Epitaph to a Dog

Boatswain's memorial with the inscription of the poem at Newstead Abbey

Epitaph to a Dog ( Epitaph for a dog ) is a poem by the English poet George Gordon Byron , known as Lord Byron . Byron wrote the poem in 1808 in honor of his Newfoundland man Boatswain (Eng. Boatswain ), whom he nursed until his death , although he was infected with rabies . The dog was buried in a tomb with the inscription of the poem in the monk's garden at Byron's Newstead Abbey .

introduction

The introductory epitaph is not from Lord Byron, but from his friend John Hobhouse , an English statesman. As found from correspondence found, Byron initially wanted to use the last two lines of the poem, but eventually used Hobhouse's draft.

Near this spot are deposited the Remains of one who possessed Beauty without Vanity, Strength without Insolence, Courage without Ferocity, and all the virtues of Man without his Vices. This praise, which would be unmeaning Flattery if inscribed over human Ashes, is but a just tribute to the Memory of Boatswain, a Dog who was born in Newfoundland May 1803 and died at Newstead Nov. 18th, 1808

Near this point the bones are buried by someone who possessed beauty without vanity, strength without presumption, courage without malice, and all the virtues of man without his vices. That praise, which would be trivial flattery if engraved on human ashes, is nothing but a fair tribute to Boatswain, a dog born in Newfoundland in May 1803 and who died in Newstead on November 18, 1808

Poem with analogous translation

When some proud Son of Man returns to Earth, Unknown to Glory, but upheld by Birth, The sculptor's art exhausts the pomp of woe, And storied urns record who rests below. When all is done, upon the tomb is seen, Not what he was, but what he should have been. But the poor Dog, in life the firmest friend, The first to welcome, foremost to defend, Whose honest heart is still his Master's own, Who labor, fights, lives, breathes for him alone, Unhonored falls, unnoticed all his worth, Denied in heaven the Soul he held on earth - While man, vain insect! hopes to be forgiven, And claims himself a sole exclusive heaven. Oh man! thou feeble tenant of an hour, Debased by slavery, or corrupt by power - Who knows thee well, must quit thee with disgust, Degraded mass of animated dust! Thy love is lust, thy friendship all a cheat, Thy tongue hypocrisy, thy heart deceit! By nature vile, ennobled but by name, Each kindred brute might bid thee blush for shame. Ye, who behold perchance this simple urn, Pass on - it honors none you wish to mourn. To mark a friend's remains these stones arise; I never knew but one - and here he lies.

When some proud son of man is buried, to whom not his glory, only his birth, the sculptor's art exhausted the pomp of suffering, And urns adorned with stories tell who rests below. but after everything on the grave one can read, not what it was, but what it should have been. But the poor dog, the most loyal friend in life, the first to greet, to defend in the first place, whose honest heart always belongs to his master, who works, fights, lives, breathes for him alone, falls with disrespect, all his worth goes unnoticed, who Heaven is denied to the soul that he kept on earth - while man, vain insect! hopes he will be forgiven and demands a heaven just for himself. Oh man! You weak tenant only of the hour, exhausted by slavery or corrupt by power - who knows you well must leave you with disgust, weakened mass of animated dust! Your love is lust, your friendship is only deception, your tongue is hypocrisy, your heart is deception! Disgusting by nature, but noble by name, should blush with disgrace in front of the related animal. Those who happen to see this simple urn go on - it does not honor anyone you wish to mourn. These stones cover a friend's bones; I didn't know anyone but one - and it's here.

Individual evidence

1. ^ Text from Epitaph to a Dog
2. ↑ Epitaph to a Dog
3. ↑ A poetic translation of the foreword and poem can be found in: Helmut Brackert, Cora van Kleffens: Von Hunden und Menschen , Beck-Verlag, 1989, ISBN 978-3406339820 .

Coordinates: 53 ° 4 ′ 44 "  N , 1 ° 11 ′ 33.2"  W.