All for love

All for Love

Byron

O TALK not to me of a name great in story;

The days of our youth are the days of our glory;

And the myrtle and ivy of sweet two-and-twenty

Are worth all your laurels though ever so plenty.

What are garlands and crowns to the brow that is wrinkled? 5

'Tis but as a dead flower with May-dew besprinkled:

Then away with all such from the head that is hoary—

What care I for the wreaths that can only give glory?

O Fame! if I e'er took delight in thy praises

'Twas less for the sake of thy high-sounding phrases 10

Than to see the bright eyes of the dear one discover

She thought that I was not unworthy to love her.

There chiefly I sought thee there only I found thee;

Her glance was the best of the rays that surround thee;

When it sparkled o'er aught that was bright in my story 15

I knew it was love and I felt it was glory.