The chain I gave was fair to view,
The lute I added sweet in sound;
The heart that offered both was true,
And ill deserved the fate it found.
The lute I added sweet in sound;
The heart that offered both was true,
And ill deserved the fate it found.
Byron
I feel in _that_ was given
A blessing never meant for me;
Thou wert too like a dream of Heaven,
For earthly Love to merit thee.
March 14, 1812.
[First published, _Childe Harold_, 1812 (Second Edition). ]
ON A CORNELIAN HEART WHICH WAS BROKEN. [36]
1.
Ill-fated Heart! and can it be,
That thou shouldst thus be rent in twain?
Have years of care for thine and thee
Alike been all employed in vain?
2.
Yet precious seems each shattered part,
And every fragment dearer grown,
Since he who wears thee feels thou art
A fitter emblem of _his own_.
March 16, 1812.
[First published, _Childe Harold_, 1812 (Second Edition). ]
THE CHAIN I GAVE.
FROM THE TURKISH.
1.
The chain I gave was fair to view,
The lute I added sweet in sound;
The heart that offered both was true,
And ill deserved the fate it found.
2.
These gifts were charmed by secret spell,
Thy truth in absence to divine;
And they have done their duty well,--
Alas! they could not teach thee thine.
3.
That chain was firm in every link,
But not to bear a stranger's touch;
That lute was sweet--till thou couldst think
In other hands its notes were such.
4.
Let him who from thy neck unbound
The chain which shivered in his grasp,
Who saw that lute refuse to sound,
Restring the chords, renew the clasp.
5.
When thou wert changed, they altered too;
The chain is broke, the music mute,
'Tis past--to them and thee adieu--
False heart, frail chain, and silent lute.
[MS. M. First published, _Corsair_, 1814 (Second Edition). ]
LINES WRITTEN ON A BLANK LEAF OF
_THE PLEASURES OF MEMORY_. [bm]
1.
Absent or present, still to thee,
My friend, what magic spells belong!
A blessing never meant for me;
Thou wert too like a dream of Heaven,
For earthly Love to merit thee.
March 14, 1812.
[First published, _Childe Harold_, 1812 (Second Edition). ]
ON A CORNELIAN HEART WHICH WAS BROKEN. [36]
1.
Ill-fated Heart! and can it be,
That thou shouldst thus be rent in twain?
Have years of care for thine and thee
Alike been all employed in vain?
2.
Yet precious seems each shattered part,
And every fragment dearer grown,
Since he who wears thee feels thou art
A fitter emblem of _his own_.
March 16, 1812.
[First published, _Childe Harold_, 1812 (Second Edition). ]
THE CHAIN I GAVE.
FROM THE TURKISH.
1.
The chain I gave was fair to view,
The lute I added sweet in sound;
The heart that offered both was true,
And ill deserved the fate it found.
2.
These gifts were charmed by secret spell,
Thy truth in absence to divine;
And they have done their duty well,--
Alas! they could not teach thee thine.
3.
That chain was firm in every link,
But not to bear a stranger's touch;
That lute was sweet--till thou couldst think
In other hands its notes were such.
4.
Let him who from thy neck unbound
The chain which shivered in his grasp,
Who saw that lute refuse to sound,
Restring the chords, renew the clasp.
5.
When thou wert changed, they altered too;
The chain is broke, the music mute,
'Tis past--to them and thee adieu--
False heart, frail chain, and silent lute.
[MS. M. First published, _Corsair_, 1814 (Second Edition). ]
LINES WRITTEN ON A BLANK LEAF OF
_THE PLEASURES OF MEMORY_. [bm]
1.
Absent or present, still to thee,
My friend, what magic spells belong!
