The Works of Lord Byron (ed. Coleridge, Prothero)/Poetry/Volume 3/Stanzas for Music. "Bright be the place of thy soul!"

by George Gordon Byron

For works with similar titles, see Stanzas for Music (Byron).

STANZAS FOR MUSIC.

1.

Bright be the place of thy soul!
No lovelier spirit than thine
E'er burst from its mortal control,
In the orbs of the blessed to shine.
On earth thou wert all but divine,
As thy soul shall immortally be;^[1]
And our sorrow may cease to repine
When we know that thy God is with thee.

2.

Light be the turf of thy tomb!^[2][3]
May its verdure like emeralds be!^[4]
There should not be the shadow of gloom
In aught that reminds us of thee.
Young flowers and an evergreen tree^[5]
May spring from the spot of thy rest:
But nor cypress nor yew let us see;
For why should we mourn for the blest?

[First published, Examiner, June 4, 1815.]

1. —— shall eternally be.—[MS. erased.]
2. Green be the turf ——.—[MS.]
3. [Compare "O lay me, ye that see the light, near some rock of my hills: let the thick hazels be around, let the rustling oaks be near. Green be the place of my rest."—"The War of Inis-Thona," Works of Ossian, 1765, i. 156.]
4. May its verdure be sweetest to see.—[MS.]

5. Young flowers and a far-spreading tree
   May wave on the spot of thy rest;
   But nor cypress nor yew let it be.—[MS.]