The Chain I Gave: from the Turkish by Lord Byron
This poem is a lamentation of lost love and the speaker's regret over giving their beloved a chain that has become a symbol of their separation. The speaker reflects on the moment they gave the chain, realizing it was a mistake that sealed their fate. They now see the chain as a reminder of their loss and a symbol of the speaker's own foolishness.
By Lord Byron · First published 1815 · Genre: Poetry, Romantic, Lyric · 215 words
First lines
The chain I gave was fair to view, / The lute I added sweet in sound; / The heart that offer'd both was true, / And ill deserved the fate it found.
These gifts were charm'd by secret spell, / Thy truth in absence to divine; / And they have done their duty well, / Alas! they could not teach the thine.
That chain was firm in every link, / But not to bear a stranger's touch; / That lute was sweet, till thou could'st think / In other hands its notes were such.
Let him who from thy neck unbound / The chain which shiver'd in his grasp, / Who saw that lute refuse to sound, / Restring the chords, renew the clasp.
What this Textopian page supports
The Chain I Gave: from the Turkish 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, Lyric, Tragedy, Symbolism
- Length: 215 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Chain I Gave: from the Turkish by Lord Byron
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Romantic — Themes of love, emotion, and personal reflection align with Romantic literature.
- Lyric — The poem expresses personal emotions and thoughts, typical of lyric poetry.
- Tragedy — The narrative involves loss and betrayal, elements common in tragic literature.
Tags
Poetry · Romance · Turkish Folklore · Byronic Hero · Love Poem · Symbolism · Metaphor · Imagery · Sensuality · Passion · Longing · Loss