The Works of Lord Byron Volume I Part 48

'--disportive play'd.

['MS. Newstead'.]]

[Footnote xvii:

By hunger prest, the keeper lull'd to sleep In slaughter thus a Lyon's fangs may steep.

['MS. Newstead'.]]

[Footnote xviii:

Through teeming herds unchecked, unawed, he roams.

['MS. Newstead'.]]

[Footnote xix:

Heedless of danger on the herbage feed.

['MS. Newstead'.]]

[Footnote xx:

----'of thee bereft In what dire perils is my brother left.'

['MS. Newstead'.]]

[Footnote xxi:

Then his lov'd boy the ruffian band surround Entangled in the tufted Forest ground.

['MS. Newstead'.]]

[Footnote xxii:

'At length a captive to the hostile crew'.

['MS. Newstead'.]]

[Footnote xxiii:

'The G.o.ddess bright transcending every star'.

['MS. Newstead'.]]

[Footnote xxiv:

'No object meets them but the earth and skies.

He burns for vengeance, rising in his wrath-- Then you, accursed, thy life shall pay for both; Then from the sheath his flaming brand he drew, And on the raging boy defenceless flew.

Nisus no more the blackening shade conceals, Forth forth he rushed and all his love reveals; Pale and confused his fear to madness grows, And thus in accents mild he greets his Foes.

"On me, on me, direct your impious steel, Let me and me alone your vengeance feel-- Let not a stripling's blood by Chiefs be spilt, Be mine the Death, as mine was all the guilt.

By Heaven and h.e.l.l, the powers of Earth and Air.

Yon guiltless stripling neither could nor dare: Spare him, oh! spare by all the G.o.ds above, A hapless boy whose only crime was Love."

He prayed in vain; the fierce a.s.sa.s.sin's sword Pierced the fair side, the snowy bosom gored; Drooping to earth inclines his lovely head, O'er his fair curls, the purpling stream is spread.

As some sweet lily, by the ploughshare broke Languid in Death, sinks down beneath the stroke; Or, as some poppy, bending with the shower, Gently declining falls a waning flower'.

['MS. Newstead'.]]

[Footnote xxv:

'Revenge his object'.

['MS. Newstead'.]]

[Footnote xxvi:

'The a.s.sa.s.sin's soul'.

['MS. Newstead'.]]

[Footnote xxvii:

'Then on his breast he sought his wonted place, And Death was lovely in his Friend's embrace'.

['MS. Newstead'.]]

[Footnote xxviii:

'Yours are the fairest wreaths of endless Fame.'

['MS. Newstead'.]]