POEMS. WRITTEN IN AN ALBUM: 1. As o'er the cold sepulchral stone Some name arrests the passer-by; Thus, when thou view'st this page alone, May mine attract thy pensive eye! 2. And when by thee that name is read, Reflect on me as on the dead, And think my heart is buried here. September 14th, 1809. ΤΟ OH Lady! when I left the shore, I hardly thought to grieve once more, Yet here, amidst this barren isle, Where panting Nature droops the head, I view my parting hour with dread. 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 Believe me, what I am, thy friend. Thou lovely wand'rer, and be less? The friend of Beauty in distress? Through Danger's most destructive path, Where free Byzantium once arose ; The Turkish tyrants now enclose; 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. STANZAS WRITTEN IN PASSING THE AMBRACIAN GULF, NOVEMBER 14, 1809. 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, 5. Though Fate forbids such things to be, But would not lose thee for a world. |