Life of Lord Byron Volume I Part 7

To Mr. Becher, as I have said, the first copy of his little work was presented; and this gentleman, in looking over its pages, among many things to commend and admire, as well as some almost too boyish to criticise, found one poem in which, as it appeared to him, the imagination of the young bard had indulged itself in a luxuriousness of colouring beyond what even youth could excuse. Immediately, as the most gentle mode of conveying his opinion, he sat down and addressed to Lord Byron some expostulatory verses on the subject, to which an answer, also in verse, was returned by the n.o.ble poet as promptly, with, at the same time, a note in plain prose, to say that he felt fully the justice of his reverend friend's censure, and that, rather than allow the poem in question to be circulated, he would instantly recall all the copies that had been sent out, and cancel the whole impression. On the very same evening this prompt sacrifice was carried into effect;--Mr. Becher saw every copy of the edition burned, with the exception of that which he retained in his own possession, and another which had been despatched to Edinburgh, and could not be recalled.

This trait of the young poet speaks sufficiently for itself;--the sensibility, the temper, the ingenuous pliableness which it exhibits, show a disposition capable, by nature, of every thing we most respect and love.

Of a no less amiable character were the feelings that, about this time, dictated the following letter;--a letter which it is impossible to peruse without acknowledging the n.o.ble candour and conscientiousness of the writer:--

LETTER 8.

TO THE EARL OF CLARE.

"Southwell, Notts, February 6. 1807.

"My dearest Clare,

"Were I to make all the apologies necessary to atone for my late negligence, you would justly say you had received a pet.i.tion instead of a letter, as it would be filled with prayers for forgiveness; but instead of this, I will acknowledge my _sins_ at once, and I trust to your friends.h.i.+p and generosity rather than to my own excuses. Though my health is not perfectly re-established, I am out of all danger, and have recovered every thing but my spirits, which are subject to depression. You will be astonished to hear I have lately written to Delawarre, for the purpose of explaining (as far as possible without involving some _old friends_ of mine in the business) the cause of my behaviour to him during my last residence at Harrow (nearly two years ago), which you will recollect was rather '_en cavalier_.' Since that period, I have discovered he was treated with injustice both by those who misrepresented his conduct, and by me in consequence of their suggestions. I have therefore made all the reparation in my power, by apologising for my mistake, though with very faint hopes of success; indeed I never expected any answer, but desired one for form's sake; _that_ has not yet arrived, and most probably never will. However, I have _eased_ my own _conscience_ by the atonement, which is humiliating enough to one of my disposition; yet I could not have slept satisfied with the reflection of having, _even unintentionally_, injured any individual. I have done all that could be done to repair the injury, and there the affair must end. Whether we renew our intimacy or not is of very trivial consequence.

"My time has lately been much occupied with very different pursuits. I have been _transporting_ a servant,[56] who cheated me,--rather a disagreeable event;--performing in private theatricals;--publis.h.i.+ng a volume of poems (at the request of my friends, for their perusal);--making _love_,--and taking physic. The two last amus.e.m.e.nts have not had the best effect _in the world_; for my attentions have been divided amongst so many _fair damsels_, and the drugs I swallow are of such variety in their composition, that between Venus and Aesculapius I am hara.s.sed to death. However, I have still leisure to devote some hours to the recollections of past, regretted friends.h.i.+ps, and in the interval to take the advantage of the moment, to a.s.sure you how much I am, and ever will be, my dearest Clare,

"Your truly attached and sincere

"BYRON."

Considering himself bound to replace the copies of his work which he had withdrawn, as well as to rescue the general character of the volume from the stigma this one offender might bring upon it, he set instantly about preparing a second edition for the press, and, during the ensuing six weeks, continued busily occupied with his task. In the beginning of January we find him forwarding a copy to his friend, Dr.

Pigot, in Edinburgh:--

LETTER 9.

TO MR. PIGOT.

"Southwell, Jan. 13. 1807.

"I ought to begin with _sundry_ apologies, for my own negligence, but the variety of my avocations in _prose_ and _verse_ must plead my excuse. With this epistle you will receive a volume of all my _Juvenilia_, published since your departure: it is of considerably greater size than the _copy_ in your possession, which I beg you will destroy, as the present is much more complete. That _unlucky_ poem to my poor Mary[57] has been the cause of some animadversion from _ladies in years_. I have not printed it in this collection, in consequence of my being p.r.o.nounced a most _profligate sinner_, in short, a '_young Moore_,' by ----, your ---- friend. I believe, in general, they have been favourably received, and surely the age of their author will preclude _severe_ criticism. The adventures of my life from sixteen to nineteen, and the dissipation into which I have been thrown in London, have given a voluptuous tint to my ideas; but the occasions which called forth my muse could hardly admit any other colouring. This volume is _vastly_ correct and miraculously chaste.

Apropos, talking of love,...

"If you can find leisure to answer this farrago of unconnected nonsense, you need not doubt what gratification will accrue from your reply to yours ever," &c.

To his young friend, Mr. William Bankes, who had met casually with a copy of the work, and wrote him a letter conveying his opinion of it, he returned the following answer:--

LETTER 10.

TO MR. WILLIAM BANKES.

"Southwell, March 6. 1807.

"Dear Bankes,

"Your critique is valuable for many reasons: in the first place, it is the only one in which flattery has borne so slight a part; in the _next_, I am _cloyed_ with insipid compliments. I have a better opinion of your judgment and ability than your _feelings_. Accept my most sincere thanks for your kind decision, not less welcome, because totally unexpected. With regard to a more exact estimate, I need not remind you how few of the _best poems_, in our language, will stand the test of _minute_ or _verbal_ criticism: it can, therefore, hardly be expected the effusions of a boy (and most of these pieces have been produced at an early period) can derive much merit either from the subject or composition. Many of them were written under great depression of spirits, and during severe indisposition:--hence the gloomy turn of the ideas. We coincide in opinion that the '_poesies erotiques_' are the most exceptionable; they were, however, grateful to the _deities_, on whose altars they were offered--more I seek not.

"The portrait of Pomposus was drawn at Harrow, after a _long sitting_; this accounts for the resemblance, or rather the _caricatura_. He is _your_ friend, he _never was mine_--for both our sakes I shall be silent on this head. _The collegiate_ rhymes are not personal--one of the notes may appear so, but could not be omitted. I have little doubt they will be deservedly abused--a just punishment for my unfilial treatment of so excellent an Alma Mater. I sent you no copy, lest _we_ should be placed in the situation of _Gil Blas_ and the _Archbishop_ of Grenada; though running some hazard from the experiment, I wished your _verdict_ to be unbia.s.sed. Had my '_Libellus_' been presented previous to your letter, it would have appeared a species of bribe to purchase compliment. I feel no hesitation in saying, I was more anxious to hear your critique, however severe, than the praises of the _million_. On the same day I was honoured with the encomiums of _Mackenzie_, the celebrated author of the 'Man of Feeling.' Whether _his_ approbation or _yours_ elated me most, I cannot decide.

"You will receive my _Juvenilia_,--at least all yet published. I have a large volume in ma.n.u.script, which may in part appear hereafter; at present I have neither time nor inclination to prepare it for the press. In the spring I shall return to Trinity, to dismantle my rooms, and bid you a final adieu. The _Cam_ will not be much increased by my _tears_ on the occasion. Your further remarks, however _caustic_ or bitter, to a palate vitiated with the _sweets of adulation_, will be of service. Johnson has shown us that _no poetry_ is perfect; but to correct mine would be an Herculean labour. In fact I never looked beyond the moment of composition, and published merely at the request of my friends. Notwithstanding so much has been said concerning the 'Genus irritabile vatum,' we shall never quarrel on the subject--poetic fame is by no means the 'acme' of my wishes. Adieu.

"Yours ever,

"BYRON."

This letter was followed by another, on the same subject, to Mr.

Bankes, of which, unluckily, only the annexed fragment remains:--

"For my own part, I have suffered severely in the decease of my two greatest friends, the only beings I ever loved (females excepted); I am therefore a solitary animal, miserable enough, and so perfectly a citizen of the world, that whether I pa.s.s my days in Great Britain or Kamschatka, is to me a matter of perfect indifference. I cannot evince greater respect for your alteration than by immediately adopting it--this shall be done in the next edition. I am sorry your remarks are not more frequent, as I am certain they would be equally beneficial. Since my last, I have received two critical opinions from Edinburgh, both too flattering for me to detail. One is from Lord Woodhouselee, at the head of the Scotch literati, and a most _voluminous_ writer (his last work is a life of Lord Kaimes); the other from Mackenzie, who sent his decision a second time, more at length. I am not personally acquainted with either of these gentlemen, nor ever requested their sentiments on the subject: their praise is voluntary, and transmitted through the medium of a friend, at whose house they read the productions.

"Contrary to my former intention, I am now preparing a volume for the public at large: my amatory pieces will be exchanged, and others subst.i.tuted in their place. The whole will be considerably enlarged, and appear the latter end of May. This is a hazardous experiment; but want of better employment, the encouragement I have met with, and my own vanity, induce me to stand the test, though not without _sundry palpitations_. The book will circulate fast enough in this country, from mere curiosity, what I prin--"[58]

The following modest letter accompanied a copy which he presented to Mr. Falkner, his mother's landlord:--

LETTER 11.

TO MR. FALKNER.

"Sir,

"The volume of little pieces which accompanies this, would have been presented before, had I not been apprehensive that Miss Falkner's indisposition might render such trifles unwelcome. There are some errors of the printer which I have not had time to correct in the collection: you have it thus, with 'all its imperfections on its head,' a heavy weight, when joined with the faults of its author. Such 'Juvenilia,' as they can claim no great degree of approbation, I may venture to hope, will also escape the severity of uncalled for, though perhaps _not_ undeserved, criticism.

"They were written on many and various occasions, and are now published merely for the perusal of a friendly circle. Believe me, sir, if they afford the slightest amus.e.m.e.nt to yourself and the rest of my _social_ readers, I shall have gathered all the _bays_ I ever wish to adorn the head of yours,

very truly,

"BYRON.

"P.S.--I hope Miss F. is in a state of recovery."

Notwithstanding this unambitious declaration of the young author, he had that within which would not suffer him to rest so easily; and the fame he had now reaped within a limited circle made him but more eager to try his chance on a wider field. The hundred copies of which this edition consisted were hardly out of his hands, when with fresh activity he went to press again,--and his first published volume, "The Hours of Idleness," made its appearance. Some new pieces which he had written in the interim were added, and no less than twenty of those contained in the former volume omitted;--for what reason does not very clearly appear, as they are, most of them, equal, if not superior, to those retained.