Life of Lord Byron, Vol. 2: With His Letters and JournalsMoore, Thomas
General
Life of Lord Byron, Vol. 2: With His Letters and Journals
Moore, Thomas
Byron, George Gordon Byron, Baron, 1788-1824; Poets, English -- 19th century -- Biography
"Pray, is your Ionian friend in town? You have promised me an
introduction.--You mention having consulted some friend on the
MSS.--Is not this contrary to our usual way? Instruct Mr. Murray
not to allow his shopman to call the work 'Child of Harrow's
Pilgrimage!!!!!' as he has done to some of my astonished friends,
who wrote to enquire after my sanity on the occasion, as well they
might. I have heard nothing of Murray, whom I scolded heartily.
Must I write more notes?--Are there not enough?--Cawthorn must be
kept back with the 'Hints.'--I hope he is getting on with
Hobhouse's quarto. Good evening. Yours ever," &c.
* * * * *
Of the same date with this melancholy letter are the following verses,
never before printed, which he wrote in answer to some lines received
from a friend, exhorting him to be cheerful, and to "banish care." They
will show with what gloomy fidelity, even while under the pressure of
recent sorrow, he reverted to the disappointment of his early affection,
as the chief source of all his sufferings and errors, present and to
come.
"Newstead Abbey, October 11. 1811.
"'Oh! banish care'--such ever be
The motto of _thy_ revelry!
Perchance of _mine_, when wassail nights
Renew those riotous delights,
Wherewith the children of Despair
Lull the lone heart, and 'banish care.'
But not in morn's reflecting hour,
When present, past, and future lower,
When all I loved is changed or gone,
Mock with such taunts the woes of one,
Whose every thought--but let them pass--
Thou know'st I am not what I was.
But, above all, if thou wouldst hold
Place in a heart that ne'er was cold,
By all the powers that men revere,
By all unto thy bosom dear,
Thy joys below, thy hopes above,
Speak--speak of any thing but love.
"'Twere long to tell, and vain to hear
The tale of one who scorns a tear;
And there is little in that tale
Which better bosoms would bewail.
But mine has suffer'd more than well
'Twould suit Philosophy to tell.
I've seen my bride another's bride,--
Have seen her seated by his side,--
Have seen the infant which she bore,
Wear the sweet smile the mother wore,
When she and I in youth have smiled
As fond and faultless as her child;--
Have seen her eyes, in cold disdain,
Ask if I felt no secret pain.
And I have acted well my part,
And made my cheek belie my heart,
Return'd the freezing glance she gave,
Yet felt the while _that_ woman's slave;--
Have kiss'd, as if without design,
The babe which ought to have been mine,
And show'd, alas! in each caress
Time had not made me love the less.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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