(the most difficult poem in the language) renders it necessary to be very particular not only in correcting the proofs with Horace open, but in adapting the parallel passages of the imitation in such places to the original as may enable the reader not to lose sight of the allusion. I don't know whether I ought to ask you to do this, but I am too far off to do it for myself; and if you condescend to my school-boy erudition, you will oblige me by setting this thing going, though you will smile at the importance I attach to it. Believe me, ever yours, 179.-To John Murray.1 BYRON. Newstead Abbey, Notts., Sept. 5, 1811. SIR,-The time seems to be past when (as Dr. Johnson said) a man was certain to "hear the truth from his "costumes from him, which I am to deliver to your Lordship. Is "it likely we shall see your Lordship in Town soon? "I have the honour to be your Lordship's "Most respectful and greatly obliged Servt., "If a small edition is printed of 'Horace' for the first" [words erased] "that, and I think in all probability the 'E. Bards' "will want reprinting about March next, when both could be done "together. Do not think me too sanguine." A few days later, Byron writes to Cawthorn as follows: "Newstead Abbey, September 4th, 1811. "More notes for the 'Hints'! You mistake me much by thinking "me inattentive to this publication. If I had a friend willing and "able to correct the press, it should be out with my good will "immediately. Pray attend to annexing additional notes in their 'proper places, and let them be added immediately. 66 "Yours, etc., : 1. The following is Murray's letter, to which Byron replies: "London, Sept. 4, 1811, Wednesday. "MY LORD,-An absence of some days, passed in the country, "has prevented me from writing earlier in answer to your obliging "letter. I have now, however, the pleasure of sending under a 1811.] POLITICS AND METAPHYSICS. 25 "bookseller," for you have paid me so many compliments, that, if I was not the veriest scribbler on earth, I should feel affronted. As I accept your compliments, it is but fair I should give equal or greater credit to your objections, the more so as I believe them to be well founded. With regard to the political and metaphysical parts, I am afraid I can alter nothing; but I have high authority for separate cover, the first proof sheet of your Lordship's Poem, "which is so good as to be entitled to all your care to render per. "fect. Besides its general merit, there are parts, which, I am "tempted to believe, far excel anything that your Lordship has "hitherto published, and it were therefore grievous indeed, if you "do not condescend to bestow upon it all the improvement of "which your Lordship's mind is so capable; every correction "already made is valuable, and this circumstance renders me more "confident in soliciting for it your further attention. "There are some expressions, too, concerning Spain and Portugal, "which, however just, and particularly so at the time they were "conceived, yet as they do not harmonize with the general feeling, "would so greatly interfere with the popularity which the poem is, "in other respects, so certainly calculated to excite, that, in com"passion to your publisher, who does not presume to reason upon "the subject, otherwise than as a mere matter of business, I hope "your Lordship's goodness will induce you to obviate them, and, "with them, perhaps, some religious feelings which may deprive "me of some customers amongst the Orthodox. "Could I flatter myself that these suggestions were not obtrusive, "I would hazard another, in an earnest solicitation that your Lord"ship would add the two promised Cantos, and complete the "Poem. It were cruel indeed not to perfect a work which contains 'so much that is excellent; your Fame, my Lord, demands it; "you are raising a Monument that will outlive your present feelings, "and it should therefore be so constructed as to excite no other "associations than those of respect and admiration for your Lord. 66 ship's Character and Genius. 66 "I trust that you will pardon the warmth of this address when I 'assure your Lordship that it arises, in the greatest degree, in a "sincere regard for your lasting reputation, with, however, some "view to that portion of it, which must attend the Publisher of so "beautiful a Poem, as your Lordship is capable of rendering "The Romaunt of Childe Harold. "I have the honour to be, My Lord, "Your Lordship's "Obedient and faithful servant, my Errors in that point, for even the Eneid was a political poem, and written for a political purpose; and as to my unlucky opinions on Subjects of more importance, I am too sincere in them for recantation. On Spanish affairs I have said what I saw, and every day confirms me in that notion of the result formed on the Spot; and I rather think honest John Bull is beginning to come round again to that Sobriety which Massena's retreat1 had begun to reel from its centre-the usual consequence of unusual success. So you perceive I cannot alter the Sentiments; but if there are any alterations in the structure of the versification you would wish to be made, I will tag rhymes and turn stanzas as much as you please. As for the "Orthodox," let us hope they will buy, on purpose to abuse-you will forgive the one, if they will do the other. You are aware that any thing from my pen must expect no quarter, on many accounts; and as the present publication is of a nature very different from the former, we must not be sanguine. You have given me no answer to my question-tell me fairly, did you show the MS. to some of your corps ? 2 -I sent an introductory stanza to Mr. Dallas, that it might be forwarded to you; the poem else will open too abruptly. The Stanzas had better be numbered in Roman characters, there is a disquisition on the literature of the modern Greeks, and some smaller poems to come in at the close. These are now at Newstead, but will be sent in time. If Mr. D. has lost the Stanza and note annexed to it, write, and I will send it myself.-You tell 1. On the night of March 5, 1811, Massena retreated from his camp at Santarem, whence he had watched Wellington at Torres Vedras, and on April 4 he crossed the Coa into Spain. 2. Murray had shown the MS. to Gifford for advice as to its publication. Byron seems to have resented this on the ground that it might look like an attempt to propitiate the Quarterly Review. 1811.] GIFFORD'S APPROBATION. 27 me to add two cantos, but I am about to visit my Collieries in Lancashire on the 15th instant, which is so unpoetical an employment that I need say no more. I am, sir, your most obedient, etc., etc., BYRON. 180.-To R. C. Dallas. Newstead Abbey, September 7, 1811. As Gifford has been ever my "Magnus Apollo,” any approbation, such as you mention, would, of course, be more welcome than "all Bocara's vaunted gold, than all "the gems of Samarcand." 1 But I am sorry the MS. was shown to him in such a manner, and had written to Murray to say as much, before I was aware that it was too late. Your objection to the expression "central line" I can only meet by saying that, before Childe Harold left England, it was his full intention to traverse Persia, and return by India, which he could not have done without passing the equinoctial. The other errors you mention, I must correct in the progress through the press. I feel honoured by the wish of such men that the poem should be continued, but to do that I must return to Greece and Asia; I must have a warm sun, a blue sky; I cannot describe scenes so dear to me by a sea-coal fire. I had projected an additional 1. The lines, which are parodied in Byron's unpublished Barmaid, are from Sir W. Jones's translation of a song by Hafiz (Works, vol. x. p. 251)— "Sweet maid, if thou would'st charm my sight, And bid these arms thy neck infold; That rosy cheek, that lily hand, canto when I was in the Troad and Constantinople, and if I saw them again, it would go on; but under existing circumstances and sensations, I have neither harp, “heart, nor voice" to proceed. I feel that you are all right as to the metaphysical part; but I also feel that I am sincere, and that if I am only to write "ad captandum vulgus," I might as well edit a magazine at once, or spin canzonettas for Vauxhall.1 My work must make its way as well as it can; I know I have every thing against me, angry poets and prejudices; but if the poem is a poem, it will surmount these obstacles, and if not, it deserves its fate. Your friend's Ode 2 I have read it is no great compliment to pronounce it far superior to Smythe's on the same subject, or to the merits of the new Chancellor. It is evidently the production of a man of taste, and a poet, though I should not be willing to say it was fully equal to what might be expected from the author of "Hora Ionicæ."3 I thank you for it, and that is more than I would do for any other Ode of the present day. 1. Vauxhall Gardens (1661 to July 25, 1859) were still not only a popular but a fashionable resort, though fireworks and masquerades threatened to expel musicians and vocalists. At this time the principal singers were Charles Dignum (1765-1827); Maria Theresa Bland (1769-1838), a famous ballad-singer; Rosoman Mountain, née Wilkinson (1768-1841), whose husband was a violinist and leader at Vauxhall.-(The London Pleasure Gardens, pp. 286-326.) 2. On June 29, 1811, the Duke of Gloucester was installed as Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. The Installation Ode, written by W. Smyth, of Peterhouse (1765-1849), Professor of Modern History at Cambridge, and author of English Lyrics (1797) and other works, was set to music by Hague, and performed in the Senate House, Braham and Ashe, it is said, particularly distinguishing themselves among the performers. The Ode is given in the Annual Register for 1811, pp. 593-596. The rival Ode, which Byron preferred, was by Walter Rodwell Wright. 3. For Walter Rodwell Wright, author of Hora Ionica (1809), see Letters, vol. i. p. 336, note I. |