6. "The sword, the banner, and the field, Glory and Greece, around roe see! The Spartan, borne upon his shield, Was not more free. 7. "Awake! (not Greece--she _is_ awake!) Awake, my spirit! Think through _whom_ Thy life-blood tracks its parent lake, And then strike home! 8. "Tread those reviving passions down, Unworthy manhood!--unto thee Indifferent should the smile or frown Of beauty be. 9. "If thou regret'st thy youth, _why live_? The land of honourable death Is here:--up to the field, and give Away thy breath! 10. "Seek out--less often sought than found-- A soldier's grave, for thee the best; Then look around, and choose thy ground,-- And take thy rest." "We perceived," says Count Gamba, "from these lines, as well as from his daily conversations, that his ambition and his hope were irrevocably fixed upon the glorious objects of his expedition to Greece, and that he had made up his mind to 'return victorious, or return no more.' Indeed, he often said to me, 'Others may do as they please--they may go--but I stay here, _that is certain_.' The same determination was expressed in his letters to his friends; and this resolution was not unaccompanied with the very natural presentiment--that he should never leave Greece alive. He one day asked his faithful servant, Tita, whether he thought of returning to Italy? 'Yes,' said Tita: 'if your Lordship goes, I go.' Lord Byron smiled, and said, 'No, Tita, I shall never go back from Greece--either the Turks, or the Greeks, or the climate, will prevent that.'" LETTER 540. TO MR. CHARLES HANCOCK. "Missolonghi, February 5. 1824. "Dr. Muir's letter and yours of the 23d reached me some days ago. Tell Muir that I am glad of his promotion for his sake, and of his remaining near us for all our sakes; though I cannot but regret Dr. Kennedy's departure, which accounts for the previous earthquakes and the present English weather in this climate. With all respect to my medical pastor, I have to announce to him, that amongst other fire-brands, our firemaster Parry (just landed) has disembarked an elect blacksmith, intrusted with three hundred and twenty-two Greek Testaments. I have given him all facilities in my power for his works spiritual and temporal; and if he can settle matters as easily with the Greek Archbishop and hierarchy, I trust that neither the heretic nor the supposed sceptic will be accused of intolerance.