dual personalities

Today we toast George Gordon, Lord Byron, who was born on this day in 1788. As you know, he is one of the major figures of the Romantic Movement in English literature. He wrote lengthy narratives as well as shorter lyrics, and died at the age of 36. So for those of you who are feeling world-weary and disillusioned (a quintessential theme of Byron’s poetry) here’s “So, we’ll go no more a-roving”:

So, we’ll go no more a roving

   So late into the night,

Though the heart be still as loving,

   And the moon be still as bright.

For the sword outwears its sheath,

   And the soul wears out the breast,

And the heart must pause to breathe,

   And love itself have rest.

Though the night was made for loving,

   And the day returns too soon,

Yet we’ll go no more a roving

   By the light of the moon.

And here’s the poem read by John Gielgud.

I will also say that I thought Rev. Franklin Graham did a masterful job praying at the Inauguration on Monday. And I have to admit, I also liked Archbishop Dolan remembering Gen. George Patton’s instructions to his soldiers as they began the Battle of the Bulge eight decades ago:

“Pray! Pray when fighting. Pray alone. Pray with others. Pray by night. Pray by day.”

Pray.