by George Gordon Noel Byron, Lord Byron (1788 - 1824)
If sometimes in the haunts of men
Language: English
If sometimes in the haunts of men Thine image from my breast may fade, The lonely hour presents again The semblance of thy gentle shade: And now that sad and silent hour Thus much of thee can still restore, And sorrow unobserved may pour The plaint she dare not speak before. Oh, pardon that in crowds awhile I waste one thought I owe to thee, And self-condemn'd, appear to smile, Unfaithful to thy memory: Nor deem that memory less dear, That then I seem not to repine; I would not fools should overhear One sigh that should be wholly thine. If not the goblet pass unquaff'd, It is not drain'd to banish care; The cup must hold a deadlier draught, That brings a Lethe for despair. And could Oblivion set my soul From all her troubled visions free, I'd dash to earth the sweetest bowl That drown'd a single thought of thee. For wert thou vanish'd from my mind, Where could my vacant bosom turn? And who could then remain behind To honour thine abandon'd Urn? No, no -- it is my sorrow's pride That last dear duty to fulfil: Though all the world forget beside, 'Tis meet that I remember still. For well I know, that such had been Thy gentle care for him, who now Unmourn'd shall quit this mortal scene, Where none regarded him, but thou: And, oh! I feel in that was given A blessing never meant for me; Thou wert too like a dream of Heaven For earthly Love to merit thee.
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Lord Byron, Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, a Romaunt: and other Poems, seventh Edition, London: John Murray, 1814, pages 234 - 236. Appears in Poems.
Authorship:
- by George Gordon Noel Byron, Lord Byron (1788 - 1824), "Stanzas", written 1812, appears in Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, a Romaunt: and other Poems, in Poems, first published 1812 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Samuel Percival (1824 - 1876), "Remembrance", published <<1851 [ medium voice and piano ], from Three Songs for Voice and Piano [sung text not yet checked]
- by William Lovell Phillips (1816 - 1860), "If sometimes in the haunts of men", published 1845? [ high voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist [an adaptation] ; composed by Carl Ludwig Amand Mangold.
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2008-04-27
Line count: 40
Word count: 256