When We Two Parted

Most scholars believe, given the content of George Gordon Byron’s 1823 letter to Lady Anne Hardy, that the speaker in this poem is Byron himself. While this biographical reading is accepted, “When We Two Parted” can also be read as a more generalized account of how difficult it can be to process gossip regarding a former lover. In this poem, the shocking news that Byron’s former lover—Lady Frances Wedderburn Webster, who is never named in the poem but is called by a nickname, Fanny, in an excised stanza of the poem (See: Background)—now has a new lover causes Byron to reflect on the past relationship. The lyric poem is fueled by feelings of betrayal, anger, and sadness.

In the first stanza, Byron seeks to come to terms with his current feelings about a former passionate relationship. He acknowledges he has been “sever[ed] for years” (Line 4) from Frances. He recollects their parting in which they could not speak—either words of love or recrimination—and instead left each other “[i]n silence and tears” (Line 2). Byron suggests they were “[h]alf broken-hearted” (Line 3) over the break-up. This is an early indication that the feelings between the two were lop-sided at that time and that he cared more for Frances than she did for him. This is confirmed by his description of how “[p]ale grew [Frances’s] cheek and cold” (Line 5). Her parting “kiss” (Line 6) was even “[c]older” (Line 6). Byron now thinks this coldness “foretold / [s]orrow to this” (Lines 7-8), hinting that he believes he should have seen the signs of the severance before it occurred.

Byron remembers, in the second stanza, that the weather during the break-up “[s]unk [a] chill on [his] brow” (Line 10). This continued feeling of coldness from both Frances and the weather seems symbolic to Byron. In hindsight, he situates the breakup as a “warning” (Line 11) of the future. The speaker believes he should have recognized that Frances didn’t feel the same warm way he did. This is abundantly clear to him in hindsight. At a party—or, perhaps, just in the social circles of the present—people are gossiping about Frances’s current behavior. Byron notes that her “vows are all broken” (Line 13). This implies that people suspect broken marriage vows in a new love affair. It may also refer to the discarded vows of love to Byron, or both. The ambiguity of the line encourages multiple meanings. The description also helps to indicate that three characters may be involved with the former lover: Byron; Frances’s husband, James Wedderburn Webster; and her current flame, Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington (See: Background).

Byron notes, upon hearing the gossip, how “light is thy fame” (Line 14), indicating that Frances’s indiscretion is a topic of casual talk, heading toward infamy. This makes him feel “shame” (Line 16), as he “share[s] in” (Line 16) events that helped formulate Frances’s reputation and/or her desire to be unfaithful. Although no one knows publicly of their liaison, Byron knows he was a willing participant in Frances’s infidelity. As gossip continues, Byron’s former passion for his once clandestine partner declines.

As the third stanza opens, he recites, “They name thee before me” (Line 17), and it becomes like a bell at a funeral that is rung to commemorate the deceased. Frances’s current affair, symbolically, kills any hope or nostalgia for the relationship. “Shudder[ing]” (Line 19), Byron can no longer figure out “why wert thy so dear” (Line 20) and hopes to distance himself from Frances’s behavior and, perhaps, his own troubling participation in a potential affair. The relationship between the two, its seriousness, and its sexual nature are clarified in a description regarding its secrecy. The gossips “know not [he] knew thee, / [w]ho knew thee too well” (Lines 21-22). While this secrecy regarding the former relationship saves Byron’s present credibility among the group, personally, the former relationship brings him regret. He will feel this regret for a “long, long” (Line 23) time, and he carries emotions “[t]oo deeply to tell” (Line 24). This suggests that the wound of the break-up went well beyond the surface and continues to bother him.

Even if they were only “[h]alf broken-hearted” (Line 3) at the time, the relationship turned out to be more haunting than something superficial, and in the final stanza, Byron reflects on the long-lasting heartache he feels as a result of the relationship. It still bothers Byron that “[Frances’s] heart could forget, / [her] spirit deceive” (Lines 27-28). Byron has analyzed the easy dismissal of whatever passion the former couple shared and feels Frances has lied from her very soul. However, because of the clandestine nature of the past relationship, Byron can’t discuss his own tumultuous feelings with anyone in present company without further risk of condemnation. Therefore, he must continue to “grieve” (Line 26) alone. This makes it impossible for him to move on because he can’t discuss why the passion cooled or learn why Frances has decided to pursue another lover who is not him. As everyone gossips about Frances and the Duke of Wellington, Byron wonders what it would be like to see Frances again and what might happen if they were to cross paths. Byron believes secrecy could be maintained—but it would be painful, causing him “tears” (Line 32). The mournful “tears” (Line 2) shed when he recalled saying goodbye to Frances in the first stanza are now altered at the close of the poem into “tears” (Line 32) of regret for ever having met her at all.