rd had weight he appeals to the
country of his adoption to strike a blow for freedom--to "unite." It is
difficult to realize the force or extent of Byron's influence on
continental opinion. His own countrymen admired his poetry, but abhorred
and laughed at his politics. Abroad he was the prophet and champion of
liberty. His hatred of tyranny--his defence of the oppressed--was a word
spoken in season when there were few to speak but many to listen. It
brought consolation and encouragement, and it was not spoken in vain. It
must, however, be borne in mind that Byron was more of a king-hater than a
people-lover. He was against the oppressors, but he disliked and despised
the oppressed. He was aristocrat by conviction as well as birth, and if he
espoused a popular cause it was _de haut en bas_. His connexion with the
Gambas brought him into touch with the revolutionary movement, and
thenceforth he was under the espionage of the Austrian embassy at Rome. He
was suspected and "shadowed," but he was left alone.

Early in September Byron returned to La Mira, bringing the countess with
him. A month later he was surprised by a visit from Moore, who was on his
way to Rome. Byron installed Moore in the Mocenigo palace and visited him
daily. Before the final parting (October 11) Byron placed in Moore's hands
the MS. of his _Life and Adventures_ brought down to the close of 1816.
Moore, as Byron suggested, pledged the MS. to Murray for 2000 guineas, to
be Moore's property if redeemed in Byron's lifetime, but if not, to be
forfeit to Murray at Byron's death. On the 17th of May 1824, with Murray's
assent and goodwill, the MS. was burned in the drawing-room of 50 Albemarle
Street. Neither Murray nor Moore lost their money. The Longmans lent Moore
a sufficient sum to repay Murray, and were themselves repaid out of the
receipts of Moore's _Life of Byron_. Byron told Moore that the memoranda
were not "confessions," that they were "the truth but not the whole truth."
This, no doubt, was the truth, and the whole truth. Whatever they may or
may [v.04 p.0902] not have contained, they did not explain the cause or
causes of the separation from his wife.[1]

At the close of 1819 Byron finally left Venice and settled at Ravenna in
his own apartments in the Palazzo Guiccioli. His relations with the
countess were put on a regular footing, and he was received in society as
her _cavaliere servente_. At Ravenna his literary activity was greater than
ev