with the hate then burning against Napoleon in every British bosom. "'Tis done-but yesterday a king! Is this the man of thousand thrones, Since He, miscall'd the Morning Star, Ill-minded man! why scourge thy kind, With might unquestion'd-power to save,— Thanks to that lesson-it will teach Than high philosophy can preach, That led them to adore Those Pagod things of sabre sway, Notwithstanding Byron's success, although the world's homage, rank, youth, a fine person, resplendent genius, were his, he was still unhappy: a painful, but wholesome proof, that if the bliss sought is unlawful, however great and delicious may be the draught, it yet turns to bitterness in the soul. Byron's experience may teach us the lesson, that while the humble man is often content, and therefore happy, the one who soars as superior to other men, as the eagle is above the owl, is often the victim of wasting disquietude and unappeasable sorrow. It teaches us that genius abused is a curse to its possessor, like a fire given to shed light and warmth, which, however, turns back its blaze, to scorch the hand that holds it. During his fits of gloom, Byron frequently shut himself up at Newstead. By his profligacy, he had incurred heavy debts, which, though his income was large, weighed heavily upon his spirits. He appears to have had a false shame at the idea of earning money, and so gave away the proceeds of his poems. He now cast about for extrication from his embarrassments, by marriage; and accordingly offered his hand to Miss Millbank, a great heiress in prospect, but of no ready money. Though twice refused, he was at last accepted, and was married October, 1814. He rather increased than mitigated his difficulties by this step; his door was beset by duns, and in the first year of his marriage, he had nine executions in his house. He became irritable and unreasonable; and his wife, being a person of cold heart and manners, did little to soften him. She bore him a child, afterwards named Ada, and now Lady King; but this could not unite the hearts of the parents. Difficulties grew up between them, and in January, 1816, she, with her child, left her husband's house, and he saw them no more. Out of humor with himself, the world, and especially his own country,-which had offered him rank and wealth and showered down upon him a flood of honors, he took his leave, with the determination never to return to England,—a resolution which he sternly kept. In parting from his native shore, he poured out his feelings in the following verses, constituting the opening of the third Canto of Childe Harold: "Is thy face like thy mother's, my fair child? Ada, sole daughter of my house and heart; The waters heave around me, and on high The winds lift up their voices; I depart, Whither I know not; but the hour's gone by, When Albion's lessening shores could grieve or glad mine eye. Once more upon the waters! yet once more! Swift be their guidance, wheresce'er it lead! Flung from the rock, on ocean's foam to sail Where'er the surge may sweep, the tempest's breath prevail." The poet took his course to Belgium, which had just been the scene of the most stirring events. The battle of Waterloo had recently been fought, and Napoleon was overthrown. The night previous to this dreadful conflict, there was a famous ball in the city of Brussels. Wellington himself, with all the chivalry of his army, was there, not yet apprized that danger was so near. Bonaparte, according to his custom, had pressed on with astonishing rapidity, and having defeated the allied forces in two engagements, now wheeling upon the British army, surprised them with his approach, while their officers were engaged in the revelry of the dance. Byron describes the scene in the following stanzas, which are among the finest ever penned : "There was a sound of revelry by night, And Belgium's capital had gather'd then Her beauty and her chivalry, and bright The lamps shone o'er fair women and brave men; A thousand hearts beat happily; and when Music arose with its voluptuous swell, Soft eyes look'd love to eyes which spoke again, And all went merry as a marriage bell; But hush! hark! a deep sound strikes like a rising knell Did ye not hear it? No; 't was but the wind, Or the car rattling o'er the stony street; On with the dance! let joy be unconfined; No sleep till morn, when youth and pleasure meet, And nearer, clearer, deadlier than before! Oh! then and there was hurrying to and fro, The life from out young hearts, and choking sighs Which ne'er might be repeated; who could guess If ever more should meet those mutual eyes, Since upon night so sweet, such awful morn should rise! And there was mounting in hot haste; the steed, Roused up the soldier ere the morning star; Or whispering with white lips-'The foe! they come! they come!'" The poet passed down the Rhine, of which he has afforded us the following enchanting picture : "The castled crag of Drachenfels Frowns on the wide and winding Rhine, And fields which promise corn and wine, Whose far white walls along them shine, And peasant girls, with deep blue eyes, Look o'er this vale of vintage-bowers; |