Don Juan 07-31 ~ 35
  

Don Juan 07-31
Canto the Seventh
 
     XXXI

The Moslem, too, had lost both ships and men;
     But when they saw the enemy retire,
Their Delhis mann'd some boats, and sail'd again,
     And gall'd the Russians with a heavy fire,
And tried to make a landing on the main;
     But here the effect fell short of their desire:
Count Damas drove them back into the water
Pell-mell, and with a whole gazette of slaughter.


Don Juan 07-32
Canto the Seventh
 
     XXXII

"If" (says the historian here) "I could report
     All that the Russians did upon this day,
I think that several volumes would fall short,
     And I should still have many things to say;"
And so he says no more -- but pays his court
     To some distinguish'd strangers in that fray;
The Prince de Ligne, and Langeron, and Damas,
Names great as any that the roll of Fame has.


Don Juan 07-33
Canto the Seventh
 
     XXXIII

This being the case, may show us what Fame is:
     For out of these three "preux Chevaliers," how
Many of common readers give a guess
     That such existed? (and they may live now
For aught we know.) Renown's all hit or miss;
     There's fortune even in fame, we must allow.
'T is true the Memoirs of the Prince de Ligne
Have half withdrawn from him oblivion's screen.


Don Juan 07-34
Canto the Seventh
 
     XXXIV

But here are men who fought in gallant actions
     As gallantly as ever heroes fought,
But buried in the heap of such transactions
     Their names are rarely found, nor often sought.
Thus even good fame may suffer sad contractions,
     And is extinguish'd sooner than she ought:
Of all our modern battles, I will bet
You can't repeat nine names from each Gazette.


Don Juan 07-35
Canto the Seventh
 
     XXXV

In short, this last attack, though rich in glory,
     Show'd that somewhere, somehow, there was a fault,
And Admiral Ribas (known in Russian story)
     Most strongly recommended an assault;
In which he was opposed by young and hoary,
     Which made a long debate; but I must halt,
For if I wrote down every warrior's speech,
I doubt few readers e'er would mount the breach.
 
 
George Gordon Byron, Lord Byron (1788-1824) 
ByronLong
 
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