FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   >>  
as a poet, Lord Byron acknowledged his powers, and spoke highly of his effusions generally. "The Irish Melodies," said his lordship, "will outlive all his other productions, and will be hailed by the Irish nation as long as music and poetry exist in that country." Many coincidences in life may seem to border on superstition, without any existing reality; and, although never personally taxed with the sin of superstition, yet the following circumstance brings strongly to my remembrance what passed relative to my friend and patron. I was with Lord Byron, at his house in Piccadilly, the best part of the three last days before he left London, to quit England; I expressed my regret at his departure, and desired to know if it was really his intention not to return (little anticipating what eventually took place;) he fixed his eyes upon me with an eager look of inquiry, exclaiming at the same time, "Good God! I never had it in contemplation to remain in exile--why do you ask that question?" I stated that such a report had been rumoured. "I certainly intend returning," continued his lordship, "unless the _grim tyrant_ should be playing his pranks on me." He appeared very anxious for the voyage, and walked about the room in great agitation, waiting the return of a messenger who had been sent respecting some delay which was likely to take place; the messenger however soon entered, and presented him a letter, which his lordship opened with great eagerness. In reading the letter his countenance, like the earth illumined by the re-appearance of the moon, after having been obscured by dark clouds, brightened up, and at the close he exultingly exclaimed "this is kind--very kind--Nathan! to-morrow I quit." I soon after left him; he shook me heartily by the hand, and left with his impression a fifty pound note, saying, "Do not be offended with me at this mode of expressing the delight you have afforded me--until we meet again, farewell!--I shall not forget my promise." His lordship here alluded to some promised verses. Having left the room he called me back, and reverting once more to my first allusion of the rumour about his not returning, laughingly said, "Remember, Nathan, you shall certainly see me again in body or in spirit." There are several other interesting anecdotical Recollections of Lord Byron, especially of his connexion with Drury Lane Theatre, and above all, a _new light_ is thrown on his Lordship's affair with
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   >>  



Top keywords:

lordship

 
messenger
 

superstition

 
return
 

Nathan

 

letter

 
returning
 

brightened

 

heartily

 

morrow


exclaimed

 
exultingly
 

eagerness

 

opened

 

reading

 

presented

 

entered

 
countenance
 

obscured

 

appearance


illumined

 

respecting

 

clouds

 

spirit

 

interesting

 
allusion
 
rumour
 

laughingly

 
Remember
 

anecdotical


Recollections
 

thrown

 

Lordship

 

affair

 
connexion
 

Theatre

 

delight

 

expressing

 
afforded
 

offended


waiting

 
Having
 

verses

 

called

 

reverting

 
promised
 

alluded

 
forget
 

farewell

 

promise