Author: Thomas Moore

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    When first I met thee, warm and young,
        There shone such truth about thee.
    And on thy lip such promise hung,
        I did not dare to doubt thee.
    I saw the change, yet still relied,
        Still clung with hope the fonder,
    And thought, tho' false to all beside,
        From me thou couldst not wander.
            But go, deceiver! go,
                The heart, whose hopes could make it
            Trust one so false, so low,
                Deserves that thou shouldst break it.

    When every tongue thy follies named,
        I fled the unwelcome story;
    Or found, in even the faults they blamed,
        Some gleams of future glory.
    I still was true, when nearer friends
        Conspired to wrong, to slight thee;
    The heart that now thy falsehood rends,
        Would then have bled to right thee,
            But go, deceiver! go,--
                Some day, perhaps, thou'lt waken
            From pleasure's dream, to know
                The grief of hearts forsaken.

    Even now, tho' youth its bloom has shed,
        No lights of age adorn thee:
    The few, who loved thee once, have fled,
        And they who flatter scorn thee.
    Thy midnight cup is pledged to slaves,
        No genial ties enwreath it;
    The smiling there, like light on graves,
        Has rank cold hearts beneath it.
            Go--go--tho' worlds were thine,
                I would not now surrender
            One taintless tear of mine
                For all thy guilty splendor!

    And days may come, thou false one! yet,
        When even those ties shall sever;
    When thou wilt call, with vain regret,
        On her thou'st lost for ever;
    On her who, in thy fortune's fall,
        With smiles had still received thee,
    And gladly died to prove thee all
        Her fancy first believed thee.
            Go--go--'tis vain to curse,
                'Tis weakness to upbraid thee;
            Hate cannot wish thee worse
                Than guilt and shame have made thee.

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Type of Poem: Lyric Poem

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This poem presents a poignant narrative of lost love and betrayal, laid bare through a voice embittered by faithfulness unreciprocated. The recurring theme is the speaker's deep sense of disillusionment and betrayal, as the beloved turned out to be unfaithful and deceitful. The tone is primarily bitter and resentful, but also tinged with a sad acceptance, as the speaker appears to have come to terms with their heartbreak.

The poem's structure is comprised of stanzas that alternate between the speaker’s sorrowful reflections and direct addresses to the 'deceiver'. This back-and-forth structure effectively underscores the speaker's internal struggle—caught between reliving past joys and grappling with present pains. Each stanza ends with a forceful dismissal, a cathartic release of the speaker's pent-up frustrations and disappointments.

The poet employs potent imagery and metaphors to convey the depth of the speaker's emotions. For instance, the 'smiling there, like light on graves' vividly illustrates the artificiality of the deceiver's current relationships, while 'one taintless tear of mine' signifies the speaker's untainted love, contrasted sharply against the deceiver's 'guilty splendor'. The repetition of 'go, deceiver! go,' serves as a powerful refrain, reinforcing the speaker's conviction to sever the emotional ties to the unfaithful beloved.

This poem, thus, effectively explores the themes of love, betrayal, and resilience, offering a visceral portrayal of heartbreak, while also highlighting the speaker's strength and resolve to move forward.