Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

James and Mary Ford, eds. Every Day in the Year. 1902.

April 19

Byron

By Craven Langstroth Betts (1853–1941)

O FAME, thy laurels graced a blighted pall!

’Twas Death’s and Fortune’s pact with envious Time.

The vine-wreathed Titan, clothed with power sublime,

Almost accomplished Heaven; defying all,

He braved the levin and the thunder-brawl

Scaling the cliffs of Song; his rebel prime

Pelion on Ossa planted; then with rhyme

Transcendent on his lips reeled down the wall.

He fell, hard-fighting; dire the clash and clang

Earth heard through all her limits—then sleek jays

Piped chattering funeral, and the charnel kites

Fed on the warm, proud heart; but wide outrang,

Sweet Poesy, thy plaint along the ways,

Nor, Time, shalt thou withhold him tribute rites!