Lord Byron - A Fragment ("When, to their airy hall") lyrics

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Lord Byron - A Fragment ("When, to their airy hall") lyrics

A Fragment [1] When, to their airy hall, my Fathers' voice Shall call my spirit, joyful in their choice; When, pois'd upon the gale, my form shall ride, Or, dark in mist, descend the mountain's side; Oh! may my shade behold no sculptur'd urns, To mark the spot where earth to earth returns! No lengthen'd scroll, no praise-encumber'd stone; [i] My epitaph shall be my name alone: [2] If that with honour fail to crown my clay, [ii] Oh! may no other fame my deeds repay! That, only that, shall single out the spot; By that remember'd, or with that forgot. [iii] 1803. [Footnote 1: There is no heading in the Quarto.] [Footnote 2: In his will, drawn up in 1811, Byron gave directions that "no inscription, save his name and age, should be written on his tomb." June, 1819, he wrote to Murray: "Some of the epitaphs at the Certosa cemetery, at Ferrara, pleased me more than the more splendid monuments at Bologna; for instance, 'Martini Luigi Implora pace.' Can anything be more full of pathos? I hope whoever may survive me will see those two words, and no more, put over me."—'Life', pp. 131, 398.] [Footnote: i. 'No lengthen'd scroll of virtue and renown.' [4to. P. on V. Occ.]] [Footnote: ii. 'If that with honour fails,' [4to]] [Footnote: iii. 'But that remember'd, or fore'er forgot'. [4to. 'P. on V. Occasions'.]]