Lord George Gordon Byron ,
Don Juan |
| |
| CANTO THE FIRST |
| |
| I want a hero: an uncommon want, |
| When every year and month sends forth a new one, |
| Till, after cloying the gazettes with cant, |
| The age discovers he is not the true one; |
| Of such as these I should not care to vaunt, |
| I 'll therefore take our ancient friend Don Juan— |
| We all have seen him, in the pantomime, |
| Sent to the devil somewhat ere his time. |
| |
| Vernon, the butcher Cumberland, Wolfe, Hawke, |
| Prince Ferdinand, Granby, Burgoyne, Keppel, Howe, |
| Evil and good, have had their tithe of talk, |
| And fill'd their sign posts then, like Wellesley now; |
| Each in their turn like Banquo's monarchs stalk, |
| Followers of fame, 'nine farrow' of that sow: |
| France, too, had Buonaparte and Dumourier |
| Recorded in the Moniteur and Courier. |
| |
| Barnave, Brissot, Condorcet, Mirabeau, |
| Petion, Clootz, Danton, Marat, La Fayette, |
| Were French, and famous people, as we know: |
| And there were others, scarce forgotten yet, |
| Joubert, Hoche, Marceau, Lannes, Desaix, Moreau, |
| With many of the military set, |
| Exceedingly remarkable at times, |
| But not at all adapted to my rhymes. |
| |
| |
Author of this English poem is Lord George
Gordon Byron (*1788-01-22 - †1824-04-18). |
