LORD BYRON (GEORGE GORDON)

Lord Byron, a leading figure of the Romantic movement, was known for his passionate and rebellious life as well as his lyrical poetry. Written in 1817 and published posthumously in Letters and Journals of Lord Byron (1830), Lord Byron’s “So We’ll Go No More a Roving” has endured as one of his most popular short poems. A reworking of an old Scottish ballad, it’s a farewell to youthful wildness by a poet whose youth was scandalously wild. The “we” of the poem pledge to stop partying all night long, but the pledge sounds wistful—and maybe halfhearted.

So, we’ll go no more a roving

   So late into the night,

Though the heart be still as loving,

   And the moon be still as bright.

For the sword outwears its sheath,

   And the soul wears out the breast,

And the heart must pause to breathe,

   And love itself have rest.

Though the night was made for loving,

   And the day returns too soon,

Yet we’ll go no more a roving

   By the light of the moon.

In this poem, Lord Byron reflects on the idea that while the night and its moonlit beauty may inspire love and adventure, there comes a time when the weariness of life’s experiences necessitates a pause and a break from such activities. The poem expresses a sense of resignation and a recognition of the need for rest and respite from the intense emotions and experiences associated with late-night wanderings.