Page:The Works of Lord Byron (ed. Coleridge, Prothero) - Volume 1.djvu/341

Rh Condemned at length to be forgotten quite, With all the pages which 'twas thine to write. But thou, at least, mine own especial pen! Once laid aside, but now assumed again, Our task complete, like Hamet's shall be free; Though spurned by others, yet beloved by me: Then let us soar to-day; no common theme, No Eastern vision, no distempered dream Inspires—our path, though full of thorns, is plain; Smooth be the verse, and easy be the strain.

When Vice triumphant holds her sov'reign sway, Obey'd by all who nought beside obey; When Folly, frequent harbinger of crime, Bedecks her cap with bells of every Clime; When knaves and fools combined o'er all prevail, And weigh their Justice in a Golden Scale; E'en then the boldest start from public sneers, Afraid of Shame, unknown to other fears,