprobate · approving^B · approbate · moving^B

Scansion, line by line

Each line with its syllable count and the stresses the words themselves fix: / stressed, ˘ unstressed, · a syllable the word leaves free and the metre decides. Read against trochaic tetrameter. How this is done.

Line	Syl.	Stress
At the mandate, Go ye forth,	7	··/····
Through the whole world hurry!	6	····/˘
Priests tramp out toward south and north,	8	········
Monks and hermits skurry,	6	··/˘/˘
Levites smooth the gospel leave,	7	/˘··/˘·
Bent on ambulation;	6	······
Each and all to our sect cleave,	7	····/··
Which is life's salvation.	6	···˘/˘
In this sect of ours 'tis writ:	7	····/··
Prove all things in season;	6	····/˘
Weigh this life and judge of it	7	·······
By your riper reason;	6	····/˘
'Gainst all evil clerks be you	6	··/···
Steadfast in resistance,	6	/··˘/˘
Who refuse large tithe and due	7	·˘/····
Unto your subsistence.	6	···˘/˘
Marquesses, Bavarians,	7	/˘˘˘/˘˘
Austrians and Saxons,	6	/˘˘·/˘
Noblemen and chiefs of clans,	7	·······
Glorious by your actions!	7	/˘˘··/˘
Listen, comrades all, I pray,	7	/˘/····
To these new decretals:	6	······
Misers they must meet decay,	6	/···˘/
Niggardly gold-beetles.	6	/˘˘·/˘
We the laws of charity	7	····/˘˘
Found, nor let them crumble;	6	····/˘
For into our order we	7	···//˘·
Take both high and humble;	6	····/˘
Rich and poor men we receive,	7	·····˘/
In our bosom cherish;	7	·/˘/˘/˘
Welcome those the shavelings leave	8	/˘······
At their doors to perish.	6	····/˘
We receive the tonsured monk,	7	·˘/·/˘·
Let him take his pittance;	6	····/˘
And the parson with his punk,	7	··/˘···
If he craves admittance;	6	···˘/˘
Masters with their bands of boys,	7	/˘·····
Priests with high dominion;	6	···˘/˘
But the scholar who enjoys	7	··/˘·˘/
Just one coat's our minion!	7	···/˘/˘
This our sect doth entertain	7	·/···˘/
Just men and unjust ones;	6	···˘/·
Halt, lame, weak of limb or brain,	7	·······
Strong men and robust ones;	6	···˘/·
Those who flourish in their pride,	7	··/˘···
Those whom age makes stupid;	6	····/˘
Frigid folk and hot folk fried	7	/˘·····
In the fires of Cupid.	7	··/˘·/˘
Tranquil souls and bellicose,	7	/˘··/˘·
Peacemaker and foeman;	6	/·˘·/˘
Czech and Hun, and mixed with those	7	·······
German, Slav, and Roman;	6	/˘··/˘
Men of middling size and weight,	7	··/˘···
Dwarfs and giants mighty;	6	··/˘/˘
Men of modest heart and state,	7	··/˘···
Vain men, proud and flighty.	6	····/˘
Of the Wanderers' order I	7	··/˘/˘·
Tell the Legislature--	6	··/˘·˘
They whose life is free and high,	7	·······
Gentle too their nature--	6	/˘··/˘
They who'd rather scrape a fat	7	··/˘···
Dish in gravy swimming,	6	··/˘/˘
Than in sooth to marvel at	7	····/˘·
Barns with barley brimming.	6	··/˘/˘
Now this order, as I ken,	7	··/˘···
Is called sect or section,	6	····/˘
Since its sectaries are men	6	······
Divers in complexion;	6	/˘·˘/˘
Therefore hic and haec and hoc	7	·······
Suit it in declension,	6	···˘/˘
Since so multiform a flock	7	··/˘˘··
Here finds comprehension.	6	···˘/˘
This our order hath decried	7	·//˘·˘/
Matins with a warning;	6	····/˘
For that certain phantoms glide	7	··/˘/˘·
In the early morning,	6	··/˘/˘
Whereby pass into man's brain	7	·······
Visions of vain folly;	6	/˘··/˘
Early risers are insane,	6	/˘/·˘/
Racked by melancholy.	6	··/˘·˘
This our order doth proscribe	7	·//˘·˘/
All the year round matins;	6	······
When they've left their beds, our tribe	7	·····/·
In the tap sing latins;	6	····/˘
There they call for wine for all,	7	·······
Roasted fowl and chicken;	6	/˘··/˘
Hazard's threats no hearts appal,	7	/˘·····
Though his strokes still thicken.	6	····/˘
This our order doth forbid	7	·//˘·˘/
Double clothes with loathing:	6	/˘··/˘
He whose nakedness is hid	7	··/˘˘··
With one vest hath clothing:	6	····/˘
Soon one throws his cloak aside	7	·····˘/
At the dice-box calling;	6	····/˘
Next his girdle is untied,	7	··/˘·˘/
While the cards are falling.	6	····/˘
What I've said of upper clothes	7	····/˘·
To the nether reaches;	6	··/˘/˘
They who own a shirt, let those	7	·······
Think no more of breeches;	6	····/˘
If one boasts big boots to use,	7	·······
Let him leave his gaiters;	6	····/˘
They who this firm law refuse	7	·····˘/
Shall be counted traitors.	6	··/˘/˘
No one, none shall wander forth	7	····/˘·
Fasting from the table;	6	/˘··/˘
If thou'rt poor, from south and north	7	·······
Beg as thou art able!	6	····/˘
Hath it not been often seen	7	····/˘·
That one coin brings many,	6	····/˘
When a gamester on the green	7	··/˘···
Stakes his lucky penny?	6	··/˘/˘
No one on the road should walk	7	·······
'Gainst the wind--'tis madness;	6	····/˘
Nor in poverty shall stalk	6	··/˘··
With a face of sadness;	6	····/˘
Let him bear him bravely then,	7	····/˘·
Hope sustain his spirit;	6	·˘/·/˘
After heavy trials men	7	··/˘/˘·
Better luck inherit!	6	/˘·˘/˘
While throughout the world you rove,	7	·······
Thus uphold your banners;	6	·˘/·/˘
Give these reasons why you prove	7	··/˘···
Hearts of men and manners:	6	····/˘
"To reprove the reprobate,	7	·˘/·/˘˘
Probity approving,	6	/˘˘˘/˘
Improbate from approbate	7	/˘˘·/˘˘
To remove, I'm moving."	6	·˘/·/˘

The reader shows the same poem with its rhymes coloured and a stress row above each line, the notes beside their stanzas, and any word's definition on a tap; the analysis page takes the whole book apart. How every part of this site was made.

More by John Addington Symonds

Wine, Women and Song