From the Portuguese, ‘Tu Mi Chamas’
From the Portuguese, ‘Tu Mi Chamas’ - fact Summary
Part of Hebrew Melodies
This short lyric by Lord Byron appears in his Hebrew Melodies collection. It records a speaker correcting a lover’s epithet from my life
to my soul
, arguing that life is transient while the soul—and therefore true love—endures. Two brief versions circulate: one slightly longer stanzaed form and a pared-down variant. The poem frames a Romantic contrast between temporal existence and enduring affection.
In moments to delight devoted, ‘My life!’ with tenderest tone you cry; Dear words! on which my heart had doted, If youth could neither fade nor die. To death even hours like these must roll, Ah! then repeat those accents never; Or change ‘my life!’ into ‘my soul!’ Which, like my love, exists for ever. - AN OTHER VERSION You call me still your life.–Oh! change the word– Life is as transient as the inconstant sigh: Say rather I’m your soul; more just that name, For, like the soul, my love can never die.
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