Page:The Works of Lord Byron (ed. Coleridge, Prothero) - Volume 2.djvu/322

286 My breast, or that of others, for a while.

Fame is the thirst of youth,—but I am not

So young as to regard men's frown or smile,

As loss or guerdon of a glorious lot;—

I stood and stand alone,—remembered or forgot.

CXIII.

I have not loved the World, nor the World me;

I have not flattered its rank breath, nor bowed

To its idolatries a patient knee,

Nor coined my cheek to smiles,—nor cried aloud

In worship of an echo: in the crowd

They could not deem me one of such—I stood

Among them, but not of them —in a shroud

Of thoughts which were not their thoughts, and still could,

Had I not filed my mind, which thus itself subdued.N23