When We Two Parted
(Lord Byron)

When we two parted in silence and tears,
Half broken - hearted, to sever for years,
Pale grew thy cheek and cold, colder thy kiss;
Truly that hour foretold sorrow to this!

The dew of the morning sunk chill on my brow;
It felt like the warning of what I fell now.
Thy vows are all broken, and light is thy fame:
I hear thy name spoken and share in its shame.

They name thee before me, a knell to mine ear;
A shudder comes o'er me - why wert thou so dear?
They know not I knew thee who knew thee too well:
Long, long, shall I rue thee too deeply to tell.

In secret we met: in silence I grieve
That thy heart could forget, thy spirit deceive.
If I should meet thee after long years,
How should I greet thee? - With silence and tears.