Chapter X: Introduction (10)

Messrs. J. W. Jarvis & Son, booksellers, of King William Street, Strand, have a scarce little work from which they kindly allow the following extracts to be made:――

The book is entitled “The Private Libraries of Philadelphia,” and describes the curious Bibliographical collection made by Mr. George W. Childs, of that city.

This catalogue is by Mr. F. W. Robinson, and printed by Collins, of Philadelphia, in 1883.

Mention in it is made of a six volume edition of Lord Byron’s works presented to Mr. Childs by John Murray, the publisher. In the first volume of this set is inserted a copy of Wordsworth’s poem _Peter Bell_, a poem for which Lord Byron, who generally disliked Wordsworth’s poetry, had a special aversion, and in this copy he had scribbled on the margin a parody of the commencement of the poem. This parody has not hitherto been published in England. Wordsworth’s _Peter Bell_ commences thus:

Rydal Mount, April 7, 1819.

PROLOGUE.

There’s something in a flying horse,
There’s something in a huge balloon:
But through the clouds I’ll never float,
Until I have a little boat,
Whose shape is like the crescent moon.

And now _I have_ a little boat,
In shape a very crescent moon:――
Fast through the clouds my boat can sail,
But if perchance your faith should fail,
Look up――and you shall see me soon!

Lord Byron’s disgust is expressed in these lines:

Ravenna, 22 March, 1820.