The Works of Lord Byron: Letters and Journals Volume II Part 77

[Footnote 1: Pope, 'Epistle to Arbuthnot', l. 44.]

[Footnote 2: Horace, 'Sat'. 1. iv. 10.]

347.--To John Murray.

Nov. 12, 1813.

Two friends of mine (Mr. Rogers and Mr. Sharpe) have advised me not to risk at present any single publication separately, for various reasons.

As they have not seen the one in question, they can have no bias for or against the merits (if it has any) or the faults of the present subject of our conversation. You say all the last of 'The Giaour' [1] are gone--at least out of your hands. Now, if you think of publis.h.i.+ng any new edition with the last additions which have not yet been before the reader (I mean distinct from the two-volume publication), we can add "'The Bride of Abydos'," which will thus steal quietly into the world [2]: if liked, we can then throw off some copies for the purchasers of former "Giaours;" and, if not, I can omit it in any future publication.

What think you? I really am no judge of those things; and, with all my natural partiality for one's own productions, I would rather follow any one's judgment than my own.

P.S.--Pray let me have the proofs. I sent _all_ to-night. I have some alterations that I have thought of that I wish to make speedily. I hope the proof will be on separate pages, and not all huddled together on a mile-long, ballad-singing sheet, as those of 'The Giaour' sometimes are: for then I can't read them distinctly.

[Footnote 1: In 'Accepted Addresses; or, Premium Poetarum', pp. 50-52 (1813), 'Address' xvii. is from "Lord B----n to J. M----y, Book-seller."

The address itself runs as follows:

"A Turkish tale I shall unfold, A sweeter tale was never told; But then the facts, I must allow, Are in the east not common now; Tho' in the 'olden time,' the scene My Goaour (_sic_) describes had often been.

What is the cause! Perhaps the fair Are now more cautious than they were; Perhaps the Christians not so bold, So enterprising as of old.

No matter what the cause may be, It is a subject fit for me.

"Take my disjointed fragments then, The offspring of a willing pen.

And give them to the public, pray, On or before the month of May.

Yes, my disjointed fragments take, But do not ask _how much they'll make_.

Perhaps not fifty pages--well, I in a little s.p.a.ce can tell Th' adventures of an infidel; Of _quant.i.ty_ I never boast, For _quality_'s, approved of most.

"It is a handsome sum to touch, Induces authors to write much; But in this much, alas! my friend, How little is there to commend.

So, Mr. M----y, I disdain, To sacrifice my muse for gain.

I wish it to be understood, The little which I write is good.

"I do not like the quarto size, Th' octavo, therefore, I advise.

Then do not, Mr. M----y, fail, To publish this, my Turkish Tale; For tho' the volume may be thin, A thousand readers it will win; And when my pages they explore, They'll gladly read them o'er and o'er; And all the ladies, I engage, With tears will moisten every page."]

[Footnote 2: John Murray writes, in an undated letter to Byron,

"Mr. Canning returned the poem to-day with very warm expressions of delight. I told him your delicacy as to separate publication, of which he said you should remove every apprehension."]

348.--To John Murray.

Nov. 13, 1813.

Will you forward the letter to Mr. Gifford with the proof? There is an alteration I may make in Zuleika's speech, in second canto (the only one of _hers_ in that canto). It is now thus:

And curse--if I could curse--the day.

It must be:

And mourn--I dare not curse--the day, That saw my solitary birth, etc., etc.

Ever yours, B.

In the last MS. lines sent, instead of "living heart," correct to "quivering heart." It is in line 9th of the MS. pa.s.sage. Ever yours again,

B.

349.--To John Murray.

Alteration of a line in Canto 2nd.

Instead of:

And tints to-morrow with a _fancied_ ray