Page:The Works of Lord Byron (ed. Coleridge, Prothero) - Volume 1.djvu/134

94 Here came, the rising fray to quell,

And, here, he falter'd forth his last farewell;

And, here, one night abroad they dared to roam,

While bold bravely staid at home;"

While thus they speak, the hour must soon arrive,

When names of these, like ours, alone survive:

Yet a few years, one general wreck will whelm

The faint remembrance of our fairy realm.

Dear honest race! though now we meet no more,

One last long look on what we were before—

Our first kind greetings, and our last adieu—

Drew tears from eyes unus'd to weep with you.

Through splendid circles, Fashion's gaudy world,

Where Folly's glaring standard waves unfurl'd,

I plung'd to drown in noise my fond regret,

And all I sought or hop'd was to forget:

Vain wish! if, chance, some well-remember'd face,

Some old companion of my early race,

Advanc'd to claim his friend with honest joy,

My eyes, my heart, proclaim'd me still a boy;

The glittering scene, the fluttering groups around,

Were quite forgotten when my friend was found;

The smiles of Beauty, (for, alas! I've known

What 'tis to bend before Love's mighty throne;)

The smiles of Beauty, though those smiles were dear,

Could hardly charm me, when that friend was near:

My thoughts bewilder'd in the fond surprise,