Who is William Edmondstoune Aytoun

William Edmondstoune Aytoun FRSE (21 June 1813 – 4 August 1865) was a Scottish poet, lawyer by training, and professor of rhetoric and belles lettres at the University of Edinburgh. He published poetry, translation, prose fiction, criticism and satire and was a lifelong contributor to the Edinburgh literary periodical Blackwood's Magazine. He was also a collector of Scottish ballads.

In the early 1850s, Professor Aytoun lent his name as a supporter of the fledgling National Association for the Vindication of Scottish Rights. His distinctive legacy as a teacher has led to him being called the 'first modern professor of English Literature'.

Early life and education

William Aytoun was born at 21 Abercromby Place in the New Town of Edinburgh, the only son of...
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William Edmondstoune Aytoun Poems

  • Broken Pitcher, The
    It was a Moorish maiden was sitting by a well,
    And what the maiden thought of I cannot, cannot tell.
    When by there rode a valiant knight from the town of Oviedo,
    Alphonso Guzman was he hight, the Count of Desparedo. ...
  • Lay Of The Lover's Friend, The
    |Air| "The days we went a-gipsying."

    I would all womankind were dead,
    Or banished o'er the sea; ...
  • Epitaph Of Constantine Kanaris
    I am Constantine Kanaris:
    I, who lie beneath this stone,
    Twice into the air in thunder
    Have the Turkish galleys blown. ...
  • The Sheik Of Sinai In 1830
    I.

    'Lift me without the tent, I say,-
    Me and my ottoman,- ...
  • The Buried Flower
    In the silence of my chamber,
    When the night is still and deep,
    And the drowsy heave of ocean
    Mutters in its charmed sleep, ...
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Top 10 most used topics by William Edmondstoune Aytoun

Never 14 Long 14 Night 12 Beneath 12 Dark 11 Bring 11 God 11 Heart 11 Light 10 Hear 10


William Edmondstoune Aytoun Quotes

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Comments about William Edmondstoune Aytoun

Onearthasitis: "he is coming! he is coming! like a bridegroom from his room, came the hero from his prison to the scaffold and the doom." - william edmondstoune aytoun
Plastic_bio: fhairshon had a son,who married noah's daughter,and nearly spoiled ta flood,by drinking up the water.which he would have done,i at least pelieve it,had the mixture beenonly half glenlivet. - william edmondstoune aytoun
Briansimspa: “nowhere beats the heart so kindly as beneath the tartan plaid.” —william edmondstoune aytoun
Littleshopbc: lays of the scottish cavaliers + william edmondstoune aytoun + donohue, henneberry & co. + 1890s + vintage literature book
Donaldh11469395: “ like a brave old scottish cavalier, all of the olden time! [ the old scottish cavalier ]” william edmondstoune aytoun [ 1813- 1865 ]
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Poem of the day

Andrew Lang Poem
Ballade Of The Midnight Forest
 by Andrew Lang

Still sing the mocking fairies, as of old,
Beneath the shade of thorn and holly-tree;
The west wind breathes upon them, pure and cold,
And wolves still dread Diana roaming free
In secret woodland with her company.
'Tis thought the peasants' hovels know her rite
When now the wolds are bathed in silver light,
And first the moonrise breaks the dusky grey,
...

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