The Works of Lord Byron: Letters and Journals Volume II Part 101

Began a letter, which I threw into the fire. Redde--but to little purpose. Did not visit Hobhouse, as I promised and ought. No matter, the loss is mine. Smoked cigars.

Napoleon!--this week will decide his fate. All seems against him; but I believe and hope he will win--at least, beat back the invaders. What right have we to prescribe sovereigns to France? Oh for a Republic!

"Brutus, thou sleepest." [9] Hobhouse abounds in continental anecdotes of this extraordinary man; all in favour of his intellect and courage, but against his _bonhommie_. No wonder;--how should he, who knows mankind well, do other than despise and abhor them?

The greater the equality, the more impartially evil is distributed, and becomes lighter by the division among so many--therefore, a Republic!

[10]

More notes from Madame de Stael unanswered--and so they shall remain.

[11] I admire her abilities, but really her society is overwhelming--an avalanche that buries one in glittering nonsense--all snow and sophistry.

Shall I go to Mackintosh's on Tuesday? um!--I did not go to Marquis Lansdowne's nor to Miss Berry's, though both are pleasant. So is Sir James's,--but I don't know--I believe one is not the better for parties; at least, unless some _regnante_ is there.

I wonder how the deuce any body could make such a world; for what purpose dandies, for instance, were ordained--and kings--and fellows of colleges--and women of "a certain age"--and many men of any age--and myself, most of all!

"Divesne prisco natus ab Inacho Nil interest, an pauper et infima De gente, sub dio ('sic') moreris, Victima nil miserantis Orci.

Omnes eodem cogimur," etc. [12]

Is there any thing beyond?--_who_ knows? _He_ that can't tell. Who tells that there _is_? He who don't know. And when shall he know? perhaps, when he don't expect, and generally when he don't wish it. In this last respect, however, all are not alike: it depends a good deal upon education,--something upon nerves and habits--but most upon digestion.

[Footnote 1: See p. 134, 'note' 2 [Footnote 3 of Letter 241], and Appendix VII.]

[Footnote 2: The battle of Brienne was fought February 1, 1814.]

[Footnote 3: By fire, on the 12th of February.]

[Footnote 4:

"We are informed from very good authority, that as soon as the House of Lords meet again, a Peer of very independent principles and character intends to give notice of a motion occasioned by a late spontaneous avowal of a copy of verses by Lord Byron, addressed to the Princess Charlotte of Wales, in which he has taken the most unwarrantable liberties with her august father's character and conduct: this motion being of a personal nature, it will be necessary to give the n.o.ble Satirist some days' notice, that he may prepare himself for his defence against a charge of so aggravated a nature,"

etc.

'Morning Post', February 18.]

[Footnote 5: 'Macbeth', act v. sc. 3.]

[Footnote 6: These words close the penultimate paragraph of Burton's 'Anatomy of Melancholy'.]

[Footnote 7: 'Hamlet', act ii. sc. 2, and act iii. sc. 1.]

[Footnote 8: 'Ibid'., sc. 2.]

[Footnote 9:

"Brutus, thou sleepest, awake."

'Julius Caesar', act ii. sc. 1.]

[Footnote 10: The following extract from 'Detached Thoughts' (1821) implies that this expression of opinion was no pa.s.sing thought (but see Scott's note, p. 376 [Footnote 5 of Journal entry for December 13th, 1813]):

"There is nothing left for Mankind but a Republic, and I think that there are hopes of such. The two Americas (South and North) have it; Spain and Portugal approach it; all thirst for it. Oh Was.h.i.+ngton!"]

[Footnote 11: Here is one of Madame de Stael's notes:

"Je renonce a vos visites, pourvu que vous acceptiez mes diners, car enfin a quoi servirait il de vivre dans le meme tems que vous, si l'on ne vous voyait pas? Dinez chez moi dimanche avec vos amis,--je ne dirai pas vos admirateurs, car je n'ai rencontre que cela de touts parts.

"A dimanche,

"DE STAeL.

"Mardi.

"Je prends le silence pour oui."]

[Footnote 12: Horace, 'Odes', II. iii. 21, 'et seqq.']

Sat.u.r.day, Feb. 19.

Just returned from seeing Kean [1] in Richard. By Jove, he is a soul!

Life--nature--truth without exaggeration or diminution. Kemble's Hamlet is perfect;--but Hamlet is not Nature. Richard is a man; and Kean is Richard. Now to my own concerns.

Went to Waite's. Teeth are all right and white; but he says that I grind them in my sleep and chip the edges. That same sleep is no friend of mine, though I court him sometimes for half the twenty-four.

[Footnote 1: Edmund Kean (1787-1833), after acting in provincial theatres, appeared at the Haymarket in June, 1806, as "Ganem" in 'The Mountaineers', but again returned to the country. His performance of "Shylock" in the 'Merchant of Venice', at Drury Lane, on January 26, 1814, made him famous. He appeared in "Richard III" on February 12, and still further increased his reputation.