Lesbia! since far from you I've ranged, <br />Our souls with fond affection glow not; <br />You say 'tis I, not you, have changed, <br />I'd tell you why,--but yet I know not. <br /> <br />Your polish'd brow no cares have crost; <br />And, Lesbia! we are not much older, <br />Since, trembling, first my heart I lost, <br />Or told my love, with hope grown bolder <br /> <br />Sixteen was then our utmost age, <br />Two years have lingering past away, love! <br />And now new thoughts our minds engage, <br />At least I feel disposed to stray, love! <br /> <br />'Tis I that am alone to blame, <br />I, that am guilty of love's treason; <br />Since your sweet breast is still the same, <br />Caprice must be my only reason. <br /> <br />I do not, love! suspect your truth, <br />With jealous doubt my bosom heaves not; <br />Warm was the passion of my youth, <br />One trace of dark deceit it leaves not. <br /> <br />No, no, my flame was not pretended, <br />For, Oh! I loved you most sincerely; <br />And--though our dream at last is ended-- <br />My bosom still esteems you dearly. <br /> <br />No more we meet in yonder bowers; <br />Absence has made me prone to roving; <br />But older, firmer hearts than ours <br />Have found monotony in loving. <br /> <br />Your cheek's soft bloom is unimpeair'd, <br />New beauties still are daily bright'ning, <br />Your eye for conquest beams prepared, <br />The forge of love's resistless lightning. <br /> <br />Arm'd thus, to make their bosoms bleed, <br />Many will throng to sigh like me, love! <br />More constant they may prove, indeed; <br />Fonder, alas! they ne'er can be, love!<br /><br />George Gordon Byron<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/to-lesbia/
