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Black clouds his forehead bound
atud at his feet were
peet were flowers
Poems

Mixth madness magic found

In hing them keenest powers

ON HIS

DOMESTIC CIRCUMSTANCES.

BY LORD BYRON.

1. FARE THEE WELL!

II. A SKETCH FROM PRIVATE LIFE.

WITH THE

STAR OF THE LEGION OF HONOUR,
AND OTHER POEMS.

LONDON:

PRINTED BY BENSLEY AND SON,
Bolt-court, Fleet-street;

FOR E. COX AND SON, ST. THOMAS'S STREET,

BOROUGH.

1816.

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INTRODUCTION.

THE unhappy differences which have given rise to the following poems, have excited throughout the kingdom the most lively interest; and produced various sentiments in the breasts of different persons, but chiefly those of pity for both the noble individuals, whose domestic discords have thus become the theme of public investigation and animadversion. Every impartial person, however, under the existing circumstances, would suspend their judgment until all the particulars of this unhappy separation should be more fully made known. In the mean time every feeling breast will sympathize deeply in the sentiments expressed in that pathetic poem, "Fare Thee Well;" and regret the cause, whatever it may be, which has driven from his home, and from his country, the favourite bard, whose chaste and tender numbers have so long been, and still will be, the delight and admiration of every admirer of poetry.

Lord Byron, no longer since than the 2d of January, 1815, led to the hymeneal altar the lovely

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and accomplished Anne Isabella, only daughter of Sir Ralph Noel, bart. (late Milbanke); a marriage which promised every happiness and every blessing which connubial love can bestow; but which has unfortunately disappointed the hopes of all the parties concerned.

Before the year, which commenced with their union, had elapsed, rumour had begun to whisper about that unhappy difference which has given rise to the two Poems, the "Fare Thee Well," and "A Sketch from Private Life," which were not intended, however, for the public eye. The newspapers shortly after announced to the public the following intelligence :

"A matrimonial separation in high life, at least for the present, has, we hear, taken place, in consequence of one of those domestic fracas which will sometimes occur in the best regulated families. The happy pair have scarcely passed

Twelve waning moons in bliss supreme :?

and the Lady has recently blessed her Lord with an infant daughter; his Lordship in a poetical flight of fancy, is said to have pretty broadly intimated, that

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