Chapter III: Letter 156: To Mr. Moore

"January 8. 1814.

"As it would not be fair to press you into a dedication, without
previous notice, I send you _two_, and I will tell you _why two_.
The first, Mr. M., who sometimes takes upon him the critic (and I
bear it from _astonishment_), says, may do you _harm_--God
forbid!--this alone makes me listen to him. The fact is, he is a
damned Tory, and has, I dare swear, something of _self_, which I
cannot divine, at the bottom of his objection, as it is the
allusion to Ireland to which he objects. But he be d----d--though a
good fellow enough (your sinner would not be worth a d----n).

"Take your choice;--no one, save he and Mr. Dallas, has seen
either, and D. is quite on my side, and for the first.[8] If I can
but testify to you and the world how truly I admire and esteem you,
I shall be quite satisfied. As to prose, I don't know Addison's
from Johnson's; but I will try to mend my cacology. Pray perpend,
pronounce, and don't be offended with either.

"My last epistle would probably put you in a fidget. But the devil,
who _ought_ to be civil on such occasions, proved so, and took my
letter to the right place.

"Is it not odd?--the very fate I said she had escaped from * *, she
has now undergone from the worthy * *. Like Mr. Fitzgerald, shall I
not lay claim to the character of 'Vates?'--as he did in the
Morning Herald for prophesying the fall of Buonaparte,--who, by
the by, I don't think is yet fallen. I wish he would rally and
route your legitimate sovereigns, having a mortal hate to all royal
entails.--But I am scrawling a treatise. Good night. Ever," &c.

[Footnote 8: The first was, of course, the one that I preferred. The other ran as follows:--

"January 7. 1814.

"My dear Moore,

"I had written to you a long letter of dedication, which I
suppress, because, though it contained something relating to you
which every one had been glad to hear, yet there was too much about
politics, and poesy, and all things whatsoever, ending with that
topic on which most men are fluent, and none very amusing--_one's
self_. It might have been re-written--but to what purpose? My
praise could add nothing to your well-earned and firmly-established
fame; and with my most hearty admiration of your talents, and
delight in your conversation, you are already acquainted. In
availing myself of your friendly permission to inscribe this poem
to you, I can only wish the offering were as worthy your acceptance
as your regard is dear to,

"Yours, most affectionately and faithfully,

"BYRON."
]

* * * * *

TO MR. MURRAY.

"January 11. 1814.

"Correct this proof by Mr. Gifford's (and from the MSS.),
particularly as to the _pointing_. I have added a section for
_Gulnare_, to fill up the parting, and dismiss her more
ceremoniously. If Mr. Gifford or you dislike, 'tis but a _sponge_
and another midnight better employed than in yawning over Miss * *;
who, by the by, may soon return the compliment.

"Wednesday or Thursday.

"P.S. I have redde * *. It is full of praises of Lord
Ellenborough!!! (from which I infer near and dear relations at the
bar), and * * * *.

"I do not love Madame de Staël; but, depend upon it, she beats all
your natives hollow as an authoress, in my opinion; and I would not
say this if I could help it.

"P.S. Pray report my best acknowledgments to Mr. Gifford in any
words that may best express how truly his kindness obliges me. I
won't bore him with _lip_ thanks or _notes_."

* * * * *

TO MR. MOORE.

"January 13. 1814.

"I have but a moment to write, but all is as it should be. I have
said really far short of my opinion, but if you think enough, I am
content. Will you return the proof by the post, as I leave town on
Sunday, and have no other corrected copy. I put 'servant,' as being
less familiar before the public; because I don't like presuming
upon our friendship to infringe upon forms. As to the other _word_,
you may be sure it is one I cannot hear or repeat too often.

"I write in an agony of haste and confusion.--Perdonate."

* * * * *