Page:The Works of Lord Byron (ed. Coleridge, Prothero) - Volume 3.djvu/100

5.
Think that, whate'er to others, thou
Hast seen each selfish thought subdued:
I bless thy purer soul even now,
Even now, in midnight solitude.

6.
Oh, God! that we had met in time,
Our hearts as fond, thy hand more free;
When thou hadst loved without a crime,
And I been less unworthy thee!^{[lower-roman 1]}

7.
Far may thy days, as heretofore,^{[lower-roman 2]}
From this our gaudy world be past!
And that too bitter moment o'er,
Oh! may such trial be thy last.

8.
This heart, alas! perverted long,
Itself destroyed might there destroy;
To meet thee in the glittering throng,
Would wake Presumption's hope of joy.^{[lower-roman 3]}

9.
Then to the things whose bliss or woe,
Like mine, is wild and worthless all,
That world resign—such scenes forego,
Where those who feel must surely fall.

10.
Thy youth, thy charms, thy tenderness—
Thy soul from long seclusion pure;

Variants

1. And I been not unworthy thee.—[MS. M.]
2. Long may thy days ——.—[MS. M.]
3. Might make my hope of guilty joy.—[MS.]