But wheresoe'er I now may roam, Through scorching clime, and varied sea, Though Time restore me to my home, I ne'er shall bend mine eyes on thee: On thee, in whom at once conspire All charms which heedless hearts can move, Whom but to see is to admire, And, oh! forgive the word-to love. Forgive the word, in one who ne'er With such a word can more offend; And since thy heart I cannot share, Believe me, what I am, thy friend. And who so cold as look on thee, Thou lovely wand'rer, and be less? Nor be, what man should ever be, The friend of Beauty in distress? Ah! who would think that form had past Through Danger's most destructive path, Where free Byzantium once arose; And Stamboul's Oriental halls The Turkish tyrants now enclose; Though mightiest in the lists of fame, That glorious city still shall be; On me 'twill hold a dearer claim, As spot of thy nativity: And though I bid thee now farewell, When I behold that wond'rous scene, Since where thou art I may not dwell, "Twill soothe to be, where thou hast been. September, 1809. III. STANZAS Written in passing the Ambracian Gulph, 1. THROUGH cloudless skies, in silvery sheen, Full beams the moon on Actium's coast: And on these waves, for Egypt's queen, The ancient world was won and lost. 2. And now upon the scene I look, The azure grave of many a Roman; Where stern Ambition once forsook His wavering crown to follow woman. 3. Florence! whom I will love as well As ever yet was said or sung, (Since Orpheus sang his spouse from hell) Whilst thou art fair and I am young; 4. Sweet Florence! those were pleasant times, When worlds were staked for ladies' eyes: Had bards as many realms as rhymes, Thy charms might raise new Anthonies. 5. Though Fate forbids such things to be, I cannot lose a world for thee, But would not lose thee for a world. IV. STANZAS Composed October 11th 1809, during the night, in a thunder-storm; when the guides had lost the road to Zitza, near the range of mountains formerly called Pindus, in Albania. 1. CHILL and mirk is the nightly blast, Where Pindus' mountains rise, And angry clouds are pouring fast The vengeance of the skies. |