“What is the end of Fame? 'tis but to fill A certain portion of uncertain paper: Some liken it to climbing up a hill, Whose summit, like all hills, is lost in vapour: For this men write, speak, preach, and heroes kill, And bards burn what they call their "midnight taper," To have, when the original is dust, A name, a wretched picture, and worse bust.”
Lord Byron's Don Juan is a sprawling epic poem written in ottava rima, composed over several years until the author's death. Unlike traditional portrayals of Don Juan as a predatory seducer, Byron's protagonist is depicted as a handsome but largely unwitting figure who is seduced by others and drifts through a variety of amorous and picaresque encounters. The poem blends comedy, romance, and sharp social satire, targeting hypocrisy in politics, religion, and society. It ranges across settings from Spain to Greece, Turkey, Russia, and England, offering a panoramic view of early 19th-century European mores. The work is noted for its digressive style, witty narrator, and irreverent tone, and it remains one of the most celebrated examples of Romantic satire. more
Lord Byron, born on January 22, 1788, and died on April 19, 1824, was a prominent English Romantic poet. His poetry is characterized by its strong personality and passion, and has had a profound impact on literature. more
“Such hath it been--shall be--beneath the sun The many still must labour for the one.”
“Few things surpass old wine; and they may preach Who please, the more because they preach in vain”