The Works of Lord Byron, Vol. 1 (Epitaph On A Beloved Friend) Lord Byron

Epitaph On A Beloved Friend[1]

[Greek: Astaer prin men elampes eni tsuoisin hepsos.]

[Plato's Epitaph (Epig. Græc., Jacobs, 1826, p. 309), quoted by Diog. Laertins.]

         Oh, Friend! for ever lov'd, for ever dear! [i]
         What fruitless tears have bathed thy honour'd bier!
         What sighs re-echo'd to thy parting breath,
         Whilst thou wast struggling in the pangs of death!
         Could tears retard the tyrant in his course;
        Could sighs avert his dart's relentless force;
        Could youth and virtue claim a short delay,
        Or beauty charm the spectre from his prey;
        Thou still hadst liv'd to bless my aching sight,
        Thy comrade's honour and thy friend's delight.
        If yet thy gentle spirit hover nigh
        The spot where now thy mouldering ashes lie,
        Here wilt thou read, recorded on my heart,
         A grief too deep to trust the sculptor's art.
        No marble marks thy couch of lowly sleep,
        But living statues there are seen to weep;
        Affliction's semblance bends not o'er thy tomb,
        Affliction's self deplores thy youthful doom.
         What though thy sire lament his failing line,
        A father's sorrows cannot equal mine!
        Though none, like thee, his dying hour will cheer,
         Yet other offspring soothe his anguish here:
        But, who with me shall hold thy former place?
        Thine image, what new friendship can efface?
        Ah, none!—a father's tears will cease to flow,
        Time will assuage an infant brother's woe;
        To all, save one, is consolation known,
        While solitary Friendship sighs alone.