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Scott to Byron, from Edinburgh, February 11th 1814
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Scott to Byron, from Edinburgh, February 11th 1814:
(Not in Grierson) Byron (or Murray) has sent Scott The Bride of Abydos. My dear Lord I have delayed thanking you for the Bride of Abydos 31 untill I should have it in my power to send you a life of Dean Swift with which I have been for some time busy not for acquittal of my debt but merely to show that I am sensible of it – However it has happened to me like all or most tardy debtors that my delay[s] of acknowledgement have very much incurred the burthen of my obligation – For I really think the Corsair which I received two days since is the most delightful of these three poems delightful as they all are. It is the good old form of Drydens fables to me always the most delightful part of his works. 32 I assure you I am highly sensible of the kind compliment you have paid me in the 27: Page turn. 28: B. denied that he was one of these: “Scott I no further meant to follow than in his Lyric measure – which is Gray’s – Milton’s & any one’s who likes it” (to Mu., October 12th 1813: BLJ III 141). 29: The battle of Leipzig, which led to the abdication of Napoleon, was in mid-October 1813. 30: Ecclesiastes 12, 6: Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern . 31: Published December 1813. 32: Scott is extremely polite. The Corsair is the first of B.’s Tales which does not borrow its form from him. preface 33 and am not at all mortified by the idea that some part of it may be owing to the particularity which the generous & liberal always feel for those who have attempted with more or less success their own walk to fame. There is only one particular line in which I hope and almost think you will be a false prophet & that is when you 1:2 you say you will not soon write again. In our free masonry, my Lord, we may be allowed to talk with some freedom – and therefore judging from the usual symptoms I rather hope that you will not keep your word on this occasion, and that your repose will be no longer than such rapid [ ] may demand, There is a thing I cannot forbear telling you though I am writing to a man whom I never saw about one whom I never spoke to above twice. I met Lord Elgin (to whom I am just known) in a sale-room today & to my surprize He began to talk of the Corsair of which he seems to be a vast admirer. {He} drew a very lively description of one who had been captured by the frigate in which he saild from the Levant; & who seemed by Lord E’s description to be much such a character as your heroe. I had a curious account of [ ] practised by the pirates & privateers in the Levant which was recorded in the Journal of a common sailor who had just served on board one of them. The journal was found when the man then a King’s seaman was put in confinement & his chest examined. I had the copy from Sir Edw d Pellews Secretary & its authenticity appeared undoubted. I caused it to be published in one of the late volumes of the Edinburgh Annual Register and from the manner in which the unfortunate journalist describes his first sensations of horror & then his becoming gradually reconciled to the shedding of blood it is a curious record of the gradual hardening of the human heart. Adieu my dear Lord accept my gralulor [“gratitude”?? “garrulity”??] in good part – write on when you have no better amusement & we will ask no better than to read on when you will permit us Believe me very sincerely & respectfully your truly obliged Walter Scott Edin. – 11 fe. y [pencilled: 1814] Download 1.07 Mb. Do'stlaringiz bilan baham: |
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