It may be tempt me further, — and prevail Against the outworn creature they assail. Why in this furnace is my spirit proved, [In a letter to Maurizio Cataneo, dated December 25, 1585, Tasso gives an account of his sprite (folletto): "The little thief has stolen from me many crowns. .. He puts all my books topsy-turvy (mi mette tutti i libri sottosopra), opens my chest and steals my keys, so that I can keep nothing." Again, December 30, with regard to his hallucinations he says, "Know then that in addition to the wonders of the Folletto... I have many nocturnal alarms. For even when awake I have seemed to behold small flames in the air, and sometimes my eyes sparkle in such a manner, that I dread the loss of sight, and I have seen sparks issue from them." Letters 454, 456, Le Lettere, 1853, ii. 475, 479.] No it shall be immortal! — and I make A future temple of my present cell, 220 Which nations yet shall visit for my sake. While thou, Ferrara! when no longer dwell The ducal chiefs within thee, shalt fall down, By grief-yearsmay be A taint of that he would impute to me From long infection of a den like this, Where the mind rots congenial with the abyss, Adores thee still; - and add that when the towers And battlements which guard his joyous hours Of banquet, dance, and revel, are forgot, 240 But Thou- when all that Birth and Beauty throws Of magic round thee is extinct — shalt have One half the laurel which o'ershades my grave. No power in death can tear our names apart, As none in life could rend thee from my heart. Yes, Leonora! it shall be our fate BEPPO:1 A VENETIAN STORY. Rosalind. Farewell, Monsieur Traveller; Look, you lisp, and wear strange suits: disable all the benefits of your own country; be out of love with your Nativity, and almost chide God for making you that countenance you are; or I will scarce think you have swam in a Gondola. As You Like It, act iv. sc. 1, lines 33-35. Annotation of the Commentators. That is, been at Venice, which was much visited by the young English gentlemen of those times, and was then what Paris is now seat of all dissoluteness.-S. A. the [The initials S. A. (Samuel Ayscough) are not attached to this note, but to another note on the same page (see Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare, 1807, i. 242).] I. 'Tis known, at least it should be, that throughout [Beppo was written in the Autumn (Sept. 6 -Oct. 12) of 1817, and published, February 28, 1818. Byron admitted that the metre (the All countries of the Catholic persuasion, Some weeks before Shrove Tuesday comes about, The People take their fill of recreation, And buy repentance, ere they grow de vout, However high their rank, or low their station, With fiddling, feasting, dancing, drinking, masquing, And other things which may be had for asking. II. The moment night with dusky mantle Covers The skies (and the more duskily the better), The Time less liked by husbands than by lovers Begins, and Prudery flings aside her fetter; And Gaiety on restless tiptoe hovers, Giggling with all the gallants who beset her; And there are songs and quavers, roaring, humming, Guitars, and every other sort of strumming. III. And there are dresses splendid, but fantastical, Masks of all times and nations, Turks and Jews, And harlequins and clowns, with feats gymnastical, Greeks, Romans, Yankee-doodles, and Hindoos; All kinds of dress, except the ecclesiastical, All people, as their fancies hit, may choose, But no one in these parts may quiz the Clergy, Therefore take heed, ye Freethinkers! I charge ye. ottava rima of the Italians) and style of Beppo was "after the excellent manner" of John Hookham Frere's jeu d'esprit generally known as Whistlecraft, but entitled Prospectus and Speci men of an Intended National Work by William and Robert Whistlecraft, London, 1817.] |