LOVE'S LAST ADIEU. Αει, δ' αει με φευγει.—ANACREON. THE roses of love glad the garden of life, Though nurtured 'mid weeds dropping pestilent dew, Till time crops the leaves with unmerciful knife, prunes them for ever, in love's last adieu! Or In vain with endearments we soothe the sad heart, Still Hope, breathing peace through the grief-swollen breast, Will whisper, "Our meeting we yet may renew:" With this dream of deceit half our sorrow's represt, Nor taste we the poison of love's last adieu! Oh! mark you yon pair: in the sunshine of youth Love twined round their childhood his flow'rs as they grew; They flourish awhile in the season of truth, Till chill'd by the winter of love's last adieu! Sweet lady! why thus doth a tear steal its way Down a cheek which outrivals thy bosom in hue? Yet why do I ask? - to distraction a prey, Thy reason has perish'd with love's last adieu ! Oh! who is yon misanthrope, shunning mankind? Now hate rules a heart which in love's easy chains Once passion's tumultuous blandishments knew; Despair now inflames the dark tide of his veins; He ponders in frenzy on love's last adieu ! How he envies the wretch with a soul wrapt in steel! His pleasures are scarce, yet his troubles are few, Who laughs at the pang that he never can feel, And dreads not the anguish of love's last adieu! Youth flies, life decays, even hope is o'ercast; No more with love's former devotion we sue: He spreads his young wing, he retires with the blast; The shroud of affection is love's last adieu! In this life of probation for rapture divine, Who kneels to the god, on his altar of light His cypress, the garland of love's last adieu! DAMÆTÁS. IN law an infant (1), and in years a boy, From every sense of shame and virtue wean'd; Versed in hypocrisy, while yet a child; Fickle as wind, of inclinations wild; TO MARION. MARION! why that pensive brow? (1) In law every person is an infant who has not attained the age of twenty-one. (2) "When I went up to Trinity, in 1805, at the age of seventeen and a half, I was miserable and untoward to a degree. I was wretched at leaving Harrow-wretched at going to Cambridge instead of Oxford - wretched from some private domestic circumstances of different kinds; and, consequently, about as unsocial as a wolf taken from the troop." Diary. Mr. Moore adds, "The sort of life which young Byron led at this period, between the dissipations of London and of Cambridge, without a home to welcome, or even the roof of a single relative to receive him, was but little calculated to render him satisfied either with himself or the world. Unrestricted as he was by deference to any will but his own, even the pleasures to which he was naturally most inclined prematurely palled upon him, for want of those best zests of all enjoyment - rarity and restraint." Change that discontented air; Her impulse chaste must needs refuse: She blushes, curt'sies, frowns, in short she I think, is neither here nor there) Is, that such lips, of looks endearing, Were form'd for better things than sneering Advice at least's disinterested; Counsel like mine is as a brother's, us, TO A LADY WHO PRESENTED TO THE AUTHOR A LOCK OF HAIR BRAIDED WITH HIS OWN, AND APPOINTED A NIGHT IN DECEMBER TO MEET HIM IN THE GARDEN. (1) THESE locks, which fondly thus entwine, In firmer chains our hearts confine, (1) See ante, p. 54. note. |