“I have no guess at your author,—but it is a noble Poem*, and worth a thousand Odes of any body’s. I suppose I may keep this copy;—after reading it, I really regret having written my own. I say this very sincerely, albeit unused to think humbly of myself.
“I don’t like the additional stanzas at all, and they had better be left out. The fact is, I can’t do any thing I am asked to do, however
* A Poem by Mr. Stratford Canning, full of spirit and power, entitled “Buonaparte.” In a subsequent note to Mr. Murray, Lord Byron says:—“I do not think less highly of ‘Buonaparte’ for knowing the author. I was aware that he was a man of talent, but did not suspect him of possessing all the family talents in such perfection.” |
| 548 | NOTICES OF THE | A. D. 1814. |
“The S. R. is very civil—but what do they mean by Childe Harold resembling Marmion? and the next two, Giaour and Bride, not resembling Scott? I certainly never intended to copy him; but, if there be any copyism, it must be in the two Poems, where the same versification is adopted. However, they exempt the Corsair from all resemblance to any thing,—though I rather wonder at his escape.
“If ever I did any thing original, it was in Childe Harold, which I prefer to the other things always, after the first week. Yesterday I re-read English Bards;—bating the malice, it is the best.
