Poetry Catalog

Saint Peter sat by the celestial gate:His keys were rusty, and the lock was dull,So little trouble had been given of late;Not that the place by any means was full,But since the Gallic era "eighty-eight"The Devils had ta'en a longer, stronger pull,And "a pull altogether," as they sayAt sea—which drew most souls another way. The Angels all were singing out of tune,And hoarse … [Read more...] about The Vision of Judgment, By: Lord Byron

In the beginning was the Word next God;God was the Word, the Word no less was He:This was in the beginning, to my modeOf thinking, and without Him nought could be:Therefore, just Lord! from out thy high abode,Benign and pious, bid an angel flee,One only, to be my companion, whoShall help my famous, worthy, old song through. And thou, oh Virgin! daughter, mother, bride,Of the … [Read more...] about The Morgante Maggiore of Pulci: Canto the First, By: Lord Byron

'Twas after dread Pultowa's day,When Fortune left the royal Swede—Around a slaughtered army lay,No more to combat and to bleed.The power and glory of the war,Faithless as their vain votaries, men,Had passed to the triumphant Czar,And Moscow's walls were safe again—Until a day more dark and drear,And a more memorable year,Should give to slaughter and to shameA mightier host and … [Read more...] about Mazeppa, By: Lord Byron

'Tis known, at least it should be, that throughoutAll countries of the Catholic persuasion,Some weeks before Shrove Tuesday comes about,The People take their fill of recreation,And buy repentance, ere they grow devout,However high their rank, or low their station,With fiddling, feasting, dancing, drinking, masquing,And other things which may be had for asking. The moment … [Read more...] about Beppo, By: Lord Byron

It is the hour when from the boughsThe nightingale's high note is heard;It is the hour when lovers' vowsSeem sweet in every whispered word;And gentle winds, and waters near,Make music to the lonely ear.Each flower the dews have lightly wet,And in the sky the stars are met,And on the wave is deeper blue,And on the leaf a browner hue,And in the heaven that clear obscure,So softly … [Read more...] about Parisina, By: Lord Byron