Meanwhile, however, Mavrocordatos gave him a commission as commander-in-chief--archi-strategos was his grandiloquent title--and he did what he could. He took 500 of those "dark Suliotes" whom he had sung in the early cantos of "Childe Harold" into his pay, and was prepared to lead them to the storming of Lepanto. He did something to mitigate the inhumanities of the war by insisting upon the release of some Turkish prisoners whom his allies proposed to massacre. Maintaining his character as man of action, he suppressed a converted blacksmith, who arrived from England with a cargo of type, paper, bibles and Wesleyan tracts, proposing to use the tracts for cartridges and turn the type into small shot. And then, having leisure on his hands, he wrote one poem, which he showed to Colonel Stanhope, saying: "You were complaining the other day that I never write any poetry now. This is my birthday, and I have just finished something which, I think, is better than what I usually write." I "_'Tis time this heart should be unmoved, Since others it hath ceased to move; Yet though I cannot be beloved, Still let me love!_ II "_My days are in the yellow leaf; The flowers and fruits of love are gone; The worm, the canker, and the grief Are mine alone!_ III "_The fire that on my bosom preys Is lone as some volcanic isle; No torch is kindled at its blaze-- A funeral pile!_ IV "_The hope, the fear, the jealous care, The exalted portion of the pain And power of love, I cannot share, But wear the chain._ V "_But 'tis not_ thus--_and 'tis not_ here-- _Such thoughts should shake my soul, nor_ now, _Where glory decks the hero's bier, Or binds his brow._ VI "_The sword, the banner, and the field, Glory and Greece, around me see! The Spartan, borne upon his shield, Was not more free._ VII "_Awake! (not Greece--she is awake!) Awake my spirit! Think through_ whom _Thy life-blood tracks its parent lake, And then strike home._ VIII "_Tread those reviving passions down, Unworthy manhood!--unto thee Indifferent should the smile or frown Of beauty be._ IX "_If thou regret'st thy youth_, why love? _The land of honourable death Is here:--up to the field, and give Away thy breath!_ X "_Seek out--less often sought than found-- A soldier's grave, for thee the bed; Then look around, and choose thy ground, And take thy rest._"