Part 132

Every feeling hath been shaken; Pride, which not a world could bow, Bows to thee, - by thee forsaken, Even my soul forsakes me now:

But 'tis done, - all words are idle, - Words from me are vainer still; But the thoughts we cannot bridle Force their way without the will.

Fare thee well! - thus disunited, Torn from every nearer tie, Seared in heart, and lone, and blighted, More than this I scarce can die.

George Gordon Byron [1788-1824]

"MAID OF ATHENS, ERE WE PART"

Maid of Athens, ere we part, Give, oh, give me back my heart! Or, since that has left my breast, Keep it now, and take the rest! Hear my vow before I go, Zoe mou, sas agapo. (My life, I love you.)

By those tresses unconfined, Wooed by each Aegean wind; By those lids whose jetty fringe Kiss thy soft cheeks' blooming tinge; By those wild eyes like the roe, Zoe mou, sas agapo. (My life, I love you.)

By that lip I long to taste; By that zone-encircled waist; By all the token-flowers that tell What words can never speak so well; By love's alternate joy and woe, Zoe mou, sas agapo. (My life, I love you.)

Maid of Athens! I am gone: Think of me, sweet! when alone. Though I fly to Istambol, Athens holds my heart and soul: Can I cease to love thee? No! Zoe mou, sas agapo. (My life, I love you.)

George Gordon Byron [1788-1824]

"WHEN WE TWO PARTED"

When we two parted In silence and tears, Half broken-hearted, To sever for years, Pale grew thy cheek and cold, Colder thy kiss; Truly that hour foretold Sorrow to this!

The dew of the morning Sunk chill on my brow; It felt like the warning Of what I feel now. Thy vows are all broken, And light is thy fame: I hear thy name spoken And share in its shame.

They name thee before me, A knell to mine ear; A shudder comes o'er me - Why wert thou so dear? They know not I knew thee Who knew thee too well: Long, long shall I rue thee Too deeply to tell.

In secret we met: In silence I grieve That thy heart could forget, Thy spirit deceive. If I should meet thee After long years, How should I greet thee? - With silence and tears.

George Gordon Byron [1788-1824]

"GO, FORGET ME"

Go, forget me! Why should sorrow O'er that brow a shadow fling? Go, forget me, - and to-morrow Brightly smile and sweetly sing. Smile - though I shall not be near thee. Sing - though I shall never hear thee. May thy soul with pleasure shine, Lasting as the gloom of mine.

Like the sun, thy presence glowing Clothes the meanest things in light; And when thou, like him, art going, Loveliest objects fade in night. All things looked so bright about thee, That they nothing seem without thee; By that pure and lucid mind Earthly things are too refined.

Go, thou vision, wildly gleaming, Softly on my soul that fell; Go, for me no longer beaming - Hope and Beauty, fare ye well! Go, and all that once delighted Take - and leave me, all benighted, Glory's burning, generous swell, Fancy, and the poet's shell.

Charles Wolfe [1791-1823]

LAST NIGHT

I sat with one I love last night, She sang to me an olden strain; In former times it woke delight, Last night - but pain.

Last night we saw the stars arise, But clouds soon dimmed the ether blue: And when we sought each other's eyes Tears dimmed them too!

We paced along our favorite walk, But paced in silence broken-hearted: Of old we used to smile and talk; Last night - we parted.

George Darley [1795-1846]

ADIEU

Let time and chance combine, combine, Let time and chance combine; The fairest love from heaven above, That love of yours was mine, My dear, That love of yours was mine.