Palestine (poem)
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Palestine is an 1803 romantic long poem by noted clergyman Reginald Heber, successfully entered for the Newdigate Prize.
Heber had been helped in this composition by Sir Walter Scott, a family friend, before the future novelist's years of fame. They'd had a discussion over breakfast about Palestine, and he began writing it before he left the table.[1] When Heber declaimed the poem at that year's Encaenia ceremony at the Sheldonian Theatre, it was given an enthusiastic reception. The poem was later published, and in 1812 was set to music by the composer William Crotch as an oratorio.[2] Crotch had been professor of music at Oxford since 1797.[2]