Here once engaged the stranger's view <br />Young Friendship's record simply traced; <br />Few were her words; but yet, though few, <br />Resentment's hand the line defaced. <br /> <br />Deeply she cut--but not erased, <br />The characters were still so pain, <br />That Friendship once return'd, and gazed,-- <br />Till Memory hail'd the words again. <br /> <br />Repentance placed them as before; <br />Forgiveness join d her gentle name; <br />So fair the inscription seem'd once more, <br />That Friendship thought it still the same. <br /> <br />Thus might the Record now have been; <br />But, ah, in spite of Hopes endeavour, <br />Or Friendships tears, Pride rush'd between <br />And blotted out the line for ever.<br /><br />George Gordon Byron<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/on-revisiting-harrow/
