CANTO XVI. 1. If from a shell-fish or from cochineal. Stanza x. 4. For Gothic daring shown in English money. Stanza lix. "Ausu Romano, ære Veneto" is the inscription (and well inscribed in this instance) on the seawalls between the Adriatic and Venice. The walls The composition of the old Tyrian purple, whether from a shell-fish, or from cochineal, or from were a republican work of the Venetians: the inkermes, is still an article of dispute; and even its scription, I believe, imperial, and inscribed by Nacolor-some say purple, others scarlet: I say nothing. 2. poleon. 6. "Untying" squires "to fight against the churches." Stanza Ix. "Though ye untie the winds, and bid them fight Against the churches.”—Macbeth. 6. They err-'tis merely what is call'd mobility. In French "mobilite." I am not sure that mobility is English; but it is expressive of a quality which rather belongs to other climates, though it is sometimes seen to great extent in our own. It may be defined as an excessive susceptibility of immediate impressions-at the same time without losing the past-and is, though sometimes apparently useful to the possessor, a most painful and unhappy attribute. 7. Draperied her form with curious felicity. Stanza cii. "Curiosa felicitas."-PETRONIUS ARBITER. 8. I remember that the mayoress of a provincial town, somewhat surfeited with a similar display from foreign parts, did rather indecorously break through the applauses of an intelligent audienceintelligent, I mean, as to music,-for the words, besides being in recondite languages (it was some years before the peace, ere all the world had travelled, and while I was a collegian)—were sorely disguised by the performers;-this mayoress, I say, See the account of the ghost of the uncle of broke out with "Rot your Italianos! for my part, Prince Charles of Saxony, raised by SchroepterI loves a simple ballat!" Rossini will go a good "Karl-Karl-was-walt wolt mich ?" way to bring most people to the same opinion some day. Who would imagine that he was to be the A noise like to wet fingers drawn on glass. 9. Stanza cxx. "Shadows to-night successor of Mozart? However, I state this with How odd a single hobgoblin's nonentity diffidence, as a liege and loyal admirer of Italian Should cause more fear than a whole host's identity music in general, and of much of Rossini's: but we may say, as the connisseur did of painting, in the Vicar of Wakefield, "that the picture would be better painted, if the painter had taken more pains." Have struck more terror to the soul of Richard LETTERS. LETTER I. TO MISS PIGOT OF SOUTHWELL. "Burgage Manor, August 29, 1804. personæ,'-St. Dominie defend me from such scene! Seriously, your mother has laid me under great obligations, and you, with the rest of your family, merit my warmest thanks for your kind contrivance at my escape from Mrs. Byron furiosa.' "Oh! for the pen of Ariosto to rehearse, in epic, "I received the arms, my dear Miss Pigot, and am very much obliged to you for the trouble you the scolding of that momentous eve,-or rather, let have taken. It is impossible I should have any me invoke the shade of Danté to inspire me, for fault to find with them. The sight of the drawings none but the author of the 'Inferno' could properly gives me great pleasure for a double reason,-in the preside over such an attempt. But, perhaps, where first place, they will ornament my books; in the the pen might fail, the pencil would succeed. What next, they convince me that you have not forgotten a group!-Mrs. B. the principal figure; you cram me. I am, however, sorry you do not return sooner ming your ears with cotton, as the only antitode to in vain endeavoring to -you have already been gone an age. perhaps total deafness; Mrs. may have taken my departure for London before mitigate the wrath of the lioness robbed of her you come back; but, however, I will hope not. Do whelp; and last. though not least, Elizabeth and not overlook my watch-ribbon and purse, as I wish Wousky,-wonderful to relate!-both deprived of to carry them with me. Your note was given me their parts of speech, and bringing up the rear in by Harry, at the play, whither I attended Miss Lyon mute astonishment. How did S. B. receive the inand Dr. S ; and now I have sat down to answer telligence? How many puns did he utter on so fait before I go to bed. If I am at Southwell when cetious an event? In your next inform me on this you return, and I sincerely hope you will soon, for point, and what excuse you made to A. You are I very much regret your absence,-I shall be happy probably by this time tired of deciphering this hieto hear you sing my favorite, The Maid of Lodi.' roglyphical letter;-like Tony Lumpkin, you will pronounce mine to be a dd up and down hand. My mother, together with myself, desires to be affectionately remembered to Mrs. Pigot, and be- All Southwell, without doubt, is involved in amazelieve me, my dear Miss Pigot, I remain your affec-ment. Apropos, how does my blue-eyed nun, the BYRON. fair? is she robed in sable garb of wo?' tionate friend, "P.S. If you think proper to send me any answer to this, I shall be extremely happy to receive it. Adieu. "P.S. 2d. As you say you are a novice in the art of knitting, I hope it don't give you too much trouble. Go on slowly, but surely. Once more, adieu." LETTER II. TO MR. PIGOT. "16 Piccadilly, August 9, 1810. "Here I remain at least a week or ten days; previous to my departure you shall receive my address, but what it will be I have not determined. My lodgings must be kept secret from Mrs. B.; you may present my compliments to her, and say any attempt to pursue me will fail, as I have taken measures to retreat immediately to Portsmouth, on the first intimation of her removal from Southwell. You may add, I have now proceeded to a friend's house in the country, there to remain a fortnight. BYRON." "I have now blotted (I must not say written) a complete double letter, and in return shall expect a monstrous budget. Without doubt, the dames of Southwell reprobate the pernicious example I have shown, and tremble lest their babes should disobey their mandates, and quit in dudgeon their mammas "MY DEAR PIGOT, on any grievance. Adieu. When you begin your "Many thanks for your amusing narrative of the last proceedings of my amiable Alecto, who now begins to feel the effects of her folly. I have just next, drop the lordship,' and put Byron' in its received a penitential epistle, to which, apprehen- place. Believe me yours, &c. sive of pursuit, I have despatched a moderate answer, with a kind of promise to return in a fortnight; this, however, (entre nous,) 1 never mean to fulfil. Her soft warblings must have delighted her auditors, her higher notes being particularly musical, and on a calm moonlight evening would be heard to great advantage. Had I been present as a spectator, nothing would have pleased me more; but to have come forward as one of the dramatis. • His Mother. Her recent violence of temper had compelled him to fly to Landon, LETTER III. TO MISS PIGOT. My Dear Bridget, "London, August 10, 1806. "As I have already troubled your brother with more than he will find pleasure in deciphering, you are the next to whom I shall assign the difficult tle. By the enclosure of a second jingle of rhyme, employment of perusing this second epistle. You you will probably conceive my muse to be vastly will perceive from my first, that no idea of Mrs. B.'s prolific; her inserted production was brought forth arrival had disturbed me at the time it was written; a few years ago, and found by accident on Thursday not so the present, since the appearance of a note among some old papers. I have recopied it, and, from the illustrious cause of my sudden decampment adding the proper date, request it may be printed has driven the natural ruby from my cheeks,' and with the rest of the family. I thought your senti completely blanched my wo-begone countenance. ments on the last bantling would coincide with This gunpowder intimation of her arrival, (confound mine, but it was impossible to give it any other her activity!) breathes less of terror and dismay than garb, being founded on facts. My stay at Worthing you will probably imagine from the volcanic tempera- will not exceed three weeks, and you may possibly ment of her ladyship, and concludes with the com- behold me again at Southwell the middle of Sepfortable assurance of all present motion being pre- tember. vented by the fatigue of her journey, for which my "Will you desire Ridge to suspend the printing blessings are due to the rough roads and restive of my poems till he hears further from me, as quadrupeds of his majesty's highways. As have have determined to give them a new form entirely. not the smallest inclination to be chased round the This prohibition does not extend to the last two country, I shall e'en make a virtue of necessity, pieces I have sent with my letters to you. You will and, since, like Macbeth, They've tied me to the excuse the dull vanity of this epistle, as my brain is stake, I cannot fly,' I shall imitate that valorous a chaos of absurd images, and full of business, tyrant, and bear-like fight the course, all escape preparations, and projects. being precluded. I can now engage with less disad- "I shall expect an answer with impatience;-bevantage, having drawn the enemy from her en- lieve me, there is nothing at this moment could trenchments, though, like the prototype to whom I give me greater delight than your letter." have compared myself, with an excellent chance of being knocked on the head. However, lay on, Macduff, and dd be he who first cries, hold, enough.' "I shall remain in town for, at least, a week, and expect to hear from you before its expiration. I presume the printer has brought you the offspring of my poetic mania. Remember, in the first line, to read loud the winds whistle,' instead of 'round,' which that blockhead Ridge has inserted by mistake, and makes nonsense of the whole stanza. Addio!-Now to encounter my Hydra. Yours ever." LETTER IV. ΤΟ MR. PIGOT. LETTER VI. TO MR. PIGOT. "London, August 18, 1330. ing, and write merely to request you will send that "I am just on the point of setting off for Worthidle scoundrel Charles, [his groom,] with my horses immediately; tell him I am excessively provoked he has not made his appearance before, or written to inform me of the cause of his delay, particularly as I supplied him with money for his journey. On no pretext is he to postpone his march one day longer, and if, in obedience to the caprices of Mrs. B., (who I presume is again spreading desolation through her little monarchy,) he thinks proper to disregard my positive orders, I shall not, in future, "DEAR PIGOT, consider him as my servant. He must bring the "This astonishing packet will, doubtless, amaze surgeon's bill with him, which I will discharge imyou, but having an idle hour this evening, I wrote mediately on receiving it. Nor can I conceive the the enclosed stanzas, which I request you to deliver reason of his not acquainting Frank, [his valet,] to Ridge, to be printed separate from my other com- with the state of my unfortunate quadrupeds. Dear positions, as you will perceive them to be improper Pigot, forgive this petulant effusion, and attribute for the perusal of ladies; of course, none of the females of your family must see them. I offer a thousand apologies for the trouble I have given you in this and other instances. Yours truly." "London, Sunday, midnight, August 10, 1805. LETTER V. TO MR. PIGOT. "Piccadilly, August 16, 1806. I cannot exactly say with Caesar, Veni, vidi, rici: however, the most important part of his laconic account of success applies to my present situation; for, though Mrs. Byron took the trouble of coming' and seeing,' yet your humble servant proved the victor. After an obstinate engagement of some hours, in which we suffered considerable damage, from the quickness of the enemy's fire, they at length retired in confusion, leaving behind the artillery, field equipage, and some prisoners: their defeat is decisive of the present campaign. To speak more intelligibly, Mrs. B. returns immediately, but I proceed, with all my laurels, to Worthing, on the Sussex coast; to which place you will address (to be left at the post-office) your next epis • See Hours of Idleness, page 413. it to the idle conduct of that precious rascal, who, instead of obeying my injunctions, is sauntering through the streets of that political Pandemonium, Nottingham. Present my remembrances to your family and the Leacrofts, and believe me, &c. "P.S. I delegate to you the unpleasant task of despatching him on his journey-Mrs. B.'s orders to the contrary are not to be attended to; he is to proceed first to London, and then to Worthing, without delay. Every thing I have left must be sent to London. My Poetics you will pack up for the same place, and not even reserve a copy for yourself and sister, as I am about to give them an entire new form: when they are complete, you shall have the first fruits. Mrs. B. on no account is to see or touch them. Adieu." LETTER VII. TO MR. PIGOT. "Little Hampton, August 26, 1808. "I this morning received your epistle, which 1 was obliged to send for to Worthing, whence I have removed to this place, on the same coast, about eight miles distant from the former. You will |