Lord Byron – Childe Harold Canto 4 part 7
“Because the deadly days that we have seen, and vile Ambition,… are grown the pretext for the eternal thrall which nips life’s tree, and dooms man’s worst – his second fall” is something that Childe has learned on his pilgrimage but he hopes “So shall a better spring less bitter fruit bring forth”. Over the grave of a lady he wonders “Was she as those who love their lords, or they who love the lords of others?”; “Did she lean to the soft side of her heart, or wisely bar love from among her griefs?”. He ponders if “Heaven gives its favourites – early death”.
To Childe “There woos no home, nor hope, nor life, save what is here”. And he finds “There is the moral of all human tales; ’tis but the same rehearsal of the past, first Freedom, and then Glory – when that fails, Wealth, vice, corruption, – barbarism at last.”.
