The prisoner of Chillon : a poem / by Lord Byron.

  • Lord Byron
Date:
1818
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The prisoner of Chillon : a poem / by Lord Byron. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    And vet metliinks tliat sucli debate’s the fashion. You’ve heard how taunts, reproaches, and the lie, The lie itself, hath flown from mouth to mouth; As if a band of peasants were disputing .Vbout a foot-ball match, rather than Chiefs Were ordering a battle. I am young. And lack experience; tell me, brave De Vipont, Is such the fashion of your wars in Palestine ? VIPONT. Such it at times hath been; and then the Cross Hath sunk before the Crescent. Heaven’s cause Won us not victory where wisdom was not.— Behold yon English host come slowly on. With equal front, rank marshall’d upon rank. As if one spirit ruled one moving body ; The leaders, in their places, each prepared To charge, support, and rally, as the fortune Of changful battle needs :—then look on ours, Broken, disjointed, as the tumbling surges Which the winds wake at random. Look on both. And dread the issue ;—yet there might be succour. 9
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