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ReadingWillow structured literacy program for Australian students

To the Sighing Strephon

Lord Byron·1788–1824
Lines:54Movement:Romanticism
Your pardon, my friend,If my rhymes did offend,Your pardon, a thousand times o'er;From friendship I strove,Your pangs to remove,But, I swear, I will do so no more. Since your _beautiful_ maid,Your flame has repaid,No more I your folly regret;She's now most divine,And I bow at the shrine,Of this quickly reformèd coquette. Yet still, I must own,I should never have known,From _your verses_, what else she deserv'd;Your pain seem'd so great,I pitied your fate,As your fair was so dev'lish reserv'd. Since the balm-breathing kissOf this magical Miss,Can such wonderful transports produce;Since the _"world you forget,When your lips once have met,"_My counsel will get but abuse. You say, "When I rove,""I know nothing of love;"Tis true, I am given to range;If I rightly remember,_I've lov'd_ a good number;Yet there's pleasure, at least, in a change. I will not advance,By the rules of romance,To humour a whimsical fair;Though a smile may delight,Yet a _frown_ will _affright,_Or drive me to dreadful despair. While my blood is thus warm,I ne'er shall reform,To mix in the Platonists' school;Of this I am sure,Was my Passion so pure,Thy _Mistress_ would think me a fool. And if I should shun,Every _woman_ for _one,_Whose _image_ must fill my whole breast;Whom I must _prefer,_And _sigh_ but for _her,_What an _insult_ 'twould be to the _rest!_ Now Strephon, good-bye;I cannot deny,Your _passion_ appears most _absurd;_Such _love_ as you plead,Is _pure_ love, indeed,For it _only_ consists in the _word_.