The Works of Lord Byron Volume VII Part 20

IMPROMPTU.[130]

BENEATH Blessington's eyes The reclaimed Paradise Should be free as the former from evil; But if the new Eve For an Apple should grieve, What mortal would not play the Devil?

_April, 1823._ [First published, _Letters and Journals_, 1830, ii. 635.]

FOOTNOTES:

[130] [With the view of inducing these friends [Lord and Lady Blessington] to prolong their stay at Genoa, he suggested their taking a pretty villa, called "Il Paradiso," in the neighbourhood of his own, and accompanied them to look at it. Upon that occasion it was that, on the lady expressing some intention of residing there, he produced the following impromptu.--_Life_, 577.]

JOURNAL IN CEPHALONIA.

THE dead have been awakened--shall I sleep?

The World's at war with tyrants--shall I crouch?

The harvest's ripe--and shall I pause to reap?

I slumber not; the thorn is in my Couch; Each day a trumpet soundeth in mine ear, Its echo in my heart----

_June 19, 1823._ [First published, _Letters_, 1901, vi. 238.]

SONG TO THE SULIOTES.

1.

UP to battle! Sons of Suli Up, and do your duty duly!

There the wall--and there the Moat is: Bouwah![131] Bouwah! Suliotes!

There is booty--there is Beauty, Up my boys and do your duty.

2.

By the sally and the rally Which defied the arms of Ali; By your own dear native Highlands, By your children in the islands, Up and charge, my Stratiotes, Bouwah!--Bouwah!--Suliotes!

3.

As our ploughshare is the Sabre: Here's the harvest of our labour; For behind those battered breaches Are our foes with all their riches: There is Glory--there is plunder-- Then away despite of thunder!

[From an autograph MS. in the possession of Mr. Murray, now for the first time printed.]

FOOTNOTES:

[131] "Bouwah!" is their war-cry.

[LOVE AND DEATH.]

1.

I WATCHED thee when the foe was at our side, Ready to strike at him--or thee and me.

Were safety hopeless--rather than divide Aught with one loved save love and liberty.

2.

I watched thee on the breakers, when the rock Received our prow and all was storm and fear, And bade thee cling to me through every shock; This arm would be thy bark, or breast thy bier.

3.

I watched thee when the fever glazed thine eyes, Yielding my couch and stretched me on the ground, When overworn with watching, ne'er to rise From thence if thou an early grave hadst found.

4.

The earthquake came, and rocked the quivering wall, And men and nature reeled as if with wine.

Whom did I seek around the tottering hall?

For thee. Whose safety first provide for? Thine.

5.

And when convulsive throes denied my breath The faintest utterance to my fading thought, To thee--to thee--e'en in the gasp of death My spirit turned, oh! oftener than it ought.

6.

Thus much and more; and yet thou lov'st me not, And never wilt! Love dwells not in our will.

Nor can I blame thee, though it be my lot To strongly, wrongly, vainly love thee still.[132]

[First published, _Murray's Magazine_, February, 1887, vol. i. pp. 145, 146.]

FOOTNOTES:

[132] ["The last he ever wrote. From a rough copy found amongst his papers at the back of the 'Song of Suli.' Copied November, 1824.--John C. Hobhouse."

"A note, attached to the verses by Lord Byron, states they were addressed to no one in particular, and were a mere poetical Scherzo.

--J.C.H."]

LAST WORDS ON GREECE.

WHAT are to me those honours or renown Past or to come, a new-born people's cry?

Albeit for such I could despise a crown Of aught save laurel, or for such could die.

I am a fool of pa.s.sion, and a frown Of thine to me is as an adder's eye.

To the poor bird whose pinion fluttering down Wafts unto death the breast it bore so high; Such is this maddening fascination grown, So strong thy magic or so weak am I.

[First published, _Murray's Magazine_, February, 1887, vol. i. p. 146.]