HOURS OF IDLENESS;

A SERIES OF POEMS, ORIGINAL AND TRANSLATED.

• "Virginibus puerisque Canto."

HORACE, lib. 3, Ode 1.

Μήτ' ἄρ με μαλ αἴνες, μήτε τι νεικεί.

HOMER, ILIAD, x. 249.

"He whistled as he went for want of thought."

DRYDEN.

ΤΟ

THE RIGHT HONORABLE FREDERICK, EARL OF CARLISLE, KNIGHT OF THE GARTER, ETC., ETC.

THE SECOND EDITION OF THESE POEMS IS INSCRIBED,

BY HIS OBLIGED WARD AND AFFECTIONATE KINSMAN,

THE AUTHOR.

LORD BYRON first appeared as an author injis, that the author has not yet completed his nineNovember, 1806, when he printed a collection of teenth year. December 23, 1806." The approbapoems for distribution among his friends. The first tion which this volume received from the friends to copy of this volume, which is a thin quarto, was whom it was submitted induced Lord Byron to come presented to Mr. Beecher, who immediately per-more immediately before the public; and in the lat ceived, on looking over its pages, that some of the ter end of May, 1807, this collection, with consideracontents were by no means of a description to reflect ble alterations, the omission of some poems, and the credit on their author; and at his friendly sugges- addition of others, was reprinted and published, untion the whole impression, with the exception of der the title of "Hours of Idleness, a Series of two, or, at the most, three copies, was committed to Poems, original and translated, by George Gordon, the flames. After the destruction of this volume, Lord Byron, a Minor." This volume was als Lord Byron directed the collection to be reprinted, printed at Newark. In the four editions of this with the omission of the objectionable poems. This work, which rapidly succeded each other, many vaedition, which was confined to a hundred copies, riations are found: several corrections were made; and, like its predecessor, designed for private circu- several pieces were silently withdrawn, and replaced lation, was proceeded in so quickly, that at the end by others; and after the first edition a dedication to of about six weeks, January, 1807, it was ready for Lord Carlisle was prefixed. In the present publicadelivery. The volume was entiled "Poems on Va- tion, all those Poems from the "Private Volume," rious Occasions," and was printed at Newark by S. and the early editions of "Hours of Idleness," and J. Ridge; the author's name was not given. which were suppressed by the author, are reprinted, The dedication was, "To those friends at whose and all the variations of the different impressions request they were printed, for whose amusement or are noticed. approbation they were solely intended, these trifles are respectfully dedicated by the author," Immediately following the dedication was this notice:"The only apology necessary to be adduced in extenuation of any errors in the following collection

PREFACE.

IN submitting to the public eye the following col

• This was the only motto given in the private volume; it was retained lection, I have not only to combat the difficulties

with the other two in the first edition of Hours of Idleness, and omitted In the second.

• Printed in the first edition of Hours of Idleness; omitted in the sea

that writers of verse generally encounter, but may to others "Virum volitare per ora." I look to the incur the charge of presumption for obtruding myself few who will hear with patience "dulce est desipere on the world, when, without doubt, I might be, at in loco."-To the former worthies I resign, without my age, more usefully employed. These produc- repining, the hope of immortality, and content mytions are the fruits of the lighter hours of a young self with the not very magnificent prospect of rankman who has lately completed his nineteenth year. ing "among the mob of gentlemen who write ;"As they bear the internal evidence of a boyish mind, my readers must determine whether I dare say "with this is, perhaps, unnecessary information. Some ease," or the honor of a posthumous page in "The few were written during the disadvantages of illness Catalogue of Royal and Noble Authors," a work to and depression of spirits; under the former influ- which the peerage is under infinite obligations, inence, "CHILDISH RECOLLECTIONS," in particular, asmuch as many names of considerable length, were composed. This consideration, though it can- sound, and antiquity, are thereby rescued from the not excite the voice of Praise, may at least arrest obscurity which unluckily overshadows several volthe arm of Censure. A considerable portion of these uminous productions of their illustrious bearers. poems has been privately printed, at the request With slight hopes and some fears, I publish this and for the perusal of my friends. I am sensible first and last attempt. To the dictates of young that the partial and frequently injudicious admira- ambition may be ascribed many actions more crimtion of a social circle is not the criterion by which inal and equally absurd. To a few of my own age poetical genius is to be estimated, yet, "to do the contents may afford amusement: I trust they greatly," we must "dare greatly ;" and I have haz- will, at least, be found harmless. It is highly imarded my reputation and feelings in publishing this probable, from my situation and pursuits hereafter, volume. "I have passed the Rubicon," and must that I should ever obtrude myself a second time on stand or fall by the "cast of the die." In the latter the public; nor even in the very doubtful event of event, I shall submit without a murmur; for, present indulgence, shall I be tempted to commit though not without solicitude for the fate of these a future trespass of the same nature. The opinion effusions, my expectations are by no means san- of Dr. Johnson on the Poems of a noble relation of guine. It is probable that I may have dared much mine, "That when a man of rank appeared in the and done little; for, in the words of Cowper, "it is character of an author, his merit should be handone thing to write what may please our friends, who, somely acknowledged," can have little weight with because they are such, are apt to be a little biased verbal, and still less with periodical censors; but in our favor, and another to write what may please were it otherwise, I should be loth to avail myself every body; because they who have no connection, of the privilege, and would rather incur the bitteror even knowledge of the author, will be sure to est censure of anonymous criticism than triumph in find fault if they can." To the truth of this, how- honors granted solely to a title.

ever, I do not wholly subscribe: on the contrary, I

feel convinced that these trifles will not be treated] with injustice. Their merit, if they possess any, will be liberally allowed; their numerous faults, on the other hand, cannot expect that favor which has been denied to others of maturer years, decided

ON LEAVING NEWSTEAD ABBEY.

character, and far greater ability. I have not aimed WHY DOST THOU BUILD THE HALL, SON OF THE

WINGED DAYS? THOU LOOKEST FROM THY TOWER
TO-DAY: YET A FEW YEARS AND THE BLAST OF
THE DESERT COMES, IT HOWLS IN THY EMPTY
COURT.-Ossian.†

at exclusive originality, still less have I studied any particular model for imitation: some translations are given of which many are paraphrastic. In the original pieces there may appear a casual coincidence with authors whose works I have been accustomed to read; but I have not been guilty of inten-THROUGH thy battlements, Newstead, the hollow tional plagiarism. To produce any thing entirely winds whistle;

the way.

rattle,

Are the only sad vestiges now that remain.

new, in an age so fertile in rhyme, would be a Hercu- Thou, the hall of my fathers, art gone to decay; lean task, as every subject has already been treated In thy once smiling garden, the hemlock and thistle to its utmost extent. Poetry, however, is not my Have choked up the rose which late bloomed in primary vocation; to divert the dull moments of indisposition, or the monotony of a vacant hour, urged me "to this sin :" little can be expected from Of the mail-cover'd Barons, who proudly to battle so unpromising a muse. My wreath, scanty as it Led their vassals from Europe to Palestine's plain. must be, is all I shall derive from these productions; The escutcheon and shield, which with every blast and I shall never attempt to replace its fading leaves, or pluck a single additional sprig from groves where I am, at best, an intruder. Though accustomed, in my younger days, to rove a careless moun- No taineer on the Highlands of Scotland, I have not, of late years, had the benefit of such pure air, or so elevated a residence, as might enable me to enter the list with genuine bards, who have enjoyed both these advantages. But they derive considerable fame, and a few not less profit, from their productions; while I shall expiate my rashness as an inter

more doth old Robert, with harp-stringing numbers,

Raise a flame in the breast for the war-laurell'd
wreath ;

Near Askalon's towers, John of Horistant slumbers,
Unnerved is the hand of his minstrel by death.

• The Earl of Carlisle, whose works have long received the meed of publie

loper, certainly without the latter, and in all proba-applause, to which, by their intrinsic worth, they were well entitled.

bility with a very slight share of the former. I leave

The motto was added in the first edition of Hours of Idleness.
Horistan Castle, in Derbyshire, an ancient seat of the Byron family

414

Paul and Hubert, too, sleep in the valley of Cressy;|Or
For the safety of Edward and England they fell:
My fathers! the tears of your country redress ye;
How you fought, how you died, still her annals
can tell.

round the steep brow of the churchyard I wander'd,

To catch the last gleam of the sun's setting ray.

I once more view the room with spectators surrounded,

Where, as Zanga, I trod on Alonzo o'erthrown; On Marston, with Rupert,† 'gainst traitors con- While to swell my young pride such applauses re

tending,

Four brothers enriched with their blood the bleak
field;

For the rights of a monarch their country defending,
Till death their attachment to royalty seal'd.

Shades of heroes, farewell! your descendant, departing

From the seat of his ancestors, bids you adieu ! Abroad, or at home, your remembrance imparting New courage, he'll think upon glory and you.

Though a tear dim his eye at this sad separation,
'Tis nature, not fear, that excites his regret ;
Far distant he goes, with the same emulation,
The fame of his fathers he ne'er can forget.

sounded,

I fancied that Mossop* himself was outshone:

Or, as Lear, I poured forth the deep imprecation,
By my daughters of kingdom and reason deprived;
Till, fired by loud plaudits and self-adulation,
I regarded myself as a Garrick revived.

Ye dreams of my boyhood, how much I regret you!
Unfaded your memory dwells in my breast:†
Though sad and deserted, I ne'er can forget you;
Your pleasures may still be in fancy possest

To Idat full oft may remembrance restore me,
While fate shall the shades of the future unroll!
Since darkness o'ershadows the prospect before me,
More dear is the beam of the past to my soul.

That fame, and that memory, still will he cherish;
He vows that he ne'er will disgrace your renown; But if, through the course of the years which
Like you will he live, or like you will he perish;
When decay'd, may he mingle his dust with your

await me,

Some new scene of pleasure should open to view, I will say, while with rapture the thought shall elate me,

"Oh! such were the days which my infancy knew."

1806.

ON A DISTANT VIEW OF THE VILLAGE,
AND SCHOOL OF HARROW ON THE
HILL.

Oh! mihi praeteritos referat si Jupiter annos.
Virgil, Eneid, lib. 8, 560.

YE scenes of my childhood, whose loved recollection
Embitters the present, compared with the past;
Where science first dawned on the powers of reflec-
tion,

And friendships were form'd too romantic to last;

Where fancy yet joys to retrace the resesemblance
Of comrades in friendship and mischief allied;
How welcome to me your ne'er fading remembrance,
Which rests in the bosom, though hope is denied!

Again I revisit the hills where we sported,

The streams where we swam, and the fields where we fought;

The school where, loud warn'd by the bell, we re

sorted,

TO D.§

IN thee I fondly hoped to clasp

A friend, whom death alone could sever; Till envy, with malignant grasp,

Detach'd thee from my breast for ever.

True she has forced thee from my breast,
Yet in my heart thou keep'st thy seat;
There, there thine image still must rest,
Until that heart shall cease to beat.

And, when the grave restores her dead,
When life again to dust is given,

On thy dear breast I'll lay my head-
Without thee, where would be my heaven?
February, 1803.

Mossop, a cotemporary of Garrick, famous for his performance of Zanga,

To pore o'er the precepts by pedagogues taught. in Young's tragedy of the Revenge.

Again I behold where for hours I have ponder'd,
As reclining, at eve, on yon tombstone I lay;

The battle of Marston Moor, where the adherents of Charles 1. were defeated.

↑ Son of the Elector Palatine, and related to Charles I. He afterwards commanded the fleet in the reign of Charles II.

This poem was printed in the private volume, and in the first edition of Hours of Idleness, where the motto from Virgil was added. It was after wards omitted.