Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, STANZAS WRITTEN IN PASSING THE AMBRACIAN GULF, by GEORGE GORDON BYRON


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STANZAS WRITTEN IN PASSING THE AMBRACIAN GULF, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Through cloudless skies, in silvery sheen
Last Line: But would not lose thee for a world.
Alternate Author Name(s): Byron, Lord; Byron, 6th Baron
Subject(s): Italy


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.

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.

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;

Sweet Florence! those were pleasant times,
When worlds were staked for ladies' eyes:
Had bards as many realms as rhymes,
Thy charms might raise new Antonies.

Though Fate forbids such things to be,
Yet, by thine eyes and ringlets curl'd!
I cannot lose a world for thee,
But would not lose thee for a world.





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