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Lord Byron's Poems

Early Poems: To ----

1.


Oh! well I know your subtle Sex,

Frail daughters of the wanton Eve, -

While jealous pangs our Souls perplex,

No passion prompts you to relieve.


2


From Love, or Pity ne'er you fall,

By 'you', no mutual Flame is felt,

"Tis Vanity, which rules you all,

Desire alone which makes you melt.


3


I will not say no 'souls' are yours,

Aye, ye have Souls, and dark ones too,

Souls to contrive those smiling lures,

To snare our simple hearts for you.


4


Yet shall you never bind me fast,

Long to adore such brittle toys,

I'll rove along, from first to last,

And change whene'er my fancy cloys.


5


Oh! I should be a 'baby' fool,

To sigh the dupe of female art -

Woman! perhaps thou hast a 'Soul',

But where have 'Demons' hid thy 'Heart'?


January, 1807.


Footnote 1: From an autograph MS. at Newstead, now for the first time printed.