(line 1644). 9. Byron's parody of the Ten Commandments seemed blasphemous to some commentators. Radical publishers like William Hone, who in 1817 had been put on trial for the ostensible blasphemy of political satires that used the form of the Anglican Church's creed and catechism bitterly noted a double standard: books brought out by the ultra- respectable John Murray were not subject to the same reprisals as Hone's books.
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696 / GEORGE GORDON, LORD BYRON
Thou canst not be my blessing or my curse: The illusion's gone for ever, and thou art Insensible, I trust, but none the worse, And in thy stead I've got a deal of judgment, 1720 Though heaven knows how it ever found a lodgement.
216
My days of love are over, me no more The charms of maid, wife, and still less of widow, Can make the fool of which they made before, In short, I must not lead the life I did do; 1725 The credulous hope of mutual minds is o'er,
The copious use of claret is forbid too, So for a good old gentlemanly vice, I think I must take up with avarice.
217
Ambition was my idol, which was broken 1730 Before the shrines of Sorrow and of Pleasure; And the two last have left me many a token O'er which reflection may be made at leisure: Now, like Friar Bacon's brazen head, I've spoken, 'Time is, Time was, Time's past,'1 a chymic treasure2 1735 Is glittering youth, which I have spent betimes? My heart in passion, and my head on rhymes.
218
What is the end of fame? 'tis but to fill A certain portion of uncertain paper: Some liken it to climbing up a hill, 1740 Whose summit, like all hills', is lost in vapour; For this men write, speak, preach, and heroes kill,
And bards burn what they call their 'midnight taper,' To have, when the original is dust, A name, a wretched picture, and worse bust.3
219
1745 What are the hopes of man? old Egypt's King Cheops erected the first pyramid And largest, thinking it was just the thing To keep his memory whole, and mummy hid; But somebody or other rummaging,
1750 Burglariously broke his coffin's lid: Let not a monument give you or me hopes, Since not a pinch of dust remains of Cheops.
220
But I, being fond of true philosophy, Say very often to myself, 'Alas!
I. Spoken by a bronze bust in Robert Greene's Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay (1594). This comedy was based on legends about the magical power of Roger Bacon, the 13th-century Franciscan monk who was said to have built with diabolical assistance a brazen head capable of speech. 2. 'Chymic': alchemic; i.e., the 'treasure' is counterfeit gold. 3. Byron was unhappy with the portrait bust of him recently made by the Danish sculptor Thorwaldsen.
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DO N JUAN, CANTO 1 / 69 7 17551760 All things that have been born were born to die, And flesh (which Death mows down to hay) is grass;4 You've pass'd your youth not so unpleasantly, And if you had it o'er again?'twould pass? So thank your stars that matters are no worse, And read your Bible, sir, and mind your purse.' 221 1765But for the present, gentle reader! and Still gentler purchaser! the bard?that's I? Must, with permission, shake you by the hand, And so your humble servant, and good bye! We meet again, if we should understand Each other; and if not, I shall not try Your patience further than by this short sample? 'Twere well if others follow'd my example. 222 17701775'Go, little book, from this my solitude! I cast thee on the waters, go thy ways! And if, as I believe, thy vein be good, The world will find thee after many days.' When Southey's read, and Wordsworth understood, I can't help putting in my claim to praise? The four first rhymes are Southey's every line:5 For God's sake, reader! take them not for mine.
From Canto 2
[THE SHIPWRECK]
8 But to our tale: the Donna Inez sent Her son to Cadiz only to embark; To stay there had not answer'd her intent, 60 But why??we leave the reader in the dark?' Twas for a voyage that the young man was meant, As if a Spanish ship were Noah's ark, To wean him from the wickedness of earth, And send him like a dove of promise forth.
9 65 Don Juan bade his valet pack his things According to direction, then received A lecture and some money: for four springs He was to travel; and though Inez grieved, (As every kind of parting has its stings) 70
She hoped he would improve?perhaps believed: A letter, too, she gave (he never read it) Of good advice?and two or three of credit.1
4. An echo of Isaiah 40.6 and 1 Peter 1.24: 'All 'Epilogue to the Lay of the Laureate.' flesh is grass.' 1. Letters of credit allowed travelers to obtain cash 5. The lines are part of the last stanza of Southey's from an international network of bankers.
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69 8 / GEORGE GORDON, LORD BYRON
10 In the mean time, to pass her hours away, Brave Inez now set up a Sunday school 75
For naughty children, who would rather play (Like truant rogues) the devil, or the fool; Infants of three years old were taught that day, Dunces were whipt, or set upon a stool: The great success of Juan's education, so Spurr'd her to teach another generation.
11 Juan embark'd?the ship got under way, The wind was fair, the water passing rough; A devil of a sea rolls in that bay, As I, who've cross'd it oft, know well enough; 85 And, standing upon deck, the dashing spray Flies in one's face, and makes it weather-tough: And there he stood to take, and take again, His first?perhaps his
