SOME WORDS ABOUT BYRON

GEORGE GORDON BYRON WAS BORN IN RESPECTABLE LODGING IN LONDON AND DIED IN GREECE AT 36 YEARS OLD.

BY THEN HE WAS A BRILLIANT POET AND A RICH MAN, AFTER A LIFETIME OF TRAVELS, UNHAPPIEST AND LOVE AFFAIRS.

NEITHER SIDE OF HIS STOCK WAS PARTICULARLY STABLE. THE BYRONS WERE SENSUAL, IRRESPONSABLE AND CHARMING. THE GORDONS WERE PASSIONATE, CRUEL AND UNHAPPY, MANY OF THEM DIED ON THE SCAFFOLD.

CATHERINE GORDON, HIS MOTHER FELL WILDY IN LOVE WITH CAPTAIN BYRON, A LOVE HE DIDN´T RETURN AND WHEN THEIR SON WAS BORN THEY HAD ALREADY SEPARATED, MEETING ONLY TO HAVE VIOLENT QUARRELS.

PROBABLY DUE TO THE CARELESSNESS OF THE MIDWIFE, BYRON WAS BORN WITH A DEFORMED FOOT.

WHY ONE IS BORN WITH POETIC GIFT IS A MISTERY. SOMETIMES PARENTS WHO DON´T WRITE POETRY OR WHO DON´T EVEN LIKE POETRY BREED SONS WHO BECOME GREAT POETS. SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS THE CONTRARY, THAT IS GREAT POETS BREED SONS WHO DON´T HAVE ANY INCLINATION OR TASTE FOR POETRY.

BUT IF THE MISTERY OF THE POETIC GIFT IS UNSOLVED, THERE´S NO DOUBT THAT LOVE LIKE UNHAPPINESS MAY DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY STIMULATE THE ARTIST AND INTENSIFY HIS VISION ABOUT LIFE.

IT IS POSSIBLE THAT IF BYRON´S FOOT HAD BEEN CURED BY MODERN SURGERY OR HAD HE A NORMAL LIFE WITH HIS PARENTS, HE WOULDN´T EVER HAVE WRITTEN A LINE. THE SAME YOU MAY SAY ABOUT DANTE, THAT IS, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT IF HIS LOVE FOR BEATRICE HAD CONCRETIZED, HE WOULDN´T HAVE WRITTEN “THE DIVINE COMEDY”. IN OTHER WORDS, HAD BYRON AND DANTE LIVED A NORMAL LIFE AND POSSIBLY THE LITERATURE WOULDN´T HAVE GAINED TWO OUTSTANDING POETS. BOTH WERE DRAWN TO POET BY FRUSTRATION, A BLESSED FRUSTRATION AFTER ALL.

BYRON TRAVELLED OFTEN TO RAVENNA WHERE ONCE HE KNELT DOWN IN FRONT OF DANTE´S GRAVE IN DEMONSTRATION OF RESPECT, ADMIRATION AND UNDERSTANDING.

ONE OF BYRON´S GREATEST VIRTUES WAS HIS IMMENSE PHYSICAL AND MORAL COURAGE WHAT CERTAINLY HELPED HIM CREATE A STYLE OF POETRY WHICH FOR ITS WIT AND MORAL SERIOUSNESS IS UNIQUE AND MUST BE NA EXAMPLE FOR THOSE WHO INTEND TO FOLLOW THE ART OF MAKING VERSES.

AMONG HIS MOST INSPIRED WORKS YOU CAN CITE: “WHEN WE TWO PARTED”, “STANZA FOR MUSIC”, “WATERLOO” AND “DEDICATION TO THE POET LAUREATE”.