He secretly
Puts pirate’s colours out at both our sterns,
That we might fight each other in mistake,
That he should share the ruin of us both!
Crown.
His tongue was soft as velvet leaf,
His poison-fangs concealing;
But where he stung, the festering wound
Was past the art of healing.
“Beware of him whose speech is smooth,”
The mother spake her daughter;
“The deepest depths are ever found
Where flows the smoothest water.”
“His heart is like an angel’s heart,”
The daughter spake her mother;
“He seeks to be to thee and me
A loving son and brother.”
She listened to his guileful tale,
Nor heeded words of warning;
Ah! bitterly did future pain
Repay her present scorning.
For Robin laid his cunning game
With art so deep and skilful,
That gentle Ellen’s mind was turned
To disobedience wilful.
Is there no way to save thee? minutes fly,
And thou art lost! thou! my sole benefactor,
The only being who was constant to me
Through every change. Yet, make me not a traitor!
Let me save thee—but spare my honour!
Byron.
Ah, heedless girl! why thus disclose
What ne’er was meant for other ears?
Why thus destroy thine own repose,
And dig the source of future tears?
Oh! thou wilt weep, imprudent maid,
While lurking, envious foes will smile,
For all the follies thou hast said,
Of those who spoke but to beguile.
Byron.
Again, I tell thee, ask not; but by all
Thou boldest dear on earth or heaven—by all
The souls of thy great fathers, and thy hope
To emulate them, and to leave behind
Descendants worthy both of them and thee—
By all thou hast of blest in hope or memory—
By all thou hast to fear here or hereafter—
By all the good deeds thou hast done to me,
Good I would now repay with greater good,
Remain within—trust to thy household gods
And to my word for safety, if thou dost
As I now counsel—but if not, thou art lost!