The Works of Lord Byron Vol. 1 To E-- by Lord Byron Lyrics

To E—-[1]

        Let Folly smile, to view the names
        Of thee and me, in Friendship twin'd;
        Yet Virtue will have greater claims
        To love, than rank with vice combin'd.

        And though unequal is thy fate,
        Since title deck'd my higher birth;
        Yet envy not this gaudy state,
        Thine is the pride of modest worth.

        Our souls at least congenial meet,
        Nor can thy lot my rank disgrace;
        Our intercourse is not less sweet,
        Since worth of rank supplies the place.

        November, 1802.

[Footnote 1: E—-was, according to Moore, a boy of Byron's own age, the
son of one of the tenants at Newstead.]