Vain is each threat, or supplicating

prayer; He drives them exiles from their blest

abode, To roam

a dreary world in deep despair No friend, no home, no refuge, but

their God."

wave.

13. Hark! how the hall, resounding to the

strain, Shakes with the martial music's novel

din ! The heralds of a warrior's haughty

reign, High crested banners wave thy walls

17. Not unaveng'd the raging Baron yields; The blood of traitors smears the

purple plain; Unconquer'd still, his falchion there he

wields, And days of glory yet for him remain.

18. Still, in that hour, the warrior wish'd to

strew Self-gathered laurels on a self-sought

grave; But Charles' protecting genius hither

flew, The monarch's friend, the monarch's hope, to save.

19. Trembling, she snatch'd him, from th'

unequal strife,
In other fields the torrent to repel;

1 Newstead sustained a considerable siege in the war between Charles I. and his Parliament.

2 Lord Byron and his brother Sir William held high commands in the royal army.

The

23. Hush'd is the harp, unstrung the war

like lyre, The minstrel's palsied hand reclines

in death; No more he strikes the quivering chords

with fire, Or sings the glories of the martial

28. The legal Ruler ?

the helm, He guides through gentle seas, the

prow of state; Hope cheers, with wonted smiles, the

peaceful realm, And heals the bleeding wounds

of wearied Hate.

A violent tem

1 This is an Historical fact. pest occurred immediately subsequent to death or interment of Cromwell, which casioned many disputes between his partisans and the cavaliers: both interpreted the air cumstance into divine interposition; but whether as approbation or condemnation, we leave the casuists of that age to decide. I have made such use of the occurrence as suited the subject of my poem.

• Charles II.

33. Ak happy days! too happy to endure ! Such simple sports our plain fore

fathers knew: No splendid vices glitter'd to allure; Their joys were many, as their cares were few,

34. From these descending, Sons to Sires

succeed; Time steals along, and Death uprears

his dart; Another Chief impels the foaming steed, Another Crowd pursue the panting

39. Haply thy sun, emerging yet may shine,

Thee to irradiate with meridian ray; Hours, splendid as the past, may still

be thine, And bless thy future as thy former day. [First printed, January, 1807.]

TO GEORGE, EARL DELAWARR.

I.

Oh! yes, I will own we were dear to

each other; The friendships of childhood, though

fleeting, are true;

The love which you felt was the love of

a brother, Nor less the affection I cherish'd for you.

2. But Friendship can vary her gentle

dominion; The attachment of years, in a moment

expires: Like Love, too, she moves on a swift

waving pinion, í But glows not, like Love, with unquenchable fires.

3. Full oft have we wander'd through Ida

together, And blest were the scenes of our

youth, I allow: In the spring of our life, how serene is

the weather!
But winter's rude tempests
gathering now.

4. No more with Affection shall Memory

blending, The wonted delights of our child

hood retrace: When Pride steels the bosom, the

heart is unbending, And what would be Justice appears a disgrace.

5. However, dear George, for I still must

esteem you The few, whom I love, I can never

upbraid; The chance, which has lost, may in

future redeem you, Repentance will cancel the vow you have made.

6. I will not complain, and though chill'd

is affection, With me no corroding resentment

shall live: My bosom is calm'd by the simple

reflection, That both may be wrong, and that

both should forgive.

7. You knew, that my soul, that my heart,

my existence, If danger demanded, were wholly

your own; You knew me unalter'd, by years or

by distance, Devoted to love and to friendship alone.

8. You knew, - but away with the vain

retrospection! The bond of affection no longer

endures; Too late you may droop o'er the fond

recollection, And sigh for the friend, who was formerly yours.

9. For the present, we part,

- I will hope not for ever; ? For time and regret will restore you

at last: To forget our dissension we both should

endeavour, I ask no atonement, but days like the past.

[First published, June, 1807.]

are

DAMTAS.

In law an infant, and in years a boy, In mind a slave to every vicious joy; From every sense of shame and virtue

wean'd, In lies an adept, in deceit a fiend; Vers'd in hypocrisy, while yet a child; Fickle as wind, of inclinations wild; Woman his dupe, his heedless friend a

tool; Old in the world, though scarcely broke

from school; Damætas ran through all the maze of

sin, And found the goal, when others just Ev'n still conflicting passions shake his

soul, And bid him drain the dregs of Pleas

ure's bowl; But, pallid with vice, he breaks his

former chain, And what was once his bliss appears his bane.

[First published, June, 1807.]

Of soothing compliments divested,
Advice at least's disinterested;
Such is my artless song to thee,
From all the flow of Flatt'ry free;
Counsel like mine is as a brother's,
My heart is given to some others;
That is to say, unskill'd to cozen,
It shares itself among a dozen.

TO MARION.' MARION! why that pensive brow? What disgust to life hast thou? Change that discontented air; Frowns become not one so fair. Tis not Love disturbs thy rest, Love's a stranger to thy breast: He, in dimpling smiles, appears, Ur mourns in sweetly timid tears; Or bends the languid eyelid down, But shuns the cold forbidding frown. Then resume thy former fire, me will love, and all admire! A bile that icy aspect chills us, Saght but cool Indiff'rence thrills us. Bould'st thou wand'ring hearts beguile, cile, at least, or seem to smile; Eres like thine were never meant To hide their orbs in dark restraint; Site of all thou fain would'st say, Still in fruant beams they play. Tay lips — but here my modest Muse Her impulse chaste must needs refuse: be blushes, curt sies, frowns, – in

short She Dreads lest the Subject should trans

port me; And Aying off, in search of Reason, Brings Prudence back in proper season. All I shall, therefore, say (whate'er I think, is neither here nor there,) Is, that such lips, of looks endearing, il'ere form'd for better things than

Marion, adieu! oh, prythee slight

not This warning, though it may delight

not; And, lest my precepts be displeasing, To those who think remonstrance

teasing, At once I'll tell thee our opinion, Concerning Woman's soft Dominion: Howe'er we gaze, with admiration, On eyes of blue or lips carnation; Howe'er the flowing locks attract us, Howe'er those beauties may distract us; Still fickle, we are prone to rove, These cannot fix our souls to love; It is not too severe a stricture, To say they form a pretty picture; But would'st thou see the secret chain, Which binds us in your humble train, To hail you Queens of all Creation, Know, in a word, 'lis Animation.

BYRON, January 10, 1807. [First published, June, 1807.)

OSCAR OF ALVA."

I.

How sweetly shines, through azure

skies, The lamp of Heaven on Lora's shore; Where Alva's hoary turrets rise,

And hear the din of arms no more!

2.

But often has yon rolling moon,

On Alva's casques of silver play'd; And view'd, at midnight's silent noon,

Her chiefs in gleaming mail array’d: