Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
George Gordon Byron, Lord Byron. 17881824597. When we Two parted
WHEN we two parted | |
In silence and tears, | |
Half broken-hearted | |
To sever for years, | |
Pale grew thy cheek and cold, | 5 |
Colder thy kiss; | |
Truly that hour foretold | |
Sorrow to this. | |
The dew of the morning | |
Sunk chill on my brow— | 10 |
It felt like the warning | |
Of what I feel now. | |
Thy vows are all broken, | |
And light is thy fame: | |
I hear thy name spoken, | 15 |
And share in its shame. | |
They name thee before me, | |
A knell to mine ear; | |
A shudder comes o’er me— | |
Why wert thou so dear? | 20 |
They know not I knew thee, | |
Who knew thee too well: | |
Long, long shall I rue thee, | |
Too deeply to tell. | |
In secret we met— | 25 |
In silence I grieve, | |
That thy heart could forget, | |
Thy spirit deceive. | |
If I should meet thee | |
After long years, | 30 |
How should I greet thee? | |
With silence and tears. |