I love the language, that soft bastard Latin, Which melts like kisses from a female mouth, And sounds as if it should be writ on satin, With syllables which breathe of the sweet South, And gentle liquids gliding all so pat in, That not a single accent seems uncouth, Like our harsh northern whistling, grunting guttural, Which we're obliged to hiss, and spit, and sputter all.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- He loves Latin for its soft, kiss‑like flow, sounding satin‑smooth, Southern‑sweet, unlike harsh northern speech.
- In plain terms
- He praises Latin’s gentle, elegant sound compared to rough northern tongues.
- What can you take from it?
- Appreciate the aesthetic qualities of language.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How does language sound affect perception?
- What makes a language feel 'soft'?
Another view
Subjective taste may not be universally shared.
More from Lord Byron
Besides, they always smell of bread and butter.
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