New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-25
BYRON ~ GREECE.
MORE FRAGMENTS FROM "CHILDE HAIR


Gone-glimmering through the dream of things
First in the race that led to Glory's goal
They won. and passd away-is this the whole?
A schoolboys tale. the wonder OF an hour!
The warriors weapon and the sophists stole
Are sought in vain and Ger each Wondering
Dim with the mist of years gray fits the shade of
power.
Look on It's broken arct. its ruind wall,
Its chambers desolate. and portals lou;
Yes this was once Ambitions airy hall,
The dome of Thought; the palace Of the Soul;
The gay recess of Wisdom and Wit
And Passions host, that never brookd control:
Can all saint, sage or sophist ever writ
People this lonely tower. this tenement refit?
Well dIdst thou speak Athenas wisest son!
"Al that We know is. nothing can be known
Why should we shrink from what we cannot
Each hath his pang but feeble sufferers groan
Pursue what Chance or Fate pToetl 6n BEST
Peace waits us on the shores OF Aeheron;a u,,os.
But Silence spreads the couch of ever welcome rest
Here let me sit upon this massy stone.
The marble columns yet mistaken base.
Here, son of Saturn! was thy iayorte throne
The latent grandeur of thy dwellingplace.
1t may not be- nor even can Fancy,s eye
Restore what time hath Iabord to defaee :,c,.
Unmoved the Moslem sits, the light Greek carols by
But who of all the plunderers OF yon fame
on high. where Paas lingerd. 10th TO flee.
The latest relic of her ancient reign;
The last the worst qu spoiIer; who was he?
Blush GaIedona sg h. thy son could ibir be-
Thy freedom men should spare what once was
Yet they could violate each saddening shrine,
And bear these affairs DER the longreuctant brine.
But most the modern Picts gnobe boast,
To rive what Goth and Turk. and Time hath
Cold as the crags upon his native coast.
His mind as barren and his heart as nara,
Is he whose head conceived. whose hand prepared,
Aught TO dispace Athenas poor remains;
Yet felt some portion of their mothers pains.
And never knew. till then the weight OF Despots
chains.
What shall it e'er be said by British tongue
ThSash in Thy name the slave; her bosom wrung
The ocean ,tSs ' queen the free Britannia, bears,
The last poor plumber from bleeding land:
Tore down those remnants ava With harPys hand
Which envious Ed fOrbore. and tyrants left to
stand.
stern Aaric and Havoc on their way?
Where Peleus's son? whom Hell in vain enthrard.
His shade from Hades upon that dread day
Bursting TO light IN terrible array!
Idly he wanderd on the Stygan shore,
Nor now preserved the walls he loved 10 shield
before.
Nor feels as lovers DER the dust they loved;
Dull Is the eye that will not weep TO see
Thy walls defaced, thy mouderinS shrines re-
moved
BY British hands which II had best behOVed
To guard those relics ne'er to be restored
Curst be the hour when from their isle they roved.
And once again thy hapess bosom gored
And snatched thy shrinking gods to northern climes
abhorrd
Land Of Albania! where Islander rose!
Theme OF the young and beacon of the wise,
And he his namesake, whose oft -batfied foes
Shrunk from his deeds OF chivalrous emprse:
Land Of Albania let me bend mine eyes
on thee thou rugged nurse OF savage men.
The cross descends, thy minarets arise,
And the pale crescent sparkleS In the glen,
Through many a cypress grove within each ctys
ken
Where sad Penelope oerlookd the wave;
And onward view'd the mount not yet forgot
Dark sappho GOULD dn not ts
That breast mbusd with such immortal fire?
If life eternal may await the Tyre.
That only Heaven TO which Earhs children may
aspire.
Twas on n Grecian autumn's gentle eve
Chde Harold haird Leucadas cape afar;
spot he long,d TO see. nor cared 70 leave:
Actium, Lepanto, fatal Trafalgar;
MK sm a0n .0r ne wG1q mot aes
In themes Of bloody fray, or gallant fight
But loathed the bravo's trade and laugh'd at mar
tal wight.
Morn dawns; and with 1t stern Albanla's hills.
Dark sulis rocks, and Pndus inland peak
Array'd IN many dun and purple streak
Disclose the dwelling OF the mountaneer:
Here roams the wolf the eagle whets his beak,
Birds. beasts OF prey and wilder men appear,
And gathering storms around convulse the closing
year.
Now Harold felt himself at length alone.
And bade TO Christian tongues long adeu:
Now he adventured on n shore unknown,
Which all admire. but many dread TO view:
His breast was armd gainst fate. his wants
few:
Peril he sought not but ne'er shrank to meet;
The scene was savage. but the scene new;
This made the ceasoless toll OF travel sweet.
Beat back keen winters blast. and welcomed sum-
mer's heat.
Here the red cross. for still the cross is hero
Though sadly scoffd at by tho circumcised
Forgcts thar pride to pamperd priesthood dear;
Churchman and yotary alike despised
Foul Superstition! howsoc'er disguised,
Idol. saint virgin. prophet. crescent, cross.
For whatsoever symbol thou art priced
Thou sacerdo,al gain, but general loss!
Who from true worships gold separate thy
dross?
Ambracias gulf behold. where once was lost
A world for woman, lovely. harmless thing.
In yonder ripping bay. their naval host,
DID many Roman chief and Asian king
TO doubtful conflict, certain slaughter bring:
Look where the second Cpsar's trophies rose
Now. like the hands that rear'd them whitening;
Imperial anarchs, doubling human woesi
God! was thy globe ordan'd for such to win and