“Many thanks for your amusing narrative of the last
proceedings of my amiable Alecto, who now begins to feel the effects of her
folly. I have just received a penitential epistle, to which, apprehensive of pursuit, I
have despatched a moderate answer, with a kind of promise to
return in a fortnight;—this, however (entre
nous), I never mean to fulfil.
| 70 | NOTICES OF THE | A. D. 1806. |
“Oh! for the pen of Ariosto to rehearse, in epic, the scolding of that momentous eve,—or rather, let me invoke the shade of Danté to inspire me, for none but the author of the ‘Inferno’ could properly preside over such an attempt. But, perhaps, where the pen might fail, the pencil would succeed. What a group!—Mrs. B. the principal figure; you cramming your ears with cotton, as the only antidote to total deafness; Mrs. —— in vain endeavouring to mitigate the wrath of the lioness robbed of her whelp; and last, though not least, Elizabeth and Wousky,—wonderful to relate!—both deprived of their parts of speech, and bringing up the rear in mute astonishment. How did S. B. receive the intelligence? How many puns did he utter on so facetious an event? In your next inform me on this point, and what excuse you made to A. You are probably by this time tired of deciphering this hieroglyphical letter;—like Tony Lumpkin, you will pronounce mine to be a d—d up and down hand. All Southwell, without doubt, is involved in amazement. Apropos, how does my blue-eyed nun, the fair * *? is she ‘robed in sable garb of woe?’
“Here I remain at least a week or ten days; previous to my departure you shall receive my address, but what it will be I have not determined. My lodgings must be kept secret from Mrs. B.; you may present my compliments to her, and say any attempt to pursue me will fail, as I have taken measures to retreat immediately to Portsmouth, on the first intimation of her removal from Southwell. You may add, I have now proceeded to a friend’s house in the country, there to remain a fortnight.
“I have now blotted (I must not say
written) a complete double letter, and in return shall expect a monstrous budget. Without doubt,
| A. D. 1806. | LIFE OF LORD BYRON. | 71 |
