Stanzas Written on the Road between Florence and Pisa

I
Oh, 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.

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

III
Oh Fame! - if I e'er took delight in thy praises,
'Twas less for the sake of thy high-sounding phrases,
Than to see the bright eyes of the dear One discover,
She thought that I was not unworthy to love her.

IV
There chiefly I sought thee, there only I found thee;
Her Glance was the best of the rays that surrounded thee,
When it sparkled o'er aught that was bright in my story,
I knew it was Love, and I felt it was Glory.

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