Stanzas to Augusta - Lord Byron
A Poetic Tribute to Unshakeable Loyalty and Kinship
Though the day of my destiny's over,
And the star of my fate hath declined,
Thy soft heart refused to discover
The faults which so many could find;
Though thy soul with my grief was acquainted,
It shrank not to share it with me,
And the love which my spirit hath painted
It never hath found but in thee.
Then when nature around me is smiling,
The last smile which answers to mine,
I do not believe it beguiling,
Because it reminds me of thine;
And when winds are at war with the ocean,
As the breasts I believed in with me,
If their billows excite an emotion,
It is that they bear me from thee.
Though the rock of my last hope is shiver’d,
And its fragments are sunk in the wave,
Though I feel that my soul is deliver’d
To pain—it shall not be its slave.
There is many a pang to pursue me:
They may crush, but they shall not contemn—
They may torture, but shall not subdue me—
’Tis of thee that I think—not of them.
Though human, thou didst not deceive me,
Though woman, thou didst not forsake,
Though loved, thou forborest to grieve me,
Though slander’d, thou never couldst shake,—
Though trusted, thou didst not disclaim me,
Though parted, it was not to fly,
Though watchful, ’twas not to defame me,
Nor, mute, that the world might belie.
Yet I blame not the world, nor despise it,
Nor the war of the many with one—
If my soul was not fitted to prize it,
’Twas folly not sooner to shun:
And if dearly that error hath cost me,
And more than I once could foresee,
I have found that, whatever it lost me,
It could not deprive me of thee.
From the wreck of the past, which hath perish’d,
Thus much I at least may recall,
It hath taught me that which I most cherish’d,
Deserved to be dearest of all:
In the desert a fountain is springing,
In the wide waste there still is a tree,
And a bird in the solitude singing,
Which speaks to my spirit of thee.
“Stanzas to Augusta” is a deeply personal poem written by Lord Byron for his half-sister, Augusta Leigh, reflecting the unwavering familial bond and sympathy they shared. Penned during a period of social scandal and personal turmoil for Byron, these lines celebrate Augusta’s steadfast loyalty at a time when many others had turned away from him.
The poem’s tone moves between pain and gratitude, underscoring how Augusta’s support provided Byron with emotional refuge. He contrasts harsh societal judgment—what he calls “the war of the many with one”—with Augusta’s gentle compassion. The repeated references to nature’s harsh forces, such as rocky seas and deserts, are transformed into symbols of hope and constancy through Augusta’s presence. Ultimately, even as Byron endures the wreckage of personal upheaval, he recognizes in Augusta’s care a metaphorical spring in the desert.
Throughout these stanzas, Byron mingles themes of regret, devotion, and resilience. He laments his mistakes but finds comfort in having one person who refuses to condemn him. Despite the world’s censure, Augusta represents an oasis of understanding and respect. In this sense, the poem transcends its immediate biographical context, speaking to the universal need for love and compassion when one feels wronged or cast out by society. At its heart, “Stanzas to Augusta” highlights the power of an unwavering bond that anchors the speaker amid the storms of life and reminds us how a single loyal ally can lend profound strength, even in the darkest hours.
Key points
• Byron writes of steadfast loyalty amid personal and public turmoil.
• Augusta serves as a vital source of comfort, countering social condemnation.
• The poem uses nature’s extremes to symbolize Byron’s emotional upheaval and resilience.
• Familial devotion emerges as a powerful, enduring force through adversity.
