Childe Harold contemplates the past glories of Italy in general and Venice in particular; “And is the loviest, and must ever be the master-mould of Nature’s heavenly hand, wherein are cast the heroic and the free, the beautiful, the brave – the lords of earth and sea”. He sees there “The commonwealth of kings, the [...]
Childe’s first station on his pilgrimage through Italy is “Where Venice sate in state, thron’d on her hundred isles!”. He remembers how she was “A ruler of the waters and their powers: and such she was; – her daughters had their dowers from spoils of nations,…”. He regrets “those days are gone – but Beauty [...]
Childe Harold crosses the Alps and arrives in”Italia! too, Italia! looking on thee, full flashes on the soul the light of ages,…”. He feels “We are not what we have been, and to deem we are not what we should be,…”. He admits “I have not loved the world, not the world loved me:…”, but [...]
The pilgrim halts this time at “Clarens! by heavenly feet thy paths are trod, – undying Love’s, who here ascends a throne to which the steps are mountains;…”.and he finds “The bud which brings the swiftest thought of beauty, here extend, mingling, and made by Love, unto one mighty end”. He advises “he who hath [...]
Childe Harold dallies beside “Clear placid Leman!” and says “This quiet sail is a noiseless wing to waft me from distraction;….”. He looks to the night sky “Ye stars! which are the poetry of heaven!” and addresses as “For ye are a beauty and a mystery,… that fortune, fame, power, life, have named themselves a [...]
Lord Byron writes in glowing terms about Childe Harold getting “To look on One , whose dust was once all fire…” referring to “Here the self-torturing sophist, wild Rousseau, the apostle of affliction, he who threw enchantment over passion,…”. About whom “His love was passion’s essence – as a tree on fire by lightning;..”.He realises [...]
Childe Harold pays tribute to good men who fought on either side like Marceau “Brief, brave, and glorious was his young career,- … For he was freedom’s champion…”. He has to say “Adieu to thee fair Rhine! How long delighted the stranger fain would linger on his way!” as he goes forward on his pilgrimage [...]
Childe Harold comes to cross the Rhine “But Thou, exulting and abounding river! making thy waves a blessing as they flow through banks whose beauty would endure forever could man but leave thy bright creation so,….”.”Nor was all love shut from him, though his days of passion had consumed themselves to dust”. But yet “And [...]
Lord Byron tells how Childe Harold viewed the rise and fall of Napoleon “Conqueror and captive of the earth art thou!…..A god unto thyself ; not less the same to the astonished kingdoms all inert…”. He acknowledges that “An empire thou couldst crush, command , rebuild, but govern not thy pettiest passion…”. Childe concludes “”Tis [...]
Lord Byron ,alias Childe Harold, on his second visit abroad, first stops off at the battlefield of Waterloo; “And Harold stands upon this place of skulls, the grave of France, the deadly Waterloo!” where he wonders if the defeat of Napoleon was worth all the bloodshed; “Shall we, who struck the Lion down, shall we [...]
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