A Byron's poem: "Love and death (last lines)"

Re: A Byron's poem: "Love and death (last lines)"



Er...at a quick glance, I am assuming it means that Byron was prepared to kill them both if they could not escape, rather than be divided from the person he loved...who clearly did not return his feelings.


Is that what you needed to know?



Here's the whole poem, btw, to help anyone else who comes along to help you.

Thank you for your reply!

But isn't it possible that the one who is "Ready to strike" is the lover, and not Byron?

No, I do not think so....




Here really IS the whole poem which I failed to post when I said I would! Doh!

Love and Death

I watched thee when the foe was at our side,
Ready to strike at him--or thee and me,
Were safety hopeless--rather than divide
Aught with one loved, save love and liberty.

I watched thee on the breakers, when the rock
Received our prow, and all was storm and fear,
And bade thee cling to me through every shock;
This arm would be thy bark, or breast thy bier.

I watched thee when the fever glazed thine eyes,
Yielding my couch, and stretched me on the ground
When overworn with watching, ne'er to rise
From thence, if thou an early grave hadst found.

The earthquake came, and rocked the quivering
And men and nature reeled as if with wine.
Whom did I seek around the tottering hall?
For thee. Whose safety first provide for? Thine

And when convulsive throes denied my breath
The faultest utterance to my fading thought,
To thee--to thee--e'en in the gasp of death
My spirit turned, oh! oftener than it ought.

Thus much and more; and yet thou lov'st me not,
And never wilt! Love dwells not in our will.
Nor can I blame thee, though it be my lot
To strongly, wrongly, vainly love thee still.

(1824)