{"id":"01KG8AJPZRD7P3K0MVNK6STXQX","cid":"bafkreifmxvcvaz6sj2xt7u5g25t3d5vgbapeds3zelxr33nf4zh55hnvje","type":"segment","properties":{"description":"# On the Slain Collegians.\n## Overview\nThis is a segment of poetry titled \"On the Slain Collegians.\" It is part of [Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War.](arke:01KG8AJ6FNQ0XKWBY52P8DRPC9) and was extracted from the file [battle_pieces_and_aspects_of_the_war.txt](arke:01KG89J1G8S4TRWXNCBRKCRKS8). The segment consists of lines 3261-3288 of the source file.\n\n## Context\nThis segment is part of a larger collection of works by Herman Melville, specifically the [Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW) collection. \"On the Slain Collegians.\" is preceded by the segment [Magnanimity Baffled.](arke:01KG8AJPZHXAWSE41N2Z17PT09) and followed by [Rebel Color-bearers at Shiloh:](arke:01KG8AJPZR7NT2M54Y2YFY414Q) within the [Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War.](arke:01KG8AJ6FNQ0XKWBY52P8DRPC9) poetry collection.\n\n## Contents\nThe poem reflects on the tragic fate of young college students who went to war and died. It explores themes of youth, idealism, and the impact of war on those who are nurtured in the \"liberal arts.\" The poem contrasts the \"liberal arts and nurture sweet\" with the \"bloody bed\" where these young men meet their end, highlighting the loss of potential and innocence.\n","description_generated_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:23.576Z","description_model":"gemini-2.5-flash-lite","description_title":"On the Slain Collegians.","end_line":3288,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:47:35.910Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"On the Slain Collegians.","source_file":"01KG89J1G8S4TRWXNCBRKCRKS8","start_line":3261,"text":"On the Slain Collegians.[20]\r\n\r\n\r\nYouth is the time when hearts are large,\r\n    And stirring wars\r\nAppeal to the spirit which appeals in turn\r\n    To the blade it draws.\r\nIf woman incite, and duty show\r\n  (Though made the mask of Cain),\r\nOr whether it be Truth’s sacred cause,\r\n    Who can aloof remain\r\nThat shares youth’s ardor, uncooled by the snow\r\n    Of wisdom or sordid gain?\r\n\r\nThe liberal arts and nurture sweet\r\nWhich give his gentleness to man--\r\n  Train him to honor, lend him grace\r\nThrough bright examples meet--\r\nThat culture which makes never wan\r\nWith underminings deep, but holds\r\n  The surface still, its fitting place,\r\n  And so gives sunniness to the face\r\nAnd bravery to the heart; what troops\r\n  Of generous boys in happiness thus bred--\r\n  Saturnians through life’s Tempe led,\r\nWent from the North and came from the South,\r\nWith golden mottoes in the mouth,\r\n  To lie down midway on a bloody bed.\r","title":"On the Slain Collegians."},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJ6FNQ0XKWBY52P8DRPC9","peer_type":"poetry_collection","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1G8S4TRWXNCBRKCRKS8","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AJPZHXAWSE41N2Z17PT09","peer_type":"segment","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AJPZR7NT2M54Y2YFY414Q","peer_type":"segment","predicate":"next"}],"ver":3,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:47:40.536Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:24.001Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF5C36SQEVDHC9CBNZZJH9K"}}