POEMS. I. 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, 2. And when by thee that name is read, Perchance in some succeeding year, Reflect on me as on the dead, And think my heart is buried here. September 14th, 1809. II. To *** OH Lady! when I left the shore, The distant shore, which gave me birth, I hardly thought to grieve once more, To quit another spot on earth: Yet here, amidst this barren isle, Where panting Nature droops the head, Where only thou art seen to smile, I view my parting hour with dread. Though far from Albin's craggy shore, A few, brief, rolling seasons o'er, Perchance I view her cliffs again: 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, 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. |