Notes & Queries Archive
QUERY1850

Porson's Imposition

By C. B.

When Porson was at Cambridge, his tutor lent him a pound to buy books, which he spent in getting drunk at a tavern. The tutor set him an imposition, which he made to consist in a dog-Greek poem, giving an account of the affair. These were the three first lines,— "Τυτορ ἐμοὶ μὲν πουνδον ἐλένδετο· ῶς μάλα σιμπλος Τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ σπένδον κατα δώματα ρεδλιονοιο, Δριγκομενος καὶ ῥωρομενος διὰ νυκτὰ βεβαίως." Then part of another,— "—αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ μεγάλοις κλυββοῖσιν ἐβαγχθην." I cannot but think that some Cambridge men know the whole, which would be invaluable to retrieve. There is nothing about it in Kidd…

Topics: Greek Poetry, Education

Locations: Cambridge