"B. living in the "B." "I wish you would ask Mr. Gifford which of them is best, or rather not worst. 'Ever, &c. "You can send the request contained in this at the same time with the revise, after I have seen the said revise." NOTE TO MR. MURRAY. "Nov. 13, 1813. LETTER CLXXXIII. TO MR. MURRAY. "Nov. 15, 1813. "Mr. Hodgson has looked over and stopped, or rather pointed, this revise, which must be the one to print from. He has also made some suggestions, with most of which I have complied, as he has always, for these ten years, been a very sincere, and by no means (at times) flattering, intimate of mine. He likes it (you will think flatteringly, in this instance) better than the Giaour, but doubts (and so do I) its being so popular, but, contrary to some others, advises a separate publication. On this we can easily decide. I confess I like the double form better. Hodgson says, it is better versified than any of the others; which is odd, if true, as it has cost me less time (though more hours at a time) than any attempt I ever made. "P. S. Do attend to the punctuation: I can't, for I don't know a comma-at least, where to place one. "That tory of a printer has omitted two lines of the opening, and perhaps more, which were in the MS. Will you, pray, give him a hint of accuracy? I have re-inserted the two, but they were in the manuscript, I can swear." LETTER CLXXXIV. TO MR. MURRAY. "Nov. 17, 181S, "That you and I may distinctly understand each other on a subject, which, like the dreadful reckoning when men smile no more,' makes conversation rot very pleasant, I think it as well to write a few lines on the topic. Before I left town for Yorkshire, you said that you were ready and willing to give five hundred guineas for the copyright of The Giaour;' and my answer was, from which I do not mean to recede, that we would discuss the point at Christmas. The new story may or may not succeed; "Certainly. Do you suppose that no one but the the probability, under present circumstances, seems Galileans are acquainted with Adam, and Eve, and to be, that it may at least pay its expenses; but Cain, and Noah? Surely, I might have had Solo- even that remains to be proved, and till it is proved mon, and Abraham, and David, and even Moses. one way or another we will say nothing about it. When you know that Zuleika is the Persian poetical Thus then be it: I will postpone all arrangement name for Potiphar's wife, on whom and Joseph about it, and the Giaour also, till Easter, 1814; and there is a long poem, in the Persian, this will not you shall then, according to your own notions of surprise you. If you want authority, lool: at Jones, fairness, make your own offer for the two. D'Herbelot, Vathek, or the notes to the Arabian Nights; and, if you think it necessary, model this into a note.t "Alter, in the inscription, the most affectionate respect,' to 'with every sentiment of regard and respect."" NOTE TO MR. MURRAY. "Nov. 14, 1813. At the same time, I do not rate the last in my own estimation at half the Gia our; and according to your own notions of its worth and its success within the time mentioned, be the addition or deduction to or from whatever sum may be your proposal for the first, which has already had its success. "The pictures of Phillips I consider as mine, all three, and the one (not the Arnaout) of the two best is much at your service, if you will accept it as a present. "I send you a note for the ignorant, but I really "P. S. The expense of engraving from the minwonder at finding you among them. I don't care iature send me in my account, as it was destroyed one lump of sugar for my poetry; but for my costume and my correctness on those points, (of which I think the funeral was a proof,) I will combat Justily. "Yours, &c." NOTE TC MR. MURRAY. "Nov. 22, 1813. Sharpe, and Lady Holland, and Lady Caroline Lamb, copies of The Bride,' as soon as convenient. "I have no time to cross-investigate, but I believe "P. S. Mr. Ward and myself still continue our and hope all is right. I care less than you will purpose; but I shall not trouble you on any believe about its success, but I can't survive a arrangement on the score of the Giaour and The single misprint: it chokes me to see words misused Bride till our return-or, at any rate, before May by the printers. Pray look over, in case of some 1814-that is, six months from hence: and before eye-sore escaping me. that time you will be able to ascertain how far your "P. S. Send the earliest copies to Mr. Frere, Mr. offer may be a losing one; if so, you can deduct Canning, Mr. Heber, Mr. Gifford, Lord Holland, proportionably; and if not, I shall not at any rate Lord Melbourne (Whitehall,) Lady Caroline Lamb allow you to go higher than your present proposal, (Brocket,) Mr. Hodgson (Cambridge,) Mr. Merri- which is very handsome, and more than fair. vale, Mr. Ward, from the author." "I have had-but this must be entre nous,very kind note, on the subject of The Bride,' from Sir James Mackintosh, and an invitation to go there this evening, which it is now too late to accept." NOTE TO MR. MURRAY. "Nov. 23, 1813. "You wanted some reflections, and I send you per Selim, (see his speech in canto II., page 46,) eighteen lines in decent couplets, of a pensive, if not an ethical tendency. One more revise-positively the last, if decently done-at any rate the penultimate. Mr. Canning's approbation (if he did approve) I need not say makes me proud. As to printing, print as you will and how you will-by itself, you like; but let me have a few copies in sheets. NOTE TO MR. MURRAY. "Nov. 29, 1313. "Sunday-Monday morning-3 o'cluck—§ my doublet and hose, swearing. "I send you in time an errata page, containing an omission of mine which must be thus added, as it is too late for insertion in the text. The passage is an imitation altogether from Medea in Ovid, and is incomplete without these two lines. Pray let this be done, and directly; it is necessary; will add one page to your book (making), and can do no "You must pardon me once more, as it is all for harm, and is yet in time for the public. Answer your good: it must be thus "Nov. 24, 1813. "He makes a solitude, and calls it peace. me, thou oracle, in the affirmative. You can send the loose pages to those who have copies already, if 'Makes' is closer to the passage of Tacitus, from they like; but certainly to all the critical copy which the line is taken, and is, besides, a stronger "Mark where his carnage and his conquests cease. LETTER CLXXXV. TO MR. MURRAY. "Nov. 27, 1813. If you look over this carefully by the last proof, with my corrections, it is probably right; this you can do as well or better:-I have not now time. The copies I mentioned to be sent to different friends last night, I should wish to be made up with the new Giaours, if it also is ready. If not, send the Giaour afterward. holders. "P. S. I have got out of my bed, (in which, however, I could not sleep, whether I had amended this or not,) and so good morning. I am trying whether De L'Allemagne will act as an opiate, but I doubt it." NOTE TO MR. MURRAY. "Nov. 29, 1512 "You have looked at it!' to much purpose, to allow so stupid a blunder to stand; it is not cour age,' but carnage;' and if you don't want me to cut my own throat, see it altered. "I am very sorry to hear of the fall of Dresden." LETTER CLXXXVII. TO MR. MURRAY. "Nov. 29, 1813, Monday. "The Morning Post says I am the author of Nourjahad!!! This comes of lending the drawings for their dresses; but it is not worth a formal contradiction. Besides, the criticisms on the supposi- "You will act as you please upon that point; tion will, some of them, be quite amusing and but whether I go or stay, I shall not say another furious. The Orientalism-which I hear is very word on the subject till May-nor then, unless splendid of the melodrame (whosoever it is, and I quite convenient to yourself. I have many things am sure I don't know) is as good as an advertise- I wish to leave to your care, principally papers. ment for your Eastern Stories, by filling their heads with glitter. "P. S. You will of course say the truth, that I am not the melodramatist-if any one charges me in your presence with the performance." LETTER CLXXXVI. TO MR. MURRAY. The vases need not now be sent, as Mr. Ward is gone to Scotland. You are right about the errata page; place it at the beginning. Mr. Perry is a harm by exciting expectation, and I think we ought little premature in his compliments; these may do to be above it-though I see the next paragraph is on the Journal,† which makes me suspect you as the author of both. "Would it not have been as well to have said 'in Two Cantos' in the advertisement? they will else think of fragments, a species of composition very well for once like one run in a view; but one would not build a town of them. The Bride, such as it is, is my first entire composition of any length, "Send another copy (if not too much of a (except the Satire, and be d-d to it,) for the request) to Lady Holland of the Journal, in my name, when you receive this; it is for Earl urey-and I will relinquish my own. Also, to Mr. "Nov. 28, 13. Penrose's Journal, a book published by Mr. Meray at this time. Giaour is but a string of passages, and Childe • Mr. Murray had offered him a thousand grainess for the two pw ↑ Penrose's Journal. cluded. I return Mr. Hay's note, with thanks to 67, which must be corrected with the pen, if ne him and you. other way remains; it is the omissior of 'not "There have been some epigrams on Mr. Ward: before 'disagreeable,' in the note on the amber one I see to-day. The first I did not see, but heard rosary. This is really horrible, and nearly as bad yesterday. The second seems very bad. I only as the stumble of mine at the threshold-I mear. hope that Mr. Ward does not believe that I had the misnomer of Bride. Pray do not let a copy gc any connexion with either. I like and value him without the 'not;' it is nonsence and worse than too well to allow my politics to contract into spleen, nonsense as it now stands. I wish the printer was or to admire any thing intended to annoy him or saddled with a vampire. nis. You need not take the trouble to answer this, as I shall see you in the course of the afternoon. "P. S. I have said this much about the epigrams, because I lived so much in the opposite camp, and, from my post as an engineer, might be in the first edition. We must have something"P. S. I hope and trust the 'not' was inserted suspected as the dinger of these hand-gernadoes; but with a worthy foe, I am all for open war, and not any thing-to set it right. It is enough to answer for one's own bulls, without other people's." this bush-fighting, and have not had, nor will have, any thing to do with it. I do not know the author." "P. S. It is still hath instead of have in page 20 never was any one so misused as I am by your devils of printers. "Tuesday evening, Nov. 30, 1813. LETTER CLXXXVIII. TO MR. MURRAY. "Dec. 27, 1813. "Lord Holland is laid up with the gout, and would feel very much obliged if you could obtain, and send as soon as possible, Madame D'Arblay's (or even Miss Edgeworth's) new work. I know they are not out; but it is perhaps possible for your Majesty to command what we cannot with much suing purchase, as yet. I need not say that when you are able or willing to confer the same favor on me, I shall be obliged. I would almost fall sick myself to get at Madame D'Arblay's writings. "For the sake of correctness, particularly in an errata page, the alteration of the couplet I have "P. S. You were talking to-day of the American just sent (half an hour ago) must take place, in edition of a certain unquenchable memorial of my spite of delay or cancel; let me see the proof early younger days. As it can't be helped now, I own I to-morrow. I found out murmur to be a neuter have some curiosity to see a copy of Transatlantic verb, and have been obliged to alter the line so as typography. This you will perhaps obtain, and one to make it a substantive, thus "The deepest murmur of this lip shall be No sigh for safety, but a prayer for thee! for yourself; but I must beg that you will not import more, because, seriously, I do wish to have that thing forgotten as much as it has been forgiven. "If you send to the Globe editor, say that 1 Don't send the copies to the country till this is all want neither excuse nor contradiction, but merely ight." NOTE TO MR. MURRAY. "Dec. 2, 1813. "When you can, let the couplet enclosed be Inserted either in the page, or in the errata page. I trust it is in time for some of the copies. This alteration is in the same part-the page but one before the last correction sent. "P. S. I am afraid, from all I hear, that people are rather inordinate in their expectations, which is very unlucky, but cannot now be helped. This comes of Mr. Perry and one's wise friends; but do not you wind your hopes of success to the same pitch, for fear of accidents, and I can assure you that my philosophy will stand the test very fairly; and I have done every thing to ensure you, at all events, from positive loss, which will be some satisfaction to toth.' NOTE TO MR. MURRAY. "Dec. 3, 1813. a discontinuance of a most ill-grounded charge. I never was consistent in any thing but my politics; and as my redemption depends on that solitary virtue, it is murder to carry away my last anchor." "I leave town for a few days to-morrow: on my return, I will answer your letter more at length. Whatever may be your situation, I cannot but commend your resolution to abjure and abandon the publication and composition of works such as those to which you have alluded. Depend upon it, they amuse few, disgrace both reader and writer, "I send you a scratch or two, the which heal. and benefit none. It will be my wish to assist you, The Christian Observer is very savage, but certainly as far as my limited means will admit, to break well written and quite uncomfortable at the naugh- such a bondage. In your answer, inform me what tiness of book and author. I rather suspect you sum you think would enable you to extricate yourwon't much like the present to be more moral, if it self from the hands of your employers, and to is to share also the usual fate of your virtuous regain at least temporary independence, and I shall volumes. be glad to contribute my mite towards it. "Let me see a proof of the six before incorpora- present I must conclude. Your name is not tion." unknown to me, and I regret, for your own sake, NOTE TO MR. MURRAY. "Monday evening, Dec. 6, 1813. "It is very well, except that the lines are not numbered properly, and a diabolical mistake, page At Author of a publication relating to the Queen, called "The Book: " also of "Travels through America," and other notorious libels. He had written to Lord Byron, alleging poverty as his excuse for the vile uses to which he hs. prostituted his pen, and soliciting the means of obtaming so honest employment. portunity. that you have ever leant it to the works you men- now stationary, if I can at all forward your pursaits tion. In saying this, I merely repeat your own there as well as here, I shall be truly glad in the op words in your letter to me, and have no wish what"Ever yours very sincerely, ever to say a single syllable that may appear to insult your misfortunes. If I have, excuse me; it is unintentional. "Yours, &c. "BYRON." [In answer to this letter, Ashe mentioned as the sum necessary to extricate him from his difficulties, 1.507.-and, some short delay having occurred in the reply to this demand, he, in renewing his suit, complained, it appears, of neglect.] B. P. S. I believe 1 leave town for a day or two on Monday, but after that I am always at home and happy to see you until half past two. LETTER CXCII. TO MR. LEIGH HUNT. "D. 27, 1813. LETTER CXC TO MR. ASHE. "Jan. 5, 1814. "MY DEAR SIR, "I am, indeed, in your debt'-and what is still worse, am obliged to follow royal example, [he hat just apprized his creditors that they must wait till SIR, the meeting,] and entreat your indulgence for, ! "When you accuse a stranger of neglect, you hope, a very short time. The nearest relation, and forget that it is possible business or absence from almost the only friend I possess, has been in LonLondon may have interfered to delay his answer, as don for a week, and leaves it to-morrow, with me, for has actually occurred in the present instance. But her own residence. I return immediately; but we to the point. I am willing to do what I can to meet so seldom, and are so minuted when we meet extricate you from your situation. Your first at all, that I give up all engagements, till now, scheme I was considering; but your own impa- without reluctance. On my return, I must see you tience appears to have rendered it abortive, if not to console myself for my past disappointments. 1 irretrievable. I will deposit in Mr. Murray's hands should feel highly honored in Mr. B's permis (with his consent) the sum you mentioned, to be advanced for the time at ten pounds per month. "P. S. I write in the greatest hurry, which may make my letter a little abrupt; but, as I said before, I have no wish to distress your feelings." sion to make his acquaintance, and there you are in my debt, for it is a promise of last summer which I still hope to see performed. Yesterday I had a letter from Moore; you have probably heard from him lately; but if not, you will be glad to learn that he is the same in heart, head, and health." Only if thought it by no means impossible that we might "I have redde Roncesvaux with very great pleahave hit on something similar, particularly as you sure, and (if I were so disposed) see very little are a dramatist, and was anxious to assure you of room for criticism. There is a choice of two lines the truth, viz., that I had not wittingly seized upon in one of the last cantos,-I think Live and proplot, sentiment, or incident; and I am very glad tect' better, because 'Oh who?' implies a doubt of that I have not in any respect trenched upon your Roland's power of inclination. I would allow the subjects. Something still more singular is, that the-but that point you yourself must determine onfirst part, where you have found a coincidence in I mean the doubt as to where to place a part of the some events within your observations on life, was poem, whether between the actions or no. drawn from observation of mine also; and I meant you wish to have all the success you deserve, neter to have gone on with the story, but on second listen to friends, and-as I am not the least trou thoughts, I thought myself two centuries at least blesome of the number-least of all to me. too late for the subject; which, though admitting "I hope you will be out soon. March, sir, of very powerful feeling and description, yet is not March, is the month for the trade, and they must adapted for this age, at least this country, though be considered. You have written a very noble the finest works of the Greeks, one of Schiller's poem, and nothing but the detestable taste of the and Alfieri's, in modern times, besides several of day can do you harm,-but I think you will beat it our old (and best) dramatists, have been grounded Your measure is uncommonly well chosen and on incidents of a similar cast. I therefore altered wielded." it as you perceive, and, in so doing, have weakened the whole by interrupting the train of thought; and, in composition, I do not think second thoughts are the best, though second expressions may improve the first ideas. "I do not know how other men feel towards those they have met abroad, but to me there seems a kind of tie established between all who have met together in a foreign country, as if we had met in a state of preexistence, and were talking over a life that has ceased; but I always look forward to renewing my travels, and though you, I think, are ⚫ It would appear that he had written to me something which led me to LETTER CXCIV. TO MR. MURRAY. "Bunday, Jan. 2, 1814. "Excuse this dirty paper-it is the penultimat half-sheet of a quire. Thanks for your book and th Ln. Chron. which I return. The Corsair is copied and now at Lord Holland's; but I wish Mr. Giffor to have it to-night. "Mr. Dallas is very perverse; so that I have of Imagine he was offended at my observation, and that I had, in consequence, fended both him and you, when I really meant to d good, at least to one, and certainly not to annej deprecated his wrath."-Galt. either. But I shall manage him, I hope. I am | fact is, he is a damned Tory, and has, I dare swear pretty confident of the Tale itself; but one cannot something of self, which I cannot divine, at the If I get it from Lord Holland, it shall be bottom of his objection, as it is the allusion to Iresent. Yours, &c." land to which he objects. But he be d-d, though a good fellow enough, (your sinner would not be worth a d-n.) be sure. LETTER CXCV. TO MR. MOORE. "Jan. 6, 1814. "Take your choice; no one, save he and Mr Dallas, has seen either, and D. is quite on iny side, and for the first. If I can but testify to you and the world how truly I admire and esteem you, I shall be quite satisfied. As to prose, I don't know Addison's from Johnson's; but I will try to mend my cacology. Pray perpend, pronounce, and don't be offended with either. place. "I have got a devil of a long story in the press, entitled 'The Corsair,' in the regular heroic measure. It is a pirate's isle, peopled with my own creatures, and you may easily suppose they do a fidget. But the Devil, who ought to be civil on such "My last epistle would probably put you in a world of mischief through the three cantos. Now for your Dedication-if you will accept it. This is occasions, proved so, and took my letter to the right positively my last experiment on public literary opinion, till I turn my thirtieth year,-if so be I flourish until that downhill period. I have a confidence for you-a perplexing one to me, and, just at present, in a state of abeyance in itself. * However, we shall see. In the mean time, you may amuse yourself with my suspense, and put all the justices of the peace in requisition, in case I come into your county with hack but bent.' "Is it not odd? the very fate I said she had escaped from, she has now undergone from the worthy claim to the character of Vates?' as he did in the Like Mr. Fitzgerald, shall I not lay Morning Herald for prophesying the fall of Bonaparte, who, by-the-by, I don't think is yet fallen. I wish he would rally and rout your legitimate sovereigns, having a mortal hate to all royal entails. But I am scrawling a treatise. Good night. Ever, &c." NOTE TO MR. MURRAY. "Seriously, whether I am to hear from her or him, it is a pause, which I shall fill up with as few thoughts of my own as I can borrow from other people. Any thing is better than stagnation; and "Jan. 11, 1814. now, in the interregnum of my autumn and a "Correct this proof by Mr. Gifford's (and from strange summer adventure, which I don't like to the MSS.) particularly as to the pointing. I have think of, (I don't mean 's, however, which is added a section for Gulnare, to fill up the parting laughable only,) the antithetical state of my lucu-and dismiss her more ceremoniously. If Mr. Gifbrations makes me alive, and Macbeth can sleep ford or you dislike, 'tis but a sponge, and another no more he was lucky in getting rid of the midnight better employed than in yawning over drowsy sensation of waking again. Miss *; who, by-the-by, may soon return the compliment. Pray write to me. I must send you a copy of the letter of Dedication. When do you come out? I am sure we don't clash this time, for I am all at sea, and in action, and a wife, and a mistress, &c., &c. "Thomas, thou art a happy fellow; but if you wish us to be so, you must come up to town, as you did last year; and we shall have a world to say, and to see, and to hear. Let me hear from you. "Wednesday or Thursday. "P. S. I have redde **. It is full of praises of Lord Ellenborough!!! (from which I infer near and dear relations at the bar,) and "I do not love Madame de Staël, but depend upon it, she beats all your natives hollow as an au thoress, in my opinion; and I would not say this if I could help it. "P. S. Of course you will keep my secret, and "P. S. Pray report my best acknowledgements to don't even talk in your sleep of it. Happen what Mr. Gifford in any words that may best express how may, your Dedication is ensured, being already truly his kindness obliges me. I won't bore him written; and I shall copy it out fair to-night, with lip thanks or notes. in case business or amusement-Amant alterna Camana." NOTE TO MR. MURRAY. "Jan. 7, 1814. NOTE TO MR. MOORE. “Jan. 13, 1814. "I have but a moment to write, but all is as it "You don't like the Dedication-very well; should be. I have said really far short of my opin there is an other; but you will send the other to Mr.ion, but if you think enough, I am content. Will Moore, that he may know I had written it. I send you return the proof by the post, as I leave town on also mottos for the cantos. I think you will allow Sunday, and have no other corrected copy. I put that an elephant may be more sagacious, but can-'servant,' as being less familiar before the public; benot be more docile. Yours, "The name is again altered to Medora."+ LETTER CXCVI. TO ME. MOORE. "EN. * Jan, 8, 1814. "I had written to you a long letter of dedication, which I suppress, because, As it would not be fair to press you into a Dedi-though it contained something relating to you which every one had been glad sation, without previous notice, I send you two, and to hear, yet there was too much about politics, and poesy, and all thung● I will tell why two. The first, Mr. Murray, who whatsoever, ending with that topic on which most men are floent and none zometimes takes upon him the critic (and I bear it very amusing-one's self. It might have been re-written-but to what pur from astonishment) says, may do you harm-God pose? My praise could add nothing to your well-earned and fanly-estab forbid this alone makes me listen to him. The in your conversation, you are already acquainted. In availing myself d • He had made a present of the copyright of the Corsair to Mr. Dallas, which occasioned some embarrassment between him and Mr. Murray. ⚫ht to at first Genevra, lished fame; and with my most hearty admiration of your talents, and delight your friendly permission to inscribe this poein to you, I can only wish th "BYRON " |