Book contents
- Romanticism: 100 Poems
- Romanticism: 100 Poems
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Introduction
- Part
- Part
- Part
- Part
- Clemens Brentano (1778–1842; German)
- Thomas Moore (1779–1852; Irish)
- Karoline von Günderode (1780–1806; German)
- Leigh Hunt (1784–1859; English)
- Marceline Desbordes-Valmore (1786–1859; French)
- Part
- Part
- Part
- Part
- Part
- Part
Thomas Moore (1779–1852; Irish)
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 17 February 2021
- Romanticism: 100 Poems
- Romanticism: 100 Poems
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Introduction
- Part
- Part
- Part
- Part
- Clemens Brentano (1778–1842; German)
- Thomas Moore (1779–1852; Irish)
- Karoline von Günderode (1780–1806; German)
- Leigh Hunt (1784–1859; English)
- Marceline Desbordes-Valmore (1786–1859; French)
- Part
- Part
- Part
- Part
- Part
- Part
Summary
The Irish have held Moore as their national bard much as the Scots have held Burns as theirs. Moore lived much longer, however, traveled much more widely (including to America), and had advantages Burns lacked, such as a university education and wealthy patrons (though he was sometimes in debt). Like Burns he took an interest in his country’s poetry and music, and in 1808 published his first selection of Irish Melodies, poems set to traditional tunes. This poem is one of them. In a later edition Moore adds a note explaining who Harmodius was: he and his lover Aristogiton slew the tyrant Hipparchus; they got close to him by hiding their swords in myrtle branches, symbols of love. Moore translated the Greek hymn in their honor, once attributed to Alcaeus.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Romanticism: 100 Poems , pp. 62 - 63Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2021