“In the one hundredth and thirty-second stanza of Canto 4th, the stanza runs in the manuscript
“And thou, who never yet of human wrong Left the unbalanced scale, great Nemesis! |
“P.S. In the translation from the Spanish, alter
In increasing squadrons flew, |
“To a mighty squadron grew. |
“What does ‘thy waters wasted them’ mean (in the Canto)? That is not me‡. Consult the MS. always.
“I have written the first Canto (180 octave stanzas) of a poem in the style of Beppo, and have Mazeppa to finish besides.
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† This correction, I observe, has never been made,—the passage still remaining, unmeaningly,
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‡ This passage also remains uncorrected. |
| A. D. 1818. | LIFE OF LORD BYRON. | 201 |
“In referring to the mistake in stanza 182, I take the opportunity to desire that in future, in all parts of my writings referring to religion, you will be more careful, and not forget that it is possible that in addressing the deity a blunder may become a blasphemy; and I do not choose to suffer such infamous perversions of my words or of my intentions.
“I saw the Canto by accident.”
