The Isles of Greece – Stanza 14 and 15.

Note from me – I have put these two stanzas together because Stanza 15 is self explanatory and I feel reading them both together will make a more interesting and emotional read. The history I will be referring to will deal only with Stanza 14.

Trust not for freedom to the Franks*—

They have a king who buys and sells;

In native swords, and native ranks,

The only hope of courage dwells;

But Turkish force, and Latin fraud,

Would break your shield, however broad.


Fill high the bowl with Samian wine!

Our virgins dance beneath the shade—

I see their glorious black eyes shine;

But gazing on each glowing maid,

My own the burning tear-drop laves,

To think such breasts must suckle slaves


“Trust not for freedom to the Franks” –

This is a very important political statement Byron is making.

The Greek rebel troops waited for years on end for assistance from the major powers of Europe, most importantly from the Franks but this assistance only came toward the end when political interests came into play…

Byron is encouraging the Greeks to become aware of the fact that they are alone in this battle.

Turkish force once again refers to the Ottoman Empire.

Whenever any island of Greece was defeated, their women were made slaves and rape of these ladies was very common.
Their children out of this were also made slaves.

Why name the country "Greece" which is a Latin name?

The obvious answer is because the "concept" of a Greece was invented by the Modern Latins even before the "country" Greece came into existence.

Since the Latins invented Greece it was appropriate that they give it a Latin name.

So the Greeks fought for their independence, and then they were incorporated into the country of Europe using a Latin name.

This is what Byron means when he talks about Latin fraud.