The Works of Lord Byron Volume I Part 97

In August, 1808 (iii. 78-86), there is a critique on 'Poems Original and Translated', in which the bear plays many parts. The writer "is without his bear and is himself muzzled," etc. Towards the close of the article a solemn sentence is pa.s.sed on the author for his disregard of the advice of parents, tutors, friends; "but," adds the reviewer, "in the paltry volume before us we think we observe some proof that the still small voice of conscience will be heard in the cool of the day. Even now the gay, the gallant, the accomplished bear-leader is not happy," etc.

Hence the castigation of "the sizar of Emmanuel College."]

[Footnote 151:

"Right enough: this was well deserved, and well laid on."

(B., 1816.)]

[Footnote 152:

"Into Cambridgeshire the Emperor Probus transported a considerable body of Vandals."

(Gibbon's 'Decline and Fall', ii. 83.) There is no reason to doubt the truth of this a.s.sertion; the breed is still in high perfection.

We see no reason to doubt the truth of this statement, as a large stock of the same breed are to be found there at this day.--'British Bards'.

[Lines 981-984 do not occur in the 'MS'. Lines 981, 982, are inserted in MS. in 'British Bards'.]]

[Footnote 153: This gentleman's name requires no praise: the man who [has surpa.s.sed Dryden and Gifford as a Translator.--'MS. British Bards']

in translation displays unquestionable genius may be well expected to excel in original composition, of which, it is to be hoped, we shall soon see a splendid specimen. [Francis Hodgson (1781-1852) was Byron's lifelong friend. His 'Juvenal' appeared in 1807; 'Lady Jane Grey and other Poems', in 1809; 'Sir Edgar, a Tale', in 1810. For other works and details, see 'Life of the Rev. Francis Hodgson', by the Rev. James T.

Hodgson (1878).]]

[Footnote 154: Hewson Clarke, 'Esq'., as it is written.]

[Footnote 155: 'The Aboriginal Britons', an excellent ["most excellent"

in 'MS.'] poem, by Richards. [The Rev. George Richards, D.D.

(1769-1835), a Fellow of Oriel, and afterwards Rector of St.

Martin's-in-the-Fields. 'The Aboriginal Britons', a prize poem, was published in 1792, and was followed by 'The Songs of the Aboriginal Bards of Britain' (1792), and various other prose and poetical works.]]

[Footnote: 156. With this verse the satire originally ended.]

[Footnote 157: A friend of mine being asked, why his Grace of Portland was likened to an old woman? replied, "he supposed it was because he was past bearing." (Even Homer was a punster--a solitary pun.)--['MS'.] His Grace is now gathered to his grandmothers, where he sleeps as sound as ever; but even his sleep was better than his colleagues' waking. 1811.

[William Henry Cavendish, third Duke of Portland (1738-1809), Prime Minister in 1807, on the downfall of the Ministry of "All the Talents,"

till his death in 1809, was, as the wits said, "a convenient block to hang Whigs on," but was not, even in his vigour, a man of much intellectual capacity. When Byron meditated a tour to India in 1808, Portland declined to write on his behalf to the Directors of the East India Company, and couched his refusal in terms which Byron fancied to be offensive.]]

[Footnote 158: "Saw it August, 1809."--B., 1816. [The following notes were omitted from the Fifth Edition:--

"Calpe is the ancient name of Gibraltar. Saw it August, 1809.--B., 1816.

"Stamboul is the Turkish word for Constantinople. Was there the summer 1810."

To "Mount Caucasus," he adds, "Saw the distant ridge of,--1810, 1811"]]

[Footnote 159: Georgia.]

[Footnote 160: Mount Caucasus.]

[Footnote 161: Lord Elgin would fain persuade us that all the figures, with and without noses, in his stoneshop, are the work of Phidias!

"Credat Judaeus!" [R. Payne Knight, in his introduction to 'Specimens of Ancient Sculpture', published 1809, by the Dilettanti Society, throws a doubt on the Phidian workmanship of the "Elgin" marbles. See the Introduction to 'The Curse of Minerva'.]]

[Footnote 162: [Sir William Gell (1777-1836) published the 'Topography of Troy' (1804), the 'Geography and Antiquities of Ithaca' (1807), and the 'Itinerary of Greece' (1808). Byron reviewed the two last works in the 'Monthly Review' (August, 1811), ('Life', pp. 670, 676). Fresh from the scenes, he speaks with authority. "With Homer in his pocket and Gell on his sumpter-mule, the Odysseus tourist may now make a very cla.s.sical and delightful excursion." The epithet in the original MS. was "c.o.xcomb," but becoming acquainted with Gell while the satire was in the press, Byron changed it to "cla.s.sic." In the fifth edition he altered it to "rapid," and appended this note:--"'Rapid,' indeed! He topographised and typographised King Priam's dominions in three days! I called him 'cla.s.sic' before I saw the Troad, but since have learned better than to tack to his name what don't belong to it."]]

[Footnote 163: Mr. Gell's 'Topography of Troy and Ithaca' cannot fail to ensure the approbation of every man possessed of cla.s.sical taste, as well for the information Mr. Gell conveys to the mind of the reader, as for the ability and research the respective works display.

"'Troy and Ithaca.' Visited both in 1810, 1811."--B., 1816.

"'Ithaca' pa.s.sed first in 1809."--B., 1816.

"Since seeing the plain of Troy, my opinions are somewhat changed as to the above note. Cell's survey was hasty and superficial."--B., 1816.]

[Footnote 164:

"Singular enough, and 'din' enough, G.o.d knows."

(B., 1816).]

[Footnote 165:

"The greater part of this satire I most sincerely wish had never been written-not only on account of the injustice of much of the critical, and some of the personal part of it--but the tone and temper are such as I cannot approve."

BYRON. July 14, 1816. 'Diodati, Geneva'.]

[Footnote i:

'Truth be my theme, and Censure guide my song.'

['MS. M.']