Fare Thee Well
Attribution
“Fare Thee Well” is a poem that has long been misattributed to Lord Byron. No contemporary evidence links the poem to the poet, and scholarly consensus is that it likely originated from a later author. The text draws on Romantic themes and contains a quotation from Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s “Christabel,” which adds a layer of melancholy to the overall tone.
Alas! they had been friends in youth:
But whispering tongues can poison truth;
And constancy lives in realms above;
And life is thorny; and youth is vain;
And to be wroth with one we love,
Doth work like madness in the brain;
But never either found another
To free the hollow heart from paining –
They stood aloof, the scars remaining.
Like cliffs which had been rent asunder;
A dreary sea now flows between,
But neither heat, nor frost, nor thunder,
Shall wholly do away, I ween,
The marks of that which once hath been.Coleridge, Christabel
Fare thee well! and if forever,
Still forever, fare thee well:
Even though unforgiving, never
‘Gainst thee shall my heart rebel.
Would that breast were bared before thee
Where thy head so oft hath lain,
While that placid sleep came o’er thee
Which thou ne’er canst know again:
Would that breast, by thee glanced over,
Every inmost thought could show!
Then thou wouldst at last discover
‘Twas not well to spurn it so.
Though the world for this commend thee –
Though it smile upon the blow,
Even its praise must offend thee,
Founded on another’s woe:
Though my many faults defaced me,
Could no other arm be found,
Than the one which once embraced me,
To inflict a cureless wound?
Yet, oh yet, thyself deceive not;
Love may sink by slow decay,
But by sudden wrench, believe not
Hearts can thus be torn away:
Still, thine own its life retaineth,
Still must mine, though bleeding, beat;
And the undying thought which paineth
Is – that we no more may meet.
These are words of deeper sorrow
Than the wail above the dead;
Both shall live, but every morrow
Wake us from a widowed bed.
And when thou wouldst solace gather,
When our child’s first accents flow,
Wilt thou teach her to say “Father!”
Though his care she must forego?
When her little hands shall press thee,
When her lip to thine is pressed,
Think of him whose prayer shall bless thee,
Think of him thy love had blessed!
Should her lineaments resemble
Those thou never more may’st see,
Then thy heart will softly tremble
With a pulse yet true to me.
All my faults perchance thou knowest,
All my madness none can know;
All my hopes, where’er thou goest,
Wither, yet with thee, they go.
Every feeling hath been shaken;
Pride, which not a world could bow,
Bows to thee – by thee forsaken,
Even my soul forsakes me now:
But ’tis did – all words are idle –
Words from me are vainer still;
But the thoughts we cannot bridle
Force their way without the will.
Fare thee well! thus disunited,
Torn from every nearer tie.
Seared in heart, and lone, and blighted,
More than this I scarce can die.
Summary of Fare Thee Well
“Fare Thee Well” is a poem often misattributed to Lord Byron, but no reliable documentation links it to the poet. It appears to have been composed in the early nineteenth century, reflecting Romantic concerns about love, loss, and the finality of parting. The poem opens with a quotation from Coleridge’s “Christabel,” which sets a somber tone. The speaker laments a deep separation, expresses sorrow for the loss of affection, and acknowledges personal shortcomings. Despite the tragedy, the poem underscores a determination to carry on, even in the face of irreversible loss.
Key Points About the Poem
- Historical Context: The poem reflects the emotional climate of the Romantic era, when writers explored personal experience and inner emotion.
- Use of Quotation: The inclusion of verses from Coleridge’s “Christabel” creates a melancholic mood and foreshadows themes of fractured relationships.
- Emotional Complexity: The poem blends sorrow, regret, pride, and a sense of responsibility toward a shared child, offering a nuanced portrayal of a broken relationship.
Analysis of “Fare Thee Well”
Themes Explored
The poem presents several interwoven themes:
- Separation and Loss: The speaker confronts the finality of the parting and the pain that follows.
- Pride and Humility: The speaker wrestles with wounded pride, ultimately acknowledging the need for humility.
- Parental Love: The text conveys a protective concern for a shared child and hopes that the mother will preserve the father’s memory.
- The Pain of Unrequited Affection: The speaker accepts that forgiveness may be impossible while refusing to hold onto resentment.
Poetic Devices
Byron’s style is often cited as a model, but the poem’s actual author remains uncertain. Nevertheless, several literary techniques are evident:
Imagery and Symbolism
The speaker uses striking images such as “cliffs which had been rent asunder” and “a dreary sea” to depict an irreparable chasm. The metaphor of a sea symbolizes emotional distance and the impossibility of reconciliation. The repeated reference to “breast” suggests intimacy and vulnerability, longing for a closeness that has vanished.
Metaphor and Simile
Lines such as “hearts can thus be torn away” employ metaphor to convey the devastating impact of separation. The phrase “love may sink by slow decay” compares love to a sinking object, emphasizing its gradual decline over abrupt loss.
Sound Devices
Alliteration appears in “Fare thee well! and if forever,” where the repeated “f” sound creates a mournful rhythm. Assonance is present in the long “e” sound of “never / ‘Gainst thee,” subtly underscoring the sense of finality.
Structure and Form
The poem is composed of fifteen quatrains, each with four lines. The consistent ABAB rhyme scheme contributes to a musical quality that balances formal order with emotional turbulence. The regular structure mirrors the speaker’s attempt to impose order upon sorrow.
Key Quotes
“Still, thine own its life retaineth, / Still must mine, though bleeding, beat.”
This couplet illustrates resilience. Despite the pain of separation, the speaker’s heart continues to beat, symbolizing an enduring capacity for feeling and an unwavering will to endure.
“Every feeling hath been shaken; / Pride, which not a world could bow, / Bows to thee – by thee forsaken, / Even my soul forsakes me now.”
These lines reveal profound vulnerability. The image of a bowed pride and a soul abandoning the speaker underscores the depth of emptiness and despair.
Legacy of “Fare Thee Well”
Although its authorship is uncertain, “Fare Thee Well” remains a poignant exploration of loss, regret, and the complexities of human relationships. Its use of language, imagery, and formal structure allows readers to connect deeply with the enduring pain of separation. The poem serves as a reminder that love can endure even when parting appears inevitable.