To be sure makes a difference. I know what is what: Tra. That I never could mean, by a word, to offend A genius like you, and, moreover, my friend. Ink. No doubt; you by this time should know what is due To a man of- -but come—let us shake hands. Tra. And you know, my dear fellow, how heartily I, You knew, 120 Ink. That's my bookseller's business; I care not for sale; Indeed the best poems at first rather fail. There were Renegade's epics, and Botherby's plays,1 Tra. Had its full share of praise. I myself saw it puffed in the "Old Girl's Review." 2 Tra. 'Tis the English "Journal de Trevoux ;" 3 A clerical work of our Jesuits at home. 1. [The term "renegade" was applied to Southey by William Smith, M.P., in the House of Commons, March 14, 1817 (vide ante, p. 482). Sotheby's plays, Ivan, The Death of Darnley, Zamorin and Zama, were published under the title of Five Tragedies, in 1814.] 2. [Compare "I've bribed my Grandmother's Review the British." Don Juan, Canto I. stanza ccix. line 9. And see "Letter to the Editor of 'My Grandmother's Review,' Letters, 1900, iv. Appendix VII. pp. 465-470. The reference may be to a review of the Fourth Canto of Childe Harold, which appeared in the British Review, January, 1818, or to a more recent and, naturally, most hostile notice of Don Juan (No. xviii. 1819).] 3. [The Journal de Trévoux, published under the title of Mémoires de Trévoux (1701-1775, 265 vols. 120), edited by members of the Society of Jesus, was an imitation of the Journal des Savants. The original matter, the Mémoires, contain a mine of information for the student of the history of French Literature; but the reviews, critical notices, etc., to which Byron refers, were of a highly polemical and partisan character, and were the subject of attack on the part of Protestant and free-thinking antagonists. In a letter to Moore, dated Ravenna, June 22, 1821, Byron says, "Now, if we were but together a little to combine our Journal of Trevoux!" (Letters, 1901, v. 309). The use of the same illustration in letter and poem is curious and noteworthy.] Have you never yet seen it? Ink. That pleasure's to come. Why so? I have heard people say Tra. Make haste then. Ink. Tra. That it threatened to give up the ghost t'other day.1 130 Ink. I've a card, and shall go: but at present, as soon As friend Scamp shall be pleased to step down from the moon, (Where he seems to be soaring in search of his wits), Of his lecture, to treat him with cold tongue and praise. Ink. No doubt-to the pocket. Tra. You should rather encourage my passion than shock it. But let us proceed; for I think by the hum Ink. Very true; let us go, then, before they can come, Hark! Zounds, they'll be on us; I know by the drone 150 That's clear. But for God's sake let's go, or the Bore will be here. [Exit INKEL. 1. [The publication of the British Review was discontinued in 1825.] 2. [For Botherby," vide ante, Beppo, stanza lxxii. line 7, p. 182, note 1; and with the ex-cathedrâ tone" compare "that awful note of woe," Vision of Judgment, stanza xc. line 4, ante, p. 518.] " Tra. You are right, and I'll follow ; 'Tis high time for a “Sic me servavit Apollo."1 And yet we shall have the whole crew on our kibes,' 160 [Exit TRACY. ECLOGUE THE SECOND. An Apartment in the House of LADY BLUEBOTTLE.— A Table prepared. SIR RICHARD BLUEBOTTLE solus. Was there ever a man who was married so sorry? 1. ["Sotheby is a good man, rhymes well (if not wisely), but is a bore. He seizes you by the button. One night of a rout at Mrs. Hope's, he had fastened upon me (something about Agamemnon, or Orestes, or some of his plays), notwithstanding my symptoms of manifest distress (for I was in love, and just nicked a minute, when neither mothers, nor husbands, nor rivals, nor gossips, were near my then idol, who was beautiful as the Statues of the Gallery where we stood at the time)-Sotheby I say had seized upon me by the button and the heart-strings, and spared neither. William Spencer, who likes fun, and don't dislike mischief, saw my case, and coming up to us both, took me by the hand, and pathetically bade me farewell; for,' said he, I see it is all over with you.' Sotheby then went way. "Sic_me servavit Apollo.'"-Detached Thoughts, 1821, Letters, 1901, v. 433.] 2. [For Byron's misapprehension concerning "kibes," see Childe Harold, Canto I. stanza lxvii. line 5, Poetical Works, 1899, ii. 64, note 3.] 3. "Where can the animals who write this trash have been bred, to fancy that ladies drink bumpers of Madeira at luncheon?"—Literary Register, May 3, 1823.] In science and art, I'll be cursed if I know Myself from my wife; for although we are two, ΤΟ Yet she somehow contrives that all things shall be done In a style which proclaims us eternally one. But the thing of all things which distresses me more Than the bills of the week (though they trouble me sore) Is the numerous, humorous, backbiting crew 20 Of scribblers, wits, lecturers, white, black, and blue, Enter LADY BLUEBOTTLE, MISS LILAC, LADY BLUEMOUNT, MR. BOTHERBY, INKEL, TRACY, MISS MAZARINE, and others, with SCAMP the Lecturer, etc., etc. Lady Blueb. Ah! Sir Richard, good morning: I've brought you some friends. Sir Rich. (bows, and afterwards aside). If friends, they're the first. Lady Blueb. 66 But the luncheon attends. I pray ye be seated, sans cérémonie." Mr. Scamp, you're fatigued; take your chair there, next me. [They all sit. Sir Rich. (aside). If he does, his fatigue is to come. Lady Blueb. Mr. Tracy Lady Bluemount-Miss Lilac-be pleased, pray, to place ye; And you, Mr. Botherby Both. I obey. Oh, my dear Lady, Lady Blueb. Mr. Inkel, I ought to upbraid ye : You were not at the lecture. 31 Ink. Excuse me, I was; But the heat forced me out in the best part-alas! Lady Blueb. To be sure it was broiling; but then Both. The best of the ten. Tra. How can you know that? there are two more. I defy him to beat this day's wondrous applause. Ink. Oh, if that be the test, Because I allow our friend Scamp has this day done his best. 40 Miss Lil. No more, sir, I thank you. Who lectures next spring? Both, Dick Dunder. Ink. Miss Lil. That is, if he lives. And why not? With pleasure. Ink. No reason whatever, save that he's a sot. Lady Bluemount! a glass of Madeira? Lady Bluem. Ink. How does your friend Wordswords, that Winder mere treasure? Does he stick to his lakes, like the leeches he sings,1 And their gatherers, as Homer sung warriors and kings? Lady Bluem. He has just got a place.2 Ink. Lady Bluem. As a footman? For shame! Nor profane with your sneers so poetic a name. 51 Ink. Nay, I meant him no evil, but pitied his master; For the poet of pedlers 'twere, sure, no disaster To wear a new livery; the more, as 'tis not The first time he has turned both his creed and his coat. Lady Bluem. For shame! I repeat. If Sir George could but hear 1. [Wordsworth's Resolution and Independence, originally entitled The Leech-gatherer, was written in 1802, and published in 1807.] 2. [Wordsworth was appointed Distributor of Stamps for the County of Westmoreland, in March, 1813. Lord Lonsdale and Sir George Beaumont were "suretys for the due execution of the trust."-Life of William Wordsworth, by William Knight, 1889, ii. 210.] |