THE

BRIDE OF ABYDOS,

A TURKISH TALE. (1)

"Had we never loved so kindly,

Had we never loved so blindly,

Never met or never parted,

We had ne'er been broken-hearted."

BURNS.

(1) [The "Bride of Abydos" was published in the beginning of December, 1813. The mood of mind in which it was struck off' is thus stated by Lord Byron, in a letter to Mr. Gifford :-" You have been good enough to look at a thing of mine in MS.—a Turkish story-and 1 should feel gratified if you would do it the same favour in its probationary state of printing. It was written, I cannot say for amusement, nor obliged by hunger and request of friends,' but in a state of mind, from circumstances which occasionally occur to us youth,' that rendered it necessary for me to apply my mind to something, any thing, but reality; and under this not very brilliant inspiration it was composed. Send it either to the flames, or

༔

— A hundred hawkers' load, On wings of winds to fly or fall abroad.'

It deserves no better than the first, as the work of a week, and scribbled stans pede in uno' (by the bye, the only foot I have to stand on); and I promise never to trouble you again under forty cantos, and a voyage between each."— E.]

ΤΟ

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

LORD HOLLAND,

THIS TALE

IS INSCRIBED, WITH

EVERY SENTIMENT OF REGARD

AND RESPECT,

BY HIS GRATEFULLY OBLIGED

AND SINCERE FRIEND,

BYRON.