Georgiana Cottage! As for our _harps_, we hanged them up upon the
willows that grew thereby. Then they said, Sing us a song of Drury
Lane,' &c.;--but I am dumb and dreary as the Israelites. The waters
have disordered me to my heart's content--you _were_ right, as you
always are. Believe me ever your obliged and affectionate servant,

"BYRON."

* * * * *

The request of the Committee for his aid having been, still more
urgently, repeated, he, at length, notwithstanding the difficulty and
invidiousness of the task, from his strong wish to oblige Lord Holland,
consented to undertake it; and the quick succeeding notes and letters,
which he addressed, during the completion of the Address, to his noble
friend, afford a proof (in conjunction with others of still more
interest, yet to be cited) of the pains he, at this time, took in
improving and polishing his first conceptions, and the importance he
wisely attached to a judicious choice of epithets as a means of
enriching both the music and the meaning of his verse. They also
show,--what, as an illustration of his character, is even still more
valuable,--the exceeding pliancy and good humour with which he could
yield to friendly suggestions and criticisms; nor can it be questioned,
I think, but that the docility thus invariably exhibited by him, on
points where most poets are found to be tenacious and irritable, was a
quality natural to his disposition, and such as might have been turned
to account in far more important matters, had he been fortunate enough
to meet with persons capable of understanding and guiding him.

The following are a few of those hasty notes, on the subject of the
Address, which I allude to:--

TO LORD HOLLAND.

"September 22. 1812.

"My dear Lord,

"In a day or two I will send you something which you will still
have the liberty to reject if you dislike it. I should like to have
had more time, but will do my best,--but too happy if I can oblige
_you_, though I may offend a hundred scribblers and the discerning
public. Ever yours.

"Keep _my name_ a _secret_; or I shall be beset by all the
rejected, and, perhaps, damned by a party."

* * * * *

LETTER 97. TO LORD HOLLAND.

"Cheltenham, September 23. 1812.

"Ecco!--I have marked some passages with _double_ readings--choose
between them--_cut_--_