Thou, Timour! in his captive's cage(1) But one-"The world was mine!" All sense is with thy sceptre gone, Or, like the thief of fire from heaven, (2) There was a day-there was an hour, (5) Unsated to resign Had been an act of purer fame And gilded thy decline Through the long twilight of all time, Despite some passing clouds of crime. (1) The cage of Bajazet, by order of Tamerlane. Prometheus. (3) In the first draught (4) "He suffered for kind acts to men At least of kingly stock; Since he was good, and thou but great, Thou canst not quarrel with thy fate."-L. E. --"The very fiend's arch mock Tolipa wanton, and suppose her chaste."-Shakspeare. [We believe there is no doubt of the anecdote here alluded to-of Napoleon's having found leisure for an unworthy amour, the very evening of his arrival at Fontainebleau. -L. E.] (5) The three last stanzas, which Lord Byron had been solicited by Mr. Murray to write, to avoid the stamp duty then imposed upon publications not exceeding a sheet, were not published with the rest of the poem. "I don't like them at all," says Lord Byron, "and they had better be left out. The fact is, I can't do any thing I am asked to do, however gladly I would; and at the end of a week my interest in a composition goes off."-L. E. The poem originally contained but eleven stanzas; the rest were afterwards added in successive editions.-P. E. (6) In one of Lord Byron's MS. Diaries, begun at Ravenna in May, 1821, we find the following:-"What shall I write? -another Journal? I think not. Any thing that comes uppermost, and call it My Dictionary. and thus despising them all. As to the retention of his power by Augustus, the thing was already settled. If he had given it up-the commonwealth was gone-the republic was long past all resuscitation. Had Brutus and Cassius gained the battle of Philippi, it would not have restored the republic. Its days ended with the Gracchi; the rest was a mere struggle of parties. You might as well cure a consumption, or restore a broken egg, as revive a state so long a prey to every uppermost soldier, as Rome had long been. As for a despotism, if Augustus could have been sure that all his successors would have been like himself-I mean not as Octavius, but Augustus) or Napoleon could have in But thou forsooth! must be a king, Where may the wearied eye repose Yes! one; the first-the last-the best- Whom envy dared not hate, Bequeath'd the name of Washington, STANZAS FOR MUSIC. (8) I SPEAK not, I trace not, I breathe not thy name, There is grief in the sound, there is guilt in the fame: But the tear which now burns on my cheek may impart The deep thoughts that dwell in that silence of heart. sured the world that none of his successors would have been like himself-the ancient or modern world might have gone on, like the empire of China, in a state of lethargic prosperity. Suppose, for instance, that, instead of Tiberius and Caligula, Augustus had been immediately succeeded by Nerva, Trajan, the Antonines, or even by Titus and his fr ther-what a difference in our estimate of himself!-So far from gaining by the contrast, I think that one half of our dislike arises from his having been heired by Tiberius-and one half of Julius Caesar's fame, from his having had his empire consolidated by Augustus.-Suppose that there had been no Octavius, and Tiberius had jumped the life be tween, and at once succeeded Julius?—And yet it is difficult to say whether hereditary right or popular choice procure the worser sovereigns. The Roman Consuls make a goodly show; but then they only reigned for a year, and were under a sort of personal obligation to distinguish themselves. It is still more difficult to say which form of go vernment is the worst-all are so bad. As for democracy. it is the worst of the whole; for what is, in fact, democracy? -an aristocracy of blackguards."— L. E. (7) On being reminded by a friend of his recent promise not to write any more for years-"There was," replied Lord Byron, "a mental reservation in my pact with the public, in behalf of anonymes; and, even had there not, the provocation was such as to make it physically impossible to pass over this epoch of triumphant tameness. Tis a s business; and, after all, I shall think higher of rhyme and reason, and very humbly of your heroic people, till-Els becomes a volcano, and sends him out again. I can't think it is all over yet."-L. E. (8) "Thou hast asked me for a song, and I enclose you an experiment, which has cost me something more than trouble, and is, therefore, less likely to be worth your taking any your proposed setting. Now, if it be so, throw it into the fire without phrase." Lord B. to Mr. Moore, May 10, 1814.-L. E. "Many of the best poetical pieces of Lord Byron, having the least amatory feeling, have been strangely distorted by his calumniators, as if applicable to the lamented circumstances of his latter life. The foregoing verses were written more than two years previously to his marriage, and t show how averse his lordship was from touching, in the most distant manner, upon the theme which might be deemed to have a personal allusion, he requested me, the morning before he last left London, either to suppress the verses entirely, or to be careful in putting the date whe they were originally written." Nathan.-P. E Too brief for our passion, too long for our peace Oh! thine be the gladness, and mine be the guilt! May, 1814. We are smother'd, at least, in respectable mud, Where the divers of Bathos lie drown'd in a heap, ADDRESS INTENDED TO BE RECITED AT And Southey's last pæan has pillow'd his sleep; THE CALEDONIAN MEETING. WHO hath not glow'd above the page where fame Hath fix'd high Caledon's unconquer'd name; The mountain-land which spurn'd the Roman chain, And baffled back the fiery-crested Dane, Whose bright claymore and hardihood of hand No foe could tame-no tyrant could command? That race is gone-but still their children breathe, And glory crowns them with redoubled wreath: O'er Gael and Saxon mingling banners shine, And, England! add their stubborn strength to thine. The blood which flow'd with Wallace flows as free, But now 'tis only shed for fame and thee! Oh! pass not by the northern veteran's claim, But give support-the world hath given him fame! The humbler ranks, the lowly brave, who bled While cheerly following where the mighty ledWho sleep beneath the undistinguish'd sod Where happier comrades in their triumph trod, To us bequeath-t is all their fate allowsThe sireless offspring and the lonely spouse: She on high Albyn's dusky hills may raise The tearful eye in melancholy gaze, Or view, while shadowy auguries disclose The Highland seer's anticipated woes, The bleeding phantom of each martial form Dim in the cloud, or darkling in the storm; While sad, she chants the solitary song, The soft lament for him who tarries longFor him, whose distant relics vainly crave The coronach's wild requiem to the brave! "Tis Heaven-not man-must charm away the woe Which bursts when Nature's feelings newly flow; (1) "The newspapers will tell you all that is to be told of emperors, etc. They have dined and supped, and shown their flat faces in all thoroughfares and several saloons. Their uniforms are very becoming, but rather short in the skirts; and their conversation is a catechism, for which, and the answers, 1 refer you to those who have heard it." Lerd B. to Mr. Moore, June 14.-P. E. (2) "His late Majesty, George the Fourth, when Prince Regent, formed a collection of miniature portraits of the ladies of his Court, the most celebrated for their beauty. The Countess of Jersey's was necessarily among them, but some pique against that lady subsequently led to its being That "Felo de se" who, half drunk with his malmsey, Walk'd out of his depth and was lost in a calm sea, Singing "Glory to God" in a spick-and-span stanza, The like (since Tom Sternhold was choked) never man sent away from Carlton House. The affair at the time made much noise in the fashionable world, and formed the subject of the condolatory address in question, from Lord Byron's pen." Finden's Illustrations.-P. E. "The newspapers have got hold (I know not how) of the Condolatory Address to Lady Jersey on the picture-abduction by our Regent, and have published them-with my name, too, smack-without even asking leave, or inquiring whether or no! D-n their impudence, and d-n every thing. It has put me out of patience, and so-I shall say no more about it." B. Letters.-L. E. What most admired each scrutinising eye If thus, fair Jersey! our desiring gaze Long may thy yet meridian lustre shine, And these must wait till every charm is gone, TO BELSHAZZAR. Aug. 1814. BELSHAZZAR! from the banquet turn, Nor in thy sensual fulness fall; Behold! while yet before thee burn The graven words, the glowing wall. Many a despot men miscall Crown'd and anointed from on high; But thou, the weakest, worst of allIs it not written, thou must die? Go! dash the roses from thy brow--- (1) This gallant officer fell in August, 1814, in his twenty. ninth year, whilst commanding, on shore, a party belonging to his ship, the Menelaus, and animating them, in storm Where thou hast tarnish'd every gem: Then throw the worthless bauble by, Which, worn by thee, even slaves contemn; And learn, like better men, to die! Oh! early in the balance weigh'd, And ever light of word and worth, Whose soul expired ere youth decay'd, And left thee but a mass of earth. To see thee moves the scorner's mirth: But tears in Hope's averted eye Lament that even thou hadst birthUnfit to govern, live, or die. ELEGIAC STANZAS ON THE DEATH OF SIR A mourner o'er the humblest grave; All earth becomes their monument! For them bewail, to them belong. Grows hush'd, their name the only sound; A theme to crowds that knew them not, Thy life, thy fall, thy fame shall be; A model in thy memory. But there are breasts that bleed with thee Where one so dear, so dauntless, fell. While Grief's full heart is fed by Fame. They cannot choose but weep the more; STANZAS FOR MUSIC. THERE be none of Beauty's daughters With a magic like thee; And like music on the waters Is thy sweet voice to me: ing the American camp near Baltimore. He was Lord ron's first-cousin; but they had never met since bey bod -L. E. When, as if its sound were causing And the midnight moon is weaving So the spirit bows before thee, STANZAS FOR MUSIC. (1) "O lachrymarum fons, tenero sacros Gray's Poemata. ON NAPOLEON'S ESCAPE FROM ELBA. ONCE fairly set out on his party of pleasure, Taking towns at his liking, and crowns at his leisure, From Elba to Lyons and Paris he goes, THERE's not a joy the world can give like that it takes Making balls for the ladies, and bows to his foes.(3) That heavy chill has frozen o'er the fountain of our tears, And though the eye may sparkle still, 'tis where the ice appears. (1) These verses were given by Lord Byron to Mr. Power, of the Strand, who has published them, with very beautiful music by Sir John Stevenson. "I feel merry enough to send you a sad song. An event, the death of poor Dorset (see antè, p. 9), and the recollection of what I once felt, and ought to have felt now, but could not-set me pondering, and finally into the train of thought which you have in your hands. I wrote them with a view to your setting them, and as a present to Power, if he would accept the words, and you did not think yourself degraded, for once in a way, by marrying them to music. I don't care what Power says to secure the property of the song, so that it is not complimentary to me, nor any thing about condescending' or "noble author'-both 'vile phrases,' as Polonius says."Lord B. to Mr. Moore.-L. E. (2) "Do you remember the lines I sent you early last year? I don't wish (like Mr. Fitzgerald) to claim the character of vates,' in all its translations, but were they not a little prophetic? I mean those beginning, 'There's not a joy the world can give,' etc., on which I pique myself as being the truest, though the most melancholy, I ever wrote." Letters, March, 1816.-L. E. B. (3) "I can forgive the rogue for utterly falsifying every line of mine Ode- which I take to be the last and uttermost stretch of human magnanimity. Do you remember the story March 27, 1815. ODE FROM THE FRENCH. WE do not curse thee, Waterloo! of a certain abbé, who wrote a treatise on the Swedish con. stitution, and proved it indissoluble and eternal! Just as he had corrected the last sheet, news came that Gustavus the Third had destroyed this immortal government. Sir,' quoth the abbé, the King of Sweden may overthrow the constitution, but not my book!!' I think of the abbé, but not with him. Making every allowance for talent and most consummate daring, there is, after all, a good deal in luck or destiny. He might have been stopped by our frigates, or wrecked in the Gulf of Lyons, which is particularly tempestuous-or-a thousand things. But he is certainly Fortune's favourite." B. Letters, March, 1815.-L. E. (4) See Rev. chap. viii. v. 7, etc. "The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood," etc. v. 8. "And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea; and the third part of the sea became blood," etc. v. 10. "And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp; and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters." v. II. "And the name of the star is called Wormwood and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter," The Chief has fallen, but not by you, Vanquishers of Waterloo! When the soldier citizen Sway'd not o'er his fellow-men- With that youthful chief competed? And thou, too, of the snow-white plume! (1) For a meanly royal name; On thy war-horse through the ranks Once as the moon sways o'er the tide, Of the eagle's burning crest- O'er glories gone the invaders march, With her heart in her voice; (1) Poor dear Murat, what an end! His white plume used to be a rallying-point in battle, like Henry the Fourth's. He refused a confessor and a bandage; so would neither suffer his soul nor body to be bandaged." B. Letters.L. E. (2) Murat's remains are said to have been torn from the grave and burnt. (3) "Talking of politics, as Caleb Quotem says, pray look at the conclusion of my Ode on Waterloo,' written in the year 1815, and, comparing it with the Duke de Berri's catastrophe in 1820, tell me if I have not as good a right to the character of Vates,' in both senses of the word, as Fitzgerald and Coleridge?- France hath twice too well been taught But in equal rights and laws, With their breath, and from their birth, But the heart and the mind, And who shall resist that proud union? FROM THE FRENCH. MUST thou go, my glorious Chief,(4) Maddening o'er that long adieu? Dear as both have been to me— With a soldier's faith for thee? Idol of the soldier's soul! First in fight, but mightiest now: Thee alone no doom can bow. Scarce dare trust a man with thee, 'Crimson tears will follow yet;' and have they not?" B. Letters, 1820.-L. E. (4) "All wept, but particularly Savary, and a Polish officer who had been exalted from the ranks by Bonaparte. He clung to his master's knees; wrote a letter to Lord Keith, entreating permission to accompany him, even in the most menial capacity, which could not be admitted." (5) "At Waterloo, one man was seen, whose left ar was shattered by a cannon-ball, to wrench it off with the other, and throwing it up in the air, exclaimed to his corades, Vive l'Empereur, jusqu'à la mort!' There wer many other instances of the like: this you may, however depend on as true."-Private Letter from Brussels. |