Cambridge Poets 1900–1913

G . LEATHEM . A FELLOW OF ST. JOHN 'S ON THE BEAUTY OF MATHEMATICS. (From the “ Don ''). " CAMBRIDGE indeed is beautiful,” he said, “ And only those who live here all their lives Passing their days in quiet harmony With the old walls , can know its charm to the full . And is it chance that mathematics here Has found its chiefest home ? From Newton down , Our greatest have preferred old x and y To the haunting music of Euripedes . Who live mid beauty , still must beauty seek . And Mathematics just for beauty 's sake We follow ." " Come , you surely jest !” I cried . “ A humble aid to physics perhaps , it is, A help to many , a great discovery That gives material blessings to mankind " “ Bother mankind !” he interrupted me . “ Art for art 's sake ! and if it's useful too So much the worse ! The sculptor shows his soul In marble ; the musician uses sound ; The poet soars in rhythmic line , and I In Mathematics — beauties votaries all Each art has its tongue , A tongue no human words can teach , but which 101