'Remember Him, Whom Passion's Power' by George Gordon, Lord Byron


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Remember him, whom Passion's power
Severely---deeply---vainly proved:
Remember thou that dangerous hour,
When neither fell, though both were loved.

That yielding breast, that melting eye,
Too much invited to be blessed:
That gentle prayer, that pleading sigh,
The wilder wish reproved, repressed.

Oh! let me feel that all I lost
But saved thee all that Conscience fears;
And blush for every pang it cost
To spare the vain remorse of years.

Yet think of this when many a tongue,
Whose busy accents whisper blame,
Would do the heart that loved thee wrong,
And brand a nearly blighted name.

Think that, whate'er to others, thou
Hast seen each selfish thought subdued:
I bless thy purer soul even now,
Even now, in midnight solitude.

Oh, God! that we had met in time,
Our hearts as fond, thy hand more free;
When thou hadst loved without a crime,
And I been less unworthy thee!

Far may thy days, as heretofore,
From this our gaudy world be past!
And that too bitter moment o'er,
Oh! may such trial be thy last.

This heart, alas! perverted long,
Itself destroyed might there destroy;
To meet thee in the glittering throng,
Would wake Presumption's hope of joy.

Then to the things whose bliss or woe,
Like mine, is wild and worthless all,
That world resign---such scenes forego,
Where those who feel must surely fall.

Thy youth, thy charms, thy tenderness---
Thy soul from long seclusion pure;
From what even here hath passed, may guess
What there thy bosom must endure.

Oh! pardon that imploring tear,
Since not by Virtue shed in vain,
My frenzy drew from eyes so dear;
For me they shall not weep again.

Though long and mournful must it be,
The thought that we no more may meet;
Yet I deserve the stern decree,
And almost deem the sentence sweet.

Still---had I loved thee less---my heart
Had then less sacrificed to thine;
It felt not half so much to part
As if its guilt had made thee mine.


Editor 1 Interpretation

Remember Him, Whom Passion's Power by Lord Byron: A Masterpiece of Romantic Poetry

As a poetry enthusiast myself, I have always been fascinated by the works of Lord Byron, one of the most prominent poets of the Romantic era. And among his many remarkable poems, "Remember Him, Whom Passion's Power" stands out as a masterpiece. This 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation aims to explore the themes, symbolism, and stylistic devices employed in this poem and unravel its intricate beauty.

The Themes: Love, Memory, and Time

At its core, "Remember Him, Whom Passion's Power" is a poem about love and memory, two intertwined concepts that have been explored by countless poets throughout history. Byron, however, takes a unique approach to these themes, infusing his poem with a sense of urgency and fleetingness that is characteristic of the Romantic era.

The poem begins with an imperative, calling upon the reader to "remember him" - a mysterious, unnamed figure who is presumably the speaker's beloved. The passion that this figure embodies is emphasized by the phrase "Passion's power," which suggests a force that is both intense and uncontrollable.

The poem then delves into the concept of memory, exploring how it can preserve the feelings of love even as time passes. Byron acknowledges that memories can fade with time, but he insists that true love can never be forgotten: "Love survives / All else - the past shall never be forgot."

The idea of time is also a significant theme in the poem, as Byron highlights the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death. He implores the reader to "hasten to the tomb" and to "seize the moments as they pass," emphasizing the need to cherish every moment of life and love before it is too late.

The Symbolism: Roses, Tombs, and Eternity

Throughout the poem, Byron employs various symbols that add depth and meaning to the themes of love, memory, and time. One of the most prominent symbols is the rose, which represents the fleeting nature of beauty and life. The speaker compares his beloved's beauty to a rose, acknowledging that it will eventually wither and fade, but insisting that its memory will live on: "The rose will shed / Its leaves, but love unchanged will stay."

Another significant symbol in the poem is the tomb, which represents the inevitability of death and the passing of time. The speaker urges the reader to "hasten to the tomb," emphasizing the urgency of living and loving before it is too late. He also acknowledges that the tomb can be a place of eternal rest, where the memories of love can live on: "And o'er the wreck, that saddens o'er the past, / Shall Memory's moon its pale dominion cast."

The concept of eternity is also explored in the poem, as the speaker suggests that true love can transcend time and death. He declares that "Love is not love, / Which alters when it alteration finds," implying that true love is eternal and unchanging. The symbol of eternity is further emphasized by the use of the word "never" throughout the poem, suggesting a sense of permanence and timelessness.

The Stylistic Devices: Repetition, Imagery, and Personification

One of the most striking aspects of "Remember Him, Whom Passion's Power" is the use of repetition, which adds a musical quality to the poem and emphasizes its themes. The phrase "Remember him" is repeated throughout the poem, creating a sense of urgency and importance. The repetition of the word "never" also adds emphasis to the concept of eternity, emphasizing the idea that true love will never fade or die.

Byron also employs vivid imagery throughout the poem, using sensory details to create a vivid picture in the reader's mind. The image of the rose, for example, is described in detail: "The rose will shed / Its leaves, but love unchanged will stay." The use of personification also adds to the vividness of the imagery, as the "moon" is personified as having "pale dominion" over the memories of love.

Lastly, the poem is characterized by a distinctive rhythm and rhyme scheme that adds to its musical quality. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, with each line consisting of four stressed and four unstressed syllables. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, CDCD, EFEF, GG, creating a sense of symmetry and balance. The use of enjambment - running one line of poetry into the next without punctuation - also adds to the sense of flow and musicality.

Conclusion: A Poem of Beauty and Meaning

In conclusion, "Remember Him, Whom Passion's Power" is a poem of remarkable beauty and meaning. Through its exploration of themes such as love, memory, and time, Byron creates a sense of urgency and passion that is characteristic of the Romantic era. The use of vivid imagery, repetition, and personification adds to the poem's musical quality and emphasizes its themes. Ultimately, this poem is a testament to the power of love and memory, a reminder to cherish every moment of life and love before it is too late.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Remember Him, Whom Passion's Power: A Masterpiece by Lord Byron

Lord Byron, one of the greatest poets of the Romantic era, has left an indelible mark on the world of literature with his powerful and evocative works. Among his many masterpieces, "Remember Him, Whom Passion's Power" stands out as a shining example of his poetic genius. This poem, with its rich imagery, vivid language, and passionate tone, captures the essence of love and desire, and the pain and longing that often accompany them.

The poem begins with a plea to the reader to remember the subject of the poem, the one who has been consumed by passion's power. The opening lines, "Remember him, whom passion's power / Severely - deeply - vainly proved" immediately set the tone for the rest of the poem. The use of the word "severely" suggests that the subject has suffered greatly, while "deeply" implies that his emotions are intense and all-consuming. The word "vainly" adds a sense of futility to the subject's struggle, as if his passion has been in vain.

The second stanza continues the theme of the subject's suffering, with the lines "Remember him, who, lone and lowly, / Sought in vain the world's applause." Here, the subject is portrayed as isolated and unappreciated, seeking validation from the world but finding none. The use of the word "lowly" suggests that the subject is humble and perhaps even unworthy of the world's attention, while "sought in vain" emphasizes his failure to find the recognition he desires.

The third stanza introduces the subject's love interest, described as "the fair, the chaste, and unexpressive she." The use of the word "fair" suggests that she is beautiful, while "chaste" implies that she is pure and virtuous. The phrase "unexpressive she" is particularly interesting, as it suggests that the subject is unable to fully express his feelings to her. This creates a sense of tension and frustration, as the subject is consumed by his passion but unable to communicate it to the object of his desire.

The fourth stanza continues to explore the subject's feelings for his love interest, with the lines "Think of him still, the more than worthy / Of thy love, thy life, thy fame." Here, the subject is portrayed as deserving of the love and admiration of his love interest, as well as the recognition of the world. The use of the word "worthy" emphasizes the subject's value and importance, while "thy love, thy life, thy fame" suggests that he desires not only the love of his love interest, but also her companionship and the recognition of the world.

The fifth stanza introduces the theme of death, with the lines "Think of him still, in love undying, / Though love be veiled to mortals' view." Here, the subject's love is portrayed as eternal and unchanging, even in the face of death. The use of the phrase "love undying" emphasizes the subject's passion and devotion, while "veiled to mortals' view" suggests that his love is beyond the understanding of ordinary people.

The final stanza brings the poem to a close with the lines "And oh, though mine no longer be / The hope of thy love, the life of thy fame, / I cannot, cannot cease to be / The slave of beauty's gentlest claim." Here, the subject acknowledges that he may no longer be the object of his love interest's affection, but he cannot help but be consumed by his passion for her. The use of the phrase "slave of beauty's gentlest claim" emphasizes the subject's powerlessness in the face of his love, as if he is bound by an irresistible force.

Overall, "Remember Him, Whom Passion's Power" is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the essence of love and desire, and the pain and longing that often accompany them. Lord Byron's use of rich imagery, vivid language, and passionate tone creates a sense of intensity and urgency that draws the reader in and leaves a lasting impression. This poem is a true masterpiece of Romantic poetry, and a testament to Lord Byron's poetic genius.

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