Byron.

While genius endows the sons of men     With eloquence, or with poetic pen,     It leaves them still the frailties of our frame,     It does not curb, but fans th' unrighteous flame.     It gives a wider, nobler range of thought,     But such advantage, oft, is dearly bought.     Man's lower nature troubles scarce the low,     But, like a fiend, at natures high doth go.     Of such a nature, now, these lines shall tell,     Who wrote full many a line, and wrote them well.     Byron, the noble, sensitive and high,     Whose bosom hath not heav'd for thee a sigh?     Whose breast hath not full often given room     To mournful thoughts, for thy untimely doom?     Thy genius soar'd to regions bright and fair,     And thou, such times, were with thy genius there.     And then thy lofty mind, 'neath passion's sway,     Left its high throne, and wander'd far astray.     'Twas strange and sad, that one so richly bless'd,     Should find within the world, so much unrest;     But we can in thy life and nature see     The means, to some extent, that fell'd the tree.     Thy shining youth, men much too freely prais'd,     And then the cry of blame, too loudly rais'd.     The fickle crowd, thy person loudly curs'd,     And then thou fled, and dar'd them do their worst.     Unfortunate in love, thy youthful heart     Was pain'd, and likewise with the burning smart     Thy vanity receiv'd from critic's pen,     Which often makes sarcastic, stronger men.     Let us be fair with thee, thy fate deplore,     And grieve thy youthful death, if nothing more.     Let us in mercy judge, for thus we can,     E'en with thy faults, thou wert a noble man.