7]

1.

If, in the month of dark December,
Leander, who was nightly wont
(What maid will not the tale remember?)
To cross thy stream, broad Hellespont!

2.

If, when the wintry tempest roared,
He sped to Hero, nothing loth,
And thus of old thy current poured,
Fair Venus! how I pity both!

3.

For _me_, degenerate modern wretch,
Though in the genial month of May,
My dripping limbs I faintly stretch,
And think I've done a feat to-day.

4.

But since he crossed the rapid tide,
According to the doubtful story,
To woo,--and--Lord knows what beside,
And swam for Love, as I for Glory;

5.

'Twere hard to say who fared the best:
Sad mortals! thus the Gods still plague you!
He lost his labour, I my jest:
For he was drowned, and I've the ague.[8]

_May 9, 1810._
[First published, _Childe Harold_, 1812 (4to).]

LINES IN THE TRAVELLERS' BOOK AT ORCHOMENUS.[9]

IN THIS BOOK A TRAVELLER HAD WRITTEN:--

"Fair Albion, smiling, sees her son depart
To trace the birth and nursery of art:
Noble his object, glorious is his aim;
He comes to Athens, and he--writes his name."

BENEATH WHICH LORD BYRON INSERTED THE FOLLOWING:--

The modest bard, like many a bard unknown,
Rhymes on our names, but wisely hides his own;
But yet, whoe'er he be, to say no worse,
His name would bring more credit than his verse.

1810.
[First published, _Life_, 1830.]

MAID OF ATHENS, ERE WE PART.[n]

[Greek: Zoe/ mou, sa~s a)gapo~.]

1.

Maid of Athens,[10] ere we part,
Give, oh give me back my heart!
Or, since that has left my breast,
Keep it now, and take the rest!
Hear my vow before I go,
[Greek: Zoe/ mou, sa~s a)gapo~.][11]

2.

By those tresses unconfined,
Wooed by each AEgean wind;
By those lids whose jetty fringe
Kiss thy soft cheeks' blooming tinge;
By those wild eyes like the roe,
[Greek: Zoe/ mou, sa~s a)gapo~.]

3.

By t