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G E O R G E G O R D O N , LORD BYRON

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To WOOandLord knows what beside, And swam for Love, as I for Glory; 5 'Twere hard to say who fared the best: Sad mortals! thus the gods still plague you! He lost his labor, I my jest; For he was drowned, and I've the ague. 0

20 1810

chills and fever 1812

She Walks in Beauty

She walks in beauty, like the night Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that's best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes: Thus mellowed to that tender light Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

io

One shade the more, one ray the less, Had half impaired the nameless grace Which waves in every raven tress, Or softly lightens o'er her face; Where thoughts serenely sweet express How pure, how dear their dwelling place. 3 And on that cheek, and o'er that brow, So soft, so calm, yet eloquent, The smiles that win, the tints that glow, But tell of days in goodness spent, A mind at peace with all below, A heart whose love is innocent! 1815

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1814

The Destruction of Sennacherib 2

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The Assyrian came down like the wolf on the fold, And his cohorts were gleaming in purple and gold; And the sheen of their spears was like stars on the sea, W h e n the blue wave rolls nightly on deep Galilee.
2. Assyrian king, w h o s e armies, while besieging J e r u s a l e m (701 B.C.E.), were attacked by a violent plague (2 Kings 19.35).