The tone, that taught me to rejoice, But sweet to me from none but thine; But where is thine ?-Ah! where art thou? Oft have I borne the weight of ill, But never bent beneath till now! Well hast thou left in Life's best bloom' I would not wish thee here again : Thy virtues seek a fitter sphere, Impart some portion of thy bliss, To wean me from mine anguish here. Teach me too early taught by thee! To bear, forgiving and forgiven: On earth thy love was such to me; It fain would form my hope in Heaven!". October 11, 1811. [First published, Childe Harold, 1812 (4to).] (b) The kiss that left no sting behind, So guiltless Love each wish forebore; Those eyes proclaimed so pure a mind, That Passion blushed to smile for more. [Pencilled alternative stanzas.] i. Well hast thou fled --[MS. erased.] ii. If judging from my present pain That rest alone- --[MS. erased.] If rest alone is in the tomb.-[MS.] iii. So let it be my hope in Heaven.—[MS. erased.] AWAY, AWAY, YE NOTES OF WOE!11 I. AWAY, away, ye notes of Woe ! Be silent, thou once soothing Strain, I dare not trust those sounds again." 2. The voice that made those sounds more sweet' A dirge, an anthem o'er the dead! And all that once was Harmony Is worse than discord to my heart ! The well remembered Echoes thrill; I hear a voice I would not hear, A voice that now might well be still: i. Stanzas.-[MS. ii. I dare not hear Editions 1812-1832.] -.~[MS. erased.] iii. But hush the chords -. -.-[MS. erased.] iv. I dare not gaze.—[MS. erased.] v. The voice that made that song more sweet.-[MS.] vi. 'Tis silent now —.—[MS.] 1. ["I wrote it a day or two ago, on hearing a song of former days."--Letter to Hodgson, December 8, 1811, Letters, 1898, ii, 82.] Yet oft my doubting Soul 'twill shake; 4. Sweet Thyrza! waking as in sleep, Then turned from earth its tender beam. Must pass, when Heaven is veiled in wrath, Will long lament the vanished ray That scattered gladness o'er his path. December 8, 1811. [First published, Childe Harold, 1812 (4to).] ONE STRUGGLE MORE, AND I AM FREE. I. ONE struggle more, and I am free From pangs that rend my heart in twain; One last long sigh to Love and thee, Then back to busy life again. It suits me well to mingle now With things that never pleased before: Though every joy is fled below, iii. What future grief can touch me more? iv. i. To Thyrza.-[Editions 1812-1831.] ii. From pangs that tear .-[MS.] Such pangs that tear. -[MS. erased.] iii. With things that moved me not before.—[MS. erased.] 2. Then bring me wine, the banquet bring; That smiles with all, and weeps with none. 3. In vain my lyre would lightly breathe! Though Pleasure fires the maddening soul, 4. On many a lone and lovely night 5. When stretched on Fever's sleepless bed, And sickness shrunk my throbbing veins, i. It would not be, so hadst not thou Withdrawn so soon. i. ""Tis comfort still," I faintly said," "That Thyrza cannot know my pains:' 1 My life, when Thyrza ceased to live! 6. My Thyrza's pledge in better days,ii. Is silent-ah, were mine as still! 7. Thou bitter pledge! thou mournful token! Or break the heart to which thou'rt pressed. Oh! what are thousand living loves [First published, Childe Harold, 1812 (4to).] how oft I said.—[MS. erased.] ii. Like freedom to the worn-out slave.-[MS.] A boon 'twas idle then to give, Relenting Health in mocking gave.-[MS. B. M. erased.] iii. Dear simple gift --[MS. erased.] 1. [Compare My Epitaph: "Youth, Nature and relenting Jove." -Letter to Hodgson, October 3, 1810, Letters, 1898, i. 298.] |