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Lady Byron's Reply to Lord Byron's "Fare Thee Well."
"As to the author of the reply, I have for years been trying to find out, but unsuccessfully. One or two gentlemen, whose opinions on this subject are well worthy of attention, have said in a joking way that the author must be Byron himself, as the lines are so very beautiful and appropriate. I certainly do not think Lady Byron was the author. From all that I can glean from the oldest inhabitants in this neighbourhood she was always held in the highest respect, a good, kind, domestic lady; but no one seems to give her credit for much poetic taste, let alone faculty."—Correspondent Newcastle Weekly Chronicle.
Yes, farewell: farewell for ever;
Thou thyself hast fixed our doom;
Bade hope's fairest blossom wither,
Never more for me to bloom!
Thou thyself hast fixed our doom;
Bade hope's fairest blossom wither,
Never more for me to bloom!
Unforgiving thou hast called me;
Didst thou ever say forgive?
For the wretch whose wiles enthralled thee,
Thou didst seem alone to live.
Didst thou ever say forgive?
For the wretch whose wiles enthralled thee,
Thou didst seem alone to live.
Short the space which Time had given
To complete thy love's decay!
By unhallowed passion driven,
Soon thy wishes wildly stray.
To complete thy love's decay!
By unhallowed passion driven,
Soon thy wishes wildly stray.
Lived for me that feeling tender,
Which thy verse so well can show?
From my arms why didst thou wander—
My endearments why forego?
Which thy verse so well can show?
From my arms why didst thou wander—
My endearments why forego?
Rapt in dreams of joy abiding,
On thy breast my head hath lain,
In thy love and truth confiding—
Bliss I ne'er can know again!
On thy breast my head hath lain,
In thy love and truth confiding—
Bliss I ne'er can know again!
When thy heart, by me glanced ever,
First displayed the guilty stain,
Would these eyes had closed for ever,
Not to weep thy crimes again!
First displayed the guilty stain,
Would these eyes had closed for ever,
Not to weep thy crimes again!
But by Heaven's recording spirit
May that wish forgotten be!
Life, though now a load, I'd bear it
For the babe I've borne to thee—
May that wish forgotten be!
Life, though now a load, I'd bear it
For the babe I've borne to thee—