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In five facetious acts comes thundering on. [p. 599. ↑ Lord C's works, most resplendently bound, form Mr. S. is the illustrious author of the "Sleep- a conspicuous ornament to his book-shelves: ing Beauty:" and some Comedies, particularly "Maids and Bachelors;" Baccalaurei baculo magis quam lauro digni.

And worship Catalani's pantaloons. [p. 599. Naldi and Catalani require little notice, for the visage of the one, and the salary of the other, will enable us long to recollect these amusing vagabonds; besides, we are still black and blue from the squeeze on the first night of the lady's appearance in trowsers.

Of vice and folly, Greville and Argyle! [p. 599. To prevent any blunder, such as mistaking a etrect for a man, I beg leave to state, that it is the Institution, and not the Duke, of that name, which is here alluded to.

A gentleman with whom I am slightly acquainted, lost in the Argyle Rooms several thousand pounds at Backgammon. It is but justice to the manager in this instance to say, that some degree of disapprobation was manifested. But why are the implements of gaming allowed in a place devoted to the society of both sexes? A pleasant thing for the wives and daughters of those who are blest or cursed with such connections, to hear the billiard-tables rattling in one room, and the dice in another! That this is the case I myself can testify, as a late unworthy member of an institution which materially affects the morals of the higher orders, while the lower may not even move to the sound of a tabor and fiddle, without a chance of indictment for riotous behaviour.

Behold the new Petronius of the day. (p. 599. Petronius, "arbiter elegantiarum to Nero, "and a very pretty fellow in his day," as Mr. Congreve's old Bachelor saith.

To live like Clodius, and like Falkland fall. [p. 600.

• Mutato nomine de te fabula narratur. I knew the late Lord Falkland well. On Sunday night I beheld him presiding at his own table, in all the honest pride of hospitality; on Wednesday morning at three o'clock, I saw, stretched before me, all that remained of courage, feeling, and a host of passions. He was a gallant and successful officer; his faults were the faults of a sailor-as such, Britons will forgive them. He died like a brave man in a better cause, for had he fallen in like manner on the deck of the frigate to which he was just appointed, his last moments would have been held up by his countrymen as an example to succeeding heroes.

From silly Hafiz up to simple Bowles. [p. 600. What would be the sentiments of the Persian Anacreon, Hafiz, could he rise from his splendid sepulchre at Sheeraz, where he reposes with Ferdousi and Sadi, the Oriental Homer and Catullus, and behold his name assumed by one Stott of Dromore, the most impudent and execrable of literary poachers for the daily prints?

Lord, rhymester, petit-maitre, pamphleteer!

[p. 600.

The Earl of Carlisle has lately published an eighteen-penny pamphlet on the state of the Stage, and offers his plan for building a new theatre: it is to be hoped his lordship will be permitted to bring forward any thing for the Stage, except his own tragedies.

And hang a calf-skin on those recreant lines.
[p. 600.
Thou wear a lion's hide! doff it, for shame,
And hang a calf's-skin on those recreant limbs.
SHAKSPEARE, King John.

The rest is all but leather and prunella.

And Melville's Mantle prove a Blanket too! [P. 600. Melville's Mantle, a parody on "Elijah's Mantle," a poem.

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May Moorland-weavers boast Pindaric skill.

[p. 601. Vide "Recollections of a Weaver in the Moorlands of Staffordshire."

Come forth, oh Campbell! give thy talents scope. [p. 601.

It would be superfluous to recal to the mind of the reader the author of "The Pleasures of

Memory," and "The Pleasures of Hope," the most beautiful didactic poems in our language, if we except Pope's Essay on Man: but so many poetasters have started up, that even the names of Campbell and Rogers are become strange.

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Wright! 'twas thy happy lot at once to view. (p. 602. Mr. Wright, late Consul - General for the Seven Islands, is author of a very beautiful poem Just published: it is entitled, "Hora Ionicæ," and is descriptive of the Isles and the adjacent coast of Greece.

And you, associate Bards! who snatch'd to light. [p. 602. The translators of the Anthology have since published separate poems, which evince genius that only requires opportunity to attain eminence. False glare attracts, but more offends the eye.

[p. 602. The neglect of the "Botanic-Garden" is some proof of returning taste: the scenery is its sole recommendation.

And thou, too, Scott! resign to minstrels rude. [p. 602. By the bye, I hope that in Mr. Scott's next poem his hero or heroine will be less addicted to "gramarye," and more to grammar, than the Lady of the Lay, and her bravo, William of Deloraine.

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Let Stott, Carlisle, Matilda, and the rest. [p. 602. It may be asked why I have censured the Earl of Carlisle, my guardian and relative, to whom I dedicated a volume of puerile poems a few years ago. The guardianship was nominal, at least as far as I have been able to discover; the relationship I cannot help, and am very sorry for it; but as his lordship seemed to forget it on a very essential occasion to me, I shall not burthen my memory with the recollection. I do not think that personal differences sanction the unjust condemnation of a brother scribbler; but no reason why they should act as a preventive, when the author, noble or ignoble, has for a series of years beguiled a "discerning public (as the advertisements have it) with divers reams of most orthodox, imperial nonsense. Be sides, I do not step aside to vituperate the Earl; no-his works come fairly in review with those of other patrician literati. If, before I 'escaped from my teens, I said any thing in favour of his lordship's paper-books, it was in the way of dutiful dedication, and more from the advice of others than my own judgment, and I seize the first opportunity of pronouncing my sincere recantation. I have heard that some persons com ceive me to be under obligations to Lord Carlisle if so, I shall be most particularly happy to learn what they are, and when conferred, that they may be duly appreciated and publicly acknowledged. What I have humbly advanced

as

an opinion on his printed things, I am prepared to support, if necessary, by quotations from elegies, eulogies, odes, episodes, and certain facetious and dainty tragedies, bearing his name and mark:

What can ennoble knaves or fools, or cowards?

Alas! not all the blood of all the Howards! So says Pope. Amen.

And other victors fill the applauding skies. [p. 603. "Tollere humo, victorque virum volitare per VIRGIL.

ora."

Requires no sacred theme to bid us list. [p. 603. The "Games of Hoyle," well known to the votaries of whist and chess, are not to be superseded by the vagaries of his poetical namesake, whose poem comprised, as expressly stated in the vertisement, all the "Plagues of Egypt."

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of a poem denominated the “Art of Pleasing," as "lucus a non lucendo," containing little pleasantry, and less poetry. He also acts as monthly stipendiary and collector of calumnies for the Satirist. If this unfortunate young man would exchange the magazines for the mathematics, and endeavour to take a decent degree in his university, it might eventually prove more serviceable than his present salary.

Oh, dark asylum of a Vandal race! [p. 603. "Into Cambridgeshire the Emperor Probus transported a considerable body of Vandals."GIBBON. There is no reason to doubt the truth of this assertion-the breed is still in high perfection. That.... Hodgson scarce redeems thy fame!

Ep. 603. This gentleman's name requires no praise: the man who in translation displays unquestionable genius, may well be expected to excel in original composition, of which it is to be hoped we shall soon see a splendid specimen. • And modern Britons justly praise their sires. [p. 603. The "Aboriginal Britons," an excellent poem by Richards.

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A friend of mine being asked why his Grace of P. was likened to an old woman? replied, "he supposed it was because he was past bearing."

Let vain Valentia rival luckless Carr. [p. 603. Lord Valentia (whose tremendous travels are forthcoming, with due decorations, graphical, topographical, and typographical) deposed, on Sir John Carr's unlucky suit, that Dubois' satire. prevented his purchase of the "Stranger in IreÎand."-Oh fie, my Lord! has your lordship no more feeling for a fellow-tourist ? but "two of a trade," they say.

Let Aberdeen and Elgin still pursue.

(p. 603.

Lord Elgin would fain persuade us that all the figures, with and without noses, in his stoneshop, are the work of Phidias! "Credat Judæus.”

I leave topography to classic Gell. [p. 604. Mr. Gell's Topography of Troy and Ithaca cannot fail to ensure the approbation of every man possessed of classical taste, as well for the information Mr. G. conveys to the mind of the reader, as for the ability and research the respective works display.

POSTSCRIPT.

I have been informed, since the present edition went to the press, that my trusty and well beloved cousins, the Edinburgh Reviewers, aro preparing a most vehement critique on my poor, gentle, unresisting muse, whom they have already so bedeviled with their ungodly ribaldry:

"Tantæne animis cœlestibus iræ!"

I suppose I must say of Jeffrey as Sir Andrew Aguecheek saith, "an I had known he was so cunning of fence, I had seen him damned ere I had fought him." What a pity it is that I shall be beyond the Bosphorus before the next number has passed the Tweed. But yet I hope to light my pipe with it in Persia.

My northern friends have accused me, with ad-justice, of personality towards their great literary Anthropophagus, Jeffrey: but what else was to be done with him and his dirty pack, who feed by lying and slandering," and slake their thirst by "evil-speaking?" I have adduced facts already well known, and of Jeffrey's mind

Himself a living libel on mankind. [p. 603. This person, who has lately betrayed the most rapid symptoms of confirmed authorship, is writer

I have stated my free opinion, nor has he thence sustained any injury: what scavenger was ever soiled by being pelted with mud? It may be said that I quit England because I have censured there "persons of honour and wit about town;' but I am coming back again, and their vengeance will keep hot till my return. Those who know me can testify that my motives for leaving England are very different from fears, literary or personal; those who do not, may one day be convinced. Since the publication of this thing, my name has not been concealed; I have been mostly in London, ready to answer for my transgressions, and in daily expectation of sundry cartels; but, alas! "The age of chivalry is over, or, in the vulgar tongue, there is no spirit nowa-days.

There is a youth yclept Hewson Clarke, (subaudi, Esq.) a sizer of Emanuel College, and I believe a denizen of Berwick upon Tweed, whom I have introduced in these pages to much better company than he has been accustomed to meet: he is, notwithstanding, a very sad dog, and, for no reason that I can discover, except a personal quarrel with a bear, kept by me at Cambridge to sit for a fellowship, and whom the jealousy of his Trinity - cotemporaries prevented from success, has been abusing me, and, what is worse, the defenceless innocent above mentioned, in the Satirist, for one year and some months. I am utterly unconscious of having given him any provocation; indeed I am guiltless of having heard his name, till it was coupled with the Satirist. He has therefore no reason to complain, and I dare say that, like Sir Fretful Plagiary, he is rather pleased than otherwise. I have now mentioned all who have done me the honour to notice me and mine, that is, my Bear and my Book, except the Editor of the Satirist, who, it seems, is a gentleman, God wot! I wish he

could impart a little of his gentility to his subordinate scribblers. I hear that Mr. Jerningham is about to take up the cudgels for his Macenas, Lord Carlisle: I hope not; he was one of the few who, in the very short intercourse I had with him, treated me with kindness when a boy, and whatever he may say or do, "pour on, will endure." I have nothing further to add, save a general note of thanksgiving to readers, purchasers, and publisher; and, in the words of Scott, I wish

To all and each a fair good night,
And rosy dreams and slumbers light.

The following Lines were written by Mr. Fitzgerald in a Copy of English Bards and Scotch Reviewers :

I find Lord Byron scorns my muse-
Our fates are ill agreed!

His verse is safe-I can't abuse
Those lines never read.

Lord Byron accidentally met with the Copy, and subjoined the following pungent Reply:

What's writ on me, cried Fitz, I never read;—
What's wrote by thee, dear Fitz, none will indeed.
The case stands simply thus, then, honest Fitz:-
Thou and thine enemies are fairly quits,
Or rather would be, if, for time to come,
They luckily were deaf, or thou wert dumb-
But, to their pens while scribblers add their
tongues,
The waiter only can escape their lungs.

NOTES TO THE CURSE OF MINERVA. The queen of night asserts her silent reign. [p. 605. The twilight in Greece is much shorter than in our country; the days in winter are longer,

but in summer of less duration.

These Cecrops placed-this Pericles adorn'd— [p. 605. This is spoken of the city in general, and not of the Acropolis in particular. The temple of Jupiter Olympius, by some supposed the Pantheon, was finished by Hadrian: sixteen columns are standing, of the most beautiful marble and style of architecture.

Th' insulted wall sustains his hated name. [p. 605. It is related by a late oriental traveller, that when the wholesale spoliator visited Athens, he caused his own name, with that of his wife, to be inscribed on a pillar of one of the principal temples. This inscription was executed in a very conspicuous manner, and deeply engraved in the marble, at a very considerable elevation. Notwithstanding which precautions, some person (doubtless inspired by the patron-goddess) has been at the pains to get himself raised up to the requisite height, and has obliterated the name of the laird, but left that of the lady untouched. The traveller in question accompanied this story by a remark, that it must have cost some labour and contrivance to get at the place, and could only have been effected by much zeal and determination.

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or vanity, by a nephew or a sycophant. Is a new palace to be erected (at Rome) for an upstart family? the Coliseum is stripped to furnish materials. Does a foreign minister wish to adorn the bleak walls of a northern castle with antiques? the temples of Theseus or Minerva must be dismantled, and the works of Phidias or Praxiteles be torn from the shattered frieze. That a decrepid uncle, wrapped up in the religious duties of his age and station, should listen to the suggestions of an interested nephew, is natural and that an oriental despot should undervalue the masterpieces of Grecian art, is to be expected; though in both cases the consequences of such weakness are much to be lamented. But that the minister of a nation, famed for its knowledge of the language, and its veneration for the monuments of ancient Greece, should have been the prompter and the instrument of these destructions, is almost incredible. Such rapacity is a crime against all ages and

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MENT.

Reviewing "the ungentle craft," and then.
[p. 625. St. 98.

all generations: it deprives the past of the tro- NOTES TO THE VISION OF JUDGphies of their genius and the title-deeds of their fame; the present, of the strongest inducements to exertion, the noblest exhibitions that curiosity can contemplate; the future, of the masterpieces of art, the models of imitation. To guard against the repetition of such depredations is the wish of every man of genius, the duty of every man in power, and the common interest of every civilized nation." EUSTACE'S Classical Tour through Italy.

"This attempt to transplant the temple of Vesta from Italy to England, may perhaps do honour to the late Lord Bristol's patriotism or to his magnificence; but it cannot be considered as an indication of either taste or judgment." Ibid.

"Blest paper-credit" who shall dare to sing?
[p. 607.
Blest paper-credit, last and best supply,
That lends corruption lighter wings to fly.
POPE.

NOTES TO THE AGE OF BRONZE. To form, like Guesclin's dust, her talisman. [p. 609. Guesclin died during the siege of a city; it surrendered, and the keys were brought and laid upon his bier, so that the place might appear rendered to his ashes.

Hear! hear! Prometheus from his rock appeal. [p. 610. I refer the reader to the first address of Prometheus in Eschylus, when he is left alone by his attendants, and before the arrival of the Chorus of Sea-nymphs.

Revive the cry-“Iago! and close Spain!" [p. 611. "St. Iago! and close Spain!" the old Spanish

war-cry.

The knife of Arragon, Toledo's steel. [p. 611. The Arragonians are peculiarly dextrous in the use of this weapon, and displayed it particularly in former French wars.

Thy good old man, whose world was all within. [p. 612. The famous old man of Verona. See CLAUDIAN.

Many an old woman, but no Catherine. [p. 612. The dexterity of Catherine extricated Peter (called the Great by courtesy) when surrounded by the Mussulmans on the banks of the river Pruth,

See "Life of Henry Kirke White."

Like King Alfonso! [p. 625. St. 101. King Alfonso, speaking of the Ptolomean system, said, that "had he been consulted at the creation of the world, he would have spared the Maker some absurdities.“

Like lightning, off from his “melodious twang." [p. 625. St. 102. See Aubrey's account of the apparition which disappeared "with a curious perfume and a melodious twang;" or see the Antiquary, vol 1.

NOTES TO THE MISCELLANEOUS
POEMS.

Written after swimming from Sestos to Abydos. (p. 633.

On the 3d of May, 1810, while the Salsette (Captain Bathurst) was lying in the Dardanelles, Lieutenant Ekenhead of that frigate and the writer of these rhymes swam from the European shore to the Asiatic-by-the-bye, from Abydos

to Sestos would have been more correct. The whole distance from the place whence we started to our landing on the other side, including the length we were carried by the current, was computed by those on board the frigate at upwards of four English miles; though the actual breadth is barely one. The rapidity of the current is such that no boat can row directly across, and it may in some measure be estimated from the circumstance of the whole distance being accomplished by one of the parties in an hour and five, and by the other in an hour and ten minutes. The water was extremely cold from the melting of the mountain-snows. About three weeks before, in April, we had made an attempt, but having ridden all the way from the Troad the same morning, and the water being of an icy chillness, we found it necessary to postpone the completion till the frigate anchored below the castles, when we swam the straits, as just stated; entering a considerable way above the European, and landing below the Asiatic fort. Chevalier says that a young Jew swam the same distance for his mistress; and Oliver mentions it having been done by a Neapolitan; but our consul, Tarragona, remembered neither of these circumstances, and tried to dissuade us from the attempt. A number of the Salsette's crew were known to have accomplished a greater distance;

and the only thing that surprised me was, that, character has been drawn in the highest coloure as doubts had been entertained of the truth of by Dryden, Pope, Prior, and Congreve. Leander's story, no traveller had ever endeavoured to ascertain its practicability.

Ζώη μου, σας ἀγαπῶ

[p. 633. Zof mou, sas agapo, or Ζώη μου, σᾶς ἀγαπῶ, a Romaic expression of tenderness: if I translate it I shall affront the gentlemen, as it may seem that I supposed they could not; and if I do not, I may affront the ladies. For fear of any misconstruction on the part of the latter I shall do so, begging pardon of the learned. It means, "My life, I love you!" which sounds very prettily in all languages, and is as much in fashion in Greece at this day as, Juvenal tells us, the two first words were amongst the Roman ladies, whose erotic expressions were all hellenized.

[p. 633.

By all the token-flowers that tell. In the East (where ladies are not taught to write, lest they should scribble assignations) flowers, cinders, pebbles, convey the sentiments

By Death's unequal hand alike control'd. [p. 661. The hand of Death is said to be unjust, unequal, as Virgil was considerably older than Tibullus, at his decease.

or

To lead the band where god-like Falkland fell. [p. 672. Lucius Cary, Lord Viscount Falkland, the most accomplished man of his age, was killed at the battle of Newbury, charging in the ranks of Lord Byron's regiment of cavalry.

To flee away and be at rest. [p. 677. had wings like a dove, then would I fly away Psalm 55, Verse 6.-"And I said, Oh!" "that I

and be at rest." This verse also constitutes a

part of the most beautiful anthem in our language.

REVIEW,

of the parties by that universal deputy of Mer- EXTRACT FROM THE EDINBURGHcury-an old woman. A cinder says "I burn for thee;" a bunch of flowers tied with hair, "Take me and fly;" but a pebble declareswhat nothing else can.

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No. 22, FOR JNAUARY 1808.

Hours of Idleness; a Series of Poems, original and translated. By George Gordon, Lord Byron, a Minor. 8vo. pp. 200.-Newark, 1807.

either direction from that exact standard. His

As an

ex

Blessing him they served so well. [p. 644. "At Waterloo, one man was seen, whose left arm was shattered by a cannon-ball, to wrench it off with the other, and throwing it up in the class which neither gods nor men are said to The poesy of this young Lord belongs to the air, exclaimed to his comrades, "Vive l'Einpereur jusqu'à la mort." There were many other in-permit. Indeed, we do not recollect to have seen stances of the like: this you may, however, a quantity of verse with so few deviations in depend on as true." A private Letter from effusions are spread over a dead flat, and can Brussels. no more get above or below the level, than if they were so much stagnant water. tenuation of this offence, the noble author is peculiarly forward in pleading minority. We have it in the title-page, and on the very back ite part of his style. Much stress is laid upon of the volume; it follows his name like a favourit in the preface, and the poems are connected with this general statement of his case, by pareach was written. Now the law upon the point ticular dates, substantiating the age at which of minority we held to be perfectly clear. It is a plea available only to the defendant; no plaintiff can offer it as a supplementary ground of action. Thus, if any suit could be brought of the waters, because they were made bitter." against Lord Byron, for the purpose of compelWhose realm refused thee even a tomb. [p. 645.ling him to put into court a certain quantity of Murat's remains are said to have been torn from the grave and burnt

Turning rivers into blood. [p. 645. See Rev. chap. VIII, verse 7-11. "The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood. And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea; and the third part of the sea became blood. And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp; and it fell upon a third part of the rivers, and upon the

fountains of waters. And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died

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poetry, and if judgment were given against him, it is highly probable that an exception would be taken were he to deliver for poetry the contents of this volume. To this he might plead minority; but, as he now makes voluntary tender of the article, he hath no right to sue, on that ground, for the price in good current praise, should the goods be unmarketable. This is our view of the law on the point, and, we are sorry to say, so will it be ruled. Perhaps, however, in reality, all that he tells us about his youth is to soften our censures. He possibly means to rather with a view to increase our wonder, than say, "See how a minor can write! This poem

was actually composed by a young man of eighteen, and this by one of only sixteen!"-But, alas! we all remember the poetry of Cowley at ten, and Pope at twelve; and so far from hearing, with any degree of surprise, that very poor verses were written by a youth from his leaving school to his leaving college, inclusive, we really believe this to be the most common of all occurrences; that it happens in the life of nine men in ten who are educated in England; and that the tenth man writes better verse than Lord Byron.

His other plea of privilege, our author rather brings forward in order to waive it. He certain

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