target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="#ulink_9a1bb633-8bc5-55e5-acce-6f465fe971e8">v And from his native land resolved to go, And visit scorching climes beyond the sea;26 With pleasure drugged, he almost longed for woe, And e'en for change of scene would seek the shades below.
VII.
The Childe departed from his father's hall:
It was a vast and venerable pile;
So old, it seeméd only not to fall,
Yet strength was pillared in each massy aisle.
Monastic dome! condemned to uses vile!w Where Superstition once had made her den Now Paphian girls were known to sing and smile;x And monks might deem their time was come agen,27 If ancient tales say true, nor wrong these holy men.
VIII. y
Yet oft-times in his maddest mirthful mood
Strange pangs would flash along Childe Harold's brow,z As if the Memory of some deadly feud Or disappointed passion lurked below: But this none knew, nor haply cared to know; For his was not that open, artless soul That feels relief by bidding sorrow flow, Nor sought he friend to counsel or condole, Whate'er this grief mote be, which he could not control.
IX.aa
And none did love him!—though to hall and bower28 He gathered revellers from far and near, He knew them flatterers of the festal hour, The heartless Parasites of present cheer. Yea! none did love him—not his lemans dear—ab29 But pomp and power alone are Woman's care, And where these are light Eros finds a feere;30 Maidens, like moths, are ever caught by glare, And Mammon wins his way where Seraphs might despair.
X.
Childe Harold had a mother—not forgot,ac Though parting from that mother he did shun; A sister whom he loved, but saw her not31 Before his weary pilgrimage begun: If friends he had, he bade adieu to none.ad Yet deem not thence his breast a breast of steel:ae32 Ye, who have known what 'tis to dote upon A few dear objects, will in sadness feel Such partings break the heart they fondly hope to heal.
XI.
His house, his home, his heritage, his lands,af The laughing dames in whom he did delight,ag Whose large blue eyes, fair locks, and snowy hands, Might shake the Saintship of an Anchorite, And long had fed his youthful appetite; His goblets brimmed with every costly wine, And all that mote to luxury invite, Without a sigh he left, to cross the brine, And traverse Paynim shores, and pass Earth's central line.ah33
XII.
The sails were filled, and fair the light winds blew,ai As glad to waft him from his native home; And fast the white rocks faded from his view, And soon were lost in circumambient foam: And then, it may be, of his wish to roam Repented he, but in his bosom slept34 The silent thought, nor from his lips did come One word of wail, whilst others sate and wept, And to the reckless gales unmanly moaning kept.
XIII.
But when the Sun was sinking in the sea
He seized his harp, which he at times could string,
And strike, albeit with untaught melody,
When deemed he no strange ear was listening:
And now his fingers o'er it he did fling,
And tuned his farewell in the dim twilight;
While flew the vessel on her snowy wing,
And fleeting shores receded from his sight,
Thus to the elements he poured his last "Good Night."35
CHILDE HAROLD'S GOOD NIGHT.
1.
"Adieu, adieu! my native shore
Fades o'er the waters blue;
The night-winds sigh, the breakers roar,
And shrieks the wild sea-mew.
Yon Sun that sets upon the sea
We follow in his flight;
Farewell awhile to him and thee,
My native Land—Good Night!
2.
"A few short hours and He will rise
To give the Morrow birth;
And I shall hail the main and skies,
But not my mother Earth.
Deserted is my own good Hall,
Its hearth is desolate;
Wild weeds are gathering on the wall;
My Dog howls at the gate.
3.
"Come hither, hither, my little page36 Why dost thou weep and wail? Or dost thou dread the billows' rage, Or tremble at the gale? But dash the tear-drop from thine eye; Our ship is swift and strong: Our fleetest falcon scarce can flyaj More merrily along."ak
