Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ON THE QUOTATION, by GEORGE GORDON BYRON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ON THE QUOTATION, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: And 'thy true faith can altar never?' -
Last Line: Than thy young heart has been to me.
Alternate Author Name(s): Byron, Lord; Byron, 6th Baron
Subject(s): Love – Nature Of


'AND MY TRUE FAITH CAN ALTER NEVER,
THOUGH THOU ART GONE PERHAPS FOREVER.'

AND 'thy true faith can alter never?' --
Indeed it lasted for a -- week!
I know the length of Love's forever,
And just expected such a freak.
In peace we met, in peace we parted,
In peace we vow'd to meet again,
And though I find thee fickle-hearted
No pang of mine shall make thee vain.

One gone -- 't was time to seek a second;
In sooth 't were hard to blame thy haste.
And whatsoe'er thy love be reckon'd,
At least thou hast improved in taste:
Though one was young, the next was younger,
His love was new, mine too well known --
And what might make the charm still stronger,
The youth was present, I was flown.

Seven days and nights of single sorrow!
Too much for human constancy!
A fortnight past, why then to-morrow
His turn is come to follow me:
And if each week you change a lover,
And so have acted heretofore,
Before a year or two is over
We'll form a very pretty corps.

Adieu, fair thing! without upbraiding
I fain would take a decent leave;
Thy beauty still survives unfading,
And undeceived may long deceive.
With him unto thy bosom dearer
Enjoy the moments as they flee;
I only wish his love sincerer
Than thy young heart has been to me.





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