18.
Though smile and sigh alike are vain,
When severed hearts repine,
My spirit flies o'er Mount and Main,
And mourns in search of thine.
October 1, 1809.
[MS. M. First published, Childe Harold, 1812 (4to).]
STANZAS WRITTEN IN PASSING THE AMBRACIAN GULF[lower-roman 1]
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.
3.
Florence! whom I will love as well
(As ever yet was said or sung.
Since Orpheus sang his spouse from Hell)
Whilst thou art fair and I am young;
4.
Sweet Florence! those were pleasant times,
Variants
- ↑ Stanzas.—[1812.]