The Works of Lord Byron, Volume 3 | Page 7

circle mark?The paleness of thy face,?A half-formed tear, a transient spark?Of melancholy grace,
17.
Again thou'lt smile, and blushing shun?Some coxcomb's raillery;?Nor own for once thou thought'st on one,?Who ever thinks on thee.
18.
Though smile and sigh alike are vain,?When severed hearts repine,?My spirit flies o'er Mount and Main,?And mourns in search of _thine_.
_October_ 11, 1809.
[MS. M. First published, _Childe Harold_, 1812 (4to).]
STANZAS WRITTEN IN PASSING THE AMBRACIAN GULF.[i]
1.
Through cloudless skies, in silvery sheen,?Full beams the moon on Actium's coast:?And on these waves, for Egypt's queen,?The ancient world was won and lost.
2.
And now upon the scene I look,?The azure grave of many a Roman;?Where stern Ambition once forsook?His wavering crown to follow _Woman_.
3.
Florence! whom I will love as well?(As ever yet was said or sung,?Since Orpheus sang his spouse from Hell)?Whilst _thou_ art _fair_ and _I_ am _young_;
4.
Sweet Florence! those were pleasant times,?When worlds were staked for Ladies' eyes:?Had bards as many realms as rhymes,[j]?Thy charms might raise new Antonies.[k]
5.
Though Fate forbids such things to be,[l]?Yet, by thine eyes and ringlets curled!?I cannot _lose_ a _world_ for thee,?But would not lose _thee_ for a _World_.[6]
_November_ 14, 1809.
[MS. M. First published, _Childe Harold_, 1812 (4to).]
THE SPELL IS BROKE, THE CHARM IS FLOWN![m]
WRITTEN AT ATHENS, JANUARY 16, 1810.
The spell is broke, the charm is flown!?Thus is it with Life's fitful fever:?We madly smile when we should groan;?Delirium is our best deceiver.?Each lucid interval of thought?Recalls the woes of Nature's charter;?And _He_ that acts as _wise men ought_,?But _lives_--as Saints have died--a martyr.
[MS. M. First published, _Childe Harold_, 1812 (4to).]
WRITTEN AFTER SWIMMING FROM SESTOS TO ABYDOS.[7]
1.
If, in the month of dark December,?Leander, who was nightly wont?(What maid will not the tale remember?)?To cross thy stream, broad Hellespont!
2.
If, when the wintry tempest roared,?He sped to Hero, nothing loth,?And thus of old thy current poured,?Fair Venus! how I pity both!
3.
For _me_, degenerate modern wretch,?Though in the genial month of May,?My dripping limbs I faintly stretch,?And think I've done a feat to-day.
4.
But since he crossed the rapid tide,?According to the doubtful story,?To woo,--and--Lord knows what beside,?And swam for Love, as I for Glory;
5.
'Twere hard to say who fared the best:?Sad mortals! thus the Gods still plague you!?He lost his labour, I my jest:?For he was drowned, and I've the ague.[8]
_May 9, 1810._
[First published, _Childe Harold_, 1812 (4to).]
LINES IN THE TRAVELLERS' BOOK AT ORCHOMENUS.[9]
IN THIS BOOK A TRAVELLER HAD WRITTEN:--
"Fair Albion, smiling, sees her son depart?To trace the birth and nursery of art:?Noble his object, glorious is his aim;?He comes to Athens, and he--writes his name."
BENEATH WHICH LORD BYRON INSERTED THE FOLLOWING:--
The modest bard, like many a bard unknown,?Rhymes on our names, but wisely hides his own;?But yet, whoe'er he be, to say no worse,?His name would bring more credit than his verse.
1810.
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