But one sad losel soils a name for aye,
However mighty in the olden time;
Nor all that heralds rake from coffin'd clay,

Nor florid prose, nor honied lies of rhyme
Can blazon evil deeds, or consecrate a crime.

. IV. Childe Harold bask'd him in the noon-tide sun, Disporting there like any other fly; Nor deem'd before his little day was done One blast might chill him into misery. But long ere scarce a third of his pass'd by, Worse than adversity the Childe befel ; He felt the fulness of satiety :

Then loathed he in his native land to dwell, Which seem'd to him more lone than Eremite's sad

cell.

For he through Sin's long labyrinth had run,
Nor made atonement when he did amiss,
Had sigh'd to many though he lov'd but one,
And that loved one, alas ! could ne'er be his.
Ah, happy she ! to 'scape from him whose kiss
Had been pollution unto aught so chaste;
Who soon had left her charms for vulgar bliss,

And spoild her goodly lands to gild his waste, Nor calm domestic peace had ever deign'd to taste.

VI. And now Childe Harold was sore sick at heart; And from his fellow bacchanals would flee;

Tis said, at times the sullen tear would start, But Pride congeal'd the drop within his ee: Apart he stalk'd in joyless reverie, And from his native land resolved to go, And visit scorching climes beyond the sea;

With pleasure drugg'd he almost long'd for wo, And e'en for change of scene would seek the shades

below.

a VII. The Childe departed from his father's håll: It was a vast and venerable pile; So old, it seemed only not to fall, Yet strength was pillard in each massy aisle. Monastic dome! condemned to uses vile ! Where Superstition once had made her den Now Paphian girls were known to sing and smile : And monks might deem their time was come

agen, If ancient tales say true, nor wrong these holy men.

VIII. Yet oft-times in his maddest mirthful mood Strange pangs would flash along Childe Harold's

brow, As if the memory of some deadly feud Or disappointed passion lurk'd below: But this none knew, nor hap'ly card to know ; For bis was not that open, artless soul That feels relief by bidding sorrow flow, Nor sought he friend to counsel or condole, Whate'er this grief mote be, which he could not

control.

IX. And none did love him—though to hall and bower He gather'd revellers from far and near, He knew them fatt'rers of the festal hour; The heartless parasites of present cheer. Yea! none did love him-not his lemans dearBut pomp and power alone are woman's care, And where these are light Eros finds a feere ;

Maidens, like moths, are ever caught by glare, And Mammon wins his way where Seraphs might despair.

X. . Childe Harold had a mother not forgot, 'Though parting from that mother he did shun; A sister whom he loved, but saw her not Before his weary pilgrimage begun: If friends he had, he bade adieu to none. Yet deem not thence his breast a breast of steel; Ye, who have known what 'tis to doat upon

A few dear objects, will in sadness feel Such partings break the heart they fondly hope to heal.

XI. His house, his home, his heritage, his lands, The laughing dames in whom he did delight, Whose large blue eyes, fair locks, and snowy

hands, Might shake the saintship of an anchorite, And long had fed his youthful appetite; His goblets brimm'd with every costly wine, And all that mote to luxury invite, Without a sigh he left, to cross the brine, And traverse Paynim shores, and pass Earth's cen.

tral line.

XII. The sails were fill'd, and fair the light winds blew, As glad to waft him from his native home; And fast the white rocks faded from his view, And soon were lost in circumambient foam; And then, it may be, of his wish to roam Repented he, but in his bosom slept The silent thought, nor from his lips did come

One word of wail, whilst others sate and wept, And to the reckless gales unmanly moaning kept.

XIII.
But when the sun was sinking in the sea
He seized his harp, which he at times could

string,
And strike, albeit with untaught melody,
When deem'd he no strange ear was listening :
And now his fingers o'er it he did fing,
And tuned his farewell in the dim twilight,
While flew the vesset on her snowy wing,

And fleeting shores receded from his sight,
Thus to the elements he pour'd his last " Good

Night.”

4 ADIEU, adieu! my native shore

Fades o'er the waters blue ;
The Night-winds sigh, the breakers roar,

And shrieks the wild seamew.
Yon Sun that sets upon the sea

We follow in his flight;
Farewell awhile to him and thee,

My native land-Good Night!:

2.
“ A few short hours and He will rise

To give the Morrow birth;
And I shall hail the main and skies,

But not my mother Earth.
Deserted is my own good hall,

Its hearth is desolate ; .
Wild weeds are gathering on the wall ;

My dog howls at the gate.

- 3. .
. “Come hither, hither, my little page!

Why dost thou weep and wail ?
TOL, I. B

Or dost thou dread the billows' rage,

Or tremble at the gale?
But dash the tear drop from thine eye;

Our ship is swift and strong:
Our feetest falcon scarce can fly

More merrily along?"

4.

* Let winds be shrill, let waves roll high,

I fear not wave nor wind;
Yet marvel not, Sir Childe, that I

Am sorrowful in mind;
For I have from my father gone,

A mother whom I love,
And have no friend, save these alone,

But thee-and one above,

My father bless'd me fervently;

Yet did not much complain ; But sorely will my mother sigh

Till I come back again.'“ Enough, enough, my little lad!

Such tears become thine eye: If I thy guiltless bosom had

Mine own would not be dry.

" Come hither, hither, my staunch yeoman,

Why dost thou look so pale ?
Or dost thou dread a French foeman ?

Or shiver at the gale?”
• Deem'st thou I tremble for my life?

Sir Childe, I'm not so weak; But thinking on an absent wife .

Will blanch a faithful cheek.