the task, by swimming with it from Europe to Asia.' I certainly could not have forgotten, what is known to every schoolboy, that Leander crossed in the night, and returned towards the morning. My object was, to ascertain that the Hellespont could be crossed at all by swimming, and in this Mr Ekenhead and myself both succeeded, the one in an hour and ten minutes, and the other in one hour and five minutes. The tide was not in our favour; on the contrary, the great difficulty was to bear up against the current, which, so far from helping us into the Asiatic side, set us down right towards the Archipelago. Neither Mr Ekenhead, myself, nor, I will venture to add, any person on board the frigate, from Captain Bathurst downwards, had any notion of a difference of the current on the Asiatic side, of which Mr Turner speaks. I never heard of it till this moment, or I would have taken the other course. Lieutenant Ekenhead's sole motive, and mine also, for setting out from the European side was, that the little cape above Sestos was a more prominent starting place, and the frigate, which lay below, close under the Asiatic castle, formed a better point of view for us to swim towards; and, in fact, we landed immediately below it. "Mr Turner says, 'Whatever is thrown into the stream on this part of the European bank must arrive at the Asiatic shore.' This is so far from being the case, that it must arrive in the Archipelago, if left to the current, although a strong wind in the Asiatic direction might have such an effect occasionally. "Mr Turner attempted the passage from the Asiatic side, and failed: 'After five-and-twenty minutes, in which he did not advance a hundred yards, he gave it up from complete exhaustion.' This is very possible, and might have occurred to him just as readily on the European side. He should have set out a couple of miles higher, and could then have come out below the European castle. I particularly stated, and Mr Hobhouse has done so also, that we were obliged to make the real passage of one mile extend to between three and four, owing to the force of the stream. I can assure Mr Turner, that his success would have given me great pleasure, as it would have added one more instance to the proofs of the probability. It is not quite fair in him to infer, that because he failed, Leander could not succeed. There are still four instances on record: a Neapolitan, a young Jew, Mr Ekenhead, and myself; the two last done in the presence of hundreds of English wit nesses. "With regard to the difference of the current, I perceived none; is favourable to the swimmer on neither side, but may be stemmed by plunging into the sea, a considerable way above the opposite point of the coast which the swimmer wishes to make, but still bearing up against it; it is strong, but if you calculate well, you may reach land. My own experience and that of others bids me pronounce the passage of Leander perfectly practicable. Any young man, in good and tolerable skill in swimming, might succeed in it from either side. I was three hours in swimming across the Tagus, which is much more hazardous, being two hours longer than the Hellespont. Of what may be done in swimming, I will mention one more instance. In 1818, the Chevalier Mengaldo (a gentleman of Bassano), a good swimmer, wished to swim with my friend Mr Alexander Scott and myself. As he seemed particularly anxious on the subject, we indulged him. We all three started from the island of the Lido and swam to Venice. At the entrance of the Grand Canal, Scott and I were a good way ahead, and we saw no more of our foreign friend, which, however, was of no consequence, as there was a gondola to hold his clothes and pick him up. Scott swam on till past the Rialto, where he got out, less from fatigue than from chill, having been four hours in the water, without rest or stay, except what is to be obtained by floating on one's back—this being the condition of our performance. I continued my course on to Santa Chiara, comprising the whole of the Grand Canal (besides the distance from the Lido), and got out where the Laguna once more opens to Fusina. I had been in the water, by my watch, without help or rest, and never touching ground or boat, four hours and twenty minutes. To this match, and during the greater part of its performance, Mr Hoppner, the Consul-general, was witness, and it is well known to many others. Mr Turner can easily verify the fact, if he thinks it worth while, by referring to Mr Hoppner. The distance we could not accurately ascertain; it was of course considerable. "I crossed the Hellespont in one hour and ten minutes only. I am now ten years older in time, and twenty in constitution, than I was when I passed the Dardanelles, and yet two years ago I was capable of swimming four hours and twenty minutes; and I am sure that I could have continued two hours longer, though I had on a pair of trowsers, an accoutrement which by no means assists the performance. My two companions were also four hours in the water. Mengaldo might be about thirty years of age; Scott about six-and-twenty. "With this experience in swimming at different periods of life, not only upon the SPOT, but elsewhere, of various persons, what is there to make me doubt that Leander's exploit was perfectly practicable? If three individuals did more than the passage of the Hellespont, why should he have done less? But Mr Turner failed, and, naturally seeking a plausible reason for his failure, lays the blame on the Asiatic side of the strait. He tried to swim directly across, instead of going higher up to take the vantage: he might as well have tried to fly over Mount Athos. "That a young Greek of the heroic times, in love, and with his limbs in full vigour, might have succeeded in such an attempt is neither wonderful nor doubtful. Whether he attempted it or not is another question, because he might have had a small boat to save him the trouble. "I am yours very truly, "BYRON. "P.S. Mr Turner says that the swimming from Europe to Asia was the easiest part of the task.' I doubt whether Leander found it so, as it was the return; however, he had several hours between the intervals. The argument of Mr Turner that higher up, or lower down, the strait widens so considerably that he would save little labour by his starting,' is only good for indifferent swimmers; a man of any practice or skill will always consider the distance less than the strength of the stream. If Ekenhead and myself had thought of crossing at the narrowest point, instead of going up to the Cape above it, we should have been swept down to Tenedos. The strait, however, is not so extremely wide, even where it broadens above and below the forts. As the frigate was stationed some time in the Dardanelles waiting for the firman, I bathed often in the strait subsequently to our traject, and generally on the Asiatic side, without perceiving the greater strength of the opposite stream by which the diplomatic traveller palliates his own failure. Our amusement in the small bay which opens immediately below the Asiatic fort was to dive for the LAND tortoises, which we flung in on purpose, as they amphibiously crawled along the bottom. This does not argue any greater violence of current than on the European shore. With regard to the modest insinuation that we chose the European side as 'easier,' I appeal to Mr Hobhouse and Captain Bathurst if it be true or no (poor Ekenhead being since dead). Had we been aware of any such difference of current as is asserted we would at least have proved it, and were not likely to have given it up in the twenty-five minutes of Mr Turner's own experiment. The secret of all this is, that Mr Turner failed, and that we succeeded; and he is consequently disappointed, and seems not unwilling to overshadow whatever little merit there might be in our success. Why did he not try the European side? If he had succeeded there, after failing on the Asiatic, his plea would have been more graceful and gracious. Mr Turner may find what fault he pleases with my poetry, or my politics; but I recommend him to leave aquatic reflections till he is able to swim five and twenty minutes' without being exhausted,' though I believe he is the first modern Tory who ever swam against the stream' for half the time." * 6 shall now see if our Italian friends are good for any thing but shooting round a corner,' like the Irishman's gun. Excuse haste,-I write with my spurs putting on. My horses are at the door, and an Italian Count waiting to accompany me in my ride. "Yours, &c. "P. S. Pray, amongst my letters, did you get one detailing the death of the commandant here? He was killed near my door, and died in my house. "BOWLES AND CAMPBELL. "To the air of How now, Madame Flirt,' in the Beggars' Opera. "Bowles. "Why, how now, saucy Tom, If you thus must ramble, I will publish some « Campbell. "Why, how now, Billy Bowles, &c., &c., &c." LETTER CCCCXV. TO MR MURRAY. "March 2, 1821. "This was the beginning of a letter which I meant for Perry, but stopped short, hoping you would be able to prevent the theatres. Of course you need not send it; but it explains to you my feelings on the subject. You say that there is nothing to fear, let them do what they please;' that is to say, that you would see me damned with great tranquillity. You are a fine fellow." LETTER CCCCXIV. TO MR MOORE. < Ravenna, February 22d, 1821. “As I wish the soul of the late Antoine Galignani to rest in peace (you will have read his death, published by himself, in his own newspaper), you are requested particularly to inform his children and heirs, that of their 'Literary Gazette,' to which I subscribed more than two months ago, I have only received one number, notwithstanding I have written to them repeatedly. If they have no regard for me, a subscriber, they ought to have some for their deceased parent, who is undoubtedly no better off in his present residence for this total want of attention. If not, let me have my francs. They were paid by Missiaglia, the Wenetian bookseller. You may also hint to them, that when a gentleman writes a letter, it is usual to send an answer. If not, I shall make them a speech,' which will comprise an eulogy on the deceased. B "We are here full of war, and within two days of the seat of it, expecting intelligence momently. We To the above letter, which was published at the time, Mr Turner wrote a reply, but, for reasons stated by himself, did not print it. At his request, I give insertion to his paper in the Appendix. 6 "I have received a strange piece of news, which cannot be more disagreeable to your public than it is to me. Letters and the gazettes do me the honour to say that it is the intention of some of the London managers to bring forward on their stage the poem of Marino Faliero,' &c. which was never intended for such an exhibition, and I trust will never undergo it. It is certainly unfit for it. I have never written but for the solitary reader, and require no experiments for applause beyond his silent approbation. Since such an attempt to drag me forth as a gladiator in the theatrical arena is a violation of all the courte sies of literature, I trust that the impartial part of the press will step between me and this pollution. I say pollution, because every violation of a right is such, and I claim my right as an author to prevent what I have written from being turned into a stageplay. I have too much respect for the public to permit this of my own free will. Had I sought their favour, it would have been by a pantomime. "I have said that I write only for the reader. Beyond this I cannot consent to any publication, or to the abuse of any publication of mine to the pur. poses of histrionism. The applauses of an audience would give me no pleasure; their disapprobation might, however, give me pain. The wager is there "In my packet of the 12th instant, in the last sheet (not the half sheet), last page, omit the sentence which (defining, or attempting to define, what and who are gentlemen) begins I should say at least in life that most military men have it, and few naval; that several men of rank have it, and few lawyers,' &c. &c. I say, omit the whole of that sentence, because, like the cosmogony, or creation of the world,' in the Vicar of Wakefield,' it is not much to the purpose. "In the sentence above, too, almost at the top of the same page, after the words that there ever was, or can be, an aristocracy of poets,' add and insert these words 'I do not mean that they should write in the style of the song by a person of quality, or parle euphuism; but there is a nobility of thought and expression to be found no less in Shakspeare, Pope, and Burns, than in Dante, Alfieri,' &c. &c. and so on. Or, if you please, perhaps you had better omit the whole of the latter digression on the vulgar poets, and insert only as far as the end of the sentence on Pope's Homer, where I prefer it to Cowper's, and quote Dr Clarke in favour of its accuracy. 66 Upon all these points, take an opinion; take the sense (or nonsense) of your learned visitants, and act thereby. I am very tractable-in PROSE. 16. Flatterer at the board. 23. Pride that licks the dust Beauty that shocks you, parts that none will trust, "Now, is there a line of all the passage without the most forcible imagery (for his purpose)? Look at the variety-at the poetry of the passage-at the imagination: there is hardly a line from which a painting might not be made, and is. But this is nothing in comparison with his higher passages in the Essay on Man, and many of his other poems, serious and comic. There never was such an unjust outcry in this world as that which these fellows are trying against Pope. "Ask Mr Gifford if, in the fifth act of the Doge,' you could not contrive (where the sentence of the Veil is passed) to insert the following lines in Marino Faliero's answer? 'But let it be so. It will be in vain : The veil which blackens o'er this blighted name, "Yours truly, &c. "P. S. Upon public matters here I say little: you will all hear soon enough of a general row throughout Italy. There never was a more foolish step than the expedition to Naples by these fellows. "I wish to propose to Holmes, the miniature painter, to come out to me this spring. I will pay his expenses, and any sum in reason. I wish him to take my daughter's picture (who is in a convent), and the Countess G.'s, and the head of a peasant girl, which latter would make a study for Raphael. It is a complete peasant face, but an Italian peasant's, and "Whether I have made out the case for Pope, I quite in the Raphael Fornarina style. Her figure is know not; but I am very sure that I have been tall, but rather large, and not at all comparable to zealous in the attempt. If it comes to the proofs, we her face, which is really superb. She is not sevenshall beat the blackguards. I will show more ima- teen, and I am anxious to have her face while it lasts. gery in twenty lines of Pope than in any equal length Madame G, is also very handsome, but it is quite in of quotation in English poesy, and that in places where a different style-completely blonde and fair-very they least expect it. For instance, in his lines on uncommon in Italy; yet not an English fairness, but Sporus,-now, do just read them over-the subject more like a Swede or a Norwegian. Her figure, too, is of no consequence (whether it be satire or epic)—particularly the bust, is uncommonly good. It must we are talking of poetry and imagery from nature and art. Now, mark the images separately and arithmetically: 1. The thing of silk. 2. Curd of ass's milk. 3. The butterfly. 4. The wheel. 5. Bug with gilded wings. 6. Painted child of dirt. 7. Whose buzz. 8. Well-bred spaniels. 9. Shallow streams run dimpling. 10. Florid impotence. 11. Prompter. Puppet squeaks. 12. The ear of Eve. 13. Familiar toad. 14. Half froth, half venom spits himself abroad. be Holmes: I like him, because he takes such inveterate likenesses. There is a war here; but a solitary travaller, with little baggage, and nothing to do with politics, has nothing to fear. Pack him up in the Diligence. Don't forget." LETTER CCCCXVII. TO MR HOPPNER. "Ravenna, April 3d, 1821. "Thanks for the translation. I have sent you some books, which I do not know whether you have read These lines,-perhaps from some difficulty in introducing them,-were never inserted in the Tragedy. or no you need not return them, in any case. 1 enclose you also a letter from Pisa. I have neither spared trouble nor expense in the care of the child; and as she was now four years old complete, and quite above the control of the servants-and as a man living without any woman at the head of his house cannot much attend to a nursery-I had no resource but to place her for a time (at a high pension too) in the convent of Bagna-Cavalli (twelve miles off), where the air is good, and where she will, at least, have her earning advanced, and her morals and religion inculcated. * I had also another reason;things were and are in such a state here, that I had no reason to look upon my own personal safety as particularly insurable; and I thought the infant best out of harm's way, for the present. "It is also fit that I should add that I by no means intended, nor intend, to give a natural child an English education, because with the disadvantages of her birth, her after settlement would be doubly difficult. Abroad, with a fair foreign education and a portion of five or six thousand pounds, she might and may marry very respectably. In England such a dowry would be a pittance, while elsewhere it is a fortune. It is, besides, my wish that she should be a Roman Catholic, which I look upon as the best religion, as it is assuredly the oldest of the various branches of Christianity. I have now explained my notions as to the place where she now is it is the best I could find for the present; but I have no prejudices in its favour. "I do not speak of politics, because it seems a hopeless subject, as long as those scoundrels are to be permitted to bully states out of their independence. Believe me "Yours ever and truly. "P S. There is a report here of a change in France; but with what truth is not yet known. "P. S. My respects to Mrs H. I have the best opinion' of her country women; and at my time of life (three and thirty, 22d January, 1821), that is to say, after the life I have led, a good opinion is the only rational one which a man should entertain of the whole sex :-up to thirty, the worst possible opinion a man can have of them in general, the better for himself. Afterwards, it is a matter of no importance to them, nor to him either, what opinion he entertains-his day is over, or, at least, should be. "You see how sober I am become." LETTER CCCCXVIII. TO MR MURRAY. "Ravenna, April 21st, 1821. "I enclose you another letter on Bowles. But I premise that it is not like the former, and that I am not all sure how much, if any, of it should be pub With such anxiety did he look to this essential part of his daughter's education, that notwithstanding the many advantages she was sure to derive from the kind and feminine superintendence of Mrs Shelley, his apprehensions lest her feeling upon religious subjects might be disturbed by the conversation of Shelley himself, prevented him from allowing her to remain under his friend's roof. lished. Upon this point you can consult with Mr Gifford, and think twice before you publish it at all. "Yours truly, "B. "P. S. You may make my subscription for Mr Scott's widow, &c. thirty instead of the proposed ten pounds: but do not put down my name; put down N. N. only. The reason is, that, as I have mentioned him in the enclosed pamphlet, it would look indelicate. I would give more, but my disappointments last year about Rochdale and the transfer from the funds render me more economical for the present. LETTER CCCCXIX. TO MR SHELLEY. "Ravenna, April 26th, 1821. "The child continues doing well, and the accounts are regular and favourable. It is gratifying to me that you and Mrs Shelley do not disapprove of the step which I have taken, which is merely temporary. "I am very sorry to hear what you say of Keatsis it actually true? I did not think criticism had been so killing. Though I differ from you essentially in your estimate of his performances, I so much abhor all unnecessary pain, that I would rather he had been seated on the highest peak of Parnassus than have perished in such a manner. Poor fellow! though with such inordinate self-love he would probably have not been very happy. I read the review of 'Endymion' in the Quarterly. It was severe, but surely not so severe as many reviews in that and other journals upon others. "I recollect the effect on me of the Edinburgh on my first poem; it was rage, and resistance, and redress-but not despondency nor despair. I grant that those are not amiable feelings; but, in this world of bustle and broil, and especially in the career of writing, a man should calculate upon his powers resistance before he goes into the arena. 'Expect not life from pain nor danger free, "You know my opinion of that second-hand school of poetry. You also know my high opinion of your own poetry, because it is of no school. I read Cenci-but, besides that I think the subject essentially undramatic, I am not an admirer of our old dramatists, as models. I deny that the English have hitherto had a drama at all. Your Cenci, however, was a work of power, and poetry. As to my drama, pray revenge yourself upon it, by being as free as I have been with yours. "I have not yet got your Prometheus, which I long to see. I have heard nothing of mine, and do not know that it is yet published. I have published a pamphlet on the Pope controversy, which you will not like. Had I known that Keats was dead-or that he was alive and so sensitive-I should have omitted some remarks upon his poetry, to which I was provoked by his attack upon Pope, and my disapprobation of his own style of writing. "You want me to undertake a great Poem-I have not the inclination nor the power. As I grow older, "Is it true, what Shelley writes me, that poor John Keats died at Rome of the Quarterly Review? I am very sorry for it, though I think he took the wrong line as a poet, and was spoilt by Cockneyfying, and suburbing, and versifying Tooke's Pantheon and Lempriere's Dictionary. I know, by experience, that a savage review is hemlock to a sucking author; and the one on me (which produced the English Bards, &c.) knocked me down-but I got up again. Instead of bursting a blood vessel, I drank three bottles of claret, and begun an answer, finding that there was nothing in the article for which I could lawfully knock Jeffrey on the head, in an honourable way. However, I would not be the person who wrote the homicidal article for all the honour and glory in the world, though I by no means approve of that school of scribbling which it treats upon. LETTER CCCCXXI. TO MR MOORE. "Ravenna, April 28th, 1821. "You cannot have been more disappointed than myself, nor so much deceived. I have been so at some personal risk also, which is not yet done away with. However, no time nor circumstances shall alter my tone nor my feelings of indignation against tyranny triumphant. The present business has been as much a work of treachery as of cowardice,though both may have done their part. If ever you and I meet again, I will have a talk with you upon the subject. At present, for obvious reasons, I can write but little, as all letters are opened. In mine they shall always find my sentiments, but nothing that can lead to the oppression of others. "You will please to recollect that the Neapolitans are nowhere now more execrated than in Italy, and not blame a whole people for the vices of a province. That would be like condemning Great Britain because they plunder wrecks in Cornwall. "And now, let us be literary;-a sad falling off, but it is always a consolation. If 'Othello's occupation be gone,' let us take to the next best; and, if we cannot contribute to make mankind more free and wise, we may amuse ourselves and those who like it. What are you writing? I have been scribbling at intervals, and Murray will be publishing about now. "Lady Noel has, as you say, been dangerously ill; but it may console you to learn that she is dangerously well again. "I have written a sheet or two more of Memoranda for you; and I kept a little Journal for about a month or two, till I had filled the paper-book. I then left it off, as things grew busy and, afterwards, too gloomy to set down without a painful feeling. This "You see the Italians have made a sad business of I should be glad to send you if I had an opportunity; it.-all owing to treachery and disunion amongst them-but a volume, however small, don't go well by such selves. It has given me great vexation. The exeerations heaped upon the Neapolitans by the other Italians are quite in unison with those of the rest of Europe. Yours, &c. "P. S. Your latest packet of books is on its way here but not arrived. Kenilworth excellent. Thanks for the pocket-books, of which I have made presents to those ladies who like cuts, and landscapes, and all that. I have got an Italian book or two which I should like to send you if I had an opportunity. "I am not at present in the very highest health,— spring, probably; so I have lowered my diet and taken to Epsom salts. "As you say my prose is good, why don't you treat with Moore for the reversion of the Memoirs? -conditionally, recollect; not to be published before decease. He has the permission to dispose of them, and I advised him to do so." posts as exist in this Inquisition of a country. "I have no news. As a very pretty woman said to me a few nights ago, with the tears in her eyes, as she sat at the harpsichord, 'Alas! the Italians must now return to making operas.' I fear that and maccaroni are their forte, and, 'motley their only wear.' However, there are some high spirits among them still. Pray write, "And believe me, &c." LETTER CCCCXXII. TO MR MOORE. "Ravenna, May 3d, 1821. "Though I wrote to you on the 28th ultimo, I must acknowledge yours of this day, with the lines.* They are sublime, as well as beautiful, and in your very best mood and manner. They are also but too true. However, do not confound the scoundrels at the heel of the boot with their betters at the top of it. I assure you that there are some loftier spirits. * Ay, down to the dust with them, slaves as they are," &c., &c. |