书评

In Lord Byron's On Venice, the city unfolds like a historical tapestry, transitioning from resplendent glory to inevitable decline, narrating the vicissitudes of time and the inexorable march of history. This poem serves not merely as an ode to a city but as a profound meditation on the rise and fall of human civilizations and the passage of time. At the poem's opening, Byron employs passionate strokes to depict Venice's past grandeur. Once in control of the wealthy East and the defender of the West, Venice is hailed as "the eldest Child of Liberty," a maiden city radiating brightness and freedom. The metaphor of Venice's "marriage" to the sea endows the city with a romantic and mysterious allure, symbolizing its unique status and timeless vitality. In this depiction, Venice stands as an emblem of power, wealth, and freedom, a dreamland captivating all who heard of it. However, Byron’s tone shifts dramatically. Lines like “Yet shall some tribute of regret be paid / When her long life hath reached its final day” jolt readers from nostalgic reverie