King's College London
Exhibitions & Conferences
Byron & politics: ‘born for opposition’

12. Manuscript of Byron’s ‘Lines to a Lady Weeping,’ 1812

NLS Ms.43348, f.12v

‘Lines to a Lady Weeping’ was first published anonymously on 7 March 1812 in the Morning Chronicle. It attacked the Prince Regent for his abandonment of his Whig supporters in favour of the Tory party.

The poem refers to an incident when Princess Charlotte, the Regent’s young daughter and heir, wept when she heard her father openly abusing the Whigs.

Weep, Daughter of a royal line,
A Sire’s disgrace, a realm’s decay;
Ah happy, if each tear of thine
Could wash a father’s fault away!

Weep – for thy tears are Virtue’s tears
Auspicious to these suffering Isles;
And be each drop in future years
Repaid thee by thy People’s Smiles! –

In this exhibition


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