Poem by George Gordon Byron

To a Vain Lady

1.

Ah, heedless girl! why thus disclose
⁠	What ne'er was meant for other ears;
Why thus destroy thine own repose,
⁠	And dig the source of future tears?

2.

Oh, thou wilt weep, imprudent maid,
	⁠While lurking envious foes will smile,
For all the follies thou hast said
	⁠Of those who spoke but to beguile.


3.

Vain girl! thy ling'ring woes are nigh,
⁠	If thou believ'st what striplings say:
Oh, from the deep temptation fly,
	⁠Nor fall the specious spoiler's prey.


4.

Dost thou repeat, in childish boast,
⁠	The words man utters to deceive?
Thy peace, thy hope, thy all is lost,
⁠	If thou canst venture to believe.


5.

While now amongst thy female peers
⁠	Thou tell'st again the soothing tale,
Canst thou not mark the rising sneers
⁠	Duplicity in vain would veil?


6.

These tales in secret silence hush,
	⁠Nor make thyself the public gaze:
What modest maid without a blush
⁠	Recounts a flattering coxcomb's praise?

7.

Will not the laughing boy despise
⁠	Her who relates each fond conceit—
Who, thinking Heaven is in her eyes,
	⁠Yet cannot see the slight deceit?


8.

For she who takes a soft delight
⁠	These amorous nothings in revealing,
Must credit all we say or write,
⁠	While vanity prevents concealing.


9.

Cease, if you prize your Beauty's reign!
⁠	No jealousy bids me reprove:
One, who is thus from nature vain,
	⁠I pity, but I cannot love.

1. Epitaph
2. Churchill’s Grave
3. On a Change of Masters at a Great Public School
4. Lines Addressed to a Young Lady
5. To the Earl of Clare

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