Epigrams

by Lord Byron — a poem card from Justes Mots

Byron compares Castlereagh's suicide to Cato's death for Rome, bitterly suggesting that Castlereagh destroyed his country before destroying himself. A dark political epigram criticizing the British statesman's legacy, combining classical allusion with contemporary scandal.

Oh, Castlereagh! thou art a patriot now;
Cato died for his country, so did'st thou:
He perished rather than see Rome enslaved,
Thou cut'st thy throat that Britain may be saved!

So Castlereagh has cut his throat!—The worst
Of this is,—that his own was not the first.
…

Themes: sympathy · grief · reflection