Page:The Works of Lord Byron (ed. Coleridge, Prothero) - Volume 3.djvu/63

Could this have been—a word, a look,
⁠That softly said, "We part in peace,"
Had taught my bosom how to brook,
⁠With fainter sighs, thy soul's release.
And didst thou not, since Death for thee
⁠Prepared a light and pangless dart,
Once long for him thou ne'er shalt see,
⁠Who held, and holds thee in his heart?
Oh! who like him had watched thee here?
⁠Or sadly marked thy glazing eye,
In that dread hour ere Death appear,
⁠When silent Sorrow fears to sigh,
Till all was past? But when no more
⁠'Twas thine to reck of human woe,
Affection's heart-drops, gushing o'er,
⁠Had flowed as fast—as now they flow.
Shall they not flow, when many a day^{[lower-roman 1]}
⁠In these, to me, deserted towers,
Ere called but for a time away,
⁠Affection's mingling tears were ours?
Ours too the glance none saw beside;
⁠The smile none else might understand;
The whispered thought of hearts allied,^{[lower-roman 2]}
⁠The pressure of the thrilling hand;
The kiss, so guiltless and refined,
⁠That Love each warmer wish forbore;
Those eyes proclaimed so pure a mind,
⁠Ev'n Passion blushed to plead for more.^{[lower-roman 3]}

Variants

1. And shall they not ——.—[MS.]
2. —— the walk aside.—[MS.]

3. (a) The kiss that left no sting behind
   ⁠So guiltless Passion thus forbore;
   Those eyes bespoke so pure a mind,
   ⁠That Love forgot to $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right.}$plead
   ask $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$ for more.