Doctor Fell

Doctor Fell

1Doctor Fell
2I do not love thee, Doctor Fell.
3The reason why, I cannot tell;
4But this I know, and know full well,

Notes

5] Dr. John Fell, dean of Christ Church, Oxford, and later Bishop of Oxford. He allegedly pardoned Brown (who was facing expulsion from Christ Church) if he could translate extemporaneously Martial's epigram 33:
Non amo te, Sabidi, nec possum dicere quare;
Hoc tantum posso dicere, non amo te.
to which Brown, it is said, uttered this poem. Back to Line
Publication Notes
The Faber Book of Epigrams & Epitaphs ed. Geoffrey Grigson (London: Faber & Faber, 1977): 69.
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2004