NOTE TO MR. MURRAY. BN. "Tuesday evening, Nov. 30, 1813. For the sake of correctness, particularly in an errata page, the alteration of the couplet I have just sent (half an hour ago) must take place, in spite of delay or cancel; let me see the proof early to-morrow. I found out murmur to be a neuter verb, and have been obliged to alter the line so as to make it a substantive, thus "The deepest murmur of this lip shall be No sigh for safety, but a prayer for thee! Don't send the copies to the country till this is all right." 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 new work. I know they are not out; but it is periaps pos "P. S. You were talking to-day of the American edition peryou excuse nor contradiction, but merely a discontinuance of a "If you send to the Globe editor, say that I want neither 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." LETTER CLXXXIX. TO MR. ASHE. * *4, Bennet-street, St. James's, Dec. 14, 1813. SIR, "I leave town for a few days to-morrow: on my return, some of the copies. This alteration is in the same part-be your situation, I cannot but commend your resolution to I will answer your letter more at length. Whatever may page but one before the last correction sent. the "P. S. I am afraid, from all I hear, that people are rather abjure and abandon the publication and composition of works inordinate in their expectations, which is very unlucky, but such as those to which you have alluded. Depend upon it 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, whien will be some satisfaction to both." "Monday evening, Dec. 6, 1813. "It is all very well, except that the lines are not numbered properly, and a diabolical mistake, page 67 which must be corrected with the pen, if no other way remains; it is the omission of 'not' before 'disagreeable,' in the note on the amber rosary. This is really horrible, and nearly as bad as the stumble of mine at the threshold-I mean the misnomer of Bride. Pray do not let a copy go without the 'not, it is nonsense and worse than nonsense as it now stands. I wish the printer was saddled with a vampire. P. S. It is still hath instead of have page 20; never was any one so misused as I am by your devils of printers. "P. S. I hope and trust the 'not' was inserted in the first edition. We must have something-any thing-to set it right. It is enough to answer for one's own bulls, without other people's." LETTER CLXXXVIII. TO MR. MURRAY. "Dec. 27, 1813. "Lord Holland is laid up with the gout, and would feel very much obliged you could obtain, and send as soon as possible, Madame D'Arblay's (or even Miss Edgeworth's) they amuse few, disgrace both reader and writer, and benefit "Yours, &c. "BYRON." [In answer to this letter, Ashe mentioned as the sum necessary to extricate him from his difficulties, 150l.—and, some short delay having occurred in the reply to this demand, he, in renewing his suit, complained, it appears, of neglect.] "SIR, LETTER CXC. TO MR. ASHE. "Jan. 5, 1814. it is possible business or absence from London may have "When you accuse a stranger of neglect, you forget that interfered to delay his answer, as has actually occurred in the present instance. But to the point. I am willing to do what I can to extricate you from your situation. Your first scheme I was considering; but your own impatience appears to have rendered it abortive, if not irretrievable. I will deposite in Mr. Murray's hands (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." also of Travels through America," and other notorious libels. LETTER CXCI. "MY DEAR GALT, TO MR. GALT. "Dec. 11, 1813. think 'Live and protect' better because 'Oh who? implies a doubt of Roland's power or inclination. I would allow the-but that point you yourself must determine on--I mean the doubt as to where to place a part of the Poem, whether between the actions or no. Only if you wish to have all the There was no offence-there could be none.* I thought success you deserve, never listen to friends, and-as I am it by no means impossible that we might have hit on some-not the least troublesome of the number-least of all to me. thing similar particularly as you are a dramatist, and was "I hope you will be out soon. March, sir, Marc., is the anxious to assure you of the truth, viz. that I had not wit-month for the trade, and they must be considered You ungly seized upon plot, sentiment, or incident; and I am very have written a very noble Poem, and nothing but the detest glad that I have not in any respect trenched upon your able taste of the day can do you harm, but I think you will subjects. Something still more singular is, that the first part, beat it. Your measure is uncommonly well chosen and where have found a coincidence in some events within wielded." you your observations on life, was drawn from observation of mine also; and I meant to have gone on with the story but on second thoughts, I thought myself two centuries at least too late for the subject; which, though admitting of very powerful feeling and description, yet is not adapted for this age, at least this country, though the finest works of the Greeks, one of Schiller's and Alfieri's, in modern times, "Sunday, Jan. 2, 1814 besides several of our old (and best) dramatists, have been "Excuse this dirty paper-it is the penultimate half-sheet grounded on incidents of a similar cast. I therefore altered of a quire. Thanks for your book and the Ln. Chron. which it as you perceive, and, in so doing, have weakened the I return. The Corsair is copied, and now at Lord Hol whole by interrupting the train of thought; and, in composi-land's; but I wish Mr. Gifford to have it to-night. tion, 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 the established between all who have met together in a foreign country, as if we had met in a state of pre-existence, and were talking over a life that has ceased; but I always look forward to renewing my travels, and though you, I think, are now stationary, if I can at all forward your pursuits there as well as here, I shall be truly glad in the opportunity. "Ever yours very sincerely, "B. "P. S. I believe I leave own for a day or two, on Monday, but after that I am always at home, and happy to see vou till half past two." LETTER CXCII. TO MR. LEIGH HUNT. "Dec. 22, 1813. * LETTER CXCIV. TO MR. MURRAY. "Mr. Dallas is very perverse; so that I have offended both him and you, when I really meant to do good, at least to one, and certainly not to annoy either. But I shall manage him, I hope. I am pretty confident of the Tale itself; but one cannot be sure. If I get it from Lord Holland, it shall be sent. Yours, &c." LETTER CXCV. TO MR. MOORE. "Jan. 6, 1814. "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 world of mischief through the three cantos. Now for your Dedication-if you will accept it. This is positively my last experiment on public literary opinion, till I turn my thirtieth year,-if so be I flourish until that down. hill 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 hack but bent.' peace in requisition, in case I come into your county with * MY DEAR SIR, *I am, indeed, 'in your debt'—and what is still worse, am obliged to follow royal example, [he has just apprized his creditors that they must wait till the meeting,] and entreat your indulgence for, I hope, a very short time. The nearest relation, and almost the only friend I possess, has been in London for a week, and leaves it to-morrow, with me, for "Seriously, whether I am to hear from her or him, it is a her own residence. I return immediately; but we meet so pause, which I shall fill up with as few thoughts of my own seldom, and are so minuted when we meet at all, that I give up all engagements, till now, without reluctance. On my return, stagnation; and now, in the interregnum of my autumn and as I can borrow from other people. Any thing is better than I must see you to console myself for my past disappointments. I should feel highly honoured in Mr. B's of, (I don't mean * *'s, however, which is laughable only,) a strange summer adventure, which I don't like to think permission to make his acquaintance, and there you are in the antithetical state of my lucubrations makes me alive my debt, for it is a promise of last summer which I still hope and Macbeth can 'sleep no more:-he was lucky in getting to see performed. Yesterday I had a letter from Moore; rid of the drowsy sensation of waking again. 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 Dedication. When do you come out? I am sure we "Pray write to me. I must send you a copy of the letter 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. "P. S. Of course you will keep my secret, and don't even talk in your sleep of it. Happen what may, your Dedication is ensured, being already written; and I shall copy it out fair to-night, in case business or amusement-Amant alterna Camœna." • He had made a present of the copy-right of the Corsair to Mr. Dallas which occasioned some embarrassment between him and M. Murray, NOTE TO MR. MURRAY. "Jan. 7, 1814. "P. S. Pray report my best acknowledgments to Mr. Gifford in any words that may best express how truly has "You don't like the Dedication-very well; there is an-kindness obliges me. I won't bore him win lip thanks other: but you will send the other to Mr. Moore, that he notes." may know I had written it. I send also mottos for the cantos. I think you will allow that an elephant may be more sagacious, but cannot be more docile. "Yours, "The name is again altered to Medora."* LETTER CXCVI. TO MR. MOORE. "BN. "Jan. 8, 1814. "As it would not be fair to press you into a Dedication, without previous notice, I send you two, and I will tell you why two. The first, Mr. Murray, who sometimes takes upon him the critic (and I bear it from astonishment) says, may do harm-God forbid! this alone makes me you listen to him. The fact is, he is a damned Tory, and has, I dare swear, something of self, which I cannot divine, at the bottom of his objection, as it is the allusion to Ireland to which he objects. But he be d-d, though a good fellow enough, (your sinner would not be worth a d―n.) "Take your choice; no one, save he and Mr. Dallas, has seen either, and D. is quite on my 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, don't know Addison's from Johnson's; but I will try to mend my cacology. Pray perpend, pronounce, and don't be of fended with either. "My last epistle would probably put you in a fidget. But the Devil, who ought to be civil on such occasions, proved and took my letter to the right place. * * * * * "Is it not odd? the very fate I said she had escaped from * *, she has now undergone from the worthy **. Like Mr. Fitzgerald, shall I not lay clain to the character of 'Vates?' as he did in the Morning Herald for prophesying the fall of Buonaparte, 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. "Jan. 11, 1814. "Correct this proof by Mr. Gifford's (and from the MSS.) particularly as to the pointing. I have added a section for Gulnare, to fill up the parting, and dismiss her more ceremoniously. If Mr. Gifford or you dislike, 't is but a sponge, and another midnight better employed than in yawning over Miss **; who, by-the-by, may soon return the compliment. "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 authoress, in my opinion; and I would not say this if I could help it. • It had been at first Genevra. The first was the one preferred. The other was as follows: "My dear Moore, "Jan. 7, 1814. "I had written to you a long letter of dedication, which I suppress, because, though it contained something relating to you which every one had Deen glad to hear, yet there was too much about politics, and poesy, and all things whatsoever, ending with that topic on which most men are fluent, and nor e very amusing-one's self. It might have been re-written-but to w purpose? My praise cou. add nothing to your well-earned and army-established fame; and with my most hearty admiration of your talents, and delight in your conversation, you are already acquainted. In sailing myself of your friendly permission to inacribe this Poem to you, I can only wish the offering were as worthy your acceptance as your reard is dear to "Yours, most affectionately and faithfully, 'BYRON." NOTE TO MR. MOORE. "Jan. 13, 1814. "I have but a moment to write, but all is as it should be. I have said really far short of my opinion, but if you think enough, I am content. Will you return the proof by the post, as I leave town on Sunday, and have no other corrected copy. I put 'servant,' as being less familiar before the public; because I don't like presuming upon our friendship to infringe upon forms. As to the other word, you may be sure it is one I cannot hear or repeat too often. "I write in an agony of haste and confusion.-Perdonate." LETTER CXCVII. TO MR. MURRAY. * Jan. 15, 1814 "Before any proof goes to Mr. Gifford, it may be as well to revise this, where there are words omitted, faults committed, and the devil knows what. As to the Dedication, I cut out the parenthesis of Mr.* but not another word shall move unless for a better. Mr. Moore has seen, and decidedly preferred, the part your Tory bile sickens at. If every syllable were a rattlesnake, or every letter a pestilence, they should not be expunged.. Let those who cannot swallow, chew the expressions on Ireland; or should even Mr. Croker array himself in all his terrors against them, I care for none of you, except Gifford; and he won't abuse me except I deserve it-which will at least reconcile me to his justice. As to the poems in Hobhouse's volume,f the translation from the Romaic is well enough; but the best of the other volume (of mine, I mean) have been already printed. But do as you please-only, as I shall be absent when you come out, do, pray, let Mr. Dallas and you have a care of the press. "Yours, &c." NOTE TO MR. MURRAY. ["1814, Jan. 16.] "I do believe that the Devil never created or perverted such a fiend as the fool of a printer. I am obliged to enclose you, luckily for me, this second proof, corrected, because there is an ingenuity in his blunders peculiar to humse f Let the press be guided by the present sheet. "Yours, &c. "Burn the other. "Correct this also by the other in some things which I may had stood, I would most certainly have broken his neck.” have forgotten. There is one mistake he made, which, if it LETTER CXCVIII. TO MR. MURRAY. "Newstead Abbey, Jan. 22, 1814. The time of my return will depend upon the weather, which is so "You will be glad to hear of my safe arrival here. impracticable that this letter has to advance through more snows than ever opposed the emperor's retreat. The roads are impassable, and return impossible for the present; which I do not regret, as I am much at my ease, and six-and-twenty complete this day-a very pretty age, if it would always last. Our coals are excellent, our fire-places large, my cellar fuit, and my head empty; and I have not yet recovered my joy at leaving London. If any unexpected turn occurred with my purchasers, I believe I should hardly quit the place at all; but shut my door, and let my beard grow. "I forgot to mention (and I hope it is unnecessary) that He had, at first, after the words "Scott alone," inserted, in a paren thesis," He will excuse the Mr.-' we do not say Mr Cæsar.'" † See Poems, p. 185 the lines beginning-Ronember him,* &c. must not appear by a wish to put them to their combined uses, except in letwith the Corsair. You may slip them in with the smaller ters of business. My rhyming propensity is quite gone, and pieces newly annexed to Childe Harold; but on no account I feel much as I did at Patras on recovering from my fover permit them to be appended to the Corsair. Have the weak, but in health, and only afraid of a relapse. I do goodness to recollect this particularly. most fervently hope I never shall. "The books I have brought with me are a great consolation for the confinement, and I bought more as we came along. In short, I never consult the thermometer, and shall not put up prayers for a thaw, unless I thought it would sweep away the rascally invaders of France. Was ever such a thing as Blucher's proclamation? "Yours alway, Just before I left town, Kemble paid me the compliment of desiring me to write a tragedy; I wish I could, but I find my scribbling mood subsiding--not before it was time; but it is lucky to check it at all. If I lengthen my letter you will think it is coming on again; so, good bye. "B. "P. S. If you hear any news of battle or retreat on the part of the Allies, (as they call them,) pray send it. He has my best wishes to manure the fields of France with an wading army. I hate invaders of all countries, and have no patience with the cowardly cry of exultation over him, at whose name you all turned whiter than the snow to which you are indebted for your triumphs. I open my letter to thank you for yours just received. The 'Lines to a Lady Weeping' must go with the Corsair. I care nothing for consequence on this point. My politics are to me like a young mistress to an old man-the worse they grow, the fonder I become of them. As Mr. Gifford likes the 'Portuguese Translation, pray insert it as an addition to the Corsair. "In all points of difference between Mr. Gifford and Mr. Dallas, let the first keep his place; and in all points of difference between Mr. Gifford and Mr. Anybody-else, I shall abide by the former; if I am wrong, I can't help it. But I would rather not be right with any other person. So there is an end of that matter. After all the trouble he has taken about me and mine, I should be very ungrateful to feel or act otherwise. Besides, in point of judgment, he is not to be lowered by a comparison. In politics, he may be right too; but that with me is a feeling, and I can't torify my nature." LETTER CXCIX. TO MR. MURRAY. "Newstead Abbey, Feb. 4, 1814. "I need not say that your obliging letter was very wel come, and not the less so for being unexpected. "It doubtless gratifies me much that our finale has pleased, and that the curtain drops gracefully. You deserve it should, for your promptitude and good nature in arranging immediately with Mr. Dallas; and I can assure you that I esteem your entering so warmly into the subject, and writing to me so soon upon it, as a personal obligation. We shall now part, I hope, satisfied with each other. I was and am quite in earnest in my prefatory promise not to intrude any more; and this not from any affectation, but a thorough conviction that it is the best policy, and is at least respectful to my readers, as it shows that I would not willingly run the risk of forfeiting their favour in future. Besides, I have other views and objects, and think that I shall keep this reso lution; for, since I left London, though shut up, snow-bound, Ur-bound, and tempted with all kinds of paper, the dirtiest of ink, and the bluntest of pens, I have not even been haunted * See Poerna, p. 191. His translation of the pretty Portuguese song. Tu mi chamas." He was tempted to try another version of this ingenious thought, which is, perhaps, still more happy, and has never, I believe, appeared in print. "You call me still your 'fe-ah! change the word- It will be recollected that he had announced the Corsair as "the last production with which he should trespass on public patience for some Years," "I see by the Morning Chronicle there hath been discussion in the Courier; and I read in the Morning Post a wrathful letter about Mr. Moore, in which some Protestant Reader has made a sad confusion about India and Ireland. "You are to do as you please about the smaller poeras, but I think removing them now from the Corsair looks like fear; and if so, you must allow me not to be pleased. I should also suppose that, after the fuss of these newspaper esquires, they would materially assist the circulation of the Corsair; an object I should imagine at present of more importance to yourself than Childe Harold's seventh appearance. Do as you like; but don't allow the withdrawing that poem to draw any imputation of dismay upon me.* "Pray make my respects to Mr. Ward, whose praise I value most highly, as you well know; it is in the approbation of such men that fame becomes worth having. To Mr. Gifford I am always grateful, and surely not less so now than ever. And so good night to my authorship. "I have been sauntering and dozing here very quietly and not unhappily. You will be happy to hear that I have completely established my title deeds as marketable, and that the purchaser has succumbed to the terms, and fulfils them, or is to fulfil them forthwith. He is now here, and wo go on very amicably together-one in each wing of the Abbey. We set off on Sunday-I for town, he for Cheshire. "Mrs. Leigh is with me-much pleased with the place, and less so with me for parting with it, to which not even the price can reconcile her. Your parcel has not yet arrived― at least the Mags. &c.; but I have received Childe Harold and the Corsair. I believe both are very correctly printed, which is a great satisfaction. "I thank you for wishing me in town; but I think one's success is most felt at a distance, and I enjoy my solitary self-importance in an agreeably sulky way of my own, upon the strength of your letter-for which I once more thank you, and am, very truly, &c. "P.S. Don't you think Buonaparte's next publication will be rather expensive to the Allies? Perry's Paris letter of yesterday looks very reviving. What a Hydra and Briareus it is! I wish they would pacify: there is no end to this campaigning." LETTER CC. TO MR. MURRAY. "Newstead Abbey, Feb. 5, 1814. "I quite forgot, in my answer of yesterday, to mention that I have no means of ascertaining whether the Newark Pirate has been doing what you say. If so, he is a rascal, and a shabby rascal too; and if his offence is punishable by law or pugilism, he shall be fined or buffeted. Do you try and discover, and I will make some inquiry here. Perhaps some other in town may have gone on printing, and used the same deception. "The fac-simile is omitted in Childe Harold, which is very awkward, as there is a note expressly on the subject. Pray replace it as usual. "On second and third thoughts, the withdrawing the small poems from the Corsair (even to add to Childe Harold) looks like shrinking and shuffling, after the fuss made upon one of them by the Tories. Pray replace them in the Corsair's appendix. I am sorry that Childe Harold requires some and such abetments to make him move off: but, if you remember, I told you his popularity would not be permanent. It is very lucky for the author that he had He alludes to lines beginning "Weep, daughter of a royal nne." Poems, p. 192. ↑ Reprinting the "Hours of Lileness.” made up his mind to a temporary reputation in time. The pleasantly. You can have no conception of the uproar the truth is, I do not think that any of the present day (and eight lines on the little Royalty's weeping in 1812 (now releast of all, one who has not consulted the flattering side of published) have occasioned. The Regent, who had always huunan nature) have much to hope from posterity; and you thought them yours, chose-God knows why-on discovermay think it affectation very probably, but to me, my presenting them to be mine, to be affected 'in sorrow rather than and past success has appeared very singular, since it was anger.' The Morning Post, Sun, Herald, Courier, have all in the teeth of so many prejudices. I almost think people been in hysterics ever since. Murray is in a fright, and like to be contradicted. If Childe Harold flags, it will hardly wanted to shuffle-and the abuse against me in all directions be worth while to go on with the engravings: but do as you is vehement, unceasing, loud-some of it good, and all of it please; I have done with the whole concern; and the en-hearty. I feel a little compunctious as to the Regent's re closed lines written years ago, and copied from my skullcap, gret;-'would he had been only angry! but I fear him not. are among the last with which you will be troubled. If you "Some of these same assailments you have probably seen. like, add them to Childe Harold, if only for the sake of My person (which is excellent for 'the nonce') has been deanother outcry. You received so long an answer yesterday, nounced in verses, the more like the subject, inasmuch as that I will not intrude on you further than to repeat myself, they halt exceedingly. Then, in another, I am an atheist—— "Yours, &c. a rebel-and at last, the devil, (boiteux, I presume.) My "P. S. Of course, in reprinting (if you have occasion) demonism seems to be a female's conjecture: if so, perhaps you will take great care to be correct. The present editions I could convince her that I am but a mere mortal,-if a seem very much so, except in the last note of Childe Harold, queen of the Amazons may be believed, who says apierov where the word responsible occurs twice, nearly together; xolos opti. I quote from memory, so my Greek is pro. correct the second into answerable." bably deficient; but the passage is meant to mear NOTE TO MR. MURRAY. "Newark, Feb. 6, 1814. * * * "Seriously, I am in, what the learned call, a dilemma, and the vulgar, a scrape; and my friends desire me not to be in passion, and like Sir Fretful, I assure them that I am 'quite calm,'-but I am nevertheless in a fury. "Since I wrote thus far, a friend has come in, and we have been talking and buffooning, till I have quite lost the thread of my thoughts; and, as I won't send them unstrung to you "Believe me ever, &c. good morning, and "I am thus far on my way to town. Master Ridge* Ia have seen, and he owns to having reprinted some sheets, to make up a few complete remaining copies! I have now given him fair warning, and if he plays such tricks again, I must either get an injunction, or call for an account of profits, (as I never have parted with the copyright,) or, in short, any thing vexatious to repay him in his own way. If the weather does not relapse, I hope to be in town in a day or "Yours, &c." two. "P. S. Murray, during my absence, omitted the Tears in several of the copies. I have made him replace them, and am very wroth with his qualms;-as the wine is poured out, let it be drunk to the dregs." "Feb. 12, 1814. "If you have copies of the 'Intercepted Letters, * Lady Holland would be glad of a volume, and when you have served cthers, have the goodness to think of your humble servant. "Feb. 28, 1814. There is a youngster-and a clever named Reyone, nolds, who has just published a poem called 'Safie,' published by Cawthorne. He is in the most natural and fearful apprehension of the Reviewers-and as you and I both know "You have played the devil by that injudicious supby experience the effect of such things upon a young mind, I wish you would take his production into dissection and do pression, which you did totally without my consent. it gently. I cannot, because it is inscribed to me; but I Some of the papers have exactly said what might be assure you this is not my motive for wishing him to be ten-expected. Now I do not, and will not be supposed to derly entreated, but because I know the misery, at his time shrink, although myself and every thing belonging to me of life, of untoward remarks upon first appearance. were to perish with my memory. "Yours, &c. "BN. "Now for self. Pray thank your cousin-it is just as it "P. S. Pray attend to what I stated yesterday a should be, to my liking, and probably more than will suit any one else's. I hope and trust that you are well and well technical topics." doing. Peace be with you. Ever yours, my dear friend." |