I : XIII Adieu, Adieu!

The Harp/Lyre Legend

Previously, we have learned that Childe Harold is a young man of impressive upbringing. He was intelligent, wealthy (although he squandered everything, but that's another story), and everything you can think of as a sensible young royalty: that of course includes musical talents. 

Upon exiling himself to the high seas, Childe Harold didn't bring much of emotional attachment with him on the road, probably save for the harp to keep himself occupied in boredom, and of course, to express himself artistically in a poetic setting. If this had been a musical, we can expect some belting centre stage as he bid his homeland fare-thee-well.

Now this is Childe Harold's ballad, although it's more of a duet than his solo, as the conversations between Harold and his page boy as well as his assistant make this parting scene as vivid as it can be. The time is dusk, and Harold is thinking. He's consoling the others of their grief, trying to convince them to man up and embrace the unknown, while trying to convince himself that there's nothing he should be emotionally attached to, or couldn't separate from. There, we can clearly see the narcissistic characters of a young man who didn't display much empathy towards anyone. Although, does he truly believed that his dog only follows him for food? Does he really think that the companionship he enjoyed had all been nothing? Or, maybe it's just easier and less painful to forget if he thinks about them that way.
As the shore quickly fades in Childe Harold's site, and as we wait for the sun to rise again, we move on to the next chapter of this expedition.