what short poem has the line "if there be love among mortals" near its end?

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Clarification of Question by gita747-ga on 04 Feb 2003 20:49 PST

this is more of an addition than a clarification. anyhow... it also
has a line in it something like "on her one murmur of his discontent."

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Request for Question Clarification by robertskelton-ga on 04 Feb 2003 21:16 PST

These lines appear in Byron's "The Corsair":

Nor rage could fire, nor sickness fret to vent 
On her one murmur of his discontent; 
Which still would meet with joy, with calmness part, 
Lest that his look of grief should reach her heart; 
Which nought removed, nor menaced to remove- 
If there be love in mortals-this was love! 

However, you are specifying a short poem. "The Corsair" appears to
have at least 1,000 lines!

Could it be that you are looking for an excerpt from a large poem,
instead of a short poem?

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Clarification of Question by gita747-ga on 04 Feb 2003 21:40 PST

yes, that's the poem. it was the short excerpt that i had read before
and i was unaware that it came from a longer poem. thanks a lot. if
you post it as an answer, will you get paid? i don't know how this
works exactly...

Hi there,

Thanks for the clarification, here is the answer (which I will be paid
for, thanks):

The poem in question is Byron's "The Corsair". It can be read on three
very long pages at this web site (which also has many other Byron
poems):
http://www.photoaspects.com/chesil/byron/corsair1.html

The lines you mentioned appear in this stanza, about halfway down the
first page:

XII 

None are all evil-quickening round his heart 
One softer feeling would not yet depart 
Oft could he sneer at others as beguiled 
By passions worthy of a fool or child; 
Yet 'gainst that passion vainly still he strove, 
And even in him it asks the name of Love! 
Yes, it was love-unchangeable-unchanged, 
Felt but for one from whom he never ranged; 
Though fairest captives daily met his eye, 
He shunn'd, nor sought, but coldly pass'd them by; 
Though many a beauty droop'd in prison'd bower, 
None ever sooth'd his most unguarded hour. 
Yes-it was Love-if thoughts of tenderness 
Tried in temptation, strengthen'd by distress 
Unmoved by absence, firm in every clime, 
And yet-oh more than all! untired by time; 
Which nor defeated hope, nor baffled wile, 
Could render sullen were she near to smile, 
Nor rage could fire, nor sickness fret to vent 
On her one murmur of his discontent; 
Which still would meet with joy, with calmness part, 
Lest that his look of grief should reach her heart; 
Which nought removed, nor menaced to remove- 
If there be love in mortals-this was love! 
He was a villain-ay, reproaches shower 
On him-but not the passion, nor its power, 
Which only proved, all other virtues gone, 
Not guilt itself could quench this loveliest one! 


Search strategy
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Google keywords: love mortals murmur discontent


Best wishes,
robertskelton-ga

very quick and thorough response.