Read "Don Juan" by Lord Byron online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
I / I want a hero: an uncommon want, / When every year and month sends forth a new one, / Till, after cloying the gazettes with cant, / The age discovers he is not the true one; / Of such as these I should not care to vaunt, / I'll therefore take our ancient friend Don Juan - / We all have seen him, in the pantomime, / Sent to the devil somewhat ere his time.
II / Vernon, the butcher Cumberland, Wolfe, Hawke, / Prince Ferdinand, Granby, Burgoyne, Keppel, Howe, / Evil and good, have had their tithe of talk, / And fill'd their sign posts then, like Wellesley now; / Each in their turn like Banquo's monarchs stalk, / Followers of fame, "nine farrow" of that sow: / France, too, had Buonaparte and Dumourier / Recorded in the Moniteur and Courier.