Page 78 - poesia y vino

libropvfinal.qxp 08/11/2006 15:03 PÆgina 76

THE ISLES OF GREECE (fragment)

In vain-in vain: strike other chords;
Fill high the cup with Samian wine!

Leave battles to the Turkish hordes,
And shed the blood of Scio's vine:
Hark! rising to the ignoble call-
How answers each bold Bacchanal!

You have the Pyrrhic dance as yet;
Where is the Pyrrhic phalanx gone?
Of two such lessons, why forget
The nobler and the manlier one?
You have the letters Cadmus gave-
Think ye he meant them for a slave?

Fill high the bowl with Samian wine!
We will not think of themes like these!
It made Anacreon's song divine:
He served-but served Polycrates-
A tyrant; but our masters then
Were still, at least, our countrymen.

Poeta maldito, creador del romanticismo inglés. Poet maudit, creator of English Romanticism.
George Gordon Byron, nació en Londres en 1788 y fue George Gordon Byron was born in London in 1788.
hijo del quinto Lord Byron. He studied at Cambridge University.
Estudió en la Universidad de Cambridge. Byron led a dissipated and extravagant life.
Destacó por sus extravagancias y vida licenciosa. His literary career started with Fugitive Pieces, 1806.
Inició su carrera literaria en 1806 con Piezas Fugitivas. The poet travelled through several Mediterranean coun-
Viajó por varios países mediterráneos y en Childe tries, which he recalled in his best work, Childe Harold.
Harold, su mejor obra, narra estos viajes. Lord Byron married Isabella Milbanke, who left him.
Se casó con Isabella Milbanke que le abandonó. He went back to Italy and lived with Shelley and
Volvió a Italia y vivió con los poetas Shelley y Leigh Hunt.
Leigh Hunt. In 1823, he joined the Greek insurgents who had
76 En 1823 lucho contra los turcos que invadieron Grecia. risen in revolt against the Turks.
Byron died of marsh fever at Missolonghi.
Murió en Missolnghi víctima de unas fiebres.
Otras obras suyas son: Horas de ocio, La desposada de Some other works are: Hours of Idleness, The Bride
Abydos, Lara, El prisionero de Chillon, Manfred, y Don Juan. of Abydos, Lara, Manfred and Don Juan.