M errill
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z
En g lia h 6 ex t a
CHI L D E H A R OL D S
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P I L G R I MA G E
C A NT O F O URT H
AND
TH E P RI S ONE R OF CH I L L ON
BY
LORD
YRO N
R
EDI T ED W I T H A N INT R O D UC TION A N D NOT E S
ELB E R T R H O DE S A M H E A D
B Y C HA R LE S
IN T H E
O F T H E DE P A R T M E NT O F E N G L I S H
L A F AY E TT E HI G H S CH OO L B UF F A L O N E W Y O R K
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NE W Y O RK
CHA RLE S E
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M E RRI LL C OM PA N Y
m
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errill a
Eng lish 612x15
T H I S s e ri e s of b oo k s inc l u d e s in co m p lete ed i t ions th os e m as te r
pi e c e s o f E n gl is h L i ter a ture th a t are be s t a d ap ted fo r the u se of
sc h oo l s an d co llege s The ed i t o r s of the s ever a l v o lume s are
c h os e n fo r the i r sp e cial q u a l ifi ca t ions in conn e c t ion w i th the te x t s
iss ued u n de r the i r in d i v i du a l s u p erv ision but fa m i l iari t y w i th
the p r ac t ica l n eed s of the c l ass r oo m no le ss th an so u n d sc h o l a r
s h ip c h a r ac te riz e s the ed i t in g of eve ry b oo k in the s er i e s
I n conn e c t ion w i th e ac h te x t a c ri t ical an d h is t o rica l in t ro d u c
t ion inc lud in g a s ket c h of the l if e of the a uth o r an d h is rel a t ion
t o the th o ught of h is t i me cri t i ca l opinions of the w o rk in q ue s
t ion c h os e n fro m the g re a t b o d y of E n gl ish c ri t i c is m an d where
possi ble a po rtr ai t of the a uth o r are g i ve n A m p le e xp l ana t o r y
no t e s of s u c h passa ge s in the te x t a s call fo r sp e cia l a tte n t ion a re
s u pp l i ed but i rrelev an t anno t a t ion an d e xp l ana t ions of the o b
v iou s are ri g i dl y e x c luded
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C H A RLE S E
C O P YR I G H T
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M E RR ILL CO M PA N Y
191 1 ,
BY
CHAR LE S
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E
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M
E RR I LL
CI A 2 8 3 6 3 8
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CO
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P RE FA CE
TH E S E po em s an d in deed a ll po em s s h o u l d be t aught
a s l i ter a ture an d the p r i m a r y ai m s h o u l d be l i ter a r y a p
p re c i a t ion The te a c her i s of te n c onf r on ted w i th the
p r o blem of gett in g p u pi l s t o se e the e ss e n t i a l d i ff ere n c e
betwee n po etr y an d p r os e Th is c a n be s t be d on e b y
g oo d in ter p ret a t i ve re a d in g an d b y c a ll in g a tte n t ion t o
the fa c t th a t po etr y m a ke s m o re of an em o t iona l th an
a n in telle c tu a l app e a l th a t i t is l a rgel y i m a gina t i ve an d
s ugge s t i ve an d th a t i t de a l s m o re with gre a t truth s
th an w i th fa c t s
All meth o d s wh i c h h in der an app re c ia t ion of the
po etr y s h o uld be a v oi ded
Atte n t ion t o m a tter s of
gr a mm a r an d rhet o r i c o ther th an a s ai d s in u n der
s t an d in g the po etr y is m anif e s tl y o ut of h a rm ony
The No te s in th is ed i t ion a re c ons e q ue n tl y dev o ted t o
the e xp l ana t ion of h is t o r i c a l a llu sions wh i c h the p u pi l
c o uld no t well in ve s t i g a te fo r h i m s el f
an d t o s u c h in
t e r p r e t a t iv e s ugge s t ions as s h o u l d s t i mul a te the p u pi l
in h is o wn s e a r c h fo r the po et i c be a ut i e s in wh i c h the
po em s a b o u n d
The fa c t th a t there a re s er io u s p r o blem s c onn e c ted
w i th the l if e an d po etr y of B y r on on l y n e c e ssi t ate s the
B y ro n
gre ater t a c t an d c a re in de a l in g w i th h i m
s h o uld no t be s hu nn ed but so s tud i ed th a t h i s l if e ma y
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3
P R EFA
4
)E
be j u s t l y e s t i m a ted an d h is w o rk s re a d wi th p r op er
d is c r i m ina t ion He is an e x c elle n t po et t o a w a ke n s u c h
a s n eed a w a ke nin g t o the c h a rm of po etr y
C E R
Buff a l o Febru ar y 1 1 9 1 1
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C O NT E N T S
PA G E
I NTR O D UCT I ON
G E O R G E G O R D ON B Y R ON
C R I T I CAL O P I N I ON S
17
BI B LI O G R A P H Y
20
CH I LD E H A R OLD
TH E P R I SON E R
S ONN E T
ON
S
’
OF
P I L G R I M A G E , CA NTO F O URTH
21
CH I LL ON
93
CH I LLON
1 08
N O TE S
!
UE ST I ONS
1 09
A ND
TO P I CS
FO R
S TUD Y
1 39
I NTROD UCT I ON
G EOR G E G O RD O N B Y RO N
(
—
1 7 88 1 8 24
)
u n de rs t an d L ord By r on is a lm os t i m possi ble ; t o le a rn
e no ugh of h is lif e an d w ork to r e a d h i m with d isc r i minat ion is
e n t i rel y with in t h e r an ge of possi b i l it y W i th o ut e n terin g in t o
con c ernin g wh ic h there h as bee n
a n ana l ysis of h is c h a r a c ter
e n dle ss con tr o ver sy an d w i th o ut s ee kin g t o e s t i m a te a ll h is
w o r ks i t mu s t s u ffi c e he re t o s umm ariz e the fac t s of the po et s
l if e an d the c h a r ac ter is t i c s of h is po et ry as an in tr o du c t ion
me rel y t o the p u pi l s l ate r k no wled ge of Byron an d h is w orks
The e n v i r on me n t in t o wh ic h
H e r e d i t y an d E n vir on m e n t
By r on wa s b orn an d in whi c h he wa s br o ught u p w as a b o ut a s
b a d a s can be con c e i ved His fa mi l y was de s c e n d ed fro m on e of
the o ldes t h o u s e s of the E n glish no b i li t y of N ors e ori gin ; but h is
fa ther w as a m an of no c h a r a c te r in fac t a w orthl e ss p ro flig a t e
”
wh o h a d the nic k na me of M a d Jac k
W i llia m the po et s
”
u nc le w as k no w n as the wic k ed l o rd an d the g ran d fa ther h a d
c o mm i tted mu r d er
The p o et s m ot he r wh o m M a d J ac k
h a d m a r ri ed fo r he r m on e y wa s de s c e n d ed fro m J a me s I an d w as
e xc e ssi vel y p r o ud of he r H i ghl an d an c e s t ry B ut sh e s eem s t o
h a ve bee n dev oi d of s u c h q u alit i e s as m ake a g oo d m o the r an d
he r i m p ul si ve n e ss pri d e an d h ys te ri c a l te n d e n ci e s co mb in ed t o
spoi l he r c h i ld S h e a lte rna tel y ca re ss e d an d abu s e d h i m S h e
eve n m a d e f u n of h is c lub foo t an d c a lled hi m a l a me b ra t
The b oy Byron n eve r k n ew a t rue h o me or re a l p are n t a l a ffe c
t ion S u c h q u a l i t i e s a s he na tur a ll y in he ri te d we re n eve r c urbed
an d s u c h t rainin g as mi ght in a me as ur e h a ve o ver co me h is
p e ri l o u s te n de n c i e s wa s n eve r g i ve n hi m O n e te a c he r t o be
s u re d i d s eem t o u n d erstan d the b oy an d m i ght h a ve d on e m u ch
To
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I N T R OD U C TI O N
8
fo r hi m h ad no t the oppo rtu ni t y bee n l i m i t ed A s i t was h is
k in d n e ss an d t ac t were n eve r fo rg o tte n b y Byron
E du c a t i on
Un der s u c h c i r c um s t anc e s an d in v i ew of the fa c t
th a t the con d i t ions a t the u ni ve rsi t y whi c h he e n tered in 1 8 0 5
were the n con du ci ve t o fas t li vin g r a ther th an t o so br i et y i t is
no t t o be w on dered a t th a t h is ca reer at T rini t y C o llege Ca m
bri dge wa s m a rked b y se lf will h a ught in e ss an d passion A f t er
three y e a rs of re si de nc e a t t h e u ni ver si t y where he d i d no t d is
t in g u is h h i m s el f as a s tude n t he wa s g i ve n the
ge n tlem an s
de g ree an d h is fo rm a l edu cat ion w as e n ded
F ir st P o e m s
A t the a ge of nin etee n whi le in co llege By r on
p ubl is hed a v o lume of po em s called H ou r s of I dlen ess Th e
E di n b u r gh Revie w s ri d i c ule of it so e xasp er a ted t h e yo u n g po et
th at tw o y e a rs l a ter he p ubl is hed h is bri ll iant sa t i rica l re p l y
E n gl is h Ba rd s an d S co t c h R ev i ewers
This wa s a b i tter
e ssay but i t p r o ved pop ul a r wi t h t h e re a ders of the d ay wh o
l i ked con tr o ve rsy I n l a t er y e a rs By r on re p e nt ed of th is e a rl y
”
e xp l osion an d ca lled i t an ev i l w o rk of h is nona ge
I n 1 80 9
By r on t oo k h is s e at in the H o u s e of Lo rd s an d th ree m on th s
a f terw a rd s w e n t t o t h e con t in e n t
where he tr a veled w i th h is
f ri e n d H o bh o u s e fo r tw o y e ars D ur in g t h is t o ur he g a the red
m a t e ria l fo r s ever a l po em inc lud in g the first tw o can t os of
The p ubl ica t ion of
Ch i lde H a r old Th e Cor sa ir an d Th e Gia o u r
At th is t i me Byron w o uld
Ch i lde H a ro ld br o ught ins t an t fa me
t ake no pay me n t fo r h is po em s
M a rria ge
D u rin g the p erio d of h is p he no me na l pop ul ari t y
an d wh i le he was the i d o l of fash iona ble so ci et y By r on was m ar
r i ed t o M iss M illb a nk e a w o m an co ld fo rm a l an d p re cis e wh o
a dm i red the po et an d s eemed a mb i t io u s t o refo rm h i m The
t as k of re fo rm w as b e v o n d he r po wer for s he l ac ked the n e c es
s a ry w innin g q u a l i t i e s an d t ac t ; an d wi th in a y e a r after the
wed d in g d ay sh e le f t h i m an d return ed t o her fa ther a lleg in g
th a t S he bel i eved her hu sb an d insan e Whe n con v in c ed th a t he
wa s no t m a d sh e s t i ll p er sis t e d in re f u sin g t o l i ve w i th h i m
th o ugh Byr on s eve ra l t i me s so ught a re conci li at ion H e ofte n
ass erted th a t he n eve r k n ew wh y h is w if e le ft h i m
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GEOR G E GO R DON
S oci et y
B YRO N
9
si ded w i th the w if e The t i de no t on l y tu rn ed a g ains t
By r on but be ca me a t i d a l w a ve of vi tu p er at i ve a bu s e wh ic h
H e says of h is t re a tme n t :
wa s m or e th an he co uld e n dure
The p re ss wa s ac t i ve an d sc urr i l o u s ;
m y na me— wh ic h
h a d bee n a k ni ghtl y or a no ble on e sin c e m y fa the rs hel p ed t o
—
conq uer the k in gd o m fo r W i ll ia m the N o rm an wa S t ain ted I
f elt th a t if wh a t was w h isp ered an d mutte red was t rue I w as
u nfi t for E n gl an d ; if fa l s e E n gl an d w as no t fi t fo r me I w i th
drew ; but th is wa s no t e no ugh I n o ther co u n t ri e s— in S w i t z er
l an d in t h e s h a d o w of the A l ps an d b y the blue de p th of the
l ake s I w as p u rs ued an d bre a thed u pon b y the sa me bl i gh t I
c r oss ed the m o u n t ains but i t w as the sa me ; S O I we n t a l i ttle
fart her an d s ettled m ys el f b y the w a ve s of the A dria t ic l i ke the
s t a g a t b ay wh o bet a ke s h i m s el f t o the w a ter s
L e s t the s e w o rd s of the po et s h o ul d s eem p re j ud ic ed we a l so
q u o te M aca ul ay u pon the sa me s ub j e c t : H is co u n tr y w as in
a b a d hum or wi th h i m H is wr i t in g s an d h is c h a r ac te r h a d
l os t the c h arm of no velt y H e h a d bee n gu i lt y of the O ff e ns e
wh i c h of a ll O ff e ns e s is p u nis hed m os t s eve rel y : he h a d bee n
o ver p r ais ed ; he h a d e xci ted t oo w a rm an in tere s t ; an d t h e
p ubl ic w i th i t s u s u a l j u st ic e f ch a st ise d h i m for i t s o wn fo ll y
The o bl oq u y wh ic h By r on h a d t o e n d ur e w as s u c h a s m i ght
well h a ve s h a ke n a m o re cons t an t m in d The n ew spap er s were
fi lled w i th l a m poons
The the a tre s s h oo k wi th e x e c r a t ions
H e w as e xc luded fro m ci r c le s where he h a d l a tel y bee n the o b
s erved o f a ll O b s e rvers A ll th os e c ree pin g thi n g s th a t r io t in
the de c ay of no bler na tu re s h as te n ed t o the i r re pas t ; an d the y
were ri ght ; the y d i d af te r the ir k in d
F irs t ca me the e x e c ut ion the n the in ve s t i g a t ion an d l as t of
a ll o r r a ther no t a t a ll the acc u sa t ion The p ubl ic wi th o ut
k no w in g any th in g a t a ll a b o ut the tr ansa c t ions in h is fa m i l y
fl ew in t o a v io le n t passion w i th h i m an d p r oc eeded t o in ve n t
s t o r i e s wh i c h mi ght j u st ify i t s an ger Te n o r twe n t y d i ff ere n t
acco u n t s of the s e p a r a t ion in c onsis te n t w i th e ac h o t her w i th
them s elve s an d w i th co mm on s e ns e ci r c ul a ted a t the sa me t i me
Wh a t ev i de nc e the re m i ght be fo r any on e of the s e the v i rtu ou s
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I N TROD U C TI O N
10
p e op le wh o re p e a ted t hem n ei t her k n ew no r cared F or in fa c t
the s e s t ori e s were no t the ca u s e s but the e ffe c t s of the p ubli c
in d i g na t ion
This q u o t a t ion p ut s in s tr on g term s wh a t we believe t o be the
t ru th conc er nin g the m os t t ra g ic eve n t in the l if e of on e wh os e
wh o le lif e w as a tr aged y an d m any of wh os e s ub s e q ue n t w an
d e rin g s an d fa ll s were in pa rt a t le as t due t o the m ann er in
wh ic h he wa s tre a ted b y h is co u n try me n
I n A p ri l 1 8 1 6 By r on le f t En gl an d
Lif e on the Con t i n e n t
n ever t o return Fo r t h e rem ainin g e i ght y e a rs of h is l ife he
w an dered no m ad l i ke o ver mu c h of E ur op e w as t in g h i m s el f w i th
r iot o u s l i v in g H e n ever re co vered f r o m the m isan thr opy ca u s ed
b y h is tre a tmen t p rev io u s t o h is de pa r t ure f r o m E n gl an d H is
p ersona l d isappoin tme n t in l if e w as dee p e n ed b y the an gu is h
he f elt o ver the fai lure of t h e F re nc h R ev o lut ion t o so lve the
gre a t p ro blem of na t iona l f reed o m H is w o rd s on F r anc e in
can t o IV of Ch ilde H a r old ( p 58 ) S h o w h o w s er io u s l y he t oo k th a t
fai lure H e wa s so passionate a l o ver of l i bert y th a t he be c a me
t h e m os t rev o lut iona r y of a ll the po et s of the r o m an t ic sc h oo l of
H e f elt th a t he mu s t bre a k a w ay f r o m a ll the
E n gl is h po etr y
—
tr a d i t ions an d con ven t ions of o rg ani z ed soci et y socia l rel i gio u s
a n d po l i t i c a l
M u c h of the fi rs t y e a r of By r on s l if e a br oa d w as sp e n t w i th
t h e po e t S helle y wh o m he met a t G e n ev a an d wh o d i d mu c h t o
s t i mul a te h is l i ter a r y ac t i vi t i e s B ut fo r S helle y s infl ue nc e so me
of By r on s be s t po etr y w o uld n eve r h a ve bee n wr i tte n Thei r
nature s were the co m p leme n t s of e ac h o ther T o th is p e rio d of
By ron s l if e bel on g Th e P r ison er of Ch illon an d the th i rd can t o
of Ch ilde H a r old wh ic h is in m any re sp e c t s the be s t s e c t ion of
the po em
A t Ve ni c e where he re si ded fo r thr ee y e a r s Byron wr o te the
fo urth can t o of Ch i lde H a r old finis hed M a nf red wr o te B ep po
an d beg an D on J u a n H ere he ca me u n der the infl uenc e of the
C o u n te ss G u iccio li wh o u n der s t oo d h im an d s u c c eeded in re
s tr ainin g h i m a s f ew d i d S h e l a ter wr o te a b io grap h y of By r on
Th e P o e ms
I n 1 8 20 By r on wro te h is fi rs t dr a m as but the y
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GEOR GE G OR D O N
B YRO N
11
we re no t s u cc e ssf ul ; he wa s no t a dr a m at is t Ca in h o wever a
d ra m at i c po em whic h wa s wri tte n the fo ll o win g y e a r w as s u p erio r
t o h is e a rl y w ork It reve a l s m a rvel o u s po wer S helle y says of
i t I n m y O pinion i t con t ains fin e r po etr y th an h a s app e a red
”
in E n gl an d Sinc e P a ra dise L ost
S co tt sp e a k s in the sa me s t rain
an d re f er s t o the po em a s an a wf ul an d treme n d o u s dr a m a
H e h a s c e rt ain l y m a t c hed M i lt on on
c onc e rnin g Byron he says
”
h is o wn gr o u n d
S t i ll ano ther cri t i c M r M a ther co mme n t s
thu s Ca in is a d ra m a in wh ic h Byron de pi c t s the m a g nific e nc e
of a so ul s rev o lt the aw f ul n e ss of a so ul s iso l a t ion an d de spai r
an d the u n t o ld d e so l a t ion of a so ul s de f e a t whe n po werle ss in
t h e fac e of irr ev oca ble l a w
Th a t so ul was Byron s Ca in be in g
the h is t o ri c fra gme n t in wh ic h he port ray ed h i m s el f an d h is
”
d e s t iny
The s t a teme n t is si g nifican t in v i ew of the fa c t th a t
Byron consi dere d hi m s el f a w an d ere r u pon the fa c e of the e a rth
M a nf red m ay be r eg ard ed as a co m panion t o Ca in for in the i r
m ain o utl in e s the y a re a l i ke D on J u a n is Byron s m as ter pi e c e
an d the c h a rac te r of D on Ju an is e ss e n t ia ll y By r on h i m s elf
The po em is w on de rf ul an d terr i ble I n i t t h e po et so ught r e
ve n ge u pon the w orld E n gl an d e sp e cia ll y It con t ains passa ge s
of m os t e xq u isi te be a ut y a n d p ass age s of b i ttere s t sa t i re It is
h is o wn b io gr ap h y wr i tte n w i th a p e n of fi r e
I n 1 8 22 Byron wr o te I f I l i ve te n y e a r s l on ger yo u w i ll s ee
— I
th a t i t is no t a ll o ver w i th me I d o no t me an in l i ter ature
d o no t th in k t h at is m y v o c a t ion ; but I s h a ll d o S omethin g
E x p e d ition t o G r e e c e
Byron wa s no t c on te n t t o w ri te ab o ut
l i bert y ; he wa s eve r on the l ook o ut for so me l arger an d m o re
e ff e c t i ve o utlet for the passi on for u ni ver sa l freed o m wh ic h con
s um e d hi m D u rin g h is r e si de n c e in It a l y he h a d sy m pa th iz ed
wi th the C arb onari m o veme n t whi c h ai med t o free It a l y f r o m
A u s t rian rule but the le a d in g rev o lut ionis t s we r e d is c o ve red an d
b anis hed an d B y ron him s el f e sca p ed on l y be ca u s e he w as an
A better o pp ortu ni t y s eemed o p e n t o h i m
E n g l is h n o bleman
in the s t ruggle of the G reek s a g ains t the Tu rk s The G reek co m
mit t e e a t Lon d on e n l i sted h is sy m pa th i e s an d he th rew h i m s el f
wi th a ll h is po we rs he a rt i l y in t o the s t ru g gle
E ve ry p e nny of h is
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I N TRO D U C TI O N
12
inco me th a t he c o uld s e c u re f r o m E n gl an d w as dev o ted t o the
cau s e I n 1 823 he se t o ut fo r G ree c e wi th a ve ss el con t ainin g
arm s an d a mmu ni t ion an d wi th the e q u i v a le n t of
in
m on e y H is c o ur a ge an d sa g a c i t y w on h i m ins t an t re co g ni t ion
fro m the G ree k le a ders H is c o u ns el s we re l is te n ed t o l i ke
”
orac le s
N o thin g c a n be m o re s t a te s m an l i ke th an
M r N i c h o l says
so me of By r on s pap e rs of th is an d the i mmed ia tel y p re c ed
in g p e rio d no th in g m o re no ble th an the spi r i t wh ic h inspi re s
them
N e i ther tru s t in g t oo mu c h no r d is tru s t in g t oo
mu c h w i th a c le ar he a d an d a g oo d w i ll he se t ab o ut e nfo r cin g
a s er i e s of e xc elle n t me as ur e s F r o m fi r s t t o l as t he w as e n g a g ed
in de no u ncin g d iss e nsion in a dv oca t in g u ni t y in d oin g every
th in g th a t m an co uld d o t o conc e n tr ate an d ut i l iz e the d is
o rderl y eleme n t s wi th whi c h he h a d t o w o rk H e occ u pi ed h i m
s el f in re pai rin g fo rti fica t ions m ana g in g s h ips re s tr ainin g
l ic e ns e p r o m o t in g co urte sy betwee n fo e s an d regul a t in g the
d isposa l of the sin ew s of w ar
The a fl a irs of G r ee c e soon beg an t o i m p r o ve Thr o ugh By r on s
infl ue nc e a l oan w as s u cc e ssf ull y n eg o t ia ted in L on d on an d o ther
v o lu n teer s inspi red b y h is no ble e xa m p le s et o ut t o ai d G ree c e
O n the m o rnin g of J an u a r y 22 1 8 24 his th i rt y Six th b i rthd ay
he e n te red h is fri e n d S t anh op e s r oo m sayin g Y o u co m p l ain
th at I n ever wri te any po etr y no w
The n he re a d the po em
beginnin g
T is t i me th is he art s h o uld be u n m o ved
S inc e o ther s i t h a th c e as ed t o m o ve
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A w a ke ! ( no t G ree c e— S h e is a w a ke ! )
A w a ke , m y Spi r i t ! thi n k thr o ugh wh o m
Th y l if e- bl oo d tr ac k s it s pa re n t l ake ,
An d the n s tr i ke h o me !
!
I f th o u re g re t st th y yo uth wh y live ?
The l an d of h ono r able de ath
I S b ere t u p t o the fi eld an d g i ve
A w ay th y bre a th !
’
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—
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G EOR G E G OR D O N
B YRO N
13
S eek o ut le ss of te n so ught
’
A so ld i e r s g ra ve , for thee
th an fo u n d
the be s t ;
The n l oo k a r o u n d an d c h oos e th y gro u n d
”
An d t a ke th y r e s t
The n e xt S prin g he con t ra c te d a
D e a t h in G r e e c e 1 8 24
fa t a l i ll n e ss M isso l on ghi wa s si tu a te d on a mud d y m a l aria l
s w a m p an d By r on s h o u s e wa s si tu a ted in the w ors t possi ble
p l ac e The f eve r s e iz e d hi m ; he w as in no con d i t ion t o fi ght i t
an d in spi te of ra ll i e s i t g ain ed u pon h is cons t i tut ion H is
—
med i c a l t re a tme n t w as u nsci e n t ifi c an d as the so ld i er fo r s u c h
we no w ca ll h i m— w o ul d no t g o a w ay fo r h is he a lth s sa ke de a th
soon o ve rt oo k h im
D u rin g the co urs e of the f ever Byron e x p re ss ed f e a r th a t h is
f ri e n d s m i ght be co me inf e c ted b y w a t c h in g wi th h i m H e w as
a l so m os t so l ici t o u s fo r o thers fa r a w ay h is sis ter an d h i s w if e
I n h is d yin g h o ur s he sai d of G ree c e I h a ve g i ve n her m y t i me
m y me ans m y he a lth— an d no w I g i ve he r m y lif e ! Wh a t co uld
”
I d o m o re ? P oor G ree c e poor t o wn poo r s erv an t s ! I n on e of
h is fi t s of del i r i um ev i de n tl y th in kin g he w as le a d in g the assa ult
—
on L e pan t o he cri ed o ut F o rw a rd s forw ard s c o ur a ge fo ll o w
”
—
m y e xa m p le d on t be af r ai d !
H is l as t w o r d s were
Now I
s h a ll g o t o s lee p
H e d i ed on A p r i l 1 9
Twe n t y tw o d ays of u ni ver sa l m o ur nin g fo r By r on we re p r o
c l a i med in G ree c e S h ops we r e c l os ed for t h ree d ays an d eve n
the E as ter f e st i v i t i e s were s u sp e n ded th at p r ay er s m i ght be of
f er e d
The G reek s de sir ed t o h a ve the b o d y b u ri ed in the Tem p le
of The s eu s at A the ns ; o the r ci t i e s con te n d ed fo r the rem ains ;
but the b o d y w as t a ke n t o E n gl an d A s the D e an of We s t mins ter
re f u s e d s e p ulture the re he wa s in te rred in the v i ll a ge c hu rc h a t
H u c kna ll be si de h is anc e s t ors
S t an h o p e sai d
E n gl an d h as
”
—
l os t he r b ri ghtes t ge ni u s G ree c e he r no ble s t fri e n d
H is o wn
w ord s a s S p o k e n b y the g oo d abb o t o ve r the sins of M a nf red
are a ppropriate for h i m s el f
This s h o ul d h a ve bee n a no ble c re at u r e— h e
H a th a ll the e n e rg y wh ic h w o uld h av e m a de
A g oo dl y f r a me of gl o r io u s e leme n t s
H a d the y bee n w is el y m in gle d
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I N TRO D U C TI O N
14
By r on is de ad ! The n ew s me an t so rro w a s i t r an aro u n d the
w o rld M rs C a rl y le sai d H a d I he a rd th a t the su n an d m oon
h a d fa lle n o ut of the ir sp here s i t c o uld no t h a ve c on ve y ed t o me
the f eel in g of a m o re a wf ul bl an k th an d i d the si m p le w o rd s
By r on is de a d
Te nnyson sp e a kin g l on g af te rw ard sai d I
th o ught the w o rld w as a t an e n d I th o ught eve ry th in g w as
o ver an d finis hed fo r everyon e— th a t no th in g el s e m attered
M r s S helle y s w o rd s were he a rt f elt :
C a n I ever fo rget o ur
e xc ursions on the l a ke whe n he san g the T y r o le s e h y m n an d h is
v oic e h a rm oni z ed w i th w in d s an d w a ve s ? Ca n I fo rget h is a tte n
”
?
t ions an d conso l a t ions t o me du rin g m y d ee p e s t m is e ry Never !
Byro n s P l a c e in Lit e r a tur e
H o w s h a ll we e s t i m a te Byron s
elu si ve c h a ra c te r an d the po em s wh ic h so p e rf e c tl y re cord it s
m any an d v a rio u s p h as e s ? Th a t he is t o be ran ked hi gh a m on g
o u r g re ates t E n gl is h po et s the re c a n be no d o ubt H e w as a b o r n
po et ; he h a d ge ni u s H e wa s no t p re em in e n tl y an a rt is t for he
l ac ked the pains t ak in g ca re e ss e n t ia l in gre a t art is t s H e ai med
r a the r a t fo r c e an d he i mparted a v iri l i t y an d v i t a l i t y t o E n gl ish
po et ry th a t were n eeded an d a re su flic ie n t t o kee p h is po et ry a l i ve
H e wa s a ci t iz e n of the w o rld an d he g a ve a cos m opo l i t an q u a l i t y
t o E n gl is h po etr y O n the con t in e n t h is po etry n eve r s u ff e red
f ro m the bl i ght in g re ac t ion whi c h wa s so e x treme in E n gl an d
B ut the w o rk of By ron is no w fin d in g i t s true level ; i t is re c e i v in g
the app re c ia t ion th a t is it s due
Byr on s P e r son a l it y
M e n a re s eld o m de s c ri bed a s be a ut if ul
but Byron w as so c a lle d — eve n b y me n
Bo th fa c e an d fi gure
H e h ad the he a d of
we re of the fin e s t m o uld of m an l y gr a c e
a G reek g o d
H is m ann er was c h a r a c teri z e d b y an e xq u isi te
c h arm whi c h a lw ays d is t in gu is hed h i m S helle y says th a t in t o
wh a tever soci et y he we n t he be ca me the n u c leu s of i t H is p h ys
i c a l be a ut y an d the fav o r i t w on for hi m m ade h im v ain ; h is c lub
foo t of wh ic h he was m o rb i dl y c ons c io u s m a de h i m b i t t e r Th e se
tw o q u al i t i e s— v ani t y an d b i t t e rn e ss— were h is w ors t e n emi e s
H is ran k a c c e n tu a ted h is v ani t y so t h a t i t le d hi m far as t ray ; h is
p as siona te tem p er so met i me s coiipera t ed wi th h is v ani t y re s ult in g
in wi ld e x ce ss ; a g ain i t s eemed in le a gue w i th h is b i tte rn e ss an d
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G EOR G E G OR D ON
B YRO N
15
de spai r e ns ue d A m an so cons t i tuted an d l i v in g in an a ge of re
v o lt na tu ra ll y be co me s a m an of rev o lt wh o ca re s no t for the con
H e ra the r t a ke s p le as ure in S h oc kin g th os e wh o
v e n t io n s of lif e
o verv a lue the con ve n t ional i t i e s so th a t he o f te n e xa gger ate s h is
o w n ev i l te n de nci e s S o i t w as w i th By r on H e s eemed t o h a ve
a m o rb i d de si re for a b a d re p ut a t ion P osin g m a de h i m app e ar
w o rs e th an he w as an d th is co m p l i c ate s the t as k of e s t i m a t in g
h is c h a r ac ter a ri ght
Wh i le i t canno t be trul y sai d th a t By r on a lw ays portr ay ed
h i m s el f in h is po em s i t is true th a t he p ut m o re of h i m s elf in t o
h is po em s th an any o ther po et h as ever d on e The c h a r ac ter s in
the po em s a re in v a r iabl y By r on m a de u p fo r the occasion By r on
ac t in g a pa rt a pa rt he can ac t as any g oo d ac t o r can but in no
s e ns e p re s e n t in g h is o wn true c h a r ac ter T hi s d is t inc t ion is im
port an t for t oo m any h a ve co me t o be li eve th a t By r on a lw ays
pic tured hi m s el f w i th p h o t o grap h i c p re cision whe n i t w o uld be
m o re corre c t t o sa y th a t he ca r icatured hi m s el f F o r ins t anc e
h is l if e be fore the pi lgri m a ge re co u n ted in Ch i lde H a r old I an d II
is posi t i vel y k no w n t o h a ve bee n of a ver y d i ff ere n t c h a r ac ter
f r o m th a t of the pi lgr i m
By r on w as a v ic t i m of c i r c um s t anc e s if ever there wa s on e
O f co ur s e th at d o e s no t e xc u s e h i m ; but a m an of s u c h b a d bl oo d
as he in her i ted wh o k n ew no g oo d infl ue nc e s dur in g h is b oy h oo d
wh o w as h an d so me y et de fo rmed an d wh o of te n g a ve u n mis
t ak able ev i de nc e s of te n der n e ss ge n er osi t y an d no b i l i t y s u c h
a m an de s erve s mu c h m o re a t the h an d s of the w o rld th an u n
q u a l ifi ed abu s e an d c on dem nat ion H e sinn ed but he w as
sinn ed a g ains t H e d i d mu c h th a t w as wr on g but no m an co uld
h a ve wr i tte n the be s t th a t he wr o te an d no m an co uld h ave
g i ve n h is l if e fo r a ca u s e of f reed o m as he d i d w i th o ut mu c h in
here n t g oo d n e ss It d o e s no g oo d t o bl a me h i m ; s u c h as he de
s erve pi t y an d hel p H is l if e w as a tr a ged y The fo r c e s w o rkin g
ag ains t h i m were t oo m any an d t oo gre a t fo r h i m but in the l as t
ac t as he d i e s we se e so me fain t si g ns of wh a t m i ght h ave
bee n anot he r d e no ueme n t h a d h is eleme n t s bee n m or e wis el y
”
m in gled
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I N TROD U C TI O N
16
M a tthew Arn o l d
!
wr ote
W he n
,
Byron s e y e s we re s hut in d e a th
We b o wed o ur he ad s an d held o u r b re a th
H e t a ught u s l i ttle ; but o ur so ul
H a d f elt h i m l i ke the thu n der s ro ll
W i th s h i verin g he a rt the s t rif e we sa w
O f p assion w i th ete rna l l a w ;
An d y et wi th reve r e n t ia l a we
We wa t ch d the fo u n t of fi e ry l if e
Wh i c h s erved for th a t T i t ani c s t rif e
’
,
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’
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’
”
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No
M rs
w o rd s on Byron are m o re appropriate th an th os e of
B ro wn in g in her V ision of P o et s
!
.
”
,
An d
An d
An d
poo r p r o ud By r on ! S a d a s gr a ve
sa lt a s l if e ; fo rl o rn l y br ave
q u i ve rin g wi th the d art he d ra ve
.
I N TRO D U C TI ON
18
f ri e n d S helle y wh o u n der s t oo d wh a t w as be s t in h i m ca lle d
h i m the P i lgr i m of E terni t y
H inc hm an an d G u mme re
H is
,
,
’
‘
—
.
Gr ea t E n glish W r i ter s
,
.
By r on s w o rk s p re s e n t the tr a ged y of a T i t an s truggl in g
a g ains t fo r c e s of hered i t y e n v i ron me n t an d w i ll ; he w as a f
fl ic t e d wi th the we lt sch rn er z w o rld we a r in e ss of a H a mlet ; an d
h is utter anc e wa s
0 c ur s e d Spi te
Th at ever I wa s b o r n t o s et i t r i ght !
’
!
,
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,
We mu s t conf e ss I th in k th a t By r on d i d mu c h of h is o wn de
l i ber ate c h oic e t o re n der h i m s el f u na ble t o l if t h i m s el f ab o ve
h i m s el f Th is fac t is c le a r an d we mu s t no t blin k i t ; but wh i le
we k no w wh at s d on e we k no w a l so wh a t s r esis ted : we c a n
j udge but we mu s t pi t y s u c h a l if e A m an wh o co uld w in the
p r ais e of S co tt G o eth e M azzi n i S ain te B euve A r no ld Te nny
son M o rle y an d D o wde n w as su re lv no c h a rl a t an
A n drew
J G e o rge
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sat i ris t h as s ur pass ed h im in the kee nn e ss of h is i r ony
no con tr o ver sia l is t in the v io le nc e of h is in ve c t i ve no hum o ris t
in the gr o te sq ue n e ss of h is i m a gina t ion no wri ter of any a ge in
the m asc ul in e g oo d s e ns e whic h he c a n m anif e s t whe n i t so
p le as e s h im ; an d y et in a ll an d t h r o ugh a ll there ru ns an ele
me n t of de p r a ved eg o t is m a con tem p t fo r v i rtue c urio u s l y a ll i ed
wi th a rem o r s e f ul l oa th in g of v ic e a p er p etu a l b i tter n e ss an d
cynicis m wh ic h le a ve s u pon the mi n d the u n h appi e s t an d m os t
p eri l o u s de posi t s I n truth By r on w as a gre at but m o rb i d
W J D a w son Th e M a ker s of E n glish P oetr y
ge ni u s
No
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F i lled wi th a ll the s e ( N ature s ) i m a ge s of nob i l i t y an d gre a t
n e ss he g a ve them b ac k t o h is pa ge w i th a t on e so p h ilo so p h i
ca ll y p r ofo u n d w i th a mu sic so thri l lin g w i th a d i g ni t y so gr ac e
f ul an d y et so te n der th a t no thin g in po etr y can be conc e i ved
m o re fascinat in g an d p e rf e c t —W M H o w i tt
’
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He
!
f ul
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n ever l os t a kee n p er c e p t ion of t h e p ure an d be a ut i
The passage s of th o ught f ul be a ut y whic h a re sca t
CR I TI CA L OPI N I O NS
19
o ve r h is s t o rm y an d i m p ul si ve po em s fo ll o w in g as the y
so of te n d o fi er c e burs t s of passion an d the b a d i d o l a tr y of h a te
—
an d de spai r a re as p le asin g t o the e y e as s t a rl i ght af ter l i ght
nin g I n the t hird an d fo urth can t os of Ch ilde H a r old in D on
J u a n in the na rr a t i v e s an d med i t a t ions whi c h he h as cas t in a
dr a m a t ic fo rm passa ge s m i ght be s ele c ted of m os t W i t chi n g
l o vel in e ss of dee p pa th os of sa d an d m o urnf ul be a ut y of s e n t i
me n t of aspi r a t ion af ter truth an d g oo d n e ss o i pi t y an d c h a r i t y
an d fai th an d hum ani t y an d l o ve
Wi eld in g an u n con
tr o lled d o minion o ver l an gu a ge an d p r of u s el y g if ted w i th a ll
h a tred an d con tem p t he b a ttled
t h e we apons of sa r cas m
fi er c el y in the s erv ic e of f reed o m an d k n ew well h o w t o o ver
whelm it s a dver sa r i e s w i th de n u nciat ions an d s t o rm y thre a t S
w i th r i d ic ule an d i r ony whi c h s h o uld e a t in t o thei r he art s as
”
—
E P Wh ipp le
ru s t in t o i r on
t e re d
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The s u p er ficia l inconsiste nci e s of h is c h a r ac ter mu s t a l wa v s
tem p t c r i t ics wh o h a ve a l i k in g fo r d iffic ult p r oblem s H e i s
l i ke H a mlet in th is re sp e c t
I n the de so l at ion of h is yo uth
in his m oo d in e ss in h is d ist em p ered v a ria t ion betwee n the e x
treme s of l a ughter an d te a r s in h is y e a rnin g fo r sy m path y h is
h ab i t of br oo d in g o ver the m ys ter i e s of l if e By r on u nconscio u s l y
p l ay ed the part of H a mlet w i th the w o rld fo r a s t a ge an d le f t a
k in dred p r o blem fo r the w on der of m an k in d an d the p u zz led
sp e c ul a t ion of the c ur io u s in s u c h m a tte rs
W i ll ia m M in t o
!
.
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
”—
.
.
T o acqu i re a ri ght f eel in g fo r By r on an d h is po etr y is a d is
It is e asy t o yield t o a s e ns e of h is po wer t o
c ip l in e in e q ui t y
the fo r c e an d s wee p of h is ge ni u s ; i t is e asy t o be re p elled b y h is
s u p er ficia l insinc eri t y h is l ic e ns e h is cynicis m h is po vert y of
th o ught h is l oos e n e ss of constru c t ion h is ca rele ssn e ss in e x e c u
t ion T o k no w a r i ght the ev i l an d the g oo d is d iffic ult It is
d iffic ult t o f eel j u s tl y t o w a rd th is dethr on ed i d o l pre s e n tl y
—
—
p erh aps t o be r e e n thr on ed a n i d o l in wh os e co m posi t ion i r on
an d c l ay a re m in gled w i th fin e g o ld B ut wh a t in tere st s u s in
By r on an d in By r on s w o rk is p re cis el y th is m in gl in g of no ble
!
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
.
—
,
,
,
.
’
,
I N TRO D U C TI O N
20
an d i g noble of g o ld an d a b as e a ll oy
We mu s t t a ke h i m
or le a ve h i m as he is — the i mm ort a l spoi lt b y h is a ge gre a t an d
p e t t y we a k an d s tr on g e xa lted an d deb as ed
I n it s
min gled eleme n t s B y ron s po etr y re p re s e n t s a t onc e the m in d
an d c h arac ter of the wri te r an d the tem p e r of h is a ge — E d wa rd
D o wde n P ri n ceton L ec tu res
.
,
,
,
.
,
,
’
”
.
.
,
B I B L I O G RA P HY
Jo h n N ic h o l : L if e
R N o el : L if e
.
f B y r on E n g l is h M e n of L ette rs S e ri e s
o
,
f B y r on G re a t
o
,
Wr i ter s S e ri e s
.
.
E l z e : B y r on , A B iogr a p h y
M a tthew Ar no ld : E ssa y s i n Cri ticism
K
.
.
.
W i ll ia m
H az l i tt : Th e S pi r it of th e A ge
A C S win bur n e : S tu d ies a n d E ssa y s
.
.
.
.
A n drew L an g : L etter s to D ea d A u th or s
.
W i llia m M in t o : L iter a tu r e of th e Geor gia n E ra
R F arq uh a r s on S h arp : A r ch itects of E n gl ish L iter a tu r e
Wm J D a w son : M a ker s of E n glish P oetr y
C ay le y an d Y o u n g : P ri n ci p l es a n d P r ogr ess of E n g lish P oetr y
J M a r s h a ll M a the r : P o p u la r S tu d ies of N in e teen th Cen t u r y P oets
H A B eer s : E n gl ish Roma n tici sm in th e N i n eteen th Cen tu r y
E dw a rd D o wde n : S tu d ies in L iter a tu r e
H inc hm an an d G u mmere : L ives of Gr ea t E n glish W r iter s
M aca ul ay : E ssa y on M oore s L if e of B y r on
E H C o ler i dge : B y r on s W or ks
J S co tt C l a rk : A S tu d y of E n g lish a n d A meri ca n P oets
H is t o r i e s of E n gl is h L i ter a ture s u c h a s P ancoas t s M oo d y an d
L o vett s S c udder s S i m on d s L on g s N e wc o mb er s an d G a r
n ett an d G oss e s
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.
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’
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’
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’
’
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,
’
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’
’
’
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,
,
,
CHI L DE H A ROL D S P IL G RI MA GE
’
C A N TO F OURTH
I
I S TO O D in V e ni c e on the B r i dge of S i gh s
A pa l a c e an d a p r i son on e a c h h an d ;
I sa w f r o m o ut the w a ve her s tru c ture s ri s e
A s f r o m the s tr o ke of the e n c h an ter s w an d :
A th o u san d y e a r s the i r c l o ud y w in g s e xpan d
5
Ar o u n d me an d a d yin g G l o r y s m i l e s
O e r the fa r t i me s whe n m any a s ub j e c t l an d
L oo ked t o the w in ged L ion s m a rble pi le s
Where V e ni c e sa te in St at e, thr on e d on her hu n dred
is l e s
,
’
,
’
,
’
,
!
.
II
S he l oo k s a s e a C y be l e f re s h f r o m o c e an
10
R isin g wi th her t i a r a of p r o ud t o wer s
At ai r y d is t an c e w i th m aj e s t i c m o t ion
A rule r of the w a ter s an d the i r po wer s :
—
A n d s u c h s he w as
her d a ughter s h a d the i r d o wer s
Fr o m spoi l s of na t ions an d the e x h a u s t l e ss E as t 1 5
P o ured in her l ap a l l gem s in spa rk l in g s h o wer s
I n p ur p l e w as s he r o bed an d of her f e as t
M ona r c h s pa rt oo k an d deemed the i r d i g ni t y in c re as ed
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
.
21
22
CHI L D E HA ROL D
S P I L GRI M A GE
’
III
’
I n V e ni c e T asso s e c h o e s a re no m o re
A n d si le n t r o w s the son gle ss g on d o l i er ;
Her pa l a c e s a re c rumbl in g t o the s h o re
A n d mu si c meet s no t a lw ays no w the e a r :
—
Th os e d ays a re g on e but B e a ut y s t i ll is here
—
S t ate s fa ll Art s fa de but Na ture d o th no t d i e
No r y et fo rget h o w V e ni c e on c e w as de a r
The p le asan t p l a c e of a ll f e s t i v i t y
!
The revel of the e a rth the m asq ue of I t a l y
,
20
,
.
,
,
,
25
,
,
IV
u n t o u s s he h a th a sp ell be yon d
Her name in s t o r y an d her l on g a rr ay
O f m i ght y s h a d o w s wh os e d i m fo r m s de spon d
Ab o ve the d o gele ss c i t y s v anis hed s w ay ;
Our s is a tr op h y wh i c h wi ll no t de c ay
W i th the R i a lt o ; S h y l o c k an d the M oo r
A n d P i erre c anno t be s we p t o r w o r n aw ay
The ke ys t on e s of the a r c h ! th o ugh a ll were o er
F o r u s re p e op led were the so l i t a r y s h o re
Bu t
,
,
30
’
,
,
’
35
.
V
The be in g s of the m in d a re no t of c l ay ;
E ss e n t i a ll y i mm o rt a l the y c re a te
A n d mult ip l y in u s a br i ghter r ay
A n d m o re bel o ved e xis te n c e : th a t wh i c h F ate
Pr o h i b i t s t o dull l if e in th is o ur s t ate
O f m o rt a l b on d age b y the s e spi r i t s s u pp l i ed
,
,
,
,
4o
CA N TO
F O UR TH
23
F i r s t e xi le s the n re p l a c e s wh a t we h ate ;
W a ter in g the he a rt wh os e e a rl y flo wer s h a ve d i ed
A n d w i th a f re s he r gr o wth re p le nis h in g the v oi d
,
‘
,
.
45
VI
S u c h i s the re f uge of o ur yo uth an d a ge
The fi r s t f r o m H op e the l as t f r o m V a c an c y ;
A n d th is w o r n f eel in g p e op le s m any a pa ge
A n d m ay be th a t wh i c h gr o w s be n e a th m in e e y e :
Yet there a re th in g s wh os e s tr on g re a l i t y
50
Out s h in e s o ur fai r y l an d ; in s h ap e an d hue s
M o re be a ut if ul th an o ur fan t as t i c S ky
A n d the s tr an ge c ons tell a t ions wh i c h the Mu s e
O er her wi ld u ni ver s e is s k i l f ul t o d i ff u s e :
,
,
,
,
,
-
,
’
VI I
55
I sa w o r dre amed of su c h
but let them g o
The y c a me l i ke truth an d d isapp e a red l i ke dre a m s ;
A n d wh a t so e er the y were a re no w but so :
I c o ul d re p l a c e them if I w o uld ; s t i ll teem s
M y m in d wi th m any a fo rm wh i c h ap tl y s eem s
60
S u c h a s I so ught fo r an d a t m o me n t s fo u n d ;
L e t the s e t oo g o fo r w a k in g Re ason deem s
S u c h o ver wee nin g p h an t asi e s u nso u n d
A n d o ther v oi c e s sp e a k an d o ther si ght s s urr o u n d
—
,
,
,
’
—
,
—
-
,
.
,
VIII
’
I ve t a ught me o ther t on gue s an d i n s tr an ge e y e s
H a ve m a de me n ot a s tr an ger ; t o the m in d
,
!
65
24
CHI L DE
HA B OLD S P I LGRI MA G E
’
Wh i c h is i t s el f no c h an ge s br in g s ur p r is e ;
No r i s i t h a r s h t o m ake no r h a rd t o fin d
—
A c o u n tr y wi th a y o r w i th o ut m an k in d :
Yet w as I b o r n where me n a re p r o ud t o be
No t w i th o ut c a u s e ; an d s h o uld I le a ve beh in d
The in v io l a te is l an d of the sa ge an d f ree
A n d s eek me o ut a h o me b y a rem o ter s e a ?
,
,
,
,
70
,
IX
Perh aps I l o ved i t well ; an d Sh o uld I l ay
M y as he s in a soi l wh i c h i s no t m in e
M y spi r i t s h a ll re s ume it if we m ay
Un b o d i ed c h oos e a san c tu a r y I t win e
M y h op e s of be in g remembered in m y l in e
W i th m y l an d s l an gu a ge : if t oo fon d an d fa r
The s e aspi r a t ions in the i r s c op e in c l in e
I f m y fa me s h o uld be as m y fo rtu n e s a re
O f h as t y gr o wth an d bl i ght an d dull Obl i v ion b a r
,
—
75
.
’
,
,
,
80
,
X
M y name f r o m o ut the tem p le whe r e the de a d
Are h ono red b y the na t ions let i t be
A n d l i ght the l a urel s on a l of t i er he a d !
A n d be the S pa rt an s e pi t ap h on me
85
”
S pa rt a h ath m any a w o rth i er son th an he
Me an t i me I s eek no s y m path i e s no r n eed ;
The th o r ns wh i c h I h a ve re ap ed a re of the tree
I p l an ted ; the y h ave t o r n me an d I bleed :
s h o uld h ave kno wn wh a t f rui t w o u l d sp r in g f r o m s u c h
90
a s eed
—
’
,
.
,
,
I
.
CHI L D E
26
H A R OL D S
’
PI L G R I M A G E
be whelmed be n e a th the w a ve s an d s hu n
E ve n in de s tru c t ion s de p th her fo re i g n fo e s
Fr o m wh o m s ubm ission wr in g s an infam o u s re pos e
B etter
115
,
’
,
.
XIV
I n yo uth S h e w as a ll gl o r y
a n ew T y re ;
Her ver y b y w o rd sp ru n g f r o m v i c t o r y
”
The Pl an ter of the L ion wh i c h thr o ugh fi re
A n d bl oo d She b o re o er s ub j e c t e a rth an d s e a ;
Th o ugh m ak in g m any Sl a ve s her s el f s t i ll f ree
A n d E ur op e s bulw a rk g ains t the Ott o m i te ;
W i t n e ss Tr oy s r i v al C an d i a ! V o u c h i t y e
I mm o rt a l w a ve s th a t sa w L e pan t o s fi ght !
F o r y e a re name s no t i me no r t y r anny c a n bl i ght
—
,
-
,
1 20
,
’
,
,
’
’
’
,
,
’
1 25
.
XV
S t atue s of gl ass a ll Sh i vered the l on g fi le
O f her de a d D o ge s a re de c l in ed t o du s t ;
B u t where the y dwelt the v as t an d s um p tu o u s pi le
1 30
B e sp e a k s the pa ge an t of the i r S p le n d i d tru s t ;
The i r s c e p tre br o ke n an d the i r s w o rd in ru s t
H ave yi elded t o the s tr an ger : em p t y h all s
Th in s treet s an d fo re i g n asp e c t s s u c h as mu s t
T oo of t re m in d her wh o an d wh a t e n thr a l s
H ave fl u n g a de so l a te c l o ud o er V e ni c e l o vel y w a ll s 1 3 5
—
—
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
’
’
.
XVI
’
Whe n Athe ns a rm i e s f ell a t S y r a c u s e
A n d f ettered th o u san d s b o re the yo ke of w a r
,
,
CA N TO
F O U R TH
27
Redem p t ion r os e u p in the Att i c Mu s e
Her v oi c e the i r on l y r anso m f r o m afa r :
S ee ! as the y c h an t the tr a g i c h y m n the ca r
1 40
O f the o e r m a st e r e d v i c t o r st e p s the re ins
F a ll f r o m h is h an d s h is i dle s c i m i t a r
S t a rt s f r o m it s belt h e re n d s h is c ap t i ve s c h ains
A n d b i d s h i m th an k the b a rd fo r f reed o m an d h is s tr ains
,
,
’
,
,
’
—
,
.
XVII
Thu s V e ni c e if no s tr on ger c l ai m were th in e
Were a ll th y p r o ud h is t o r i c deed s fo rg o t
Th y c h o r a l mem o r y of the B a rd d i v in e
Th y l o ve of T asso Sh o uld h ave cu t the k no t
Wh i c h t i e s thee t o th y t y r an t s ; an d th y l o t
I s s h a me f ul t o the na t ions m os t of a ll
Alb ion ! t o thee : the O c e a n ! uee n s h o uld no t
Ab an d on O c e an s c h i ldre n ; in the fa ll
O f V e ni c e th in k of th in e de spi te th y w a ter y w a ll
,
,
1 45
,
,
,
,
,
1 50
,
’
,
.
XVIII
I l o ved her f r o m m y b oy h oo d ; sh e t o me
W as as a fai r y c i t y of the he a rt
Risin g l i ke w a ter c o lum ns f r o m the se a
O f j oy the soj o ur n an d of we a lth the m a rt ;
A n d Otw ay R a d c l i ff e S c h i ller S h ake sp e a re s a rt
H a d s t a m p ed her i m a ge in me an d eve n so
Alth o ugh I fo u n d her t hu s we d i d no t pa rt ;
Per c h an c e eve n de a rer in her d ay of w o e
Th an whe n s he w as a b oas t a m a rvel an d a Sh o w
1 55
,
-
,
,
’
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
1 50
CHI LDE
28
H A B OL D S P I L GRI M A GE
’
XIX
I ca n re p e op le wi th the pas t an d of
The p re s e n t there is s t i ll fo r e y e an d th o ught
A n d med i t a t ion c h as te n ed d o wn e no ugh
1 65
A n d m o re i t m ay be th an I h op ed o r so ught ;
A n d of the h appi e s t m o me n t s wh i c h were wr o ught
W i th in the web of m y e xis te n c e so me
Fr o m thee fai r V e ni c e ! h ave the i r c o l o r s c a ught
There a re so me f eel in g s t i me c anno t be n umb
1 70
No r T o rture s h a ke o r m in e w o uld no w be c o l d an d
dumb
—
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
f r o m the i r na ture w i ll the t ann e n gr o w
L of t i e s t on l of t i e s t an d le as t s heltered r o c k s
R oo ted i n b a rre nn e ss where no ught bel o w
O f soi l s u ppo rt s them g ains t the Al pin e Sh o c k s 1 7 5
O f edd yi n g s t o rm s ; y et sp r in g s the tru n k an d
m o cks
The h o wl in g tem p e s t t i ll i t s he i ght an d f r a me
Are w o rth y of the m o u n t ains f r o m wh os e bl o c k s
O f ble a k gr ay gr ani te in t o l if e i t c ame
—
A n d grew a gi an t tree
the m in d m ay gr o w the
1 80
same
But
,
,
’
,
,
,
,
.
XXI
E xis te n c e
m ay be b o r n e an d the dee p r oo t
O f l if e an d s u ff er an c e m a ke i t s fi rm ab o de
I n b a re an d de so l ated b oso m s ; mute
,
CA N TO F0
UR TH
29
The c amel l ab o ur s wi th the he av i e s t l oa d
A n d the w o l f d i e s in si le n c e no t be s t o wed
I n v ain s h o uld s u ch e xam p le be ; if the y
Th in g s of i g no ble o r of sav a ge m oo d
E n dure an d s hr in k no t we of no bler c l ay
—
M ay tem p er i t t o be a r it is but fo r a d ay
,
—
1 85
,
,
,
,
,
.
XXII
1 90
Al l s u ff er i n g d o th de s tr oy o r is de s tr oy ed
E ve n b y the s u ff erer ; an d in e a c h eve n t
—
E n d s z S o me w i th h op e re p le nis hed an d r e b u oy e d
—
Retur n t o whe n c e the y c a me w i th l i ke in te n t
A n d we a ve the i r web a g ain ; so me b o wed an d be n t
W ax gr ay an d gh as tl y wither in g ere the i r t i me 1 9 5
A n d p er is h w i th the reed on wh i c h the y le an t
S o me s eek dev o t ion t oi l w a r g oo d o r c r i me
A c c o rd in g as the i r so ul s were fo rmed t o sin k o r c l i mb
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
XXIII
B ut ever an d anon of gr i e fs s ubdued
20 0
There c o me s a t o ke n l i ke a s c o r pion s s t in g
S c a r c e s ee n but wi th f re s h b i tter n e ss i mbued ;
A n d Sl i ght w i th a l m ay be the th in g s wh i c h br i n g
B a c k on the he a rt the we i ght wh i c h i t w o uld flin g
A si de fo r ever : i t m ay be a so u n d
—
A t on e of mu si c s ummer s e v e o r sp r in g
20 5
—
A flo we r the w in d the o c e an wh i c h s h a ll w o u n d
S tr i k in g the ele c tr i c c h ain wherewi th we a re d a rkl y
b ound ;
’
,
,
—
—
’
—
,
60
CHI L D E
H A B O L D S P I L GRI M A GE
’
XXIV
A n d h o w an d wh y we k no w no t no r c a n tr a c e
H o me t o i t s c l o ud th is l i ght nin g of the m in d
B ut f eel the Sh o c k re n ewed no r c a n e ffa c e
21 0
The bl i ght an d bl a c ke nin g wh i c h i t le ave s beh in d ;
Wh i c h o ut of th in g s fam i l i a r u n de si g n ed
Whe n le as t we deem of s u c h c a ll s u p t o v i ew
The sp e c tre s wh o m no e xo r c is m c a n b in d
The c o ld the c h an ged p er c h an c e the de a d an ew 2 1 5
—
—
The m o ur n ed the l o ved the l os t t oo m any y et h o w
f ew
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
—
,
,
,
,
,
XXV
B ut m y so ul w an der s ; I dem an d i t b a c k
T o med i t a te a m on g s t de c ay an d s t an d
A ru in a m i d s t ru ins ; there t o tr a c k
F a lle n s t a te s an d bur i ed gre a t n e ss o er a l an d
Wh i c h wa s the m i ght i e s t in i t s O ld c o mm an d
A n d is the l o vel i e s t an d mu s t ever be
The m as ter m o uld of N a ture s he ave n l y h an d ;
Where in were c as t the her oi c an d the f ree
The be a ut if ul the br ave the l o rd s of e a rth an d se a
,
’
220
,
,
,
’
-
,
,
,
.
225
XXVI
The c o mm on we a lth of k in g s the me n of R o me !
!
A n d eve n sin c e an d no w fai r I t a l y
Th o u a rt the g a rde n of the w o rld the h o me
O f a ll Art yi eld s an d N ature c a n de c ree ;
?
E ve n in th y de s ert wh a t is l i ke t o thee
Th y ver y weed s a re be a ut if ul th y w as te
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
23 0
CA N TO FO UR TH
31
’
M o re r i c h th an o ther c l i me s f ert i l i t y ;
Th y wre c k a gl o r y an d th y ru in gr a c ed
W i th an i mm a c u l ate c h a rm wh i c h c anno t be de fa c ed
,
.
XXVII
The m oon is u p an d y et i t is no t ni ght ;
S u ns et d i v i de s the sky w i th her ; a se a
O f gl o r y s tre am s a l on g the Al pin e he i ght
O f blue Fr i ul i s m o u n t ai ns ; He a ve n i s f ree
Fr o m c l o ud s but of a ll c o l o r s s eem s t o be
24 0
Melted t o on e v as t I r i s of the We s t
Where the D a y j oins the pas t E ter ni t y ;
Wh i le on the o ther h an d meek D i an s c re s t
—
Fl oa t s thr o ugh the az ure ai r a n is l an d of the b l e s t !
,
’
,
,
’
,
,
~
—
XX VII I
A sin gle s t a r i s a t her S i de an d re i g n s
24 5
W i th her o er h a l f the l o vel y he a ve n ; but s t i ll
Y on s u nny s e a he a ve s br i ghtl y an d rem ains
R o lled o er the p e a k of the fa r Rh aet i an h i ll
A S D a y an d Ni ght c on te n d in g were u n t i l
Nature re c l ai med her o rder : ge n tl y flo w s
The dee p d y ed B re n t a where the i r hue s ins t i l
2 50
The o d o r o u s p ur p le of a n ew b o r n r os e
Wh i c h s tre am s u pon her s tre a m , an d gl ass ed w i th in i t
gl o w s
,
’
,
’
,
,
-
,
-
,
,
XXIX
F i lled w i th the fa c e of he ave n wh i c h f r o m afa r
C o me s d o w n u pon the w a ter s ; a ll i t s hue s
,
,
,
,
,
32
HA ROL D
CH I L D E
S P I L GRI M A G E
’
Fr o m the r i c h s u ns et t o the r isin g s t a r
2 55
The i r m a gi c a l v a r i et y d i ff u s e :
A n d no w the y c h an ge ; a pa ler s h a d o w s trew s
I t s m an tle o er the m o u n t ains ; pa rt in g d ay
D i e s l i ke the d o l p h in wh o m e a c h pan g i mbue s
W i th a n ew c o l o r a s i t g asps a w ay
26 0
—
—
The l as t s t i ll l o vel i e s t t i ll t is g on e an d a ll is gr ay
,
’
,
,
’
,
.
XXX
There is a t o mb in Ar q u a ; re a red in ai r
P i ll a red in the i r sa r c op h a gu s re pos e
The b on e s of L a ur a s l o ver : here re pai r
M any fam i l i a r w i th h is well s u n g w o e s
The pi lgr i m s of h is ge ni u s He a r os e
T o r ais e a l an gu a ge an d h i s l an d re c l ai m
Fr o m the dull yo ke of her b a rb a r i c fo e s
W a ter in g the tree wh i c h be a r s h is l a d y s name
W i th h is mel o d io u s te a r s he g ave h i m s el f t o fame
—
,
,
’
-
26 5
,
.
,
!
’
,
.
27o
XXXI
The y kee p h is du s t in Ar q u a where he d i ed ;
The m o u n t ai n v i ll a ge where h i s l atter d ays
We n t d o w n the v a le of y e a r s ; an d t i s the i r p r i de
A n h on e s t p r i de an d let i t be the i r p r ais e
T o O ff er t o the passin g s tr an ger s g az e
H is m ansion an d h is s e p ul c hre ; b o th p l ain
A n d ve n er abl y si m p le s u c h as r ais e
A f eel in g m o re a c c o rd an t w i th h i s s tr ain
Th an if a py r am i d fo rmed h is m on ume n t a l fan e
,
-
’
,
’
,
.
27
,
34
CH I LD E
H A R O LD S
’
PI L G R I M A G E
Wh i c h is no t of the pan g s th a t pass a w ay ;
M a k in g the su n l i ke bl oo d the e a rth a t o mb
The t o mb a hell an d hell i t s el f a murk i er gl oo m
,
305
,
,
.
XXXV
Ferr a r a ! in th y w i de an d gr ass gr o w n s treet s
Wh os e sy mmetr y w as no t fo r so l i tude
There s eem s a s twere a c ur s e u pon the s e a t s
O f fo rmer so vere i gns an d the an t iq ue br oo d
310
O f E s te wh i c h fo r m any an a ge m a de g oo d
I t s s tre n gth w i th in th y w a ll s an d wa s of yo re
P a tr on o r t y r an t as the c h an g in g m oo d
O f p ett y po wer i m p elled of th os e wh o we r e
314
The wre a th wh i c h D an te s br o w a l on e h a d w o r n be fo re
-
,
’
,
,
,
,
,
’
.
XXXVI
A n d T asso is the i r gl o r y an d the i r s h a me
H a rk t o h is s tr ain an d the n s urve y h is c ell !
A n d s ee h o w de a rl y e a r n ed T o r q u a t o s fame
A n d where Al fonso b a de h is po et dwell
3 20
The m is er a ble de spo t c o uld no t q uell
The ins ulted m in d he so ught t o q ue n c h an d ble n d
W i th the s urr o u n d in g m ani a c s in the hell
Where he h a d p lu n ged i t G l o r y w i th o ut e n d
S c a ttered the c l o ud s aw ay ; an d on th a t name a tte n d
.
,
’
,
.
,
,
.
XXXVI I
The te a r s an d p r ais e s of a ll t i me ; wh i le th in e
—
W o uld r o t in i t s o bl i v ion in the sin k
3 25
CA N TO FO UR TH
35
O f w o rthle ss du s t wh i c h f r o m th y b oas ted l in e
I S s h a ke n in t o no th in g but the l in k
Th o u fo rmest in h is fo rtu n e s b i d s u s th in k
O f th y poo r m a l i c e nam in g thee w i th s c o r n ;
33o
Al fonso h o w th y du c a l pa ge an t s s hr in k
Fr o m thee ! if in ano ther s t a t ion b o r n
S c a r c e fi t t o be the s l a ve of h i m th o u ma d st t o m o ur n :
,
—
,
,
,
’
XXXVIII
Th ou ,
fo rmed t o e a t an d be de sp i s ed an d d i e
E ve n as the be as t s th a t p er is h sa ve th a t th o u
335
'
H a d s t a m o re sp le n d i d tr o ugh an d w i der s t y
H e w i th a gl o r y r o u n d h is f urr o wed br o w
Wh i c h em ana ted the n an d d az z le s no w
I n fa c e of a ll h is fo e s the C r u sc a n sq u i re
A n d B oi le a u wh os e r as h e n v y c o uld a ll o w
340
No s tr ain wh i c h s h a med h is c o u n tr y s c re ak in g l y re
Th a t W het s t on e of the teeth m ono t ony in w i re !
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
’
,
—
XXXIX
Pe a c e t o T o r q u a t o s inj ured s h a de ! tw as h is
I n l if e an d de a th t o be the m a rk where Wr on g
—
A i med w i th her poison ed a rr o w s but t o m iss
34 5
Oh v i c t o r u ns ur pass ed in m o der n son g !
E a c h y e a r br ing s fo rth i t s m i ll ions ; but h o w l on g
The t i de of ge n er a t ions s h a ll r o ll on
A n d no t the wh o le c o mb in ed an d c o u n tle ss thr on g
3 50
C o m pos e a m in d l i ke th in e ! th o ugh a ll i n on e
C on de ns ed the i r s c a ttered r ays the y w o uld no t fo rm a
sun
’
’
,
.
'
,
,
,
.
CH I L DE H A R O L D S
’
36
P I LG R I MA GE
XL
G re a t a s th o u a rt y et pa r alleled b y th os e
Th y c o u n tr y me n be fo re thee b o r n t o s h in e
The B a rd s of Hell an d C h i v a lr y : fi r s t r os e
The Tu s c an fa ther s c o med y d i v in e ;
3 55
The n no t u n e q u a l t o the Fl o re n t in e
The so uther n S c o tt the m ins trel wh o c a l l ed fo rth
A n ew c re a t ion w i th h i s m a gi c l in e
A n d l i ke the Ar ios t o of the No rth
3 59
S an g l ad y l o ve an d w a r r o m an c e an d k ni ghtl y w o rth
,
,
,
,
’
,
,
,
,
,
,
-
.
,
XLI
The l i ght nin g re n t f r o m A r io st o s bu s t
The i r on c r o w n of l a urel s mimic e d le a ve s
No r w as the o m ino u s eleme n t u nj u s t
F o r the true l a urel wre a th wh i c h G l o r y we ave s
I s of the tree no b o lt of thu n der c le a ve s
36 5
A n d the fa l s e s embl an c e but d is gr a c ed h is br o w ;
Yet s t i ll if fon dl y S u p er s t i t ion gr i eve s
K no w th a t the l i ght nin g sa n c t ifi e s bel o w
—
Wh ate er i t s tr i ke s ; yon he a d is d o ubl y sa c red no w
’
’
!
,
-
,
,
,
,
’
.
XLII
I t al i a ! o h I t al i a ! th o u wh o h as t
The fa t a l gif t of be a ut y wh i c h be c ame
A f u n er a l d o wer of p re s e n t w o e s an d pas t
O n th y s weet br o w is so rr o w p l o ughed b y s h ame
A n d anna l s gr aved in c h a r a c ter s of fl ame
Oh G o d ! th a t th o u wert in th y naked n e ss
370
,
,
,
.
,
375
CA N TO FO UR TH
L e ss
37
l o vel y o r m o re po wer f ul an d c o uld c l ai m
Th y r i ght an d awe the r o bbe r s b a c k wh o p re ss
T o Shed th y bl oo d an d dr in k the te a r s of th y d is tre ss ;
,
,
,
,
XLIII
The n m i gh t s t th o u m o re appal ; o r le ss de si red
B e h o mel y an d be p e a c ef ul u n de p l o red
38 0
F o r th y de s tru c t i ve c h a rm s ; the n s t i ll u n t i red
W o uld no t be s ee n the a rmed t o rre n t s po ured
D o w n the dee p Al ps ; no r w o uld the h os t i le h o rde
O f m any n a t ion e d spoi ler s f r o m the P o
f
u
a
f
bl
oo
d
an
d
w
a
ter
no
r
the
s
tr
an
ger
s
s
w
o
rd
3
3
5
;
!
B e th y sa d we apon of de f e n c e an d so
V i c t o r o r v anq u is hed th o u the s l a ve of f r i e n d o r fo e
’
,
,
,
,
,
-
’
,
,
,
.
XLIV
W an der in g in yo uth I tr a c ed the pa th of h i m
The R o m an f r i e n d of R o me s le as t m o rt a l m in d
The f r i e n d of Tull y : as m y b a rk d i d s k i m
The br i ght blue w a ter s w i th a fannin g w in d
C a me Meg a r a be fo re me an d beh in d
E g in a l ay P i r mu s on the r i ght
A n d C o r in th on the le f t ; I l ay re c l in ed
Al on g the p r o w an d sa w a ll the s e u ni te
I n ru in eve n as he h a d s ee n the de so l a te si ght ;
,
,
’
-
,
390
,
,
,
,
,
,
XLV
F o r T i me h a t h no t rebu i lt them but u p re a red
B a rb a r i c dwel l i ng s on the i r s h attered S i te ,
,
39 5
PI L G R I MA G E
CH I L DE H A R O L D S
38
’
Wh i c h on l y m ake m o re m o ur n ed an d m o re e n de a red
The f ew l as t r ays of the i r fa r s c a ttered l i ght
400
A n d the c ru s hed rel i c s of the i r v anis hed m i ght
The R o m an sa w the s e t o mb s i n h is o w n a ge
The s e s e p ul c hre s of c i t i e s wh i c h e x c i te
S a d wo n d e r an d h is y et s urv i v in g pa ge
The m o r a l le sson be a r s dr a w n f r o m s u c h pi lgr i m a ge 4 0 5
-
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
XLVI
Th a t pa ge is no w be fo re me an d on m i n e
H is c o u n tr y s ru in a dded t o the m ass
O f p er is hed s t a te s he m o ur n ed in the i r de c l in e
A n d I in de so l a t ion : a ll th a t wa s
O f the n de s tru c t ion is : an d no w a l as !
410
—
R o me R o me i m p er i a l b o w s her t o the s t o rm
I n the same du s t an d bl a c k n e ss an d we pass
The s kelet on of her T i t ani c fo rm
Wre c k s of ano ther w o rld wh os e as he s s t i ll a re w a rm
,
’
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
XLVII
415
Yet I t a l y thr o ugh ever y o ther l an d
Th y wr on g s Sh o uld r in g an d s h a ll f r o m S i de t o si de !
M o ther of Art s as on c e of a rm s ; th y h an d
W as the n o ur gu a rd i an an d is s t i ll o ur gu i de !
P a re n t of o ur Rel i gi on ! wh o m the wi de
4 20
N a t ions h ave k n elt t o fo r the ke ys of he a ve n !
E ur op e re p e n t an t of her pa rr i c i de
S h a ll y et redeem thee an d a ll b a c kw a rd dr i ve n
R o ll the b a rb a r i an t i de , a n d sue t o be fo rgi ve n
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
CA N TO FO UR TH
39
XLVIII
B ut Ar no w ins u s t o the fai r wh i te w a l l s
Where the E trur i an Athe ns c l ai m s an d kee ps
A sof ter f eel in g fo r her fai r y h a l l s
Gi rt b y her the a tre of h i ll s sh e re aps
Her c o r n an d w in e an d oi l an d Ple n t y l e aps
T o l a ugh in g l if e w i th her redu n d an t h o r n
Al on g the b an k s where s m i l in g Ar no s wee ps
W as m o der n L u x ur y of C o mmer c e b o r n
A n d bur i ed L e a r nin g r os e redeemed t o a n ew m o r n
,
4 25
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
430
,
,
.
XLIX
There t oo the Go dde ss l o ve s in s t on e an d fi ll s
The a l r a r o u n d w i th be a ut y ; we in h a le
The a mbr osi a l a sp e c t wh i c h behe ld ins t i l s
435
P a rt of it s i mm o rt a l i t y ; the ve i l
O f he a ve n i s h a l f u n dr a w n ; wi th in the pa le
We s t an d an d in th a t fo rm an d fa c e beh o ld
Wh at M in d c a n m a ke whe n Na ture s s el f w o u l d
fai l ;
A n d t o the fon d i d o l a ter s of o ld
440
E n v y the inna te flas h wh i c h s u c h a so u l c o uld m o uld :
,
,
,
,
,
,
’
,
L
We g az e an d tur n a w ay an d k no w no t where
D az z led an d dru n k w i th be a ut y t i l l the he a rt
—
Reel s w i th it s f ul n e ss ; there fo r ever there
C h ain ed t o the ch a r io t of tr i um p h a l Art
We s t an d as c a p t i ve s an d w o ul d n ot de pa rt
,
,
,
,
,
.
44 5
CH I LDE H A B O L D S P I L GRI M A G E
’
40
Aw ay
there n eed no w o rd s no r term s p re c i s e
The paltr y j a rg on of the m a rble m a rt
Where Ped an tr y gull s F o ll y we h a ve e y e s :
B l oo d p ul s e an d bre as t c onfi rm the D a rd an S he p herd s
p ri z e
4 50
—
,
,
,
—
’
,
,
.
LI
A pp e a r e dst
th o u no t t o P a r is i n th is gu is e ?
Or the m o re dee p l y ble s t A n c h is e s ? o r
I n a ll th y p er f e c t g o dde ss Sh ip whe n l i e s
B e fo re thee th y o w n v anq u is hed L o rd of W a r
A n d g azin g in th y fa c e as t o w a rd a s t a r
4 55
L ai d on th y l ap h i s e y e s t o thee u p tur n
Feed in g on th y s weet c heek ! wh i le th y l ips a re
W i th l a v a k iss e s m elt in g wh i le the y bur n
S h o wered on h is e y el i d s br o w an d m o uth as f r o m an
ur n !
,
-
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
LII
G l o w in g an d c i r c um f u s ed in sp ee c hle ss l o ve
460
The i r f ull di v ini t y i na de q u a te
Th a t f eel in g t o e xp re ss o r t o i m p r o ve
The g o d s be c o me a s m o rt a l s an d m an s fate
H as m o me n t s l i ke the i r br i ghte s t ; but the we i ght
465
O f e a rth re c oi l s u pon u s ; let i t g o !
We c a n r ec a ll s u c h v isions an d c re a te
Fr o m wh a t h as bee n o r m i ght be th in g s wh i c h
gr o w
I n t o th y s t atue s fo rm an d l oo k l i ke g o d s bel o w
,
,
,
,
’
,
,
,
,
,
’
,
.
CH I LDE H A R O LD S
’
42
P I L G R I MA G E
O f th in e i m p er i a l g a rme n t Sh all de ny
A n d h a th de ni ed t o ever y o ther sky
S pi r i t s wh i c h soa r f r o m ru in : th y de c ay
I S s t i ll i m p regna te w i th d i v ini t y
Wh i c h g i ld s i t w i th rev i v ifyin g r ay :
S u c h a s the gre a t of yo re C ano v a is t o d a v
,
490
,
,
,
,
495
-
,
.
LVI
B ut where re pos e the a ll E tru s c an three
D an te an d Petr a r c h an d s c a r c e le ss th an the y
The b a rd of Pr os e c re a t i ve S pi r i t ! he
—
O f the Hu n dred T a le s of l o ve where d i d the y l ay
The i r b on e s d is t in gu is hed f r o m o ur c o mm on c l ay 50 0
I n de a th as l if e ? Are the y re so lved t o du s t
A n d h a ve the i r c o u n tr y s m a rble s no ught t o sa y ?
C o uld no t her q u a rr i e s f ur nis h fo rth on e bu s t ?
D id the y no t t o her bre as t the i r fi l i a l e a rth e n tru s t ?
,
,
,
,
,
’
LVII
Un gr ate f ul Fl o re n c e ! D an te s l ee ps afa r
50 5
Li ke S c ipio bur i ed b y the u p br ai d in g s h o re :
Th y fa c t ions, in the i r w o r s e th an c i v i l w a r
Pr os c r i bed the b a rd wh os e na me fo r everm o re
The i r c h i ldre n s c h i ldre n w o uld in v ain a d o re
51 0
W i th the rem o r s e of a ge s : an d the c r o w n
Wh i c h Petr a r c h s l a ure a te br o w su p remel y w o re
Upon a fa r an d fo re i gn soi l h a d gr o wn
—
H is l if e h is fame h is gr ave th o ugh rifle d no t th in e
own
,
,
,
’
’
,
,
,
,
.
,
CA N TO FO UR TH
43
LVIII
B o c c a c c io t o h is pa re n t e a rth be q ue a the d
—
an d l i e s i t no t her gre a t a m on g
H is du s t
51 5
W i th m any a s weet an d so lem n re q u i em bre a thed
?
c
O er h i m wh o fo rme d the Tu s an s si re n t on gue
Th a t mu si c in i t s el f wh os e so u n d s a re son g
The po etr y of sp ee c h ? No ; eve n h is t o mb
Up t o r n mu s t be a r the h y aena b i g o t s wr on g
52 0
N o m o re a m i d s t the me an er de a d fin d r oo m
No r c l ai m a passin g si gh be c a u s e i t t o ld fo r wh om
,
,
’
’
,
,
—
,
’
,
,
,
,
LIX
A n d S an t a C r o c e w an t s the i r m i ght y du s t ;
Yet fo r th is w an t m o re no ted a s of yo re
The C ae sa r s pa ge an t s h o r n of B rutu s bu s t
52 5
D id b ut of R o me s be s t S on rem in d her m o re :
H appi er R ave nna ! on th y h oa r y s h o re
F o rtre ss of fa ll in g em pi re ! h ono red s lee ps
The i mm o r t a l e xi le
Ar q u a t oo her s t o re
O f tun e f ul rel i c s p r o udl y c l ai m s an d kee ps
53 0
Wh i le Fl o re n c e v ain l y beg s her b anis hed de a d an d
wee ps
,
’
’
,
,
’
,
—
,
,
,
.
LX
Wh a t i s her py r a m i d of p re c io u s s t on e s ?
O f po r p h y r y j asp er a g a te an d a l l hue s
O f gem an d m a rble t o e n c ru s t the b on e s
O f mer c h an t duke s ? the m o me n t a r y dew s
Wh i c h spa rkl in g t o the tw i l i ght s t a r s inf u s e
,
,
,
,
-
,
,
53 5
CH 1 LDE
44
H A R OL D S P I L GRI M A GE
’
Fre s h n e ss in the gree n tur f th a t wr aps the de a d
Wh os e name s a re m a u so leum s of the Mu s e
Are ge n tl y p re s t w i th fa r m o re revere n t tre a d
Th an ever p l a c ed the s l a b wh i c h pa ve s the p r in c ely
he a d
54 0
,
.
LXI
There be m o re th in g s t o greet the he a rt an d e y e s
I n Ar no s d o me of Art s m os t p r in c el y Shr in e
Where S c ul p ture w i th her r ain b o w sis ter v i e s ;
There be m o re m a rvel s y et but no t fo r m in e ;
F o r I h a ve bee n a c c u s t o med t o e n tw in e
54 5
M y th o ught s w i th Na ture r a ther in the fi eld s
Th an Art in g a ller i e s : th o ugh a w o rk d i v in e
C a ll s fo r m y spi r i t s h o m a ge y et i t yi eld s
L e ss th an i t f eel s
be c a u s e the we apon wh i c h i t
w i eld s
’
’
,
—
,
’
,
,
LXI I
550
I s of ano ther tem p er an d I r oam
B y Th r a sime n e s l a ke in the d e fi les
F a t a l t o R o m an r as h n e ss m o re a t h o me ;
F o r there the C a rth a g ini an s w a rl i ke w i le s
C o me b a c k be fo re me as h is s k i ll begu i le s
The h os t betwee n the m o u n t ains an d the s h o re 555
Where C o ur a ge fa ll s in her de spai r in g fi le s
A n d t o rre n t s s w o lle n t o r i ver s w i th the i r g o re
Reek thr o ugh the s u l tr y p l ain wi th lege n d s s c a ttered
o er ,
,
’
,
,
’
,
,
,
,
,
,
’
CA N T0
F0
UR TH
45
LXIII
L i ke
t o a fo re s t f e ll ed b y m o u n t ain w in d s ;
A n d s u c h the s t o rm of b a ttle on th is d ay
56 0
A n d s u c h the f re nzy , wh os e c on vul sion bl in d s
T o a ll save c a r na ge th at be n e a th the f r ay
A n e a rth q u a ke reeled u n heededl y a w ay !
Non e f elt s ter n N a ture r o c k in g a t h i s f eet
A n d yaw ni n g fo rth a gr a ve fo r th os e wh o l ay
56 5
Upon the i r bu c kler s fo r a w in d in g s heet ;
S u c h is the a b so rb in g h a te whe n w a rr in g na t ions
meet !
,
,
,
,
,
LXIV
The e a rth t o them wa s as a r o ll in g b a rk
Wh i c h b o re them t o eter ni t y ; the y s a w
The O c e an r o u n d but h a d no t i me t o m a rk
57 0
The m o t ions of the i r ve ss el ; Na ture s l a w
I n them s u sp e n ded re c ked no t of the a we
Wh i c h re i g ns whe n m o u n t ains tremble an d the b i rd s
Plu n ge in the c l o ud s fo r re f uge an d w i thdr aw
57 4
F r o m the i r d o w n t opp l in g n e s t s ; an d bell o w in g herd s
S tumble o er he a v in g p l ains an d m an s dre a d h a th no
w o rd s
,
’
,
,
,
-
’
’
,
.
LXV
F a r o ther s c e n e is Th r a sime n e no w :
Her l ake a s heet of si lver an d her p l ain
Re n t b y no r a v a ge sa ve the ge n tle p l o ugh ;
Her a ged tree s r is e th i c k as on c e the s l ain
,
58 0
CH I LDE
46
H A BOL D S P I LGRI M A GE
’
where the i r r oo t s a re ; but a br oo k h a th t a e n
A l i ttle r i l l of s c an t y s tre a m an d bed
A na me of bl oo d f r o m th a t d ay s san gu in e r ain ;
A n d S an gu in ett o tell s y e where the de a d
M a de the e a rth wet an d tur n ed the u n w i ll in g w a ter s
red
58 5
La y
’
,
.
LXVI
B ut th o u Clit u mn u s in th y s weete s t w a ve
O f the m os t l i v in g c r ys t a l th a t w as e er
The h a u n t of r i ver ny m p h t o g az e an d l a ve
Her l i mb s where no th in g h i d them th o u d os t re a r
Th y gr assy b an k s where on the m i lk wh i te s teer 59 0
G r az e s ; the p ure s t g o d of ge n tle w a ter s
A n d m os t s ere n e of asp e c t an d m os t c le a r !
S urel y th a t s tre a m w as u np r ofan ed b y Sl a ughter s
A m i rr o r an d a b ath fo r B e a ut y s yo u n ge s t d a ughter s !
,
,
’
,
,
-
,
,
,
’
LXVII
A n d on th y h appy Sh o re a Tem p le s t i ll
59 5
O f s m a ll an d del i c a te p r opo rt ion kee ps
Upon a m i ld de c l i v i t y of h i ll
I t s mem o r y of thee ; be n e ath i t s wee ps
Th y c urre n t s c a lm n e ss ; of t f r o m o ut i t le aps
The fi n n y d a rter w i th the gl i tter in g s c a le s
6 00
Wh o dwell s an d revel s in th y gl assy dee ps ;
Wh i le c h an c e so me s c attered w a ter l i l y sai l s
D o w n where the s h a ll o wer w a ve s t i ll tell s it s bubbl in g
t a le s
,
,
,
,
’
,
-
,
,
.
CA N T0
F0
UR TH
47
LXVII I
P ass no t u n b l e s t the G e ni u s of the p l a c e !
I f thr o ugh the ai r a ze p liy r m o re s ere n e
W in t o the br o w t is h i s ; an d if y e tr a c e
Al on g h is m a rg in a m o re el oq ue n t g ree n
I f on the he a rt the f re s h n e ss of the s c e n e
S p r in kle i t s c oo l n e ss an d f r o m the dr y du s t
O f we a r y l if e a m o me n t l a ve i t c le an
—
W i th N ature s b ap t is m t i s t o h i m y e mu s t
P ay o r isons fo r th is s u sp e nsion of d is gu s t
605
’
,
,
e
,
610
’
’
.
LXIX
The r oa r of w a ter s
f r o m the he a d l on g he i ght
V el ino c le a ve s the w a ve w o r n p re c ipi c e ;
The fa ll of w a ter s ! r api d as the l i ght
The flas h in g m ass foam s s h akin g the a b yss ;
The hell of w a ter s ! where the y h o wl an d h iss
A n d b oi l in e n dle ss t o rture ; wh i l e the s we a t
O f the i r gre a t a g ony wru n g o ut f r o m th is
Thei r P h l e g e t h o n c u r l s r o u n d the r o c k s of j et
Th a t g i rd t h e gul f a r o u n d in pi t i le ss h o rr o r s et
—
-
615
,
,
‘
,
6 20
,
,
LXX
A n d m o u nt s in sp r ay the s k i e s an d the n c e a g ain
Retur ns in an u n c e asin g s h o wer wh i c h r o u n d
W i th i t s u n em p t i ed c l o ud of ge n tle r ain
I s an eter na l A p r i l t o the gr o u n d
M a k in g i t a ll on e emer a ld
h o w p r ofo u n d
The gul f ! an d h owthe g ian t e l eme n t
,
,
,
,
,
—
6 25
48
CHI L D E
PI L GR I MA G E
H A R OLD S
’
Fr o m r o c k t o r o c k le aps wi th del i r io u s b o u n d
C ru s h in g the c l i ffs wh i c h d o wn w a rd w o r n an d re n t
W i th h is fi er c e foo t s te ps yi eld in c h as m s a f e a r f ul ve n t
,
,
,
,
LXXI
T o the br oa d c o lum n wh i c h r o ll s on an d s h o w s 6 3 1
M o re l i ke the fo u n t ain of an infan t se a
T o r n f r o m the w o mb of m o u n t ains b y the thr o e s
O f a n ew w o rld th an on l y thu s t o be
P a re n t of r i ver s wh i c h flo w gu s h in gl y
635
—
W i th m any w in d in g s thr o ugh the v a le
L oo k b a c k !
L o ! where i t c o me s l i ke an eter ni t y
A s if t o s wee p d o w n a ll th in g s in it s tr a c k
—
a m a t c hle ss c a t a r a c t
C h a rm in g the e y e w i th dre a d
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
LXXII
H o rr i bl y be a ut if ul ! but on the verge
Fr o m si de t o S i de be n e ath the gl i tter in g m o r n
A n I r is si t s am i d s t the inf er na l s urge
L i ke h op e u pon a de a th bed an d u n w o r n
I t s s te a d y d y e s wh i le a ll a r o u n d is t o r n
B y the d is tr a c ted w ater s be a r s s ere n e
I t s br i ll i an t hue s wi th a ll the i r be am s u ns h o r n :
Re s embl in g m i d the t o rture of the s c e n e
L o ve w a t c h in g M a d n e ss w i th una lter a ble m i e n
,
640
,
,
,
,
-
,
,
,
,
’
,
,
.
LXXIII
O n c e m o re u pon the w oo d y A p e nnin e
—
The infan t Al ps wh i c h h a d I no t be fo re
,
,
6 50
CH I L E D H A R O LD S
’
50
PI L G R I MA G E
LXXVI
Aught th a t re c a ll s the d ai l y drug wh i c h tur n ed
M y S ic ke n in g mem o r y ; an d th o ugh T i me h a th t a ught
M y m in d t o med i t a te wh a t the n i t le a r n ed
Yet s u c h the fix ed in veter a c y wr o ught
B y the i m pa t i e n c e of m y e a rl y th o ught
680
Th a t wi th the f re s h n e ss we a r in g o ut be fo re
M y m in d c o uld rel is h wh a t i t m i ght h a ve so ught
I f f ree t o c h oos e I c anno t no w re s t o re
I t s he a lth ; but wh a t i t the n dete s ted s t i ll a bh o r
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
LXXVI I
The n fa rewell H o r a c e wh o m I h a ted so
N o t fo r th y fa ult s but m in e ; i t i s a c ur s e
T o u n der s t an d no t f eel th y l y r i c flo w
T o c o m p rehe n d but n ever l o ve th y ver s e ;
Alth o ugh no dee p er m o r a l is t rehe a r s e
Our l i ttle l if e no r b a rd p re s c r i be h i s a rt
No r l i vel i er S a t i r is t the c ons c i e n c e pi er c e
Aw a ke nin g w i th o ut w o u n d in g the t o u c hed he a rt
—
Yet fa re thee wel l u pon S o r a c t e s r i dge we pa rt
,
685
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
69 0
,
,
,
’
.
LXXVI II
Oh R o me m y c o u n tr y Ci t y of the so u l !
The o r p h ans of the he a rt mu s t tur n t o thee
L on e m o ther of de a d em pi re s ! an d c on tr o l
I n the i r s hut bre as t s the i r p ett y m is er y
?
Wh a t a re o ur w o e s an d s u ff er an c e Co me an d
The c yp re ss he a r the o w l an d p l o d yo ur w ay
,
,
,
6 95
,
,
,
se e
CA N TO FO UR TH
51
O er s te ps of br o ke n thr on e s an d tem p le s Ye !
Wh os e a g oni e s a re ev i l s of a d ay
A w o rld i s a t o ur f eet as f r a g i le as o ur c l ay
’
,
7 00
.
LXXIX
The Nio be of na t i ons ! there sh e s t an d s
C h i ldle ss an d c r o w n le ss in her v oi c ele ss w o e ;
705
A n em p t y ur n w i th in her wi thered h an d s
Wh os e h oly du s t wa s s c attered l on g a g o ;
The S c ipios t o mb c on t ains no as he s no w ;
The ver y s e p ul c hre s l i e te nan tle ss
O f the i r her oi c dweller s : d os t th o u flo w
Old T i ber ! thr o ugh a m a rble w i lder n e ss ?
710
R is e w i th th y y ell o w w a ve s an d m an tle her d is tre ss
,
,
c
’
,
.
,
,
LXXX
The Go th the C hr is t i an T i me W a r F l oo d an d F i re
H a ve dwelt u pon the s eve n h i lled c i t y s p r i de ;
S he sa w her gl o r i e s s t a r b y s t a r e xpi re
A n d u p the s tee p b a rb a r i an m ona r c h s r i de
715
Where the c a r c l i mbed the C api t o l ; fa r an d wi de
Tem p le an d t o wer we n t d o w n no r l e f t a S i te :
C h aos of ru ins ! wh o Sh a ll tr a c e the v oi d
O er the d i m f r a gme n t s c as t a lu na r l i ght
”
”
An d say here w as o r is where a l l is d o ubl y ni ght ? 7 2 0
,
,
,
,
,
’
-
,
,
,
’
,
!
,
,
,
LXXXI
The d o ub l e ni ght of a ge s an d of her
Ni ght s d a ughter I gno r an c e h a th wr ap t an d wr ap
,
,
’
,
,
,
CH I LDE H A BOLD S P I LGRI M A GE
’
52
All r o u n d u s ; we but f ee l o ur w ay t o err :
The o c e an h a th h i s c h a rt the s t a r s the i r m ap
A n d K no wledge sp re a d s them on her a m p le l ap ;
B u t R o me is a s the de s ert where we s teer
S tumbl in g o er re c o lle c t ions ; no w we c l ap
”
Our h an d s an d c r y E urek a ! i t is c le a r
Whe n but so me fa l s e m i r a ge of r u in r ise s n e a r
,
,
7 25
,
’
,
‘
.
LXXXI I
Al as the l of t y c i t y ! an d a l as
7 30
The trebl y hu n dred tr i um p h s ! an d the d ay
Whe n B rutu s m a de the d a gger s edge s ur pass
!
The c onq uer o r s s w o rd in be a r in g fa me a w ay
Al as fo r Tull y s v oi c e an d V i rgi l s l ay
A n d L iv y s pi c tured pa ge ! but the s e s h a ll be
7 35
—
Her re s urre c t ion ; a ll be si de de c ay
Al as fo r E a rth fo r n ever Sh a ll we se e
Th a t br i ght n e ss in her e y e sh e b o re whe n R o me wa s
f ree !
,
,
’
’
’
’
,
,
,
’
.
,
,
LXXXIII
’
Oh th o u wh os e c h a r io t r o lled on F o rtu n e s wheel
Tr i um p h an t S y ll a ! Th o u wh o di d s t s ubdue
Th y c o u n tr y s fo e s ere th o u w o uld s t pa u s e t o f eel
The wr a th of th y o w n wr on g s o r re ap the due
O f h oa rded ve n ge an c e t i ll th in e e a gle s fl ew
O er p r os tr a te A si a ; th o u wh o wi th th y f r o w n
A nni h i l a ted s e na te s R o m an t oo
W i th a ll th y v i c e s fo r th o u d i d s t l ay d o w n
W i th an a t onin g s m i le a m o re th an e a rthl y c r o w n
,
,
,
740
’
,
’
—
,
—
,
,
,
745
CA N TO FO UR TH
53
LXXXIV
The d i c t a t o r i a l wre a th c o uld s t th o u d i v in e
T o wh a t w o uld on e d ay dw in dle th a t wh i c h m a de
Thee m o re th an m o rt a l ? an d th a t so s u pin e
7 50
B y a ught th an R o m ans R o me s h o uld thu s be l ai d ?
S he wh o w as named eter na l an d a rr ay ed
Her w a rr io r s but t o c onq uer s he wh o ve i led
E a rth w i th her h a ught y s h a d o w an d d isp l ay ed
Un t i l the o er c anopi ed h o r i zon fai led
7 55
—
Her ru s h in g w in d s Oh sh e wh o w as Alm i ght y h ai l ed !
—
,
,
—
,
’
,
-
,
,
LXXXV
S y l l a wa s fi r s t O f v i c t o r s ; but o u r o wn
—
The sa ge s t of u s ur p er s C r o mwell ! h e
T oo s we p t O ff s e na te s wh i le he hewed the thr on e
D o w n t o a bl o c k i mm o rt a l rebel ! S ee
760
Wh a t c r i me s i t c os t s t o be a m o me n t f ree
A n d fa m o u s thr o ugh a ll a ge s ! but be n e a th
H is fa te the m o r a l lurk s of de s t iny ;
H is d ay of d o uble v i c t o r y an d de a th
B eheld h i m w in tw o re a l m s an d h appi er yi e l d h is
bre a th
765
,
,
—
,
,
,
.
LXXXVI
The th i rd of the same m oon wh os e fo rmer c o ur s e
H a d a ll but c r o w n ed h i m on the s el fsame d ay
D e pos ed h i m ge n tl y f r o m h i s thr on e of fo r c e
A n d l ai d h i m w i th the e a rth s p re c ed in g c l ay
769
A n d s h o wed no t F o rtu n e thu s h o w fame an d s w ay ,
,
,
’
.
,
CH I LD E H A ROL D S P I L GRI M A GE
’
54
A n d a ll we deem del i ght f ul an d c ons ume
Our so ul s t o c o m pass thr o ugh e a c h a rdu o u s w ay
Are in her e y e s le ss h appy th an the t o mb ?
Were the y but so in m an s h o w d i ff ere n t were h is
d oo m !
,
,
’
,
LXXXVI I
A n d th o u dre a d s t atue y et e xis te n t i n
The a u s tere s t fo rm of na ked m aj e s t y
Th o u wh o b e h e l d est m i d the assassin s d in
At th y b a thed b as e the bl oo d y Caesa r l i e
F o ld in g h is r o be in d yin g d i g ni t y
A n O ff er in g t o th in e a lt a r f r o m the q uee n
O f g o d s an d me n gre a t N eme sis ! d i d he d i e
A n d th o u t oo p er is h P o m p e y ? h ave y e bee n
?
V i c t o r s of c o u n tles s k in g s o r p u pp et s of a s c e n e
,
7 75
,
,
’
’
,
,
,
,
,
,
780
,
,
,
,
LXXXVIII
A n d th o u the thu n der s tr i c ke n n ur s e of R o me !
S he—w o l f wh os e br az e n i m a ged dug s i m pa rt
78 5
The m i lk of c onq ue s t y et wi th i n the d o me
Where as a m on ume n t of an t iq ue a rt
Th o u s t an de s t : M o ther of the m i ght y he a rt
Wh i c h the gre a t fo u n der s u c ked f r o m th y w i ld
te a t
7 90
S c o r c hed b y the R o m an Jo ve s ethere a l d a rt
—
A n d th y l i mb s bl a c k w i th l i ght nin g d os t th o u
y et
G u a rd th in e i mm o rt a l c ub s no r th y fon d c h a rge fo rget ?
-
,
-
,
,
—
,
,
’
-
,
,
CA N TO FO UR TH
55
LXXXIX
Th o u d os t ; but a ll th y fos ter b abe s a re de a d
The me n of i r on ; an d the w o rld h a th re a red
795
C i t i e s f r o m o ut the i r s e p ul c hre s : me n bled
I n i m i t a t ion of the th in g s the y f e a red
A n d fo ught an d c onq uered an d the sa me c o ur s e
s teered
At apis h dis t an c e ; but as y et non e h ave
No r c o uld the sa me s u p rem a c y h a ve n e a red
S a ve on e v ain m an wh o is no t in the gr a ve
8 00
B u t v anq u is hed b y h i m s el f
t o h is o w n s l ave s a
s l ave
-
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
XC
The foo l of fa l s e d o m i n ion an d a k in d
O f b as t a rd Caesa r fo ll o w in g h i m of o ld
W i th s te ps u n e q u a l ; fo r the R o m an s m in d
W as m o delled in a le ss terre s tr i a l m o uld
W i t h passions fi e r c e r y et a j udgme n t c o ld
A n d an i mm o rt a l ins t in c t wh i c h redeemed
The f r ai lt i e s of a he a rt S O sof t y et b o ld
Al c i de s w i th the d is t aff no w he s eemed
—
At C le opatr a s f eet an d no w h i m s el f he be a med
—
,
’
805
,
,
,
,
,
’
,
,
810
XCI
A n d c ame an d saw an d c onq uered ! B u t the m an
Wh o w o uld h ave t amed h is e a gle s d o w n t o fl ee
L i ke a tr ain ed f a l c on in the Ga ll i c v an
Wh i c h he , in soo th l on g led t o v i c t o r y
—
—
.
,
,
,
,
,
56
CHI LD E
H AROLD S P I L GRI M A G E
’
W i th a de af he a rt wh i c h n ever s eemed t o be
815
A l is te n er t o i t s el f w as s tr an gel y f r a med ;
W i th but on e we ake s t we a k n e ss v ani t y
C oq uett is h in a mb i t ion s t i ll he ai med
?
At wh a t c a n he a v o u c h o r ans wer wh a t he c l ai med ?
,
,
—
,
,
XCII
A n d w o uld be a ll o r no th in g no r c o uld w ai t
F o r the s ure gr a ve t o level h i m ; f ew y e a r s
H a d fix ed h i m w i th the Cae sa r s i n h is fa te
O n wh o m we tre a d : F o r th is the c onq uer o r re a r s
The a r c h of tr i um p h ; an d fo r th is the te a r s
A n d bl oo d of e a rth flo w on a s the y h a ve flo wed
A n u ni ver sa l deluge wh i c h app e a r s
W i th o ut an a rk fo r wret c hed m an s a b o de
A n d ebb s but t o r e flo w ! Re n ew th y r ain b o w G o d !
—
3 20
,
,
8 25
,
’
,
,
XCIII
Wh a t f r o m th is b a rre n be in g d o we re ap ?
Our s e ns e s na rr o w an d o ur re ason f r ai l
8 30
L if e Sh o rt an d truth a gem wh i c h l o ve s the dee p
A n d a ll th in g s we i ghed in c u s t o m s fa l s e s t s c a le ;
O pinion an o m nipo te n c e wh os e ve i l
M an tle s the e a rth w i th d a rk n e ss u n t i l r i ght
835
A n d wr on g a re a c c i de n t s an d me n gr o w pa le
Lest
the i r o w n j udgme n t s s h o uld be c o me t oo
br i ght
A n d the i r f ree th o ught s be c r i me s an d e a rth h ave t oo
mu c h l i ght
,
,
,
,
’
—
,
,
,
,
,
.
CH I L D E
58
HA BO LD S
’
P I L GRI M A GE
O f c a t a r a c t s where n ur sin g Na ture s m i led
?
O n infan t W as h in gt on H as E a rth no m o re
S u c h s eed s w i th in her bre as t o r E ur op e no s u c h s h o re ?
,
,
XCVI I
Fr an c e g o t dru n k w i th bl oo d t o v o m i t c r i me
A n d fa t a l h a ve her S a tur na l ia bee n
T o Freed o m s c a u s e in ever y a ge an d c l i me ;
B e c a u s e the de a dl y d ays wh i c h we h a ve s ee n
A n d v i le Amb i t ion th a t bu i lt u p betwee n
M a n an d h i s h op e s an ad a m an t in e w a ll
A n d the b as e pa ge an t l as t u pon the s c e n e
Are gr o w n the p rete x t fo r the eter na l thr a ll
Wh i c h nips l if e s tree an d d oo m s m an s w o r s t
s e c on d fa ll
Bu t
865
,
’
,
,
,
8 70
,
,
’
’
,
h is
’
.
XCVIII
Yet Freed o m ! y et th y b ann er t o r n but flyin g
S tre a m s l i ke the thu n der s t o rm a ga in st the w in d ; 8 7 5
Th y trum p et v oi ce th o ugh br o ke n no w an d d yin g
The l o ude s t s t i ll the tem p e s t le a ve s beh in d ;
Th y tree h ath l os t i t s bl osso m s an d the r in d
C h opp ed b y the ax e l oo k s r o ugh an d l i ttle w o rth
—
B u t the sap l as t s
an d s t i ll the s eed we fin d
88 0
S o w n dee p eve n in the b oso m of the N o rth ;
S o s h a ll a better s p r in g le ss b i tter f ru i t br in g fo rth
,
,
,
,
-
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
XCIX
There is a s ter n r o u n d t o wer of o ther d ays
F i rm as a fo rtre ss w i th it s f e n c e of s t on e
,
,
,
CA N TO FO UR TH
59
S u c h a s an a rm y s b affl ed s tre n gth del ays
885
S t an d in g w i th h a l f i t s b a ttleme n t s a l on e
A n d w i th tw o th o u san d y e a r s of i v y gr o w n
The g a rl an d of eter ni t y where w a ve
The gree n le a ve s o ver a ll b y t i me o e r t h r own :
Wh a t w as th is t o wer of s tre n gth ? w i th in it s c a ve 8 9 0
—
Wh a t tre as ure l ay so l o c ked so h i d ? A w o m an s gr a ve
’
,
,
,
,
’
’
,
.
C
B ut wh o wa s s he the l a d y of the de a d
?
T o mbed in a pa l a c e W as She c h as te an d fai r ?
W o rth y a k in g s o r m o re a R o m an s bed ?
Wh a t r a c e of c h i e fs an d her o e s d i d s he be a r ?
895
Wh a t d a ughter of her be a ut i e s w as the he i r ?
H o w l i ved h o w l o ved h o w d i ed s he ? W as sh e no t
S O h ono red an d c onspi c u o u s l y there
Where me an er rel i c s mu s t no t d a re t o r o t
P l a c ed t o c o mmem o r a te a m o re th an m o rt a l l o t ?
900
,
,
’
’
—
,
,
—
,
,
CI
W as She as th os e wh o l o ve the i r l o rd s o r the y
Wh o l o ve the l o rd s of o ther s ? s u c h h a ve bee n
E ve n in the o lde n t i me R o me s anna l s sa y
W as s he a m a tr on of Co r n el i a s m i e n
905
Or the l i ght ai r of E g yp t s gr a c e f ul q uee n
—
Pr of u s e of j oy or g ains t i t d i d sh e w a r
I n veter ate in v i rtue ? D id s he le an
T o the sof t S i de Of the he a rt o r w is el y b a r
—
?
fo r s u c h the aff e c t ions
Lo ve f r o m a m on g s t her gr i e fs
a re
,
’
.
,
’
,
’
,
’
,
,
.
60
CH I L D E H A R O L D S P I L GRI M A G E
’
CII
Per c h an c e s he d i ed in yo uth ; i t m ay be b o wed
W i th w o e s fa r he a v i er th an the pon der o u s t o m b
Th a t we i ghed u pon her ge n tle du s t a c l o ud
M i ght g a ther o er her be a ut y an d a gl oo m
I n her d a rk e y e p r op het i c of the d oo m
He a ve n g i ve s i t s fa v o r i te s e a r l y de ath ; y et Shed
A s u ns et c h a rm a r o u n d her an d i llume
W i th he c t i c l i ght the He sp eru s of the de a d
O f her c ons um in g c heek the a utum na l le af l i ke red
910
,
,
’
,
,
—
915
,
,
,
-
C
.
II I
Per c h an c e s he d i ed in a ge s urv i v in g a ll
C h a rm s k in dred c h i ldre n w i th the si lver gr ay 9 2 0
O n her l on g tre ss e s wh i c h m i ght y et re c a ll
I t m ay be s t i ll a so meth in g of the d ay
Whe n the y were br ai ded an d her p r o ud a rr ay
A n d l o vel y fo rm were e n v i ed p r ais ed an d e y ed
—
By R o me B u t wh i ther w o uld C onj e c ture s tr ay ? 9 2 5
Thu s mu c h a l on e we k no w Metell a d i ed
The we a lth i e s t R o m an s w if e B eh o ld h is l o ve o r
p r i de !
—
,
—
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
—
,
’
.
CIV
'
I kno w
no t wh y but s t an d in g thu s b y thee
I t s eem s a s if I h a d th in e i nm ate k no w n
Th o u T o mb an d o ther d ays c o me b a c k t o me
W i th re c o lle c ted mu si c th o ugh the t on e
I s c h an ged an d so l em n l i ke a c l o ud y gr oan
—
,
,
,
,
930
CA N TO FO UR TH
61
O f d yin g thu n der on the d is t an t w in d ;
Yet c o uld I s e a t me b y th is i v i ed s t on e
T i ll I h a d b o d i ed fo rth the he a ted m in d
935
F o rm s f r o m the floa t in g wre ck wh i c h Ru in le a ve s b e
h in d ;
CV
’
A n d f r o m the p l an k s fa r s h a ttered o er the r o c k s
B u i lt me a l i ttle b a rk of h op e on c e m o re
T o b a ttle w i th the o c e an an d the Sh o c k s
O f the l o ud bre a ker s an d the c e as ele ss r oa r
9 40
Wh i c h ru s he s on the so l i t a r y s h o re
Where a ll l i e s fo u n d er ed th a t w as ever de a r :
B u t c o uld I g a ther f r o m the w a ve —w o r n s t o re
E no ugh fo r m y rude b oa t where s h o uld I s teer ?
There w oos no h o me no r h op e no r l if e save wh a t is
here
945
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
CVI
The n let the W i n d s h o wl on ! the i r h a rm ony
S h a ll he n c e fo rth be m y mu si c an d the ni ght
The so u n d s h a ll tem p er w i th the o wlet s c r y
A s I no w he a r them in the fa d in g l i ght
D im o er the b i rd of d a rk n e ss na t i ve si te
9 50
A ns wer in g e a c h o ther on the P a l a t in e
W i th the i r l a rge e y e s a ll gl is te nin g gr ay an d br i ght
—
A n d sai l in g pinions Upon s u c h a s hr in e
—
Wh a t a re ou r p ett y gr i e fs ? let me no t n umbe r
m in e
,
’
,
’
’
,
,
,
.
.
,
CHI LD E
62
H A R OLD S
’
PI L G R I MA G E
CVI I
C yp re ss
an d i v y weed an d wa ll flower gr o wn
9 55
M a tted an d m ass ed t o gether h i ll o c k s he ap ed
O n wh a t were c h a mber s a r c h c ru s hed c o lum n
s tr o w n
I n f r a gme n t s c h o ked u p v a ult s an d f re s c os s tee p ed
I n s ubterr an e an d am ps where the o wl p ee p ed
D eem in g i t m i d ni ght
Tem p le s b a th s o r h a ll s ? 9 6 0
Pr ono u n c e wh o c a n ; fo r a ll th a t L e a r nin g re ap ed
Fr o m her re s e a r c h h a th bee n th a t the s e a re w al l s
B eh o ld the I m p er i a l M o u n t ! t is thu s the m i ght y
fa ll s
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
—
,
,
,
’
.
C V III
There i s the m o r a l of a ll hum an t a l e s ;
T is but the sa me rehe a r sa l of the pas t
965
—
F i r s t f reed o m an d the n gl o r y whe n th a t fai l s
—
We a lth v i c e c o rru p t ion b a rb a r i s m a t l as t
A n d H i s t o r y wi th a ll her v o lume s v as t
—
H a th but on e pa ge t is better wr i tte n here
9 70
Where g o rge o u s T y r anny h a th thu s am ass ed
All tre as ure s a ll del i ght s th a t e y e o r c a r
—
He a rt so ul c o uld s eek t on gue as k Aw ay w i th w o r d s
dr a w n e a r
’
,
,
’
,
.
,
,
,
,
’
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
CIX
Adm i re e x u l t de spis e l a ugh wee p fo r here
There is s u c h m a tter fo r a ll f eel in g M an
Th o u p en dulum betw ix t a s m i le an d te a r !
—
,
,
,
,
,
—
,
975
CA N TO
F0
U R TH
63
Age s an d re a l m s a re c r o wded in th is span
Th is m o u n t ain wh os e o bl i ter a ted p l an
The py r ami d of em pi re s pinna c l e d
O f G l o r y s gewg a w s s h inin g in the v an
T i l l the s u n s r ays wi th a dded flame were fi l led ! 9 8 0
?
Where a re i t s g o lde n r oofs where th os e wh o d a red t o
bu i ld ?
,
,
,
’
’
CX
Tul l y w as no t so e l o q ue n t as th o u
Th o u namele ss c o lum n w i th the bur i ed b as e !
Wh a t a re the l a urel s of the Caesa r s br o w ?
C r o w n me w i th i v y f r o m h is dwell in g p l a c e
Wh os e a r c h o r pi ll a r meet s me in the fa c e
T i tu s o r Tr aj an s ? No t is th a t of T i me ;
Tr i um p h a r c h pi ll a r a ll he d o th d isp l a c e
S c o ffin g ; an d apos t o l i c s t a tue s c l i mb
T o c ru s h the i m p er i a l ur n wh os e as he s s le p t s ubl i me
,
’
-
98 5
.
,
’
,
—
,
’
,
,
990
,
CXI
B ur i ed in ai r the dee p blue sky of R o me
A n d l oo k in g t o the s t a r s : the y h a d c on t ain ed
A spi r i t wh i c h w i th the s e w o uld fin d a h o me
The l as t of th os e wh o o er the wh o le e a rth re i gn ed
995
The R o m an gl o be fo r af ter non e s u s t ain ed
B u t yi elded b a c k h is c onq ue s t s
h e w as m o re
Th an a mere Ale xan der an d u ns t ain ed
W i th h o u s eh o ld bl oo d an d w in e se r e n e lv w o re
—
H is so vere i g n v i rtue s s t i ll we Tr aj an s na me a d o re
,
,
,
’
,
,
,
—
,
,
’
.
CH I L D E H A BO L D S
’
64
PI L GRI MA GE
C XII
Where is the r o c k of Tri um p h the h i gh p l a c e
1 00 0
?
c
Where R o me embr a ed her her o e s where the s tee p
T a r p e i an fi tte s t g oa l of Tre ason s r a c e
The p r o m on t o r y whe n c e the Tr ai t o r s L e ap
?
D id the c onq uer o r s he ap
ured
a
ll
a
mb
i
t
ion
C
The i r spoi l s here ? Y e s ; an d in yon fi eld bel o w 1 0 0 5
A th o u san d y e a r s of si le n c ed fa c t ions s lee p
The F o rum where the i mm o rt a l a c c e n t s gl o w
—
A n d s t i l l the el oq ue n t ai r bre a the s bur ns w i th C i c er o !
,
’
,
,
’
,
,
CXIII
The fi e l d of f reed o m fa c t ion fame an d bl oo d :
Here a p r o ud p e e p le s passions were e x h a led
Fr o m the fi r s t h o ur of em pi re in the bud
T o th a t whe n f urther w o rld s t o c onq uer fai led ;
B ut l on g be fo re h a d Freed o m s fa c e bee n ve i led
A n d A na r c h y ass um ed her a ttr i bute s ;
T i ll ever y l awle ss so ldi er wh o assai led
Tr o d on the trembl in g s e nate s s l a v is h mute s
Or r ai s ed the ve na l v oi c e of b as er p r os t i tute s
,
,
,
’
1010
,
’
,
1 01 5
’
,
.
CXIV
’
The n tur n we t o her l a te s t tr i bu n e s name
Fr o m her te n th o u san d t yr an t s tur n t o thee
Redeemer of d a rk c e n tur i e s of s h ame
—
The f r i e n d of Petr a r c h h op e of I t a l y
R i e nzi l as t of R o m ans ! Wh i le the tree
O f f reed o m s w i thered tru n k p ut s fo rth a l e af
,
,
1 0 20
,
’
,
CHI LDE HA ROLD S
’
66
P I L GRI M A CE
The q u i c k e y ed l i z a rd ru s tle s an d the b i ll s
O f s ummer b i rd s sin g wel c o me as y e pass ;
Fl o wer s f re s h in hue an d m any in the i r c l ass
I m p l o re the pa u si n g s te p an d w i th the i r d y e s
1 0 50
D an c e in the sof t bree z e in a fai r y m ass ;
The s weet n e ss of the v io let s dee p blue e y e s
K iss ed b y the bre a th of he a ve n s eem s c o l o red b y i t s
ski es
-
,
-
,
,
,
’
,
,
.
CXVIII
Here d i d s t th o u dwell i n th i s e n c h an ted c o ver
E ger i a th y a ll he a ve n l y b oso m be a t in g
F o r the fa r foo t s te ps of th y m o rt a l l o ver !
The p ur p le M i d ni ght ve i led th a t m ys t i c meet in g
W i th her m os t s t a rr y c anopy an d s e a t in g
Th ys el f b y th in e a d o rer wh a t be f ell ?
Th is c ave wa s s urel y s h ap ed o ut fo r the greet in g
O f an e na m o red Go dde ss an d the c ell
—
H a u n ted b y h o l y Lo v e the e a rl i e s t o r a c le !
,
,
,
1 0 55
,
,
1 060
,
CXIX
A n d d i d s t th o u no t th y bre as t t o h is re p l yin g
B le n d a c ele s t i a l w i th a hum an he a rt ;
A n d L o ve wh i c h d i e s a s i t wa s b o r n in S i gh in g 1 0 6 5
S h a re w i th i mm o rt a l tr anspo rt s ? c o uld th in e a rt
M a ke them in deed i mm o rt a l an d i m pa rt
The p ur i t y of he ave n t o e a rthl y j oys
E xp el the ve no m an d no t blu n t the d a rt
1 07 0
The dull sat i et y wh i c h a ll de s tr oys
A n d r oo t f r o m o ut the so ul the de a dl y weed wh i c h c l oys
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
CA N TO FO URTH
67
CXX
Al as ! o ur yo u n g aff e c t ions ru n t o w as te
Or w ater but the de s ert ; whe n c e a r is e
B u t weed s of d a rk lu x u r ian c e t a re s of h as te
R an k a t the c o re th o ugh tem p t in g t o the e y e s 1 0 7 5
Fl o wer s wh os e w i ld o d o r s bre a the but a g oni e s
A n d tree s wh os e g u m s a re poison ; s u c h the p l an t s
Wh i c h sp r in g be n e a th her s te ps as P assion fli e s
O er the w o rld s w i lder n e ss an d v ain l y pan t s
F o r so me c ele s t i a l f ru i t fo rb i dde n t o o ur w an t s
1 080
,
,
,
,
,
,
’
’
,
.
CXXI
Oh Lo ve no h a b it a fft of e a rth th o u a rt
A n u ns ee n s er ap h we bel i eve in t h ee
A fai th wh os e m a rt y r s a re the br o ke n he a rt
B u t n ever y et h a th s ee n no r e er s h a ll s ee
The na ked e y e th y fo rm as i t s h o uld be ;
1 085
The m in d h a th m a de thee a s i t p e op led he a ve n
E ve n w ith it s o w n de si r in g p h an t asy
A n d t o a th o ught s u c h s h ap e an d i m a ge g i ve n
—
A s h a u n t s the u nq ue n c hed so ul pa r c hed we a r i ed
wru n g an d r i ve n
,
,
,
,
’
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
CXXI I
1 090
O f i t s o w n be a ut y is the m in d d is e as ed
A n d f ever s in t o fa l s e c re a t ion Where
Where a re the fo rm s the s c ul p t o r s so ul h ath s e i z ed ?
I n h i m a l on e C a n nature s h o w so fai r ?
Where a re the c h a rm s an d v i rtue s wh i c h we d a re
,
,
.
’
.
CHI L DE
68
H A R OLD S
’
P I LG R I M A G E
C on c e i ve
in b oy h oo d an d p ur s ue a s me n
1 095
The u n re a c hed P a r a d is e of o ur de spai r
Wh i c h o er i nfo rm s the p e n c i l an d the p e n
A n d o ver po wer s the p a ge where i t w o uld bl oo m a g ain ?
,
,
’
-
,
CXXII I
’
—’
Wh o
l o ve s r ave s t is yo uth s f re nzy but the
c ure
I s b i tterer s t i ll as c h a rm b y c h a rm u n w i n d s
1 1 00
Wh i c h r o bed o ur i d o l s an d we s ee t oo s ure
No r w o rth no r be a ut y dwell s f r o m o ut the m in d s
I de a l s h ap e of s u c h ; y et s t i ll i t b in d s
The fa t a l sp ell an d s t i ll i t dr a w s u s on
Re apin g the wh i rlwi n d f r o m the of t so w n win d s ; 1 1 0 5
The s tubb o r n he a rt it s a l c hem y begu n
—
S eem s ever n e a r the p r iz e we a lth i e s t whe n m os t u n
d on e
—
,
,
,
’
,
,
-
,
,
.
CXXIV
We w i ther f r o m o ur yo uth we g asp aw ay
S i c k si c k ; u nfo u n d the b oon u ns l a ked the th i r s t
1 1 10
Th o ugh t o the l as t in verge of o ur de c ay
S o me p h an t o m lure s s u c h a s we so ught a t fi r s t
—
B u t a ll t oo l a te
so a re we d o ubl y c ur s t
t is the same ,
L o ve fa me a mb i t ion a v a r i c e
E a c h i dle an d a ll i ll an d non e the w o r s t
1115
F o r a ll a re mete o r s w i th a d i ff ere n t name
A n d D e a th the sable s m o ke where v anis he s the
fla me
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CA N T0
F0
UR TH
69
CXXV
Few non e fin d wh a t the y l o ve o r c o u l d h a ve l o ved
Th o ugh a c c i de n t bl in d c on t a c t an d the s tr on g
N e c e ssi t y of l o v in g h a ve r em o ved
—
A n t ipa th i e s but t o re c ur ere l on g
1 1 20
E n ve no med w i th i rrev o c a ble wr on g ;
A n d C i r c um s t an c e th a t u nspi r i tu a l g o d
A n d m i s c re a t o r m a ke s an d hel ps a l on g
Our c o m in g ev i l s w i th a c rut c h l i ke r o d
—
Wh os e t o u c h tur ns h op e t o du s t the du s t we a l l h a ve
1 1 25
tr o d
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CXXVI
’
Our l if e i s a fa l s e na ture : t i s no t in
—
The h a rm ony of th in g s th is h a rd de c ree
Th i s u n er a d i c a ble t ain t of s in
Th i s b o u n dle ss u pas th is a l l bl as t in g tree
Wh os e r oo t is e a rth wh os e le a ve s an d br an c he s be 1 1 3 0
The s k i e s wh i c h r ain the i r p l a gue s on me n l i ke
dew
—
D i s e as e de a th b on d a ge a l l the w o e s we se e
—
A n d w o r s e the w o e s we s ee no t w h i c h thr o b thr o ugh
The i mmed i c a ble so u l w i th he a rt a c he s ever n ew
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CXXVI I
’
Yet l et u s pon der b o ldl y t is a b as e
Ab an d o n me n t Of re ason t o re si g n
—
Our r i ght of th o ught o ur l as t an d on l y p l a c e
O f re f uge : th is a t le as t Sh a ll s t i l l be m in e
—
,
.
1 1 35
CH I L D E H A ROLD S P I L GRI M A G E
70
’
Th o ugh f r o m o ur b i rth the fa c ult y d i v in e
1 1 39
—
I s c h ain ed an d t o rtured c a b in ed c r i bbed c onfin ed
A n d bred in d a rk n e ss le s t the truth s h o uld s h in e
T oo br i ghtl y on the u np re pa red m in d
The be a m po ur s in fo r t i me an d S ki ll w i ll c o u c h the
bl in d
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CXXVII I
Ar c he s on a r c he s ! as i t were th a t R o me
C o lle c t in g the c h i e f tr op h i e s of her l in e
1 145
W o uld bu i ld u p a ll h e r tr i um p h s i n on e d o me
Her C o l i s eum s t an d s ; t h e m oon be a m s s h in e
A s twere it s na tur a l t o r c he s fo r d i v in e
S h o uld be the l i ght wh i c h s tre a m s here t o i llume
Th i s l on g e xp l o red but s t i ll e x h a u s tle ss m in e
1 1 50
O f c on tem p l a t ion ; an d the az ure gl oo m
O f an I t a l i an ni ght where the dee p s ki e s ass ume
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CXXIX
Hue s wh i c h h a ve w o rd s an d sp e a k t o y e of he a ve n
F l oa t s o er th is v as t an d w on dr o u s m on ume n t
A n d Sh a d o w s fo rth i t s gl o r y There is gi ve n
1 1 55
Un t o the th in g s of e a rth wh i c h t i me h a th be n t
A spi r i t s f eel in g an d where he h a th le an t
H is h an d but br o ke h is s c y the there is a po wer
A n d m a g i c in the r ui n ed b attleme n t
F o r wh i c h the p a l a c e of the p re s e n t h o ur
1 1 60
Mu s t yi eld i t s po m p an d w ai t t i ll a ge s a re i t s
d o wer
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CA N TO FO U R TH
71
CXXX
Oh T i me the b e a u t ifi e r of the de a d
Ad o r n er of the ru in c o m fo rter
A n d on l y he a ler whe n the he a rt h a th bled !
T i me ! the c o rre c t o r where o ur j udgme n t s err
1 1 65
The te s t of truth l o ve so le p h i l osop her
F o r a ll be si de a re sop h is t s f r o m th y thr if t
Wh i c h n ever l os e s th o ugh i t d o th de f er
T i me the a ve n ger ! u n t o thee I l if t
1 1 69
M y h an d s an d e y e s an d he a rt an d c r a ve of thee a gif t :
,
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CXXXI
Am i d s t th is wre c k where th o u h as t m a de a s hr in e
A n d tem p le m o re d iv in el y de so l ate
Am on g th y m i ght i er o ff er in g s here a re m in e
Ru ins of y e a r s th o ugh f ew y et f ul l of fa te :
I f th o u h as t ever s ee n me t oo el a te
1 1 75
He a r me no t ; but if c a lml y I h a ve b o r n e
Goo d an d re s erved m y p r i de a g ains t the h a te
Wh i c h s h a ll no t whelm me let me no t h a ve w o r n
Th is i r on in m y so ul in v ain s h a l l th ey no t m o ur n ?
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CXXXII
A n d th o u wh o n ever y et of hum an wr on g
L e f t the u n b a l an c ed s c a le gre a t N eme sis !
Here where the an c i e n t pai d thee h o m a ge l on g
Th o u wh o d i d s t c a ll the Fur i e s f r o m the a b yss
A n d r o u n d Ore s te s b a de them h o wl an d h iss
F o r th a t u nna tur a l retr i but ion j u s t
1 1 80
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1 1 85
72
CH I L DE H A ROL D S P I L GRI M A G E
’
H a d i t but bee n f r o m h an d s le ss n e a r in th is
!
I
Th y fo rmer re a lm
c a ll thee f r o m the du s t
—
?
D os t th o u no t he a r m y he a rt
Aw a ke ! th o u s h a lt an d
mu s t
—
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,
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C XXXII I
I t i s no t th a t I m ay no t h a ve in c urred
F o r m y an c e s tr a l fa ult s o r m in e the w o u n d
1 1 90
I bleed w i th a l an d h a d i t bee n c onf erred
W i th a j u s t we apon i t h a d flo wed u n b o u n d ;
B ut no w m y bl oo d s h a ll no t sin k i n the gr o u n d :
1 1 94
T o thee I d o dev o te it th ou s h al t t a ke
The ve n ge an c e wh i c h s h a ll y et be so ught an d fo u n d
Wh i c h if I h a ve no t t a ke n fo r the sa ke
B u t let th a t p as s I s lee p but th o u s h a l t y et a w a ke
,
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CXXXIV
A n d if m y v oi c e bre a k fo rth t is no t th at no w
I s hr i n k f r o m wh a t is s u ff ered : let h i m sp e a k
Wh o h a th beheld de c l in e u pon m y br o w
1 20 0
Or s ee n m y m in d s c on vul sion le a ve i t we a k ;
B u t on th is pa ge a re c o rd w i ll I s eek
No t in the ai r s h a ll the s e m y w o rd s d isp er s e
Th o ugh I be as he s ; a fa r h o ur s h a ll wre a k
1 20 5
The dee p p r op het i c f ul n e ss of th i s ver s e
A n d pi le on hum an he a d s the m o un t ains of m y c ur s e !
’
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’
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C XXXV
Th a t c ur s e s h a ll be F o rg i ve n e ss H a ve I no t
He a r me m y m o ther E a rth ! beh o ld i t He ave n
—
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,
74
CH I LD E H A ROL D S P I L GRI MA GE
’
CXXXVIII
The s e a l is se t
No w wel c o me th o u dre a d po wer
Namele ss y et thu s o m nipo te n t wh i c h here
1 23 5
W a lke s t in the s h a d o w of the m i d ni ght h o ur
!
W i th a dee p a we y et a ll d is t in c t f r o m f e a r
Th y h a u n t s a re ever where the de a d w a ll s re a r
The i r i v y m an tle s an d the so lem n s c e n e
24 0
D er i ve s f r o m thee a s e ns e so dee p an d c le a r
Th a t we be c o m e a pa rt of wh a t h as bee n
A n d gr o w u n t o the spo t a ll s ee in g but u ns ee n
—
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CXXXIX
A n d here the bu zz of e a ger na t ions r an
I n murmured pi t y o r l o ud r oa red app l a u s e
1 24 5
A s m an w as s l a ughtered b y h is f ell o w m an
?
A n d where fo re s l a ughtered where fo re but be c a u s e
S u c h were the bl oo d y C i r c u s ge ni a l l aw s
Where fo re no t ?
A n d the i m p er i a l p le as ur e
Wh a t m atter s where we fa ll t o fi ll the m aw s
?
1 2 50
O f w o rm s o n b a ttle p l ains o r l is ted spo t
B o th a re but the a tre s where the c h i e f a c t o r s r o t
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CXL
I see be fo re me the G l a d i a t o r l i e :
He le ans u pon h is h an d s h i s m an l y br o w
C ons e n t s t o de ath but c onq uer s a g ony
A n d h is dr oop ed he a d sin k s gr a du a ll y l o w
A n d thr o ugh h is S i de the l as t dr ops ebb in g s l o w
F r o m the red g as h fa ll he a v y on e b y on e
—
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1 2 55
CA N TO FO UR TH
75
Li ke the fi r s t of a thu n der s h o wer ; an d no w
The a re na s w i m s a r o u n d h i m h e is g on e
E r e c e as ed the in hum an s h o ut wh i c h h ai led the wret c h
1 26 0
wh o w on
-
—
,
.
CXLI
He he a rd i t but he h ee e d e d no t h is e y e s
Were w i th h is he a rt an d th a t w as fa r a w ay ;
He re c ked no t of the l if e he l os t no r p r iz e
B u t where h is rude hut b y the D an ube l ay
Th er e were h is yo u n g b a rb a r i ans a ll a t p l ay
1 26 5
Th er e w as the i r D a c i an m o ther h e the i r S i re
B ut c hered t o m a ke a R o m an h o l i d ay
All th is ru s hed w i th h is bl oo d S h a ll he e xpi re
A n d u nave n ged ? Ar is e ! y e Go th s an d glut yo ur i re !
—
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CXLII
B ut here where Murder bre athed her bl oo d y s te am ;
A n d here where bu zzin g na t ions c h o ked the w ays 1 2 7 1
A n d r oa red o r murmu r ed l i ke a m o u n t ain s tre a m
D as h in g o r w in d in g as i t s t o rre n t s tr ays ;
Here where the R o m an m i ll ions bl ame o r p r ais e
W as de ath o r l if e the p l ay th in g s of a c r o wd
1 27 5
M y v oi c e so u n d s mu c h an d fa ll the s t a r s fain t r ays
—
O n the a re na v o id s e a t s c ru s hed w a ll s b o wed
A n d g a ller i e s where m y s te ps s eem e c h o e s s tr an gel y
l o ud
,
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’
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’
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fl
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.
CXLIII
A ru in y et wh a t ru in
f r o m i t s m ass
W a ll s pa l a c e s h a l f c i t i e s h a ve b e e n re a red ;
—
—
-
,
,
,
1 28 0
CH I LDE H A ROL D S P I L GRI M A GE
’
76
Yet of t the e no rm o u s s kelet on y e pass
A n d m a rvel where the spoi l c o uld h a ve app e a red
H a th i t in deed bee n p lu n dered o r but c le a red ?
Al as ! devel op ed op e ns the de c ay
Whe n the c o l ossa l fa br i c s fo rm is n e a red :
1 28 5
I t w i ll no t be a r the br i ght n e ss of the d ay
Wh i c h s tre a m s t oo mu c h t o a l l y e a r s m an h a ve re f t
a w ay
,
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CXLIV
whe n the r isin g m oon beg ins t o c l i mb
I t s t op m os t a r c h an d ge n tl y pa u s e s there ;
Whe n the s t a r s twi n kle thr o ugh the l oops of t i me 1 2 9 0
A n d the l o w ni ght bree z e w a ve s a l on g the ai r
The g a rl an d fo re s t wh i c h the gr ay w a ll s we a r
Li ke l a urel s on the b a ld fi r s t C ae sa r s he a d ;
Whe n the l i ght s h in e s s ere n e but d o th no t gl a re
The n i n th is m a g i c c i r c le r ais e the de a d :
1 29 5
—
l l e r o e s h a ve tr o d th is spo t
t is on the i r du s t y e tre a d
But
,
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-
-
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’
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’
.
CXLV
Wh i le s t an d s the C o l is eum R o me s h a ll s t an d ;
Whe n fa ll s the C o l is eum R o me s h a ll fa ll
”
—
A n d whe n R o me fa ll s the W o rld
Fr o m o ur o w n
l an d
1 300
Thu s spa ke the pi lgr i m s o er th is m i ght y w a ll
I n S axon t i me s wh i c h we a re w on t t o c a ll
A n c i e n t ; an d the s e three m o rt a l th in g s a re s t i ll
O n the i r fo u n d a t ions an d u na l tered a ll ;
,
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’
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CA N T0
F0
UR TH
77
’
R o me an d her Ru i n pas t Redem p t ion s s k i ll
—
The W o r l d the same w i de de n o f th i eve s o r wh a t y e
w i ll
1 305
,
,
,
.
C XLVI
S i m p l e ere c t s evere a u s tere s ub l i me
S hr in e of a ll sain t s an d tem p le of a ll g o d s
Fr o m Jo ve t o Je su s spa red an d ble ss ed b y t i me ;
L oo k in g tr anq u i ll i t y wh i le fa ll s o r no d s
1 309
Ar c h em pi re e a c h th in g r o u n d thee an d m an p l o d s
—
H is w ay thr o ugh th o r ns t o as he s gl o r i o u s d o me !
S h a lt th o u no t l as t ? T i me s s c y the an d t y r an t s r o d s
—
S h i ver u pon thee san c tu a r y an d h o me
—
—
O f a rt an d pi et y P an the on ! p r i d e of R o me !
,
,
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—
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’
’
CXLVII
Re l i c of no b l er d ays an d no b l e s t a rt s !
1 31 5
D e spoi led y et p er f e c t w i th th y c i r c le sp re a d s
A h o l in e ss app e a l in g t o a ll he a rt s
T o a rt a m o del ; an d t o h i m wh o tre a d s
R o m e fo r the sa ke of a ge s G l o r y s hed s
1 3 20
Her l i ght thr o ugh th y so le ap erture ; t o th os e
Wh o w o r s h ip here a re a lt a r s fo r the i r be a d s ;
A n d the y wh o f ee l fo r ge ni u s m ay re pos e
The i r e y e s on h ono red fo rm s wh os e bu s t s a r o u n d them
c l os e
,
,
,
,
,
.
CXLVIII
There is a du n ge on in wh os e d i m dre a r l i ght
W h a t d o I g az e on ? No th in g : L oo k a g ain !
,
1 325
78
CHI LDE
H A ROL D S P I L GRI M A G E
’
Tw o fo rm s a re s l o wl y s h a d o wed on m y si ght
Tw o ins ul a ted p h an t o m s of the br ain
I t is no t so ; I s ee the m f ull an d p l ain
An o ld m an an d a f em a le yo u n g an d fai r
Fre s h a s a n ur sin g m o ther in wh os e ve in
1 330
The bl oo d is n e c t a r B u t wh a t d o th s he there
W i th her u n m an tled n e c k an d b oso m wh i te an d
b a re ?
'
,
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—
,
,
CXLIX
Full s well s the dee p p ure fo u n t ain of yo u n g l if e
Where on the he a rt an d f r om the he a rt we t oo k
Our fi r s t an d s weete s t n urture whe n the w if e
1 335
B le s t in t o m o ther in the inno c e n t l oo k
Or eve n the pipin g c ry of l ips th a t br oo k
No pain an d s m a ll s u sp e ns e a j oy p er c e i ve s
M an kno w s no t whe n f r o m o ut it s c r a dled noo k
S he s ee s her l i ttle bud p ut fo rth it s le a ve s
1 3 40
Wh a t m ay the f ru i t be y et ? I k no w no t C ain w as
E ve s
,
,
,
,
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,
,
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—
—
’
.
CL
B ut here yo uth o ff er s t o o ld a ge the foo d
The m i lk of h is o wn gi f t : i t is her si re
T o wh o m She re n der s b a c k the debt of bl oo d
B o r n w i th her b i rth
No ; he s h a ll no t e xpi re
1 34 5
Wh i le in th os e w a rm an d l o vel y veins the fi re
O f he a lth an d h o l y f eel in g c a n p r o v i de
G re a t Na ture s Ni le wh os e dee p s tre am r is e s h i gher
,
.
’
,
CA N TO FO UR TH
79
’
Th an E g yp t s r i ver : f r o m th a t ge n tle si de
D r in k dr i nk an d l i ve o ld m an ! He a ve n s re a lm h o ld s
no s u c h t i d e
1 3 50
’
,
,
.
CLI
The s t a rr y fa b l e of the m i lk y w ay
H as no t th y s t o r y s p ur i t y : i t is
A c ons tell a t ion of a s weeter r ay
A n d sa c red Na ture tr i um p h s m o re in th is
Rever s e of her de c ree th an in the a b yss
1 3 55
Where spa rkle d is t an t w o rld s
Oh h o l i e s t n ur s e !
N O dr op of th a t c le a r s tre a m i t s w ay s h a ll m iss
T o th y si re s he a rt re p le nis h in g i t s so ur c e
W i th l if e as o ur f reed so ul s re j oin the u ni ver s e
’
,
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—
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’
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CLII
Tur n t o the m o l e wh i c h H a d r ian re a red on h i gh 1 3 6 0
I m p er i a l m i m i c of o ld E g yp t s pi le s
Co l ossa l c opyis t of de fo rm i t y
Wh os e tr a velled p h an t asy f r o m the fa r Ni le s
E no rm o u s m o del d oo med the a rt is t s t oi l s
T 0 bu i ld fo r g ian t s an d fo r h is v ain e a rth
1 36 5
H is s hrun ke n as he s r ais ed h is d oo m : H o w s m i le s
The g az er s e y e w i th p h i l osop h i c m i rth
T o v i ew the huge de si g n wh i c h sp run g f r o m s u c h a
b irth !
,
’
,
,
’
’
,
,
,
,
’
,
CLIII
B ut 10 ! the d o me the v as t an d w on dr o u s d o me
To wh i c h D i ana s m a rvel w as a c e ll
—
’
,
1 370
CHI L D E
80
PI LGR I M A G E
H A R OLD S
’
C hr is t s m i ght y s hr in e a b o ve h is m a rt y r s t o mb !
’
’
h ave beheld the E p he si an s m i r a c le
I t s c o lum ns s trew the w i lder n e ss an d dwell
The h y aena an d the j a c k a l in the i r s h a de ;
I h a ve beheld S op h i a s br i ght r oofs s we ll
1 375
The i r gl i tter in g m ass i the su n an d h a ve s urve y ed
I t s san c tu a r y the wh i le the u s ur pin g M os lem p r ay ed ;
’
I
,
’
’
,
CLIV
B ut th o u of tem p le s O l d o r a lt a r s n ew
S t an de s t a l on e w i th no th in g l i ke t o thee
W o rth i e s t of Go d the h o l y an d the true
S in c e Z ion s de so l a t i on whe n th a t He
F o r soo k h is fo rmer c i t y wh a t c o uld be
O f e a rthl y s tru c ture s in h i s h ono r pi led
O f a s ubl i mer asp e c t ? M aj e s t y
P o wer G l o r y S tre n gth an d B e a ut y a ll a re ais led
I n th i s eter na l a rk of w o r s h ip u n d e file d
,
,
,
,
.
1 38 0
’
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,
1 38 5
.
CLV
E n ter :
i t s gr an deur o verwhelm s thee no t ;
A n d wh y ? i t is no t le ss e n ed ; but th y m in d
E xpan ded b y the ge ni u s of the spo t
H as gr o w n c o l ossa l an d c a n on l y fin d
A fi t a b o de where in app e a r e ns hr in ed
Th y h op e s of i mm o rt a l i t y ; an d th o u
S h a lt on e d ay if fo u n d w o rth y so de fin ed
S ee th y Go d fa c e t o fa c e as th o u d os t no w
H is H o l y of H o l i e s no r be bl as ted b y h i s br o w
,
,
1 390
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
1 395
CHI L D E
82
PI L G R I MA G E
H A R OL D S
’
Out s h inin g an d o e rwh e l min g ed ifi c e
F oo l s o ur fon d g az e an d gre ate s t of the gre a t
D e fi e s a t fi r s t o ur N a ture s l i ttle n e ss
T i ll gr o w in g w i th i t s gr o wth we thu s d i l a te
Our spi r i t s t o the siz e of th a t the y c on tem p l ate
’
,
’
1 4 20
,
,
,
.
CLIX
The n pa u s e an d be e n l i ghte n ed ; there is m o re
I n s u c h a s urve y th an the sa t in g g az e
O f w on der p le as ed o r awe wh i c h w o uld a d o re
1 4 25
The w o r s h ip of the p l a c e o r the mere p r ais e
O f a rt an d i t s gre a t m as ter s wh o c o uld r ais e
Wh a t fo rmer t i me no r s k i ll no r th o ught c o uld
p l an ;
The fo u n t ain of s ubl i m i t y d isp l ays
I t s de p th an d the n c e m ay dr a w the m in d of m an 1 4 3 0
I t s g o l de n san d s an d le a r n wh a t gre a t c on c e p t ions
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
ca n
.
CLX
Or tur nin g t o the V a t i c an g o s ee
L a o c o On s t o rture d i g nifyi n g pain
A fa ther s l o ve an d m o rt a l s a g ony
W i th an i mm o rt a l pa t i e n c e ble n d in g V ain
1 4 35
The s truggle ; v ain ag ains t the c oi l in g s tr ain
A n d gr ip e an d dee p e nin g of the dr a g on s gr asp
The o ld m an s c l e n c h ; the l on g e n ve no med c h ain
R i vet s the l i v in g l in k s the e no rm o u s a sp
1 440
E nfo r c e s pan g on pan g an d st ifl e s g asp on g asp
,
,
’
’
’
.
,
’
,
,
’
—
,
,
.
CA N TO FO U R TH
83
CLXI
Or v i ew the L o rd of the u n err in g b o w
The Go d of l if e an d po e sy an d l i ght
The s u n in hum an l i mb s a rr ay ed an d b r o w
All r a d i an t f r o m h is tr i um p h in the fi ght ;
—
The s h af t h a th j u s t bee n s h o t the a rr o w br i ght
W i th an i mm o rt a l s ve n ge an c e ; in h is e y e
A n d nos tr i l be a ut if ul d is d ain an d m i ght
A n d m aj e s t y flas h the i r f ull l i ght nin g s b y
D evel opin g in th a t on e gl an c e the D e i t y
,
,
,
,
1 445
’
,
,
.
CLXII
B ut in h is del i c a te fo r m a dre a m of L o ve
S h ap ed b y so me so l i t a r y ny m p h wh os e bre as t
L on ged fo r a de a thle ss l o ver f r o m a b o ve
—
A n d m a dde n ed in th a t v isi on a re ex p re st
All th a t i de a l b e a ut y ever ble ss ed
The m in d w i th in i t s m os t u n e a rth l y m oo d
Whe n e a c h c on c e p t ion w as a he a ve n l y gue s t
A r ay of i mm o rt a l i t y an d s t oo d
S t a rl i ke a r o u n d u n t i l the y g a t h ered t o a g o d !
—
,
1 4 50
,
,
.
,
,
1 4 55
—
,
,
,
CLXIII
A n d if i t be Pr o metheu s s t o le f r o m He a ve n
The fi re wh i c h we e n dure i t w as re pai d
By h i m t o wh o m the e n erg y w as g i ve n
Wh i c h th is po et i c m a rble h a th a rr ay ed
—
W i th an eter na l gl o r y wh i c h if m a de
By hum an h an d s is no t of hum an th o ught ;
,
,
,
1 460
CH I LD E H A ROLD S P I L GRI M A G E
’
84
A n d T i me h i m s el f h a th h a ll o wed i t no r l ai d
1 46 5
O n e r in glet in the du s t no r h ath i t c a ught
A t in ge of y e a r s but bre a the s the flame w i th wh i c h
tw as wr o ught
,
—
,
’
.
CLXIV
where is he the P i lgr i m of m y son g
The be in g wh o u p held i t thr o ugh the pas t ?
Meth in k s he c o meth l ate an d t a rr i e s l on g
—
He is no m o re the s e bre a th in g s a re h is l as t ;
H is w an der in g s d on e h is v isions ebb in g fas t
_
A n d he h i m s el f i s no th in g : if he w as
Aught but a p h an t asy an d c o uld be c l ass ed
W i th fo rm s wh i c h l i ve an d s u ff er let th at pass
H is s h a d o w fa de s a w ay in t o D e s tru c t i on s m ass
Bu t
,
,
.
,
1 470
,
,
—
1 47 5
’
,
CLXV
Wh i c h g ather s s h a d o w s ub s t an c e l if e an d a l l
Th a t we in her i t in i t s m o rt a l s hr o ud
A n d sp re a d s the d i m an d u ni ver sa l pa ll
Thr o ugh wh i c h a ll th in g s gr o w p h an t o m s ; an d the
Cl o ud
1 480
B etwee n u s sin k s an d a ll wh i c h ever gl o wed
T i ll G l o r y s s el f is tw i l i ght an d d isp l ays
A mel an c h o l y h a l o s c a r c e a ll o wed
T o h o ver on the verge of d a rk n e ss ; r ays
1 484
S a dder th an sa dde s t ni ght fo r the y d is tr a c t the
g az e
,
,
,
’
,
,
,
CA N T0 FO UR TH
85
C LXVI
A n d s e n d u s p r yi n g in t o the a b yss
T o g a ther wh a t we s h a ll be whe n the f r a me
S h a ll be re so lved t o so meth in g le ss th an th is
I t s wret c hed e ss e n c e ; an d t o dre a m of fame
1 490
A n d w ip e the du s t f r o m O ff the i dle name
—
We n ever m o re s h a ll he a r but n ever m o re
Oh h appi er th o ught ! c a n we be m a de the same :
I t is e no ugh i n soo th th at on ce we b o re
—
The s e fa rdel s of the he a rt the he a rt wh os e s we a t w as
g o re
,
,
,
,
,
.
OLXVII
1 49 5
H a rk fo rth f r o m the ab yss a v oi c e p r o c eed s
A l on g l o w d is t an t murmur O f dre a d so u n d
S u c h as a r is e s whe n a nat ion bleed s
W i th so me dee p an d i mmed i c able w o u n d :
Thr o ugh s t o rm an d d a rk n e ss yaw ns the re n d in g
gr o u n d
The gul f is th i c k w i th p h an t o m s but the c h i e f 1 50 0
S eem s r oya l s t i ll th o ugh w i th her he a d d is c r o w n ed
A n d pa le but l o vel y w i th m a ter na l gr i e f
S he c l asps a b abe t o wh o m her bre as t yi e l d s no rel i e f
—
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
CLXVIII
S c ion of c h i e fs an d m ona r c h s where a rt th o u ?
F on d h op e of m any nat ions a rt th o u de a d ?
C o uld no t the gr a ve fo rget thee an d l ay l o w
S o me l ess m aj e s t i c le ss b e l o ved he a d ?
,
,
,
,
1 50 5
86
CHI LDE HA ROLD
S P I L GRI M A G E
’
I n the sa d m i dni ght wh i le th y he a rt s t i ll bled
The m o the r of a m o me n t o er th y b oy
D e a th hu s hed th a t p an g fo r ever : w i th thee fl ed 1 51 0
The p re s e n t h appin e ss an d p r o m is ed j oy
Wh i c h fi lled the i m p er i a l is l e s S O f u ll i t s eemed t o c l oy
,
,
’
,
,
.
CLXIX
Pe asan t s br in g fo rth in saf et y C a n i t be
Oh th o u th a t wert so h appy so a d o red
Th os e wh o wee p no t fo r k in g s s h a ll wee p fo r thee 1 51 5
A n d f reed o m s he a rt gr o w n he a v y c e as e t o h oa rd
Her m any gr i e fs fo r ON E ! fo r s he h a d po ured
Her o r i sons fo r thee an d o er th y he a d
—
B eheld her I r i s Th o u t oo l on el y l o rd
—
A n d de so l a te c onso rt v ain l y wert th o u wed !
1 52 0
The hu s b an d of a y e a r ! the father of the de a d !
—
.
,
,
,
,
’
,
’
,
,
,
,
CLXX
O f sa c k c l o th w as th y weddi n g g a rme n t m a de ;
Th y br i d a l s f ru i t is as he s : i n the du s t
The fai r h ai red D a ughter of the I s le s is l ai d
The l o ve of m i ll ions ! H o w we d i d e n tru s t
1 525
Futur i t y t o her ; an d th o ugh i t mu s t
D a rke n a b o ve o ur b on e s y et fon dl y deemed
Our c h i ldre n s h o uld Obe y her c h i ld an d ble ss ed
Her an d her h op ed fo r s eed wh os e p r o m is e s eemed
—
Li ke s t a r s t o s he p herd s e y e s
tw as but a mete o r
1 53 0
be amed
’
,
,
,
,
-
,
’
.
’
87
CA N T O FO UR TH
C LXXI
W o e u n t o u s no t her ; fo r sh e s lee ps wel l :
The fi c kl e reek of pop ul a r bre a th the t on gue
O f h o l l o w c o u ns el the fa l s e o r a c l e
Wh i c h f r o m the b i rth of m ona r c h y h ath ru n g
I t s k n ell in p r in c el y e a r s t i l l the o e r st u n g
1 53 5
Na t i ons h ave a rmed in m a d n e ss the s tr an ge fate
Wh i c h tumble s m i ght i e s t so vere i g ns an d b a t h fl u n g
Ag ains t the i r bl in d o m nipo te n c e a we i ght
W i th in the opposin g s c a le wh i c h c ru s he s soon o r l a te
,
,
,
,
’
,
,
,
,
,
C LXXII
The s e m i ght h a ve bee n her de s t iny ; but no
1 54 0
Our he a rt s de ny i t : an d so yo u n g so fai r
Goo d w i th o ut e ffo rt gre a t w i th o ut a fo e
—
B ut no w a br i de an d m o ther an d no w th er e !
H o w m any t i e s d i d th a t s ter n m o me n t te a r !
Fr o m th y S i re s t o h is humble s t s ub j e c t s bre as t 1 54 5
I s l in ked the ele c tr i c c h ain of th a t de spai r
Wh os e s h o c k w as as an e a rth q u ake s an d o pp r e st
The l an d wh i c h l o ved thee so th a t non e c o uld l o ve thee
be s t
,
,
,
.
,
’
’
,
’
,
.
CLXXI II
Lo ,
N em i ! n a v e ll e d in the w oo d y h i ll s
S o fa r th at the u p r oo t in g w in d wh i c h te a r s
The oak f r o m h is fo u n d a t ion an d wh i c h spi ll s
The o c e an o er i t s b o u n d a r y an d be a r s
I t s foa m a g ains t the s k i e s relu c t an t s p a re s
,
,
’
,
,
1 550
CHI LDE HA ROL D
88
S P I L GRI M A G E
’
The o v a l m i rr o r of th y gl assy l a ke ;
A n d c a lm as _
c
h
a
te
i
t
s
s
ur
fa
c e we a r s
her i s hed
A dee p c o ld s ettled asp e c t no ught c a n s h ake
All c oi led in t o i t s el f an d r o u n d as s lee ps the sna ke
1 555
,
,
,
.
CLXXIV
’
A n d n e a r Alb ano s s c a r c e d i v i ded w a ve s
—
S h in e f r o m a sis ter v a lle y
an d afa r
The T i ber w in d s an d the br oa d o c e an l ave s
1 56 0
The L a t i an c oas t where sp ru n g the E pi c w a r
”
Arm s an d the m an wh os e r e a s c e n d in g s t a r
R os e o er an em pi re
but be n e a th th y r i ght
Tull y re pos ed f r o m R o me
an d where yon b a r
O f gi rdl in g m o u n t ains i n ter c e p t s the si ght
1 56 5
The S ab in e fa rm w as t i lled the we a r y b a rd s de l i ght
,
,
,
-
,
’
—
—
’
,
.
CLXXV
B ut I fo rge t
M y P i lgr i m s s hr in e is w on
—
A n d he an d I mu s t pa rt so let i t be
H is t as k an d m in e a l i ke a re n e a rl y d on e ;
Yet on c e m o re let u s l oo k u pon the se a ;
1 57 0
The m i dl an d o c e an bre ak s on h i m an d me
A n d f r o m the Alb an M o u n t we no w beh o ld
Our f r i e n d of yo uth th a t O c e an wh i c h whe n we
B eheld i t l as t b y C a l p e s r o c k u nfo ld
1 57 4
Th os e w a ve s we fo ll o wed on t i ll the d a rk E u xin e r o lled
’
—
,
,
,
,
,
,
’
,
CLXXVI
U pon the blue S y m p leg a de s : l on g y e a r s
—
L on g th o ugh no t ver y m any sin ce h av e d on e
,
CH I L DE H A ROL D S P I L GRI M A GE
90
’
CLXXIX
Ro ll on th o u dee p an d d ark blue O c e an r o ll !
Te n th o u san d fl eet s s wee p o ver thee i n v ain ;
—
M an m a rk s the e a rth w i th ru in h is c on tr o l
1 605
S t ops w i th the s h o re ; u pon the w a ter y p l ain
The wre c k s a re a ll th y deed no r d o th rem ain
A s h a d o w of m an s r av a ge sa ve h is o w n
Whe n fo r a m o me n t l i ke a dr op of r ain
He sin k s in t o th y de p th s w i th bubbl in g gr oan
1610
W i th o ut a gr a ve u n k n elled u n c offi n e d an d u n k no w n
—
,
,
’
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
CLXXX
H is s te ps a re no t u pon th y path s th y fi e l d s
Are no t a spoi l fo r h i m th o u d os t a r is e
A n d Sh ake h i m f r o m thee ; the v i le s tre n gth he w i eld s
F o r e a rth s de s tru c t ion th o u d os t a ll de spi s e
1615
S p ur nin g h i m f r o m th y b oso m t o the s k i e s
A n d s e n de s t h i m s h i ver in g in th y p l ayf ul sp r ay
A n d h o wl in g t o h is Go d s where h ap l y l i e s
H is p ett y h O p e in so me n e a r po rt o r b ay
—
A n d d a sh e st h i m a g ain t o e a rth
there l et h i m l ay 1 6 20
—
,
—
,
’
,
,
,
,
,
.
CLXXXI
The a rm ame n t s wh i c h thu n der s tr i ke the w a l l s
O f r o c k bu i lt c i t i e s b i dd in g na t ions q u ake
A n d m ona r c h s tremble in the i r c api t a l s
The oak lev i a th ans wh os e huge r i b s m ake
The i r c l ay c re at o r the v ain t i tle t ake
O f l o rd of thee an d a rb i ter of w a r
-
,
,
,
,
,
1 6 25
CA N TO FO UR TH
91
The s e a re th y t oys an d as the sno w y fla ke
The y melt in t o th y y e as t of w a ve s wh i c h m a r
Al i ke the Arm a d a s p r i de o r spoi l s of Tr afa lg a r
,
,
,
’
.
CLXXXI I
Th y Sh o re s a re em pi re s c h an ged in a ll sa ve thee
A ssy r i a G ree c e R o me C a rth a ge wh a t a re the y ? 1 6 3 1
Th y w a ter s w as hed them po wer wh i le th ey were f ree
A n d m any a t y r an t sin c e ; the i r s h o re s o be y
The s tr an ger s l a ve o r sa v a ge ! the i r de c ay
—
H as dr i ed u p re a lm s t o de s ert s z no t so th o u ;
1 635
Un c h an ge a ble save t o th y wi ld w a ve s p l ay
T i me wr i te s no wr in kle on th in e az ure br o w
S u c h as c re at ion s d aw n beheld th o u r oll est no w
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
e
’
,
’
.
,
CLXXXII I
Th o u gl o r io u s m i rr o r where the Al mi ght y s fo rm
G l ass e s i t s el f in tem p e s t s ; in a ll t i me
1 640
C a lm o r c on vul s ed in bree z e o r g a l e or s t o rm
I c in g the p o l e o r in the t o rr i d c l i me
—
D a rk he a v in g b o u n dle ss e n dle ss an d s ubl i me
The i m a ge of eter ni t y the thr on e
1 645
O f the I n v isi ble ; eve n f r o m o ut th y s l i me
The m ons ter s of the dee p a re m a de ; e a c h zon e
Obe ys thee ; th o u g o e s t fo rth dre a d fa th o mle ss a l on e
’
,
,
,
,
,
-
,
,
,
,
,
,
CLXXXIV
A n d I h ave l o ved thee O c e an ! an d m y j oy
O f yo uth f ul spo rt s w as on th y bre as t t o be
,
,
.
CH I LD E H A R OLD S P I L GRI M A G E
92
’
Bo r n e l i ke th y bubble s on w a rd : f r o m a b oy
—
I w an t on ed w i th th y bre a ker s the y t o me
Were a del i ght ; an d if the f re s he nin g se a
M a de them a terr o r tw as a p le asin g f e a r
F o r I w as as i t were a c h i ld of thee
A n d tru s ted t o th y b i ll o w s fa r an d n e a r
—
A n d l ai d m y h an d u pon th y m an e a s I d o here
,
1 6 50
,
—
’
,
,
1 6 55
,
.
CLXXXV
M y t as k is d on e m y son g h as c e as ed m y theme
H as d i ed in t o an e c h b ; i t is fi t
The sp ell s h o uld bre a k of th i s p r o tr a c ted dre am
The t o r c h s h a ll be e x t in gu is hed wh i c h h a th l i t
1 660
M y m i d ni ght l am p an d wh a t i s wr i t is wr i t ;
W o uld i t were w o rth i er ! but I a m no t no w
Th a t wh i c h I h a ve bee n an d m y v isions fli t
L e ss pa l pa bl y be fo re me an d the gl o w
1 6 64
Wh i c h in m y spi r i t dwelt is fl utter in g fain t an d l o w
,
,
.
—
,
—
—
,
,
.
CLXXXVI
F a rewell ! a w o rd th a t mu s t be an d h a th bee n
—
—
y et fa rewell !
A so u n d wh i c h m a ke s u s l in ger
Ye ! wh o h a ve tr a c ed the pi lgr i m t o the s c e n e
Wh i c h is h i s l as t if i n yo ur mem o r i e s dwell
A th o ught wh i c h on c e w as h is if on y e s well
1 670
A sin gle re c o lle c t ion no t in v ain
He w o re h is san d a l s h oon an d s c a ll op s hell ;
F a rewell ! w i th h im a l on e m ay re s t the pain
—
I f s u c h there were w i th y ou the m o r a l of h is s tr ain
,
,
,
,
-
-
,
,
.
TH E P RI S ONE R OF CH I L L ON
1
.
M Y h ai r i s gr ay but no t w i th y e a r s
,
,
No r grew i t wh i te
I n a sin gle ni ght
A s me n s h ave gr o w n f r o m s udde n f e a r s :
M y l i mb s a re b ow d th o ugh no t w i th t oi l
B u t ru s ted w i th a v i le re pos e
F o r the y h ave bee n a du n ge on s spoi l
A n d m i n e h as bee n the fa te of th os e
T o wh o m the g oo dl y e a rth an d ai r
—
Are b a u n d an d b a rr d fo rb i dde n fa re ;
B ut th is w as fo r m y father s fai th
I su ffe r d c h ains a n d c o urt ed de ath ;
Th a t father p e r ish d a t the s t a ke
F o r te n et s he w o uld no t fo r sa ke ;
A n d fo r the same h is l in e a l r a c e
I n d a rk n e ss fo u n d a dwell in g p l a c e ;
We were s eve n wh o no w a re on e
S ix in yo uth an d on e i n a ge
F in ish d as the y h a d begu n
Pr o ud of Per s e c ut ion s r a ge ;
O n e in fi re an d tw o in fi eld
The i r bel i e f w i th bl oo d h ave se a l d ;
D yin g as the i r fa ther d i ed
F o r the Go d the i r fo e s de ni ed ;
,
’
’
,
,
’
,
’
’
,
10
’
’
’
15
-
—
,
,
,
’
,
’
,
,
’
,
93
20
94
THE PR I SO N ER
0 F CH I LL ON
Three were in a du n ge on c as t
O f wh o m th i s wre c k is le f t the l as t
25
,
.
II
There a re s eve n pi ll a r s of Go th i c m o u l d
I n C h illo n s du n ge ons dee p an d o ld
There a re s eve n c o lum ns m assy an d gr ay
D im w i th a dull im p r iso n d r ay
A s u n be am wh i c h h a th l os t i t s w ay
A n d thr o ugh the c rev i c e an d the c le f t
O f the th i c k w a ll is fa lle n an d le f t ;
C ree pin g o er the floo r so d a m p
Li ke a m a r s h s mete o r l a m p :
A n d in e a c h pi ll a r there is a r in g
A n d in e a c h r in g there is a c h ain ;
Th a t i r on is a c an ker in g th in g
F o r in the s e l i mb s i t s teeth rem ain
W i th m a r ks th a t w i ll no t we a r a w ay
T i ll I h a ve d on e wi th th i s n ew d ay
Wh i c h no w i s painf ul t o the s e e y e s
Wh i c h h a ve no t s ee n the su n t o r is e
—
F o r y e a r s I c anno t c o u n t them o er
I l os t the i r l on g an d he a v y s c o re
Whe n m y l as t br o ther d r o o p d an d d i ed
A n d I l ay l i vi n g b y h is si de
,
’
,
,
’
,
,
30
,
’
’
35
,
,
,
,
40
,
,
’
,
’
,
.
III
The y c h a in d u s e a c h t o a c o l um n s t on e
—
A n d we were three y et e a c h a l on e :
’
,
,
45
TH E
PRI SO NER
CHI LLO N
0F
We c o uld no t m o ve a sin gle pa c e
We co uld no t s ee e a c h o ther s fa c e
B ut w i th th a t pa le an d l i v i d l i ght
Th a t m a de u s s tr an ger s in o ur si ght :
—
A n d thu s t o gether y et apa rt
F e t t e r d in h an d but j oin ed in he a rt
Tw as s t i ll so me so l a c e in the de a rth
O f the p ure eleme n t s of e a rth
T o he a rke n t o e a c h o ther s sp ee c h
A n d e a c h tur n c o m fo rter t o e a c h
W i th so me n ew h op e o r lege n d o ld
Or son g her oi c a ll y b o ld ;
B ut eve n the s e a t le n gth grew c o l d
Our v oi c e s t oo k a dre a r y t on e
A n e c h o of the du n ge on s t on e
—
A gr a t in g so u n d no t f ul l an d f ree
A S the y of yo re were w on t t o be :
I t m i ght be fan c y but t o me
The y n ever so u n ded l i ke o ur o w n
95
50
,
’
,
,
’
,
,
55
’
,
,
’
60
,
,
.
,
-
,
65
—
.
IV
I w as the elde s t of the three
A n d t o u p h o ld an d c heer the re s t
I o ught t o d o an d d i d m y be s t
A n d e a c h d i d well in h is degree
The yo u n ge s t wh o m m y fa ther l o ved
B e c a u s e o ur m o ther s br o w w as g i ve n
T o h i m w i th e y e s as blue as he a ve n
F o r h i m m y so ul w as so rel y m o ved :
,
70
—
—
.
,
’
—
,
75
96
PRI SO NER
TH E
CHI LLO N
0F
A n d trul y m i ght i t be d ist r e ss d
T o s ee s u c h b i rd in s u c h a n e s t ;
F o r he w as be a ut if ul a s d ay
( Whe n d ay w as be a ut if ul t o me
A s t o yo u n g e a gle s be in g f ree )
A po l a r d ay wh i c h wi ll no t s ee
A s u ns et t i ll i t s s ummer s g on e
I t s s lee p le ss s ummer of l on g l i ght
The sno w—c l a d o ffsp r in g of the su n !
A n d thu s he w as a s p ure an d br i ght
A n d in h is na tur a l spi r i t g ay
W i th te a r s fo r no ught but o ther s i ll s
A n d the n the y flo w d l i ke m o u n t ain r i ll s
Un le ss he c o uld ass u a ge the w o e
Wh i c h he a b h o rr d t o V i ew bel o w
’
80
,
,
’
,
,
85
,
,
’
,
’
,
90
’
.
V
The o ther w as as p ure of m in d
B ut fo rm d t o c o mb a t w i th h i s k in d ;
S tr on g in h is f r ame an d of a m oo d
Wh i c h g ains t the w o rld i n w a r h a d s t oo d
A n d p e rish d in the fo rem os t r an k
W i th j oy
but no t in c h ains t o pin e :
H is spi r i t wit h e r d w i th the i r c l an k
I sa w i t si le n tl y de c l in e
A n d so p er c h an c e in soo th d i d m in e :
B ut y et I fo r c ed i t on t o c heer
Th os e rel i c s of a h o me so de a r
He w as a hu n ter of the h i ll s
,
’
,
’
,
95
’
—
’
,
.
,
1 00
THE PR I SO N ER
98
CHI LLO N
0F
I t wa s no t th a t tw as c oa r s e an d rude
F o r we were u s ed t o hu n ter s fa re
A n d fo r the l i ke h a d l i ttle c a re :
The m i lk dr a w n f r o m the m o u n t ai n g oa t
W as c h an ged fo r w a ter f r o m the m oa t
Our bre a d w as s u c h as c ap t i ve s te a r s
H a ve moist e n d m any a th o u san d y e a r s
S in c e m an fi r s t p e n t h i s f ell o w me n
L i ke brute s w i th in an i r on de n ;
B ut wh a t were the s e t o u s o r h i m ?
The s e w as ted no t h i s he a rt o r l i mb ;
M y br o ther s so ul w a s of th a t m o uld
Wh i c h in a pa l a c e h a d gr o w n c o ld
H a d h is f ree bre a th in g bee n de ni ed
The r an ge of the s tee p m o u n t ain s si de ;
B u t wh y del ay the truth ? —h e d i ed
I saw an d c o uld no t h o ld h i s he a d
—
No r re a c h h is d yin g h an d no r de a d
Th o ugh h a rd I s tr o ve but s tr o ve in v ain
T o re n d an d g nas h m y b on d s i n tw ain
He d i ed an d the y u n lo c k d h i s c h ain
A n d sco o p d fo r h i m a s h a ll o w gr a ve
E ve n f r o m the c o ld e a rth of o ur c a ve
I b e gg d them as a b oon t o l ay
H is c o r s e in du s t where on the d ay
M i ght s h in e it w as a foo l is h th o ught
B ut the n w i th in m y br ai n i t wr o ught
Th a t eve n in de a th h is f reeb o r n bre as t
I n s u c h a du n ge on c o uld no t re s t
I m i ght h a ve spa red m y i dle p r ay er
’
,
’
1 30
,
,
’
’
1 35
,
-
’
1 40
,
’
.
,
1 45
,
,
,
.
’
—
,
’
1 50
.
’
,
,
—
,
,
.
1 55
THE PR I SO NER
0F
CHI L LON
The y c o ldl y la u g h d an d l ai d h i m there :
The fla t an d t u r fl ess e a rth a b o ve
The be in g we so mu c h d i d l o ve ;
H is em p t y c h ain ab o ve i t l e an t
S u c h murder s fi tt in g m on ume n t !
’
99
—
1 60
,
’
VIII
B ut he the fa v o r i te an d the flo wer
M os t c h e r ish d sin c e h i s na t a l h o ur
H is m o ther s i m a ge in fai r fa c e
The infan t l o ve of a ll h is r a c e
H is ma r t y r d fa ther s de a re s t th o ught
M y l a te s t c a re fo r wh o m I so ught
T o h oa rd m y l if e th a t h is m i ght be
L e ss wret c hed no w an d on e d ay f ree ;
He t oo wh o y et h a d held u n t i red
A sp i r i t na tur a l o r inspi red
H e t oo wa s s tru c k an d d ay b y d ay
W as wit h e r d on the s t a lk a w ay
Oh Go d ! i t is a f e a r f ul th in g
T o see the hum an so ul t a ke w in g
I n any s h ap e in any m oo d :
I ve s ee n i t ru s h in g fo rth i n b l oo d
I ve s ee n i t on the bre a k in g o c e an
S tr i ve w i th a s w o l n c on vul si ve m o t ion
I ve s ee n the Si c k an d gh as tl y bed
O f sin del i r io u s w i th i t s dre a d :
B u t the s e were h o rr o r s— th is w as w o e
—
Un mix d w i th s u c h but s ure an d s l o w :
He fa ded an d so c a lm an d meek
,
’
,
1 65
’
,
,
’
’
,
,
,
1 70
,
,
,
,
,
,
’
.
1 75
,
’
,
’
1 80
’
’
,
,
1 85
THE PR I SO NER
1 00
0F
CHI LLO N
S o sof tl y w o r n so s weetl y we ak
—
S o te a rle ss y et so te n der k in d
A n d gr i eved fo r th os e he le f t beh in d ;
W i th a ll the wh i le a c heek wh os e bl oo m
W as as a m o c ker y of the t o mb
Wh os e t in t s a s ge n tl y s u n k aw ay
A s a de pa rt in g r ain b o w s r ay
A n e y e of m os t tr anspa re n t l i ght
Th a t a lm os t m a de the du n ge on br i ght
A n d no t a w o rd of murmur no t
A gr oan o er h is u n t i mel y l o t
A l i ttle t a lk of better d ays
A l i ttle h op e m y o w n t o r ais e
—
F o r I w as s u n k in si le n c e l os t
I n th is l as t l oss of a ll the m os t ;
A n d the n the si gh s he w o uld s u pp re ss
O f fain t in g na ture s f eeble n e ss
M o re s l o wl y dr aw n grew le ss an d les s :
I l is te n d but I c o uld no t he a r
I c a ll d fo r I w as w i ld w i th f e a r ;
I k n ew tw as h op ele ss but m y dre a d
W o uld no t be thu s a dm onis h ed ;
I ca ll d an d th o ught I he a rd a so u n d
I bur s t m y c h ain w i th on e s tr on g b o u n d
—
A n d ru s h d t o h i m
I fo u n d h i m no t
I on l y s t i rred in th is bl a c k spo t
I on l y l i ved I on l y drew
The a cc ur s ed bre a th of du n ge on dew ;
—
The l as t the so le the de a re s t l in k
B etwee n me an d the eter na l br in k
,
,
,
,
1 90
,
’
,
1 95
,
—
’
,
,
,
20 0
,
’
,
,
’
20 5
,
’
,
’
,
’
,
21 0
’
,
—
-
—
,
21 5
THE PR I SON ER
1 02
0F
CHI LL ON
A n d fix e d n e ss w i th o ut a p l a c e :
—
—
There were no s t a r s no e a rth no t i m e
—
—
No c he c k no c h an ge no g oo d n o c r i me
B u t S i le n c e an d a s t i rle ss bre a th
Wh i c h n e i ther w as of l if e no r de ath ;
A s e a of s t a gnan t i dle n e ss
B l in d b o u n dle ss mute an d m o t ion le ss !
—
24 5
—
,
,
,
,
,
2 50
X
A l i ght br o ke in u pon m y br ain
I t wa s the c a r o l of a b i rd ;
I t c e as ed an d the n i t c ame a g ain
The s weete s t son g e a r ever he a rd
A n d m in e w as th an k f ul t ill m y e y e s
R an o ver w i th the gl a d s ur p r is e
A n d the y th a t m o me n t c o uld no t s ee
I w as the m a te of m is er y ;
B ut the n b y dull degree s c ame b a c k
M y s e ns e s t o the i r w on ted tr a c k ;
I sa w the du n ge on w all s an d floo r
C l os e s l o wl y r o u n d me as be fo re
I sa w the gl i mmer of the s u n
C ree pin g a s i t be fo re h a d d on e
B u t thr o ugh the c rev i c e where i t c a me
Th a t b i rd w as p e r c h d as fon d an d t ame
A n d t amer th an u pon the tree ;
A l o vel y b i rd w ith az ure w in g s
A n d son g th a t sai d a th o u san d th in g s
A n d se e m d t o say them a l l fo r me !
,
,
,
,
2 55
,
26 0
,
,
26 5
’
,
,
,
,
’
27 0
THE PR I SO N ER
CHI LLON
0F
1 03
n ever sa w i t s l i ke be fo re
I n e er s h a ll s ee it s l i ke n e ss m o re :
I t se e m d l i ke me t o w an t a m a te
B u t w as no t h a l f so de so l a te
A n d i t w as c o me t o l o ve me whe n
Non e l i ved t o l o ve me so a g ain
A n d c heer in g f r o m m y du n ge on s br in k
H a d br o ught m e b a c k t o f eel an d th in k
I k no w no t i f i t l a te were f ree
Or br o ke i t s c a ge t o p er c h on m in e
B u t k no w in g well c ap t i v i t y
S weet b i rd ! I c o uld no t w is h fo r th in e !
Or if i t were in w in g ed gu is e
A v isi t an t f r o m P a r a d is e ;
F o r He ave n fo rg i ve th a t th o ught ! the wh i le
Wh i c h m a de me b o th t o wee p an d s m i le ;
I so met i me s d e e m d th a t i t m i ght be
M y br o ther s so ul c o me d o w n t o me ;
B u t the n a t l as t aw ay i t fl ew
A n d the n tw as m o rt a l well I k n ew
F o r he w o uld n ever thu s h a ve flo w n
A n d le f t me tw i c e so d o ubl y l on e
—
L on e as the c o r s e w i th in i t s s hr o ud
—
L on e as a so l i t a r y c l o ud
A sin gle c l o ud on a s u nny d ay
Wh i le a ll the re s t of he a ve n is c le a r
A f r o wn u pon the a tm osp here
Th a t h a th no bu sin e ss t o app e a r
Whe n s k i e s a re blue an d e a rth is g ay
I
,
’
’
,
,
27 5
,
’
,
.
,
,
28 0
,
,
,
—
28 5
’
’
,
’
—
,
29 0
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
29 5
1 04
TH E
PR I SON ER
CH I LLON
0F
XI
A k in d of c h an ge c am e i n m y fa te
M y kee p er s grew c o m passiona te ;
I k no w no t wh a t h a d m a de them so
The y were in ured t o si ght s of w o e
m y br o ke n c h ain
B u t so i t w as
W i th l in k s u n fa st e n d d i d rem ain
A n d i t w a s l i bert y t o s tr i de
Al on g m y c ell f r o m si de t o si de
A n d u p an d d o w n an d the n a thw a rt
A n d tre a d i t o ver ever y pa rt ;
A n d r o u n d the pi ll a r s on e b y on e
Retur nin g where m y w a lk begu n
Av oi d in g on l y as I tr o d
M y br o ther s gr a ve s w i th o ut a so d ;
F o r if I th o ught w i th heedle ss tre a d
M y s te p p r ofan ed the i r l o wl y bed
M y bre a th c ame g aspin gl y an d th i c k
A n d m y c r u sh d he a rt f elt bl in d an d si c k
300
,
,
,
—
’
,
305
,
310
,
,
,
,
,
’
315
,
,
’
.
XII
I m a de a foo t in g in the w a ll
I t w as no t there f r o m t o e s c ap e
F o r I h a d bur i ed on e an d a ll
Wh o l o ved me in a hum an s h ap e ;
A n d the wh o le e a rth w o uld he n c e fo rth be
A w i der p r ison u n t o me :
No c h i ld no si re no k in h a d I
No p a rt n er i n my m is er y ;
,
,
—
3 20
—
,
32 5
THE PR I SON ER
1 06
OF CH I LLO N
The e a gle r o de the r isin g bl as t
Meth o ught he n eve r fl ew so fas t
A s the n t o me he seem d t o fly
A n d the n n ew te a r s c ame in m y e y e
—
A n d I f elt tr o ubled an d w o uld fain
I h a d no t le f t m y re c e n t c h ain ;
A n d whe n I d i d de s c e n d a g ain
The d a rk n e ss of m y d i m ab o de
Fell on me a s a he av y l oa d ;
I t w as a s i s a n ew dug gr a ve
C l osin g o er on e we so ught t o sa ve
A n d y et m y gl an c e t oo mu c h o p p r e ss d
H a d a lm os t n eed of s u c h a re s t
,
’
3 55
,
,
,
36 0
-
,
’
,
’
,
,
365
.
XIV
I t m i ght be m on th s o r y e a r s o r d ays
I ke p t no c o u n t I t oo k no no te
I h a d no h op e m y e y e s t o r ais e
A n d c le a r them of the i r dre a r y m o te ;
At l as t me n c ame t o se t m e f ree
I a sk d no t wh y an d r e c k d no t where
I t w as a t le n gt h the same t o me ,
F e t t e r d o r f etter l e ss t o be
I le a rn d t o l o ve de spai r
A n d thu s whe n the y a pp e a r d at l as t
A n d a ll m y b on d s asi de were c as t
The s e he a v y w a ll s t o me h a d gr o w n
A herm i t a ge an d a ll m y o w n !
A n d h a l f I f elt as the y were c o me
,
,
,
—
,
,
370
,
’
’
,
,
’
,
’
.
’
,
,
—
37 5
TH E
PR I SO N ER
0F
CH I LL ON
.
T o te a r me f r o m a s e c on d h o me :
W i t h spi der s I h a d f r i e n d s h ip m a de
A n d wa t c h d them in the i r s ulle n tr a de
H a d s ee n the m i c e b y m oon l i ght p l ay
A n d wh y s h o uld I f eel le ss th an the y ?
We were a ll in m a te s of on e p l a c e
A n d I the m ona r c h of e a c h r a c e
—
H a d po wer t o k i ll y et , s tr an ge t o te l l !
I n q u i et we h a d l e a r n d t o dwell
M y ver y c h ains an d I grew f r i e n d s
S O mu c h a l on g c o mmu nion te n d s
—
T o m a ke u s wh a t we a re
eve n I
R e g a in d m y f reed o m w i th a si gh
1 07
380
,
’
,
,
,
,
38 5
,
’
,
’
.
3 90
S ONNE T 0 N CHI LL ON
E TE R N A L
S pi r i t of the c h ain le ss M in d !
B r i ghte s t in du n ge ons L i bert y ! th o u a rt
F o r there th y h a b i t a t i on is the he a rt
The he a rt wh i c h l o ve O f thee a l on e c a n b in d ;
A n d whe n th y sons t o f etter s a re c onsi g n ed
T o f etter s an d the d a m p v a ult s d ay le ss gl oo m
The i r c o u n tr y c onq uer s w i th the i r m a rt y rd o m
A n d Freed o m s fa me fin d s wi n g s on ever y win d
C h i ll on ! th y p r ison is a h o l y p l a c e
—
A n d th y sa d floo r an a lt a r fo r tw as tr o d
Un t i l h is ver y s te ps h a ve le f t a tr a c e
W o r n as if th y c o ld pa veme n t were a so d
B y B on n iv a r d l M ay non e th os e m a rk s e ffa c e !
F o r the y app e a l f r o m t y r anny t o Go d
,
,
’
,
,
’
.
,
’
,
,
,
—
.
1 08
,
N O TES
1 10
d r a m as M a rin o F a lier o an d Th e Two Fosca r i The Od e on
”
Venic e s h o uld be re ad
21 l
Th e B ri dg e of S i gh s conn e c t s the D u c a l P a l ac e w i th
the S t a te P rison a c r oss the c a n a l a n d was so na med be ca u s e the
con demn ed cross e d I t t o meet thei r d oo m Byr on s w ord s in Th e
!
,
.
.
,
,
.
’
.
I TA LY
Two F osca ri ,
wh ic h f ew re pass , a re si g nifican t It W a s an a p
p r o p r ia t e p l ac e f r o m wh ic h t o c on tem p l a te the pas t of the ci t y
Th e win g e d L ion
8
The L ion of S t M a rk an d the emblem
”
.
.
.
.
of the ci t y
.
.
i sle s Ve nic e is bu i lt u pon three l arge an d
s m a ll is l an d s wh ic h are conn e c ted b y 3 7 8 br i dge s
10
A s e a Cyb e le
C y bele w as the m o ther of the O l y m pian
g o d s S h e was re p re s e n ted a s we a rin g a turreted c ro w n an d wa s
u s u a ll y e n thron ed betwee n tw o l ions
9
1 14
H e r h u n dr e d
.
.
,
.
.
.
.
,
.
NO TES
111
15
W h y wa s the E as t c a lled e xh a u s tle ss
’
22 , 1 9
Ta ss o s e ch o e s a r e n o mor e
T o r q u a t o T asso ( 1 544
The
9 5) wa s ran ked n e x t t o D an te a m on g the It a l ian e pi c po e t s
.
.
.
.
.
re f e re nc e is t o the fa m o u s son g of the g on d o l i er s f r o m h is J er u sa lem
D eliver ed
24
Bu t
.
n a tu r e d oth n ot die Whe n By r on con tem p l a te s the
ru ins of wh a t m an h as bu i lt he turns t o natu re w i th a s e ns e of
rel i e f B e on the a lert fo r ev i de nc e s of this a tt i tude in Byron s
o ther wr i t in g s in A r no ld Te nnyson an d o ther s
25
H ow V e nic e on c e wa s d e a r
R e a d in p roof of th is s t a te
me n t W o rd s w o rth s sonn et O n the E x t inc t ion of the Ve n et ian
R e p ubl ic
27
The m a squ e of Ita l y A carni v a l ; no t the m asq ue th a t is
a fo rm of the dr a m a
D o gele s s
The offic e of d o ge the h i ghe s t in the Ve n et ian
31
re p ubl ic w as ab o l is hed in 1 7 97 whe n N apo le on conq uered the
ci t y
R i a lt o
33
The fa m o u s br i dge an d fo r a l on g t i me the on l y
br i dge ac r oss the G ran d C ana l It t ake s i t s na me fro m on e of
the is l an d s N e a r i t w as the M e rc h an t s E xc h an ge of S h a ke
sp e a re s Th e M er ch a n t of Ven ice
P i e rr e
A c h a r ac te r in O t wa y s Ven i c e P r eser ved
Wh a t
34
d o e s By r on me an b y sayin g th a t the s e c h arac ter s are the k e y
s t on e s o f the a r c h ?
The s e six s t anzas devel op the th o ught t o u c hed u pon in
V X
the l as t l in e s of s t anza i v a n d furnis h on e of the n umer o u s p as
sa ge s in wh ic h the po et s t ops t o re fl e c t u pon wh at he h a s s ee n
H e be co me s so mewh a t d i d ac t ic a t fi r s t an d the n drif t s a s wa s
na tu ra l w i th h i m in t o a ut o b io gr ap h ica l mu sin gs S t u d y t h ese
passa ge s ca re f ull y fo r the y reve a l mu c h conc e rnin g By r on s m in d
an d c h a r ac ter By r on s opinions s h o uld a lw ays be we i ghed fo r
so me w i ll be fo u n d w an t in g
H is r e f ere nc e t o
the s e be in g s of the m in d reve a l s on e of h is
c h a r ac teris t ic m oo d s h e w as a m an of m any m oo d s an d s h o w s
h o w c h a r ac ters in b oo k s an d the p e op le of h is o w n d re a m s a f
f e c t e d h i m P on de r o ver s t anzas v an d v i u n t i l yo u f eel th a t yo u
h ave m as tered the ir con te n t s
23 4 6
Wh y d o e s By r on de si g na te yo uth an d a ge as p e rio d s
whe n the s e c re atu re s of the m in d f urnis h a re f uge ?
VII Wh a t d o yo u c onj e c ture By r on w as th in k in g of whe n in
this s t anza he v a guel y re ca lled so me of the r e a l i t i e s wh ic h o ut
”
S h in e o u r fai r y l an d of wh ic h he says The y ca me l i ke t ruth
an d d isapp e ared l i ke dre a m s ? W as i t so me l os t i de a l ? R e a d
”
Te nnyson s M erl in an d the G le a m an d the n ans we r t h e a b ove
q ues t ion
.
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,
’
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,
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,
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”
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'
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”
’
,
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,
NO TES
1 12
ta u g h t me othe r t on g ue s Byron spo k e It a l ian l i k e
a nat i ve an d wa s m o de ratel y s k i lled in Fre nc h G e rm an L at in
—
an d G reek By r on w as c os m opo l i t an a t h o me ever y where Y et
in s p i te of a ll th a t h is co u n tr y h a d d on e t o m ake h i m h ate her
he here s h o w s gre a t de p th of patr io t i c f eelin g Th o ugh he of te n
sai d he w o uld n ever retu rn t o E n gl an d he a s of te n e xp re ss ed a
l on g in g t o se e h is na t i ve l an d a g ain
The po et no w returns t o h is
25 9 1
S po u s el e s s A d ri a ti c
o b j e c t i ve consi der a t ion of Ve ni c e Wh i le Ve nic e m ain t ain ed her
m ari t i me s u p rem acy i t was the c u s t o m of the d o ge ann u all y on
A s c e nsion D a y t o m ar r y the A dr ia t ic b y thr o w in g a r in g in t o
the se a f r o m h is s t ate b a rge B u cen ta u r S o me rel ics of th is ve ss el
are s t i ll p re s erved a t Ve ni c e
The pa t ron sain t of Ve nic e The sain t s t i ll
S t M ar k
95
s ee s the emblem but an em p t y po werle ss on e
The P l ac e
Th e pro u d P l a c e whe r e an E m p e ro r s ue d
97
w as in f r on t of the c a thedr a l whe r e F reder ic Ba rb a r ossa ( re f erred
t o a s the S w ab ian in the n e x t s t anza) wh o h a d O ppos ed the p a
pacy was fo r c ed t o yi eld t o P op e A le xan der III
Au str ian
N apo le on t oo k Ve nic e f r o m A u s tr ia in 1 80 5
1 00
I n 1 8 1 4 i t wa s re s t o red t o her but in 1 86 6 i t w as c eded t o It a l y
La uw in e
A co rru p ted for m of the G erm an w o rd for
1 06
64
I
.
’
ve
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,
,
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,
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,
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,
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,
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,
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a va la n c h e
.
Blin d
e i ght y- fi v e
D a n d o l o ! H e be ca me d o ge in 1 1 9 2, a t the a ge
of
Whe n D an d o l o t oo k C ons t an t inop le , a t the a ge of
nin et y s eve n , he h i m s el f led the att ac k
Bro ught f r o m C ons t an t inop le b y D a n
1 09
S tee d s of b ra ss
d 0 1o
’
111
D ori a s me na c e
Whe n the Ve n et ians were o ver co me
b y the G e no e s e in 1 37 9 , the y s e n t w o rd t o the i r conq ue ro rs
1 07
.
old
.
-
.
.
.
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.
p ro m isin g t o a gree t o any term s pro v i de d the y were a ll o wed
the i r in de p e n de n c e P i etro D o r ia the G e no e s e co mm an der re
p l i ed : O n G o d s fai th G e n tleme n of Ve ni c e y e s h all h ave no
p e ac e
u n t i l we h a ve firs t p ut a re in u pon the s e u n br i dled
l rs s of yo ur s th a t a re u pon the po r c h of yo ur ev an gel is t S t
figari
1 13
Th irt e e n h u n dr e d y e a r s of fr e ed o m T o be e xac t
y e ars fo r Ve n ic e was fo u n ded in 4 52 whe n A tt i l a led the H u ns
in t o It a l y By r on a l so sp e a k s of the sa me l on g p eri o d in h is
”
O de on Ve nic e
Thi t h d d y
Of w l th
dt d t dt
d gl y t
1 14
S i n ks lik e a s e a we e d
Th is m ay re f er t o the s ettl in g of
the Ve n et ian bu i ld in g s wh ic h a re on pi le s or i t m ay be th a t Byron
.
,
,
’
!
,
,
.
,
.
.
,
.
,
r
ea
.
an
,
un
re
u rn e
or
-
,
e en
e a rs
o
us
.
,
an
e a rs
.
1 14
NO TES
sp e are s Th e M er c h a n t of Ven ice H is l o ve wa s no t i m pai red in
spi te of the c h an ge s he fo u n d in Ve nic e
28 XIX
I n th is s t anza the po et a g ain be co me s s ub j e c t i ve
an d sp e ak s of wh a t the i m ag ina t ion d o e s for h i m H e g i ve s in
an e c h o as i t were on e m ore l o v in g t ri bute t o Ve nic e wh i c h he
le a ve s w i th regret
By r on s in t i m a te f r i e n d an d f ell o w po et S helle y g i ve s in
E u g a n e a n H i ll s
h is te s t i m ony of wh a t Ve ni c e wa s t o Byron
’
.
,
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,
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,
,
,
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’
,
”
,
,
,
,
Th
m p t l vi g w
Of t h
g f Al bi
D iv
f m hi
t l t m
B y t h migh t f vi l d
m
F d
t i th ; d O
W l m d him wi t h h m ti
T h t it j y g w h i
g
d p
F m h i lip l ik m i fl g
O
migh t y t h d fi t
— wh t t h
Ch t i g t
y t
P
y
f i l i g R iv
Whi h t h Al bi wi d f v
L hi g with m l d i w v
M
y
dp t g v
M
it l t t
li g fl d ?
at
a
te
e so n
r
en
n
on
ro
n
ro
o
re a
ee
re
s
s
er a
as en n
s un a
ro
an
e o
a s a c re
o u rn
s
a
un
o
n
’
e
’
s
a
ra
n u rs
o re
s
ous
oe
es
ru n
s
er
on
n
on
o
a
n
’
e
,
e r ro r :
’
as
ce a n
e r-
un
c
an
us c
e
s
s,
s, a n
’
oes
s re a
su c
s
an
,
e
o
e
a
s
s a n ce s ra
a n es
e co
c ea
s o
e
ou n
-
es
er
e
e,
n
e
XX XX IV I n t h is gr o u p of fi ve s t anzas Byron p h i l osop h iz e s
u pon l if e an d s t a te s h is conc lu sions conc e rnin g s u ff er in g an d so r
r o w S tud y all he says but d o no t acc e p t h is conc lu sions Y o ur
o w n m ay be d i ff e re n t an d bette r S o me of By r on s s t a teme n t s
a re so u n d an d w orth y of acc e p t anc e ; so me a re no t Tr y t o d is
c r i m inate A s the t ann e n a k in d of fi r tree m ay gr o w t o g ian t
p r opo rt ions where no th in g el s e can l i ve so the m in d m ay devel op
”
A s the be as t s le a r n t o e n dure so s h o uld we
of no bler c l ay
29 S t anza XX I I ca r ri e s in t o h i gher reg ions the th o ught of the
tw o pre c ed in g s t anz a s S u ff erin g de s t roys u s o r is de s tr oy ed b y
”
us
ac c ord in g as [o ur! so ul s were formed t o sin k o r c li mb
S t anza XXIII is es p e c ia ll y By r onic
C a n yo u tell wh y ? N o te
th a t By r on s t a te s in d isp ut able fac t s but th a t h is inf ere nc e s a re
of te n t ain ted w i th h is o wn m isan thr opy There were m any S p e c
tre s wh o m no e xorcis m [co uld ! b in d for Byron a s for m any
o ther s ; but no t fo r a ll — no t for B r o wn in g for ins t an c e
E H C o leri dge ca ll s a tte n t ion t o Bro w nin g s w o rd s in h is
”
Bish op B lou g h r a m s A po l o g y an d the y a re in acco rd wi th
By ron s s e n t i me n t s in th is passa ge B ut the y d o no t e xpress
Bro w nin g s p hi l oso p h y
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-
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,
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’
.
NO TES
1 15
wh w
f t th
A f y f m fl w b ll m
A h — di g f m E i pi d
gh f fift y h p
A d th t
J u st
en
anc
n
As
e a r e sa e s
ro
a
o ru s e n
c
er
o
n
s en ou
e r e s a s u n se t - t o u c
,
-
e
,
so
d
’
e on e s
ea t
h
h
,
,
e s,
ur
ro
’
a
’
or
o
es a n d
’
o l d a n d n e w a t o n c e a s n a t u r e s se
f
lf
l
e a rs
,
k k d t i
Bro wn in g s conc e p t ion O f l if e w as th a t a re a l v ic t o r y is possi
ble an d he tru s t s th a t i t w i ll co me H e a r h i m in R abb i B e n
E zra :
g wi t h m !
G w ld l
Th b t i y t t b
Th
l t f l if f whi h t h fi t w m d
ra p a n d
To
noc
an
n o u r so u
er
en
.
’
.
,
o
a on
es
s
ro
e
e
as
e
e
e,
o
e,
o
or
e
c
rs
as
e
a
.
Th w l m
h b ff
th
Th t t
m th
gh
it
t
E h t i g t h t bi d
d b tg !
p t p i !
B
j y th
t
S t iv
i ;
d h ld h p t h
L
t th
p g; d
v g dg
en
s s
n
a
e our
o
re e-
e , an
r
e a rn
M
a
k
,
m k
n or s a n
,
u
,
o
e s ra n
ea
m pl
a re , n e
an
e
e , co
,
a n
s
ar
c
o
a
n e ss r o u
oo
n o r a c co u n
er, re
u
s n or S
s
ac
re
’
u rn s e a r
a
‘
e ea c
e co
,
— I t r u st
et e ,
er
wh
ru
at
Th
th
e
ou s
e
t
h
h lt d
a
ro e !
o!
’
k d
T hy w k
A m d wh t fl w m y l k
t ff wh t w
p i g p t t h im !
th
Wh t t i
I f in the m i d s t of By r on s be a ut if ul de sc ri p t ions we be co me t oo
conscio u s of h is p e ssi m is m an d m isan thr opy i t is well t o tur n t o
o ther po et s l i k e Bro w nin g an d Te nnyson wh os e san e O p t i m is m is
a s u ffici e n t co rr e c t i ve L e t By r on g i ve yo u a ll he can ; if he so me
t i me s fai l s t o g i ve a ll yo u dem an d remember th a t o the rs m ay
s u pp leme n t h i m w i th o ut detr ac t in g fro m h is o wn me ssa ge
N o te h o w By r on c he c k s h i m s el f an d retur ns fro m
3 0 XXV
th in g s a b s tr ac t t o the consi der a t ion of It a l y in the conc rete H e
g i ve s a ge n er a l p r o g ra m of wh a t he in te n d s t o a c c o m p l is h an d
inci de n t a ll y pays a be a ut if ul tri bute t o It a l y
Wh i w
t th
h i d th f
Th b
b v th l d f th d
t if l t h
B ut eve n here he canno t re f r ain f r o m sp e a k in g of h i m s el f d is
”
r u in a mid s t ru ins
Wh y d o yo u th in k he d i d
p a r a g in g ly as a
it?
XXVI N o te in th is s t anza t he eleme n t s of be a u ty a m i d the
ru i ns
So ta
s ra n 0
a
s
a
a
en
or
u se
e an
,
’
,
ur
a
e s u
,
,
ar
a
n
s
as
e a
’
,
,
,
.
,
.
,
.
.
,
,
,
e re n
e
ea u
u
e re c a s
,
e
ra
e
e,
e ro c
e
or
.
.
.
,
,
an
s o
e
ea r
ree ,
an
se a
.
N O TES
1 16
XXVII XXIX The s e three s t anzas a re an e xq u isi te pic
ture of an It a l ian s u ns et an d s h o uld be re a d an d r e re a d fo r the
sake of the be aut y of the sc e n e a s yo u s ee i t thr o ugh the po et s
e y e s N o te the s e nso r y app e a l the del ica te w o rd pain t in g an d
the s k i ll w i th wh ic h we a re m a de t o s ee the on e v as t Ir is of the
We s t fa de in t o gr ay
The s e s t anzas a re dev o ted t o P etra r c h
3 2 XXX XXXIV
the gre a t It al ian l y r ic po et an d sonn et eer wh os e t o mb inspi re s
By r on s re fl e c t ions
26 2
The r e is a to mb in Ar q u a ; r e ar e d in air A r q u a is a
s m a ll v i ll a ge th i rtee n m i le s so uthwe s t of P a du a where P etr a r c h
d i ed in 1 3 7 4 H is sa r cop h a gu s is sai d t o be re a red in ai r b e
ca u s e it is s u ppo rted b y pi ll a r s of red m a rble ( L oo k u p the
na me s P etr a r c h an d L a ur a in the Cen tu r y D iction a r y o r in an e n
cyc l op ed ia )
26 4
L a ur a s l o ve r
L a ur a wh o m P etr a r c h l o ved w as a
F re nc h w o m an re si d in g a t A v i g non
H e ar o s e t o r ai s e a l an gu a ge
P etr a r c h an d Boccaccio
266
p r ac t ica ll y c re a ted the It al ian l an gu a ge mu c h as C h a u c er c re a ted
the E n gl is h
26 7
His l a n d r e c l a i m
P etr a r c h so ught thr o ugh R i e nzi t o
ai d the ca u s e of f reed o m in It a l y
26 9
W a te rin g the tr ee The l a urel de a r t o P etr a r c h be cau s e
i t rem in ded h i m of L aur a
XXXI The S i m p le t o mb of P etr a r c h i s m o re app r op ria te th an
a gre a t m on ume n t w o uld be M i lt on s e pi t ap h fo r S h akesp e a re
31
—
.
.
-
’
,
.
,
.
—
,
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,
-
’
.
—
.
.
,
”
.
~
,
.
.
’
.
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,
,
.
.
.
,
.
.
.
,
,
.
.
.
,
.
.
’
.
1s z
Wh t d m y Sh k p
f
Th l b
g i p i l ed
n ee
a
e
s
a
an a
or o
a
e
es
f o r h is
e a re
h
o n o re
db
on es
st o n e s?
n
XXXIII XXXIV S inc e P etr a r c h d i ed in a q u i et p l ac e
By r on e n l a rge s u pon the th o ught s ugge s ted H ere a g ain we se e
ev i de nc e s of the po et s te n de ncy t o w a rd br oo d in g fo r he sp e a k s
of so me
p d ti d t d m
D mi g t h m l v
Whi h i t f t h p g t h t p
w y
33
.
.
,
,
.
’
,
ee
n
c
se
e
s no
es
e
o
re
an
es
s
ne
a
o a
a ss a
oo
a
,
.
XXXV XXXIX The s e s t anzas de a l w i th the t o w n of
F erra r a an d the po et T asso
E ste
The h o u s e of E s te w as on e of the m os t fa m o u s o f
31 1
the o ld p rinc el y fam i l i e s of It a l y S e e T asso s J er u sa lem D e
34,
—
.
.
.
.
’
.
lit teTBd
3 1 4, 3 1 5
.
.
et c
.
T asso
Th os e wh o
an d A rios t o
.
w or e the wr e a th wh i c h
D a n te
s b ro w
’
,
NO TES
1 18
held a posi t ion w i th re sp e c t t o a rt s u c h a s A the ns h ad onc e
held in the anci e n t w o rld
The re fin ed lu x ur y of
M o d e rn Lu x u ry of Co mme r c e
43 1
F l o re nc e wa s der i ved f r o m s u cc e ss in tr a de
Fl o re nc e p r o du c ed s eve ra l me n
432
Bu rie d L e a rnin g ro s e
p ro m in e n t in the R e naissanc e ; a m on g them were P et rarc h F icino
an d P o l iziano
—
X L IX L III The s e fi ve s t anzas a re dev o ted t o the s t atue of
Ve n u s de M ed ici wh ic h s t an d s in the Tr i bu n e of the Uffi z i G a l
lery Byron c all s the s t a tue u n de sc r i b able no r d o e s he a ttem p t
any d i re c t de sc r ip t ion H e d o e s no t tr y t o poin t o ut any det ai l s
t o hel p u s t o se e i t s be a ut y of fo rm H e d o e s better H e tell s of
the e ff e c t of the be a ut y an d so e n h anc e s i t s po wer
sh e
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’
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W
e
g
a ze a n d
t u rn
l d dd
R l wi t h it f l
D a zz
an
e
ee s
ru n
s
w y
k wi th b
a
u n e ss
a
,
a nd
k w t wh
t y t i ll t h
h
no
eau
no
e
,
ere ,
e a rt
.
Byron prof e ss e d t o ca re l i ttle fo r a rt ; if h is p rofe ssion w as
t rue hi s m a g nific e n t e n thu sias m o ver th is s t a tue is a ll the m o re
rem a rk able
40 4 48
P a ltr y j ar g on
The s tere o t yp ed can t of the s t a tu a r y
ve n d ors
4 49
R e f er s t o the s u cc e ss of
W h e r e P e d an tr y gu l l s F o ll y
th os e wh o u se s u c h j a rg on ; the tr as h is so ld t o th os e wh o th in k
the y a re bu yin g so meth in g of re a l v a lue
P a r is w as the D a rd an S he p he r d
D ar d a n S he phe r d
4 50
wh o be s t o wed the p r iz e fo r be a ut y u pon Ve n u s (A p h ro d i te ) t o
the so rro w of H er a an d A the na
4 52
M or e d ee pl y b le s s e d An ch i s e s
Ve n u s w as the w if e of
A nc h is e s
4 54
Lor d of W a r
M a rs
4 63
M an s f a te e t c
B
r
o
w
nin
g
spo
ke
of
m
an
as
a
G od
”
A s the g o d s so met i me s be co me l i ke m o r
th o ugh in the germ
t a l s so m ort a l s h a ve g o dl i ke m o me n t s
4 1 47 0
Ape
O n e wh o i m i t a te s
LI V L VI
The s e th r ee s t anzas de a l w i th S an t a C r oc e wh ic h
By r on ca lled the We s t minste r A bbe y of It a l y an d w i th the de a d
wh o a re bur i ed the re
47 8
S a n t a Cro c e
I n a letter wr i tte n in 1 8 1 7 By r on sai d of
the c hu rc h of S an t a C r oc e : The t o mb s of M ac h ia vell i M ic h ael
An gel o G a l i le o an d Alfi e r i m a ke i t the We s tm ins ter A bbe y
—
of It a l y I d i d no t a dm i re the s e t o mb s be yon d the ir con
te n t s
Wh a t is n e c e ssa r y but a bu s t an d na me ? an d” p er
Al l yo u r a lle g o r y an d eul o g y is inf e rna l
h ap s a d ate
,
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,
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NO TES
Cons ult an e ncyc l op ed ia fo r f ull
A lfi e r i, M ac h ia vell i , an d C ano v a
1 19
info rm at ion conc e rnin g A n gel o
,
.
By r on says : Alfi e ri is the gre a t na me of th is a ge The It a l
ians w i th o ut w ai t in g fo r th ree hu n dred y e a r s consi der h i m as a
po et g oo d in l a w H is mem o r y is the m o re de a r t o them be ca u s e
he is the b a rd of f reed o m ; an d be ca u s e as s u c h h is tr a ged i e s can
re c e i ve no co u n te nanc e f r o m any of the i r so vere i g ns
42 4 9 6
B u t wh e r e r e p o s e a l l the E t ru s ca n th r e e ? Wh y were
D an te P etr a r c h an d Boccaccio no t bur i ed a t F l o re nc e ?
H e w as bur i ed in R a ve nna
50 5
D a n t e s l e e ps a fa r
Li ke S c i pio et c
S cipio h a d g i ve n o rder s th a t he mu s t be
50 6
bur i ed a t Lit u r n u m where he a v o lu n t a r y e xi le h a d sp e n t m any
y e a rs It is sai d th a t there w as onc e u pon h is t o mb an in sc rip
t ion sayin g Un gr ate f ul co u n tr y yo u s h a ll no t h a ve m y b on e s
D an te h a d sai d so meth in g Si m i l a r
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”
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d i d m wh
h ll t h v wh
Sh e
An d
S
en e
no
a
a
e
at
wa s
e
at
is
mi
t h
n e—
no
my r o o
e r s— my t o
f
mb
,
.
Th y f a c t ion s
The G uel f an d G h ib b e l in e part i e s
’
H e w as c r o w n ed w i th the
P e tr a rc h s l a u r e a te b ro w
l a urel in R o me in 1 34 1 , th o ugh he h a d g ain ed m os t of h is re no w n
in ano ther c o u n tr y— F r anc e
H is gr a ve , a t A r q u a , w as de s e
50 7
51 1
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c r a ted b y F l ore n t in e gh o ul s
4 3 51 9
E ve n h i s t o m b u pt orn e t c
The e c c le sias t ica l a u
t h o r it ies wh o m Byron ca ll s
h yaena b i g o t s w o uld no t le a ve
any th in g t o rem in d fu t u r e g e n er a t io n s of Boccaccio wh o h a d
sat i r iz ed c hur c hme n
The y h a d the i r reve n ge on Boccaccio
an d By r on h as h a d h is reve n ge on them
525
Cae sar s pa ge an t
Wh atever d o ubt there m ay be as t o
the me anin g of the s e w o rd s is c le a red u p b y the l in e s in D on J u a n :
A d t hi
mi i l i k t h t f t h b t
Of B t
p g t f T ib i
t th
A t the f u n e ra l of Ju nia wh o w as the w if e of C assi u s an d the
Sis ter of B rutu s the bu s t s of B rutu s an d C assi u s were no t a ll o wed
t o be ca rr i ed in the proc e ssion be ca u s e the y h a d pa rt icipa ted in
the assassina t ion of Jul i u s Cae sar The y were conspic u o u s b y
”
the i r a b s e n c e S o By ron says S an t a C r oc e is m or e no ted be ca u s e
sh e h as no t the du s t of D an te P etr a r c h an d Boccac c io
H e r pyra mi d of pr e c i ou s st on e s The re f ere nc e is t o the
532
c os tl y t o mb s of the M ed ici in the M ed ici c h ap el a pa rt of the
c hu rc h of S a n L o re nzo in F l ore nc e Byron says in a letter t o
M urray : I we n t in t o the M ed ici c h ap el
fi n e f r ipp er y in gre a t
sl a b s of v ari ou s e x p e nsi ve s t on e s t o c o mmem orat e fi f t y ro tte n
.
,
,
,
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”
,
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'
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!
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,
”
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’
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n
s o
ru
ss o n
us a
e
e
,
a
a
ea n
e
o
us
er u s
o
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,
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—
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N O TES
1 20
an d fo rg o tte n ca r cas s e s
It is sai d th a t the po et was so d is gu s t ed
t o se e s u c h cos tl y m on ume n t s fo r s u c h c h a r a c ters th a t he fai led
t o n t ice so me of the fa m o u s w o rk of M ic h a el A n gel o on the
t o m tp
s
The l as t fo ur l in e s of s t anza l x con t ain ano ther tr i bute t o the
p o et s wh o n eed no cos tl y m on ume n t s
44 L XI
H ere we h a ve the tr ansi t io n f r o m art t o na ture an d
By r on s s t ateme n t F o r I h a ve bee n acc u s t o med t o e n tw in e m y
th o ught s w i th N ature r a ther in the fi eld s th an wi th A r t in g a l
H e f eel s th a t he is cons t i tut iona ll y incapa ble o f d oin g
leri e s
j u s t ic e t o a w o rk d i v in e
It w as S helle y wh o h a d infu s ed in
h i m a l o ve O f nature A ll h is be s t de sc r ip t ions of na tu r e were
wri tte n af ter the beg innin g of h is in t i m acy w i th h is br o ther po et
Arno s d o me of A rt s m ost prin c el y s h rin e
Mr E H
542
C o ler i dge is p r o b a bl y co rre c t in sayin g the D u o m o is in te n ded
The D u o m o c r o w n ed w i th B ru n el
H is no te on th is l in e is :
l e sc h i s c u po l a an d ric h in sc ul p ture an d s t ain ed gl ass is as i t
were a sy mb o l of F l ore nc e the shrin e of a rt
The s e s t anzas de a l w i th L ake Tr asi me n e By ron
L XII L XV
de sc r i be s a sc e n e in t h e C arth ag inian w a r s an d the n a cont r as t in g
pic ture of the l a ke as he sa w i t H ere H anni b a l b y s tr a te g y de
f e a ted a wh o le R o m an a rm y The Ro m an his t o r ian L i v y says
th a t the s truggle w as so in te ns e th a t t h e fi ghte rs d i d no t no t ic e an
e arth q u ake wh ic h o c c urred a t the t i me of the b a ttle W ord s
w o rth a l so m ake s me n t ion of i t in on e of h is sonn et s :
fli t
Wh h wi th C t h g R m t
m
th q k mi g l i g wi th t h b t t l h k
A
C h k d t it g ; f l t t h g
d did k
S w d d pp d t j v l i k p t it d dl y im
The p l ac e w as na med fro m the bl oo d y
46 58 4
S an g u in e tt o
b attle
I n the s e s t anzas By r on g i ve s the refl e c t ions
L XVI L XVIII
occasion ed b y h is v i ew of C lit u mn u s a br anc h of the T i ber an d
the ru ins of a tem p le u pon a h i ll b y it s b an k s Th is ri ver is of te n
re f erred t o in pas t o r a l po etr y By r on says of i t th a t no sc e n er y
eve n in It a l y is m o re w o rth y of de scrip t ion
A cco rd in g t o P l iny the w a ter s of
M i l k wh i te s tee r
59 0
so me s tre am s poss e ss ed the po we r of tu rnin g wh i te the cattle th a t
dr an k f ro m them
The fi n n y d art e r w i th gl i tte rin g s c a le s I n a letter t o h is
6 00
f r i e n d M u rray By r on says : O n m y w ay b a c k f r o m R o me c l os e
t o the tem p le b y i t s b an k s I g o t so me fa m o u s tr o ut o ut of the
ri ve r Clit u mn u s the p rett i e s t l i ttle s tre a m in a ll po e sy
Wh a t d o yo u le a r n f r o m th is s t anza c o n c ernin g the
LX VIII
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’
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”
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—
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en
e re
n ear
ec
ro
e
no
e
,
e
e
o
e
un e
a
o con
e
n
n
s ra
no
or
,
e,
ua
e
a
ar
e
n
’
e s s
a
ro u n
s
e
ca
c
e,
oc
,
ro c
ea
a
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—
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”
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N O TES
1 22
O h Rom e m y c o u n tr y Ci ty of the sou l ! Wh y d i d Byro n
so a ddre ss R o me ?
C a n yo u s ugge s t wh y th a t ci t y s h o uld app e a l
m o re s tr on gl y t o h i m th an Ve nic e o r F l ore nc e ? Wh y mu s t the
o rp h ans of the he a rt tur n t o R o me ?
The N iob e of nation s ! N io be h as bee n ca lled the
51 7 0 3
A f ter the de a th of her twelve c h i ld re n sh e
be a u i de a l of gri e f
wa s tur n ed in t o a s t on e f r o m wh i c h ran w a ter
The lege n d h a s
bee n a fa v ori te wi th a rt ist s an d the m os t no t able w o rk w as th a t
a ttr i buted t o S copas th o ugh so me say i t w as b y P r axi tele s— a
copy of wh ic h By r on h ad p r o b abl y s ee n a t the Uffi z i g a ller y a t
F l o re nc e It re p re s e n t s N io be h o rr o r s tr ic ke n at the de a th of he r
c h i ldre n wh o a re be in g s tru c k de a d b y the u ns ee n d a rt s of A po ll o
By b oas t in g of her twelve c hildre n s he h a d o ff e n ded A po ll o an d
A rtemu s wh o h a d on l y tw o
F r o m the s e f ew fac t s Byron s me an
in g can be e asi l y u n der s t oo d th o ugh he d i d no t a dhere t o the de
t ai l s o f the c l assic gro u p
70 7
The S c i pio s t o m b I n 1 7 80 th is t o mb w as d isco vered on
the A ppian W ay It w as soon r ifl ed pro b a bl y w i th the h op e of
fin d in g o rna me n t s buri ed w i th the de a d
Ri s e
R e f errin g t o the
71 1
a n d m an tle he r di s tr e ss
f re q ue n t in u n d a t ions of the T i ber O n e hu n dred th i rt y tw o in
u n d a t io n s were re co rded d o w n t o 1 8 7 0 whe n the ri ver r os e th irt y
f eet ab o ve i t s no rm a l he i ght
L XXX
The
S o gre a t h as bee n the de s t ru c t ion wr o ught b y
”
th a t id en t i
G o th the C hr is t ian T i me W a r F l oo d an d F i re
fi ca t io n is a lm os t i m poss i ble
L XXXI
The cons tru c t ion in the fi rs t tw o l in e s of th is s t anza
is fault y There s eem s a conf u sion of fi gure s y et i t is possi ble
th a t Byron re f erred t o steer in g the ca mel ac r oss the de s ert The
me anin g is c le a r : the the o ri e s of the an t iq u a rian a t R o me p r o ve
as u n rel iable a s a m i r age
52 7 3 5
The s e s h a ll b e he r r e s u rr e ction R o me h as g on e ;
R o me s me n of letters s h a ll m ake her l i ve a g ain C ic er o V i r
g il an d L i v y d o in deed m a ke her l i v e in o ur sc h oo l s an d co l
6 94
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l e g es
L XXXIII — L XXXVI
The s e s t anzas con t ain the co m pa r ison
l e t iive e n S y ll a an d C r o mwell an d re fl e c t ions s ugge s ted b y them
l o t ll
’
H e wa s
S t anza L XXXIII g i ve s the m ain fac t s of S y l l a s l if e
g i ve n the t i tle F el ix fo r h is con t in u a l g oo d lu c k , w h i’c h By ron”
re f er s t o in the w o rd s , wh os e c h a rio t r o lled on F o rtu n e s wheel
H e d i d not w ai t t o s ettle d isp ute s af ter h is v ic t o r y o ver M a r i u s ,
.
.
i
.
.
but a t onc e we n t t o w a r w i th M i thri d a te s an d conq uered h i m
H e w as appoin ted d ic t a t o r wh ic h g a ve h i m po wer o ver the se n
a t e ; the n he r et ir ed t o p r i v a te l if e
H e w as held in h i gh re p ute
.
,
.
N O TES
1 23
be cau s e of th is a c t ; o the rw is e he m i ght h a ve bee n co u n ted on l y a
m ons te r
Th is s t anza c h a r ac teriz e s the career of C r o mwell
53 L XXXV
wh o d isso lved the L on g P a rl ia me n t an d br o ught C h a rle s I t o the
bl oc k H e d i ed on the anni ver sa r y of h is tw o v ic t o r i e s a t D u n b a r
an d a t W o r c e s ter
An d th o u dr e a d S t a tue ! The s t a tue of P o m
54 L XXXVII
p e y a t wh os e f eet gre a t C ae sar f ell
The p re s e n t s t a tue h o w
ever is p r o b abl y no t the o ri g ina l on e By r on ask s N eme sis the
g o d of retr i but ion if the de a th of Cae sa r w as in retri but ion fo r the
de a th of P o m p e y We re the s e tw o re a ll y v i ct o rs o r on l y p u pp et s
in the h an d s of the g o d of retr i but ion ?
L XXXVIII
The bronz e W o l f of the capi t o l in the P a l ac e
of the C ons erv at o r s is bel i eved t o be an c i e n t d a t in g f r o m the
fi f th c e n tur y B C By r on says sh e s t i ll gu a rd s he r i mm o rt a l
c ub s for the y l i ve in s t o r y but o ther R o m ans no l on ge r S h a re
her p r o te c t ion
55 L XXXIX
N apo le on s t i ll l i ved whe n Byron wr o te th is
po em H e w as the on l y m an wh o c o uld be co m pa red w i th the
R o m an conq uer o r s for he a l on e h a d ap p roac hed the sa me su
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ma c y
I n C an t o
”
pre
.
III By r on h as g i ve n a f ull c h a r ac terizat ion of N apo
le on an d s t anzas xxx v i x l i of th a t can t o s h o uld be re a d
XC Y e t N apo le on wa s but a b as t ar d Caesa r
I n spi te of
be in g fascinated b y C le opa tr a as H erc ule s h a d bee n b y O m p h a le
Caesar w as no t w i thheld f r o m h is ca reer of conq ue s t
md
A d
w him l f h b
w
d
A d
m
d!
d
q
B ut N apo le on coq uett in g w i th inord inate a mb i t ion wh ic h w as
w o rs e th an C aesa r s infa tu a t ion an d as v ain as a mb i t io u s f ell
s h o rt in h is ac h i eveme n t By r on s fi gure O f t h e floo d of bl oo d
w i th o ut an a rk fo r m an s re f uge is b o ld an d m os t s ugge s t i ve H is
c l osin g p r ay er is a fi tt in g conc lu sion : R e n ew th y r ain b o w G o d !
H ere a g ain we se e the re fl e c t i ve By r on
56 X C III X C V II
—
It w as na tur a l af ter h is re f ere nc e t o N apo le on s ugge s ted b y the
th o ught of Cae sa r t o rev i ew the s t a te of aff ai r s in E u rop e af ter
the fa ll of N apo le on Whethe r we a gree w i th the po et o r no t
we mu s t g i ve h i m cred i t for s er io u s th o ught u pon a gre at s ub j e c t
R e a d the s e s t anzas in the l i ght of the h is t ory Byron k n ew an d of
the h is t o r y of the p er io d sinc e he wro te an d the n for m yo ur o w n
opinion of the r e ac t ion in 1 8 1 5
By r on s l an gu age here is s tr on g I s i t t oo s tr on g ? A ns wer th is
q ue s t ion w i th sp e cia l re f ere nc e t o s t anza xc v ii
Byron w as a g re a t a dm ire r of W as h in gt on be c au s e he wa s a
—
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”
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n
no
n
ca
se
e an
ea
e
an
sa
’
,
co n
u er e
,
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N O TES
1 24
f r i e n d of fr eed o m H e as k s whether i t is possi ble fo r F reed o m
ever a g ain t o aris e s udde n l y a s P a ll as sp r an g f ull a rmed f r o m
the he a d of J o ve H e pays the fo ll o w in g tr i bute t o W as hin gt on :
.
-
,
.
Wh
Wh
Wh
ma y
e re
th
e
g i g
en
az n
w
i d
e y e r e p o se
ea r e
th
on
G re a t ;
e
it h g ilt y gl y gl w
d p i bl t t ?
N
— th
fi t
th
l t th b t
Y —
Ci i t f t h W t
Th
Wh m vy d d t h t
B q
th t h
m f W hi g t
b l h th w b t
T m k m
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.
X C VIII Th is is a no t able s t anza By r on d o e s no t
w an t h is d a rk pic ture of F r anc e t o con ve y the i de a th a t F reed o m
is de a d
I f the S a turna l ia there h a ve bee n fa t a l t o F reed o m s
cau s e there is s t i ll h op e el s ewhere ih E n gl an d wh ic h By r on
here ca ll s the N o rth N o te By r on s ana l ysis of f reed o m A s w as
na tur a l fo r a po et he u s ed a s u cc e ssion of fi gure s wh ic h if c le a rl y
u n der s t oo d m ake a v i v i d men t a l pic ture It is w o rth wh i le t o
pau s e here u n t i l on e get s the po et s me anin g ; i t g a ve a me ssage
of h op e an d in t i me i t p r o ved trul y p ro p h e t ic
I n Th e Gia ou r By r on u s ed si m i l a r w o rd s :
F
F d m b tt l
b g
B q
t h d by bl
di g i t
T h gh b ffl d ft i v w
X C IX CV The s e s t anzas con t ain By r on s sp e c ul a t ions in
spi red b y the t o mb of C ze c ilia M etell a on the A ppian W ay n e a r
R o me
F ortre ss
The l o w r o u n d t o wer h a d bee n u s ed as a fo r
88 4
tre ss in e a rl i er d ays an d well i t m i g ht be fo r i t is six t y three f eet
in d ia meter
B u t wh o wa s sh e ? The fac t th a t so l i ttle is k no w n of
59 C
the w o m an — o n l y th a t sh e was the d a ughter of M etellu s C ret ic u s
an d the w if e of C r ass u s— is e no ugh t o a r o u s e By r on s i m a g ina t ion
H ere the po et m a ke s inq u i r y conc er nin g her c h a r ac ter
CI
W as S h e l i ke C o rn el ia the m o ther of the G r acc h i wh o m sh e ca lled
her j ewel s ; o r wa s s he l i ke C le opa tr a ?
60 9 1 4
Byron h as in m in d the G reek sayin g
D oo m
Wh o m the g o d s l o ve d i e yo u n g
91 7
Th e H e sp e ru s of the d e a d
AS H e sp e ru s the eve n i n g
s t a r is the h a rb in ge r of ni ght so the he c t ic fl u s h p re sa ge s de a th
91 8
C on sum in g
H o ll o w w as t in g
58 ,
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NO TES
1 26
By r on v isi ted R o me It h a d bee n i de n t i fi ed in 1 8 1 3 a s th a t of
P h o c as A D 608
Ap os t o l i c s t a tue s c l i m b
989
The r e is a s t a tue of S t P ete r
on the co lum n of T raj an an d on e of S t P a ul on th a t of M arc u s
A urel i u s
9 90
W h os e as he s s le pt s u b l i me
It w as onc e bel i eved th a t
the as he s of Tr aj an we r e de p osi ted in a gl o be held in the h an d of
h is s t a tue ; the bel i e f h o wever w as no t well fo u n ded
995
Th e R o m an gl o b e The R o m an E m pi re
999
We Traj an s n a me a d or e Tr aj an wa s consi dered the
be s t of the em p er o r s By r on me ans th a t eve n n o w he is a d o red
H e w as the l as t t o rule o ver the em pi re as a wh o le
64 1 000
R oc k of Tri um ph
The C api t o l in e H i ll O n th is
h i ll the ”tr i um p h a l p r oc e ssions e n ded H ere the hero e s were em
br ac ed th a t is wel co med h o me af ter the i r conq ue s t s
1 00 2
T ar pe ian fi tte st g o a l of Tr e ason s r a c e C r i m ina l s
were thr o w n f r o m th is r oc k
1 0 22
R i e nzi
C o l a d i R i e nzi ( 1 3 1 3 1 3 54) w as a mb i t io u s t o
f ree h is co u n tr y f r o m the opp re ssion of the no ble s an d t o e s t a bl is h
a re p ubl ic F o r a t i me he w as s u cc e ssf ul an d in 1 3 47 he w as p r o
c l ai med tr i bu n e an d l i ber a t o r of the H o l y R o m an R e p ubl ic S u c
c e ss h o wever tur n ed h is he a d an d pop ul a r f eel in g c h an ged t o w a rd
h i m H e w as k i lled in 1 3 54 dur in g a rev o lt P etr a r c h in 1 3 40
whe n he w as c r o w n ed l a ure a te a t R o me met R i e nzi an d is sai d
t o h a ve s h a red h is e n thu sias m s S e e B ulwer Ly t t on s Rien zi
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Th e L a st of t h e Tr i b u n es
6 5, 1 0 26
N e w- b orn N um a
.
.
.
The k in g
,
N um a P o m pi l i u s ,
the
gre a t l a w g i ver of e a rl y R o me
The s e fo ur st an zas de a l w i th By r on s i m a gin ed
C XV C XIX
s t o r y of E ger ia an d g i ve h is de sc r ip t ion of E geria s G r o tt o
A cco rd in g t o R o m an m y th o l o g y E ger ia ins tru c ted N um a con
c ernin g the fo rm of w o rs h ip he s h o uld in t ro du c e By r on con
”
c e iv e s her t o be
a be a ut if ul th o ught an d sof tl y b o d i ed fo rth
H is de sc r ip t ion of her gr o tt o t o wh ic h he dev o te s tw o s t anzas
is m os t pic ture sq ue
The n t ak in g a dv an t a ge of the fa bled l o ve
betwee n E geria an d N um a b e br i e fly pic ture s a l o ve sc e n e in the
gr o tt o w on derin g if s he co uld i m pa rt the p uri t y of H e a ve n t o
e a rthl y j oys
T h is is on e of By r on s l of t i e s t i m ag inat i ve pic
ture s
1 03 1
The G reek s b e
Nym ph o le p sy
A n e cs t a t ic v ision
lie v e d th a t whe n anyon e h a d s ee n a ny m p h he r i m a ge rem ain ed
wi th h i m m a kin g h i m l on g fo r an i m possi ble i de a l I n s t anza cxxii
By ron sp e ak s of the u n re ac hed P a r a d is e of o ur d espai r
The
l in e thr o w s l i ght on ny m p h o le psy
6 7 CXX— C XXVII
Th is l on g passa ge is e ss e n t ia ll y By r oni c
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N O TES
1 27
gi ve s the po et s v i ew of l o ve but i t is l o ve s ee n th ro ugh the
e y e s of a m isan th rop e By r on n eve r e xp eri e nc ed re a l l o ve an d
d i d no t k no w wh a t i t is ; he co uld no t the re fo re de sc r i be i t Th is
passa ge the n is t o be t a ke n as a pa thet ic a ttem p t t o ana l yz e
wh a t the wr i ter sa w f r o m a wr on g poin t of v i ew an d he nc e sa w
fa l s el y W i th o ut d o ubt the po et h as in m in d h is u nfo rtu na te
m arria ge
F or a m o me n t in the E ger ia passa ge By r on s eemed t o be on
the he i ght s an d e xpr e ss ed h i m s el f a s on e on the he i ght s H e spo ke
of an i de a l ; but the n c a me the r e ac t ion so c h arac teris t ic of h is
th o ught
Th is l on g passa ge de s erve s Sp e cia l
7 0 C XXVI II C X L V
s tud y ; i t is on e of By r on s m os t no t a ble on e s The fi r s t tw o
s t anzas ( cxx v ii c xxxix) an d the l as t three ( c x l iii c x lv ) a re l a rgel y
de sc r ip t i ve of the C ol is eum S t anzas cx l c x l ii a re dev o ted t o the
s t a tue of the gl a d ia t o r an d t o the th o ught s s ugge s ted b y i t The
re s t of the passa ge is l argel y p e rsona l an d there fo re of gre a t b io
gr ap h ica l v a lue K ee pin g the s e fac t s in m in d s tud y the passa ge
as a wh o le u n t i l yo u co m p rehe n d i t f ull y The n g i ve sp e cia l a t
te n t ion t o s u c h det ai l s as re q u i re f urther th o ught
—
1 1 44 1 1 47
Ar c he s on ar c he s !
he r Co l i s eum s t an d s
The C o l is eum o r F l a v ian A m p h i the ater w as the l a rge s t bu i ld in g
a t R o me It w as capable of s e a t in g
p e op le The fi rs t three
s t o r i e s were bu i lt u pon a r c he s B etwee n the a r c he s e i ght y t o
e ac h s t o r y s t oo d three q u a rter co lum ns A b o ut on e th i rd of the
s tru c tu r e r em ains M u c h h as bee n ca rr i ed a w ay fo r bu i ld in g p ur
pos e s
7 1 1 1 62
O h Ti me The th o ught o f h o w T i me h a s de a lt wi th
the s e ru ins m ake s Byron d i gre ss an d as k a b oon of T i me fo r h i m
H e as k s T i me if the y wh o h a ve de a lt w i th h i m so
s el f ( 1
H e bel i eve s the y w i ll
u nj u s tl y s h a ll no t m o ur n ( l
A n d th o u
1 1 80 1 1 8 1
N eme sis the
g r e a t N em e s i s !
g o d of retr i but ion is a l so s umm on ed t o a ve n ge h i m b y met in g o ut
t o the B r i t is h p u b lic due p u nis hme n t
1 1 84
O r e ste s The F ur i e s p urs ued O re s te s be cau s e he h a d
k i lled his m o ther t o a ve n ge the de a th of h is fa ther O n th is p a s
sa ge L a d y Byron co mme n t s : It h a s bee n a rgued th a t By r on
ins erted the s e s t anzas w i th the de li ber ate p ur pos e of d i vert in g
”
sy m pa th y f r o m h is wif e t o h i m s el f
72 1 1 96
N o t t a k e n for the s a k e
The d as h d o ubtle ss re f ers
t o h is sis ter wh o m By r on de a rl y l o ve d an d he nc e w o uld no t
me n t ion in th is conn e c t ion B ut fo r her he m i ght h a ve so ught
ve n ge anc e
1 20 2
B u t on this p a ge a re c or d w i ll I s e ek
By r on conf e ss e s
th a t h is po em s h all be h is ve n ge anc e I n a me as u re t oo he spo ke
’
It
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NO TES
1 28
trul y
There a re s eve ra l er as ure s an d c h an ge s in the m an u sc rip t
o f tzh is s t anza s h o wi n g th a t the po et fo u n d i t h a rd t o e xp re ss h i m
.
,
se lf
H ere is u ns t in ted
C XXXV
h o weve r, was true There m ay
s el f p r ais e Wh a t the po et sai d
be so me q ue s t ion as t o the t as te
wh ic h w o uld a ll o w the po et t o u s e s u c h w o rd s ; but whe n we con
si der h is f eel in g s we m ay be in c l in ed t o pa rd on h i m
B etwee n th is s t anza an d the n e x t By r on h a d in h is m an u s c rip t
the fo ll o w in g lin e s wh ic h he l a ter el i m inated :
-
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If
.
f giv b h p i g l f fi
—
A G d h th p k
h d ff
th
Mi
h ld b v l
hi gh
d i
th
Th
Tit
h d Ol ym p
O A th
b l i g Et gl w ;
T
t h y wh
t
gw
p i g t hi g ; b
Th
p t t t h i fl i t wi th d dl i t h
m y b g d d by t h g t
Th li
Wh
k t h l mb
b l d ? Th
gl
to
or
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e
o
ou
o er
r
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en
e a
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ea
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en
on
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ea
oa
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e re r s
n
ea
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’
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er
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na
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oe s,
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ee
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az n
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a n se r
e
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o cano, an
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ru e ,
co a s o
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ut
wh t
a
ro e s ?
er
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e ea
oo
NO t h e b a t
.
.
I n a w o rd the po et h a d mu c h t o fo rg i ve
7 3 1 221
Jan u s gl an c e J an u s l oo ked b o th w ays The a l
l u sio n is si g nifican t w i th re f ere nc e t o By r on s c r i t ics
I n spi te of mel anc h o l y n e a r t o de sp er a t ion there
C XXX VI I
emerge s an d the po et says w i ll rem ain a h op e u nconq uer able
.
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T h i t h t wi th i m whi h h ll ti
T t
th wh I p i ;
d T im
d b
S m t hi g
t h l y whi h t h y d
m t f
Co m pa re S helle y s
H p
t
F m it w w k t h t hi g i t t m pl t
A n d B r o w nin g s th i rd s t anza of the E pi l o gue t o As o l an d o
s
e re
a
o r u re a n
e
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re
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d hi b
N v d bt d l d w
N v d m d t h gh igh t
H ld w f l l t i
b ffl
Sl p t w k
O n e wh o
e
e
er
ne
er
ou
re a
er
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e
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u rn e
s
e
s
c ou
o r se , a re
a
ee
o
a
a
e
kb tm h db tf w d
ld b k
w w t d w g w ld t i m p h
d t fi gh t b t t
ac
e
a rc
u
rea
ou
r
ou
,
e re
o
re a s
e
or
ar
,
,
o rs e
e
,
ro n
ou
r u
,
er ,
.
e a l is se t Now wel c o m e th ou dr e a d po w e r
The po et here ev i de n tl y me ans th a t h is c o m p l ain t is o ver an d h is
re so lut ion m a de The spi r i t of the pas t as f elt b y on e beh o ld in g
the C o l is eum is wel co me sinc e i t brin g s a p e ac e where be fo re
74 , 1 23 4
.
Th
—
e s
,
.
,
,
,
.
N O TES
1 30
l a u r el s on the b a l d fi r st Cwsa r s h e a d By r on
co m pa re s the tree s gro w in g on the C o l is eum t o the l a urel wh ic h
Caesa r w or e e sp e cia ll y says S uet oni u s be ca u s e i t conc e a led h is
b ald n e ss
W o rd s asc r i bed t o the
1 29 7
W h ile s t an d s t h e Co l is eum et c
Ve n e rable B ede the gre a t S axon h is t o r ian
The P an the on w as bu i lt B C 2 1 an d
7 7 C X L VI C X L VII
is the be s t p re s erved of a ll the o ld R o m an bu i ld in g s It consis t s
of tw o pa rts a po r c h s u pported b y six tee n C o r in th ian co lum ns
an d beh in d i t an d y et a part of i t the r o tu n d a o r r o u n d tem p le
The nic he s whic h onc e con t ain ed the s t a tue s of the g o d s n o w
con t ain bu s t s of gre a t It a l ians R ap h a el a m on g the re s t It wa s
cons e c ra ted a s a c hur c h in 6 09
By ron s no te is : Th is an d the n e x t three
C X LVIII C LI
s t anzas a llude t o the s t o ry of the R o m an d a ughter wh ic h is ca lled
t o the t ra veller b y the si te o r p rete n ded si te of th a t a dve n ture
P l iny an d
no w s h o w n a t the c hur c h of S N ico l o in C a r c ere
o thers rel a te the lege n d
7 9 1 3 51
The s tarr y fa b le of the mil ky w ay The s t o r y is th a t
whe n M er c ury held the infan t H er c ule s u p t o J u no s bre as t th a t
he m i ght dr in k in d i v ini t y the g o dde ss p u s hed h i m a w ay an d
so me drops of the m i lk f ell in t o the v oi d an d be ca me a mult i tude
of s t a rs the M i lk y W ay
Wh a t is no w k no w n a s the C as tle of S t A n gel o w as
C L II
o ri g ina ll y bu i lt as a m a u so leum fo r the as he s of the E m p ero r
H a drian
It is co m pos ed of a sq u a re b as eme n t s urm o u n ted b y a
l o w ci r c ul a r t o wer
f eet in ci r c um f ere nc e
The s e s eve n s t anzas a re ev i de nc e O f a sp le n d i d
C L III C L IX
a ttem p t t o de sc ri be the in de sc r i b a bl e S t P eter s The po et is
wh o ll y conscio u s of the m ag ni tude of h is t as k an d cons e q ue n tl y
beg ins w i th a m os t app r op r iate e xc l a m a t ion s u c h as on e w o uld
na tur a ll y m ake u pon fi r s t s ee in g the gre a t bu i ld in g : B ut 10 !
the d o me the v as t an d w on dr o u s d o me et c The fi rs t s t anza
of the s eve n is m a de eff e c t i ve b y me ans o f a s eri e s of co m pa risons
w i th o ther gre a t ed ific e s the Tem p le of D iana a t E p he s u s an d of
S t S op hi a a t C ons t an t inop le S t anza c l i v con t in ue s the co m pa r
ison mo re v a guel y w i th an allu sion t o the Tem p le a t J eru sa lem
an d e n d s wi th tw o l in e s of fin e c l i m ax The e n t i re passa ge s h o uld
be s tud i ed u n t i l the p u pi l f eel s th a t he h as f ull y ca ught the po et s
h o le conc e p t ion N o te e sp e cia ll y s t anza c l ix It is u n u s u a l w i th
gyron
8 2 C LX
The L a o c o On g ro u p is in the V a t ican M u s eum
Loo k u p L a o c o On in the Cla ssi ca l D icti on a r y
I n th is s t anza
Byron is a t h is be s t Wh y ?
8 3 C L XI C L XIII
The s t a tue of A po ll o B elve d ere
1 29 3
Li ke
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—
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NO TES
8 4 , C L XIV C L XVI
—
.
1 31
I n C an t os
C h i lde H a r o ld is re ca lled
C an t o III C h i lde H a r o ld wa s t h e c e n tr a l
.
I an d II an d in m os t of
fi gu re of the po e m C r i t ics sai d th a t the her o w as By ron h i m s el f
but he d e ni ed i t I n C an t o IV the po et sp e a k s in h is o w n p erson
thu s conf e ssin g th a t de nia l wa s u s ele ss E ve n no w the her o is
r e ca lled on l y t o be d is miss ed
.
,
.
,
.
.
H e is
m
no
if
ph t y
o re ,
h
e
wa s
A gh t b t
H e l oo k s in t o
A s u s u a l the b ac kw ar d gl anc e sa dde ns the po et
L if e s eem s t o h a ve no th in g t o
a n a b yss ; h is sa d n e ss is dee p e n ed
o ff er
I n con tr as t t o th is Byronic p e ssi m is m s ee Te nnyson in The
M a k in g of M a n
i y t b i g m d
M
w i g Ag f g
d
th
S h ll t
ft
p
d t
h him i t h p
A n d B r o w nin g says :
I
t l if j
t ff
t th
T t y th
l t gt h
d th m
The n e x t six s t anzas wh i c h S h o w
8 5 C L XVII C L XXII
By r on s dee p f eel in g fo r h is co u n tr y a re in Sp le n d i d con tr as t w i th
the fo reg oin g s t anzas The con tr as t is reve a led in h is w o rd s occa
wh ic h occ urred
s io n e d b y the de a th of the P r inc e ss C h a rl o tte
wh i le the po et w as in Ve nic e By ron s letters s h o w h o w mu c h he
w as m o ved
The P r inc e ss the on l y d aughter of G e o rge IV the n P r inc e
R ege n t w as H e i re ss P re s um p t i ve t o the B r i t is h c r o w n H e r c h a r
ac ter w as s u c h th a t the h op e s of E n gl an d wer e c en t e re d in h e r
H e nc e the s h oc k occasion ed b y he r s udde n de a th a ff e c ted
the
”
l o ve of m i ll ions
8 7 1 549
L o N e mi ! The po et s p l ac e of o b s e r v a t ion is no w
on the s umm i t of the A lb an H i ll s whe nc e he can beh o ld the se a
L a ke N em i w as a l so w i th in h is r an ge of v ision
Byron says of i t :
The l a ke l i e s in a ver y dee p b o tt o m so s urr o u n ded on a ll si de s
w i th m o u n t ains an d gr o ve s th at the s u rfac e of i t is n e v er ru ffl ed
w i th the le as t bre a th of w in d wh ic h p e rh aps t o gether w i th the
c le a rn e ss of the w a ter g a ve i t formerl y the na me of D iana s Loo k
A no ther says : The b asin of the L a g o d i N em i is the
in g G l ass
c r a te r of an e x t inc t v o l cano H e n c e the co m pa r ison t o a coi led
snake It s s teel—blue w a ter s a re n eve r ru ffl ed b y the w in d s wh ic h
l as h the n e a r b y oc e an in t o f ur y H e nc e i t s l i ke n e ss t o c heris hed
h a te as con t ras ted w i th ge n e ro u s an d a c t i ve w ra th
u
u
an
a
as
.
.
.
.
,
an
s
e
no
a
e n
aeo n a
co u n
r
o
e, an
a
a ss a n
e r aeo n
e
us
n n
e o
n
ou c
o S
a
es
e?
a
e s u
’
e so u
e c ro
e re
on
s s ren
e
,
u ce
e
an
.
—
,
.
,
’
,
.
,
’
.
.
,
,
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,
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.
’
,
,
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.
,
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,
,
,
,
’
,
”
.
.
.
-
.
’
,
’
.
N O TES
1 32
XXI V F r o m h is v an t ag e g r o u n d the po et s ee s ano the r
an d si m i l a r l ake A lb ano as well a s the T i ber the s e a an d the
c oas t of L a t i um wh ic h s ugge s ted V i rg i l an d C ic er o s S a b in e fa rm
The s e tw o s t anzas a re retrosp e c t i ve tell
C L XXV C L XXVI
in g of the j o urn e ys an d e xp eri e n c e s of By r on an d h is her o A s
the y mu s t part the po et f eel s the y h ave so me rew a rd in be in g
able t o e nj oy the be a ut i e s of e a rth an d se a
C a l p e s ro ck
1 57 4
G i br a lt a r
S ym pl e g a d e s
Tw o s m all is l an d s n e a r the B l a c k S e a
1 57 6
O h ! th a t the D e s e rt we r e m y d well in g pla c e
8 9 1 58 5
By r on was so cons t i tuted th a t he l on ged fo r the gr an d th in g s of
nature : the A l ps the oc e an the de s ert D aff o d i l s an d d aisi e s d o
no t ossess fo r h i m the c h arm the y h a d fo r Ch a u c e r an d W o rd s
l
w o rtp
1 588
L o ve b u t o n l y he r
Whether By r on h ad in m in d h is
sis ter o r so me ge ni u s of the p l ac e we canno t posi t i vel y s t a te M r
E H C o ler i dge an d so me o ther s a re inc l in ed t o th in k the re f er
e nc e is t o h is sister I n s ub s t an t iat ion of th is v i ew se e the o p e n
in g l in e s of Byron s E pis tle t o A ugu s t a :
88 , C L
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-
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,
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,
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,
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,
.
”
’
it
my w t i t ! if
m
it h
D
w
ld b thi ;
d p
d ivi d
M
d
b t I l im
t i
t
w mi
N t
b t t d
t th
I wi ll t m th
m
G wh
A l v d g t whi h I w ld t i g
Th y t
t w t h i g i my d t i y
ld t
m t h g h d h m wi t h t h
A w
l t
Th fi t i
t hi g — h d I t i ll t h
h v f my h pp i
It w
th
My
s s er !
s
ou n
e a rs,
o
e re
re
e
o
e re
a re
e
n
o ro a
or
e
e re
rs
e
a
s
an
n
a
en o
ne :
e sa
n
rou
s no
er
no
ou
o
c a
u
ou a r
c
re
ne
e
o ans
e
o
,
e
ou
e u s,
e r n e ss
en
u
na
a
s
se a s
a ns a n
o
e re ,
u re r
e a re r a n
s s er
ee
a
re s
e
n
es
n
o
e
,
s
as
e
n e ss
a
.
ee
.
,
.
I
O n the o ther h an d we ci te the po et s w o rd s f r o m
of the A l ps
l m l b ow
B
t if l p i i t ! i t h y
it y f
Wh i i g l d
l
W h i h f i t l f h w imm t l i t y t c
The W i t c h
’
,
ea u
u
e re n
c
s
r
s
o
a ss
se
’
se re n
s
c ea r
ca
n
o
o
so u
or a
s
r
,
,
,
e
.
S in c e
the po et sp e ak s of the de sired p re s e nc e a s on e fair
an d sinc e he of te n l on ged fo r so l i tude we ar e inc l in ed t o
S pi ri t
th in k he d i d no t w an t any hum an be in g n e a r h i m wh i le in the
f r a me of m in d here e xp re ss ed M o re o ver he as k s for s u c h a b e in g
f r o m t h e eleme n t s an d add s :
!
”
,
,
.
,
,
I
d mi g
T h gh wi th t h m t
Do
ou
e rr
in
ee
n
e
su c
o
h i h bi t m y p
v
ly b
co n
n
a
an
e r se c a n r a r e
a S
o
t
e our
lo t
.
N O TES
1 34
passion th a t r ais e s i t [Ch ilde H a rold! fa r a b o ve the d ic t ion of h is
L ooki n g a t h is po etr y f r o m a p urel y l y r ica l
e a rl i er po em s
s t an d poin t i t is s urel y i m possi ble for any m
an
no
t
t
o
be
ca
rr
i
ed
” —
a w ay on the t i de of it s po wer an d passion
W H Cou r t h o p e
C h i lde H a r o ld m ay no t be no r d o we bel i eve he is L o rd
By r on s ver y s el f but he is L o rd Byron s pi c ture s ket c hed b y
W a lter S co tt
L o rd By r on h i m s el f
The po em is a gl o r i fi ed gu i de b oo k ; but i t is so meth in g m ore
fo r in the p er son of h is her o By r on c re ate s a t yp e wh ic h r e p re
s e n t s m o der n r o m anc e m o der n mel anc h o l y ( whe n the R e v o l u
t io n a ry passions r em ain ed u nsa t isfi ed an d the R ev o lut iona r y
fai th s were o b sc ured ) an d w i th the s e the c apaci t i e s fo r w i de an d
v a r i ed p le as ure p r op er t o a t i me of c ulture of tr a vel an d cos m o
po l i t an sy m pa th i e s an d in tere s t s
E dw a rd D o wde n
The th i rd an d fo urth can t os p l ac ed h i m on the p l at fo rm of
the D ii M aj ores of E n gl is h vers e The s e can t os a re s e pa r a ted
f ro m the i r p rede c e sso r s no t b y a s t a ge but b y a gul f P rev io u s
t o the i r p ubl ica t ion he h a d on l y k no w n h o w far the fo r c e of
rh apso d y co uld g o ; no w he s tru c k w i th h is r i ght h an d an d f r o m
the s h o ulder K no wledge of l if e an d s tud y of N ature were the
m ains p rin g s of a gr o wth wh ic h the in d i re c t infl ue nc e of W o rd s
w o rth an d the h appy co m panions h ip of S helle y p l ay ed the i r par t
in fos te rin g
Jo h n N ic h o l
.
,
.
.
.
.
,
,
’
’
,
”—
.
.
-
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
”—
.
.
.
,
.
,
,
.
”—
.
.
h hi d t ;
F
w k
w th wh t t h
t
A h ! if f m t h d y th hi d t
S t i ll t t h wi ll l i g h h t
w v
t
S
t
l m t th
S i gi g vi
f th y f t ;
F
i
t m d
w l t th
S g d
g f i dg t
No t
or
l
a on e
! wh
ro
or
n
on
en
n
,
s or
an
en
ou
ou a r
es
ou
c
u re
es
a
a
ee
e
t
ee
e
o
n
er er
no
e
c a rc e
’
o
n
a
an
ea r
en
ee ,
co u ra
a
e re
su n
e,
,
ea c
ous o
.
e
en
a r an
.
ee
re a
”
.
G O E TH E
TH E P R I S O N E R
OF
.
C H I LL O N
C on c er nin g
The P rison er of C h i ll on l i ttle n eed be sai d It
d o e s no t a b o u n d in h is t o r ica l a llu sions l i ke Ch ilde H a rold s P il
There is no th in g t o d i vert u s f r o m the po em i t s el f
gr ima ge
wh ic h can be s t be e nj oy ed in spi te of i t s sa d n e ss b y i m ag inin g
on e s s el f in the p l ac e of the p r ison er an d s h a r in g h is med i t a t ions
It is well in re a d in g t o kee p in m in d the t opic of e ac h of the fo u r
tee n s t anzas an d t o no te the t ransi t ions in the po em an d in the
th o u g ht of i t s he ro
.
’
,
.
,
,
’
.
,
,
.
NO TES
1 35
The fac t th a t By r on called the po em a fable w arns u s
a g ains t consi der in g i t h is t orica l eve n th o ugh i t is ab o ut an h is
I n fac t a s the po et h i m s el f tell s u s he d i d no t
t o r ic a l c h a r a c ter
k no w the h is t ory of B o n n iv a r d whe n he wr o te the po em S ai l in g
on L ake G e n ev a in 1 8 1 6 w i th h is fri e n d S helle y Byron w as im
p re ss ed w i th the o ld castle of C h i ll on so pic ture sq uel y si tu a ted on
the norther n s h o re of the l ake ; i t s r o m anc e an d i t s fo rb i dd in g
du n ge ons app e a led t o h is i m a ginat ion H e w ro te the po em a t
O u c h y a l i ttle v i ll a ge on the l ake n e ar G e n ev a where he w as de
t a in e d fo r tw o d ays on a c co u n t of b a d we a ther
The po em is well
ni gh p erf e c t an d i t g i ve s u s a gl i m ps e of the po et a t h is be s t fo r
in th is no ble s tud y of i m prison me n t there is no t o u c h of m is
”
!
,
.
,
,
.
,
,
.
,
,
.
,
a n t h ropy
.
S c h o l a rs
h a ve ca lled a tte n t ion t o the fac t th a t there a re so me
e c h o e s in the po em of the c h a r ac ter of Ug o l ino ( D an te s I nf er n o
XXXI I
an d S helle y te s t ifi e s th a t Byron h a d s tud i ed th a t
c h a r ac ter It is m ore th an p r o b able th a t the s tud y the Si ght of
the c as tle a f ew s c an t fac t s a b o ut B o n n iv a rd an d the dete n t ion
on acco u n t of the we a the r u ni ted in r ip e nin g the oc c asion fo r
By r on t o wr i te thi s po em
93 I
The u s e of the fi r s t p e rson g i ve s a v i v i d n e ss wh ic h co uld
be i m parted t o the po em in no o the r w ay N o te h o w mu c h is sai d
of the fa m i l y in a f ew w o rd s in th is O p e nin g s t anza The n the a t
te n t ion is foc u ss ed u pon the three s urv i v in g bro ther s N o te a l so
th a t Byron re p re s e n t s the he ro an d h is b ro ther s as s u ff erin g for
r el i g io u s v i ew s wh i le the h is t o rica l Bon n iv a r d s u ff ered fo r a
po l i t i c a l off e ns e
Wh a t e ff e c t is s e c u red b y m ak in g l in e s 2 an d 3 d i meter s ? Wh a t
is the v e rsifi c a t ion of the po em ? Wh y is i t e sp e cia ll y e ff e c t i ve for
s u c h a po em ?
Wh a t is the
N o te the d e sc r ip t ion of the du n ge on
94 I I
e ff e c t of me n t ionin g the sin gle ray of l i ght ? H a s the po et s u c
I f so h o w h as he d o n e
c e e d e d in c re a t in g a s u i t a ble a tm osp he r e ?
it?
I II V S t anza iii g i ve s the si tu a t ion of the th ree : an d thu s
t o gethe r y et apart an d the n in s t anzas i v an d v the c h a r ac
Tell wh a t the s e c h a r ac ter
t e r ist ic s of the br o ther s a re g i ve n
ist ic s a re in yo u r o w n w o rd s
9 7 VI
N o te h o w the po et gr a du a ll y m ake s u s f eel the iso l a
t ion of the p rison a d o uble du n ge on w a ll an d w a ve
The c a s
tle i t s el f is i m prison ed b y the l ake wh ic h is a lm os t a th o u san d
f eet dee p n e ar the cas tle L em an is the o ld na me for L a ke
G e n ev a
A f ew week s af ter w ri t in g th is po em Byro n w ro te the fo ll o w in g
sonn et on L a ke L em an :
’
,
,
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,
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,
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,
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-
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”
—
,
,
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,
,
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”
!
,
,
,
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,
.
,
N O TES
1 36
R
V lt i —
d D S t el
G ibb
L m ! th
m
w t hy f t h y h
T hy h
f
m l ik t h ! w t t h
m
T hy m m y t h y m mb
w ld
ll
k w l v l y t ll
T th m th y b
f
th
l
B t t h y h v m d t h m l v li
O f mi g h t y m i d d t h h ll w i t h
h t th
i f w ll
Of h m
Wh d w l t t h wi
d w
d
; b t by t h
L k f B ty d w f l
H w m h m
w t ly g lid i g
thy
yt l
I
t
g tl
l
T h wi ld g l w f t h t
W h i h f t h h i f imm t l i t y
d d m k t h d th f g l y l !
I p
o u sse a u
—
re
or
e
e
a
e
a
n
o re ,
uc
o
n
ee
e
o
e
o
c
ro u
s
e
e
ere
s
ea r s
an
u
n s
s
an
e
u
es
na
o re s o
s
o
es a re
e se n a
an
e
,
ou r
a re
o
an
or
e
e re
o
a
e o
’
o er
no
es
re c a
o a
:
,
e
or
o re
ro u s
ea u
s
,
a
en
ee ,
u
e
o
se a
ee
,
,
e ze a
,
or a
e rs o
a
o re ,
a
on
un
o re ,
e c o re
a
cr
a
ou n o
er ,
n
o
e ru n o
se a n
s
as
e
o
a
e
ou
e
e
an
er
e se
ra n c e
o
—
o
e
e
a
o
on
'
e
ea
o
or
re a
VII VI II I n the s e tw o s t anzas By r on de sc r i be s the de a th of
N o te the d i ff e re nc e in the tw o acco u n t s an d
t h e tw o b ro ther s
the d i ff ere n t em o t ions p ro du c ed in the he a rt of the s urv i v o r H o w
d o e s the po et m ake e sp e cia ll y v i v i d h is gri e f a t the de a th of the
yo u n ger br o ther ? A g ain no te the d i meter l in e s an d the e ff e c t
Wh a t is me an t b y the l as t tw o l in e s of s t anza v iii ?
I n so me re sp e c t s s t anza ix is the m os t e ffe c t i ve in
1 0 1 IX
N o te the det ai l s g i ve n b y the po et in de sc r i b in g h o w
t h e po em
E sp e cia ll y e xa m in e
t h e prison er gr a du a ll y l os t conscio u sn e ss
l in e s 240 250 The eff e c t of the s eri e s of n eg a t i ve s in l in e s 24 5
Byron w as s t r on g in d ic t ion e sp e cia ll y in the
24 6 is e xq u isi te
A se a of s t a g nan t i dle n e ss bl in d b o u n dle ss
u se of a d j e c t i ve s :
mute an d m ot ion le ss !
H ere we le arn of the a w a ke nin g
1 02 X
N o th in g c o uld be
m o re e ff e c t i ve th an t o h a ve the u nconscio u s p rison er re called b y
the s weete s t son g e a r ever he a rd
By r on
t h e son g of a b i rd
ma ke s h is de sc rip t ions of the s l o w p r oc e ss e s m os t e ff e c t i ve b y
dwell in g u pon the i r gr a du a l nature
By dull degree s ca me b ac k
m y s e ns e s
N o te a l so the gr a du a l de sc r ip t ion of the b i rd as the p r ison er
ca me t o no t ic e i t m o re m in utel y an d the retur n t o the son g th a t
”
sai d a th o u san d thin g s an d s eemed t o say them a ll fo r me
It is
no t s tr an ge th a t he w on dered if i t were a v isi t an t f ro m P a r a
d is e A t fi r s t be fo re he full y re a l iz ed the n e w si tu a t ion he w on
dered if the b i rd w as no t the spi ri t of h is br o ther ; but whe n the
b i rd fl ew a w ay he f elt an ew h is l on el in e ss
1 0 4 XI
B ut con d i t ions i m p r o ved : the kee p ers be ca me m o re
co m passionate ; he w as a ll o wed t o w a lk a ro u n d Wh at is the
et y m o l o g y of p r of a n ed ?
XI I H e c l i mbed the w a ll for a l oo k a t G o d s o ut o f d oo rs
.
,
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,
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—
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,
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,
,
!
,
,
,
,
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”
,
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”
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,
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”
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’
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-
-
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T
N
E
I
S
O
U
S
!
A N D T O P I C S F O R S T UD Y
TH E LI F E
1
Wh a t in By ron s e a rl y e n v i r on me n t acco u n t s fo r m any of the
c h a r ac ter is t ics th a t af terw a rd d is t in gu is hed h i m ?
Wh a t h a d h is e a rl y edu ca t ion o r l ac k of edu c a t ion t o d o
w i th h is s ub s e q ue n t ca reer ?
Tell a b o ut By r on s fi rs t trip t o the c on t in e n t W h a t po em s
grew o ut of th is trip ?
C o mme n t u pon By r on s m a rr ia ge an d s e para t ion f r o m h is
w if e
Wh y d i d Byron g o t o the con t in e n t the s e con d t i me ?
C o mme n t u pon the a tt i tude of soci et y t o w a rd h i m af te r h is
fa ll f r o m fa v o r
Wh a t c a n yo u sa y of By r on s c u s t o m of p utt in g h i m s el f in t o
his po em s ?
H o w d o yo u acco u n t fo r By r on s m o rb i d de sire for a b a d
re p ut a t ion ?
Wh a t no ble q u a l i t i e s d i d By r on poss e ss ?
O utl in e By r on s w an der in g s on the con t in e n t Wh o we re
so me of h is associate s ?
I n wh a t w ay w as h is g oin g t o G ree c e c h a rac teris t ic of h i m ?
Wh a t is B r yon s p l ac e in l i ter a ture ?
Wh a t gre a t con tem po r a r i e s app re c ia ted By r on an d h is
p o et ry ?
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IV
Whe n an d h o w d i d Byron g a ther the m a teria l fo r
C H I LD E H A RO L D
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The fi rs t tw o can t os a re ver y d iff ere n t f r o m the l as t tw o
Wh a t is th a t d i ff ere nc e an d h o w d o yo u acco u n t fo r it ?
In
C an t o I II h as bee n ca lled the b e s t of the fo ur can t os
wh a t re sp e c t is the s t ateme n t true ?
H o w d o yo u acco u n t fo r the s u per io r q u a l i t i e s of C an t o I V?
J udg in g f ro m C an t o IV wh a t c o u ld yo u inf er a s t o the h a b i t s
of O b s erv a t ion an d re fl e c t ion c h arac te ris t ic of the wri te r ?
Trac e on the m a p ( p 1 1 0 ) the j o urn e y of B y ron thr o ug h
It a l y as rel a ted in C an t o IV
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1 39
1 40
! UES TI ON S A N D T OP I CS F OR S T U D Y
Wh ic h d o yo u consi der the better By ron s de sc rip t i ons of
na ture o r h is de sc rip t ions of bu i ld in g s m on ume n t s et c ?
G i ve re asons
The po et S helle y infl ue n c ed By r on Tell in wh a t w ay an d
poin t o ut a passa ge in the po em t o i llu s tr a te yo ur ans wer
A ns wer a si m i l a r q ue s t ion in r eg a rd t o W o rd s w o rth
H o w d o yo u acco u n t for the f re q ue n t o utbur s t s of sad n e ss
of te n a m o u n t in g a lm os t t o de spai r ?
Wh y d o e s By r on sp e a k m os tl y in the fi rs t p erson in C an t o IV
ins te a d of sp e a k in g thr o ugh the c h arac ter of h is her o
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Wh a t a re yo ur fa v o ri te passa ge s in C anto IV ? M e n t ion
fo ur w i th r e asons fo r yo ur p re f ere nc e
J udg in g f r o m Ch i lde Ha r old s P ilgr ima ge wh a t d o yo u con
si der By r on s m os t no tew o rth y c h a r ac teris t ics as a po et ?
By r on is called a po et of rev o l t I s there ev i de nc e of h is
rev o lutiona r y te n de nci e s in th is po em ? I f so wh a t is i t ?
C o mme n t on By r on s l o ve of f reed o m as th a t l o ve is re fl e c ted
in th is po em
C o mme n t on By r on s O pinions conc er nin g the e ff e c t s of the
F re nc h R ev o lut ion as he g i ve s them in th is po em
Wh a t fi ve gre a t It a l ian wri ters d o e s By ron me n t ion in
C an t o IV ? Wh a t can we le a r n as t o h is app re cia t ion o f
the s e wr i ter s f r o m wh a t he says of them ?
C o mme n t on By r on s opinion of H o r ac e an d acco u n t fo r
th a t opinion b y g i v in g By ron s re ason fo r i t
Wh a t is the si g nificanc e of By ron s re f ere nc e s t o the M ed ici ?
Wh a t a re the c h i e f o b j e c t s of in tere s t in Ve nic e me n t ion ed b y
By r on ?
Wh a t m os t a ttr ac ted the po et s atte n t ion t o F l o re nc e ?
N a me fi ve of the p r incipa l o b j e c t s of in tere s t in R o me th a t
e sp e ciall y in tere s ted B y r on Tell wh ic h of the s e s eem t o
h a ve i m p re ss ed h i m m os t an d wh y
W li a t
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Wh a t d o yo u consi der the be s t e xa m p le of By r on s po wer t o
e xp re ss pa th os ?
Where in the po em d o e s By r on re f er t o E n gl an d an d h o w
d o e s he d o i t ?
Where an d h o w d o e s he re f er t o h is sister ?
C o mme n t u pon By r on s co m parison of Caesa r an d N apo le on
Where in C an t o IV d o e s By r on ass ume the r Ole of a prop het ?
H o w fa r h a ve h is p r op he si e s co me t o pass ?
Wh y is C h i lde H a r o ld re ca lled in s t anza c l xi v ?
C i te a passa ge in p r oof of By r on s pa t rio t is m
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i ifie d using th e Bookkee pe r process
Ne ut a lizing a g e t Ma g e si um O xide
Treatme t Da te Ma c h 2009
De ac d
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Preservat ionTech nologies
LL
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A WOR D EADER IN CO ECTIONS PRES ERVATION
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