From Anacreon I by Lord Byron (1815)
The poem is a translation of an ancient Greek lyric, exploring themes of love and desire. It describes the speaker's longing for a beloved, who has left him. The poem uses imagery and metaphor to convey the intensity of the speaker's emotions.
By Lord Byron · First published 1815 · Genre: Poetry, Romantic, Classical · 271 words
First lines
I wish to tune my quivering lyre / To deed of fame and notes of fire; / To echo, from its rising swell, / How heroes fought and nations fell, / When Atreus' sons advanced to war, / Or Tyrian Cadmus roved afar; / But still, to martial strains unknown, / My lyre recurs to love alone.
Fired with the hope of future fame, / I seek some nobler hero's name; / The dying chords are strung anew, / To war, to war, my harp is due.
With glowing strings, the epic strain / To Jove's great son I raise again; / Alcides and his glorious deeds, / Beneath whose arm the Hydra bleeds.
All, all in vain; my wayward lyre / Wakes silver notes of soft desire.
Similar titles
- Translation From Catullus Ad Lesbiam by Lord Byron
- Stanzas To A Lady With The Poems Of Camoens by Lord Byron
- Stanzas To A Hindoo Air by Lord Byron
- Translation Of The Famous Greek War Song by Lord Byron
- To The Goddess Of Fame by Taras Shevchenko
- Khustina by Taras Shevchenko
Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form, utilizing rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Romantic — The themes of love and emotional expression are central to the work, aligning with Romantic literary traditions.
- Classical — References to classical mythology and historical figures such as Atreus' sons and Alcides indicate a classical influence.
- Epic — The poem aspires to epic themes by mentioning heroes and battles, although it ultimately focuses on love.
Tags
Poetry · Romanticism · Greek Revival · Classical Influence · Elegy · Lyric Poetry · Ode · Ancient Greece · Mythology · Literary Revival · Byronic Hero · Imagery
What this Textopian page supports
From Anacreon I is listed on Textopian as a poem by Lord Byron, dated 1815 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Lord Byron
- Date: 1815 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romantic, Classical, Epic
- Length: 271 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for From Anacreon I by Lord Byron
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph