The works of Lord Byron A new, revised and enlarged edition, with illustrations. Edited by Ernest Hartley Coleridge and R. E. Prothero |
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 | The works of Lord Byron |  |
70
LINES ADDRESSED TO A YOUNG LADY.
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[AS THE AUTHOR WAS DISCHARGING HIS PISTOLS IN A GARDEN, TWO LADIES PASSING NEAR THE SPOT WERE ALARMED BY THE SOUND OF A BULLET HISSING NEAR THEM, TO ONE OF WHOM THE FOLLOWING STANZAS WERE ADDRESSED THE NEXT MORNING.]
1
Doubtless, sweet girl! the hissing lead,Wafting destruction o'er thy charms
And hurtling o'er thy lovely head,
Has fill'd that breast with fond alarms.
2
Surely some envious Demon's force,Vex'd to behold such beauty here,
Impell'd the bullet's viewless course,
Diverted from its first career.
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3
Yes! in that nearly fatal hour,The ball obey'd some hell-born guide;
But Heaven, with interposing power,
In pity turn'd the death aside.
4
Yet, as perchance one trembling tearUpon that thrilling bosom fell;
Which I, th' unconscious cause of fear,
Extracted from its glistening cell;—
5
Say, what dire penance can atoneFor such an outrage, done to thee?
Arraign'd before thy beauty's throne,
What punishment wilt thou decree?
6
Might I perform the Judge's part,The sentence I should scarce deplore;
It only would restore a heart,
Which but belong'd to thee before.
7
The least atonement I can makeIs to become no longer free;
Henceforth, I breathe but for thy sake,
Thou shalt be all in all to me.
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8
But thou, perhaps, may'st now rejectSuch expiation of my guilt;
Come then—some other mode elect?
Let it be death—or what thou wilt.
9
Choose, then, relentless! and I swearNought shall thy dread decree prevent;
Yet hold—one little word forbear!
Let it be aught but banishment.
| The works of Lord Byron | |