196—to R.C. Dallas
Newstead Abbey, October 10th, 1811.
Dear Sir
,—
Stanzas
24, 26, 29
, though
crossed
must
stand
, with their
alterations
. The
other
three
are cut out to meet your wishes. We must, however, have a repetition of the proof, which is the first. I will write soon.
Yours ever,
B.
P.S.—Yesterday I returned from Lancs.
Footnote 1:
The stanzas are xxiv., xxv., xxvi. of Canto I.
Footnote 2:
The following are the three deleted stanzas:
| XXV | "In golden characters, right well designed, First on the list appeareth one 'Junot;' Then certain other glorious names we find; (Which rhyme compelleth me to place below—) Dull victors! baffled by a vanquished foe, Wheedled by conynge tongues of laurels due, Stand, worthy of each other, in a row Sirs Arthur, Harry, and the dizzard Hew Dalrymple, seely wight, sore dupe of 'tother tew." |
| XXVII | "But when Convention sent his handy work, Pens, tongues, feet, hands, combined in wild uproar; Mayor, Alderman, laid down th' uplifted fork; The bench of Bishops half forgot to snore; Stern Cobbett, who for one whole week forbore To question aught, once more with transport leapt, And bit his dev'lish quill agen, and swore With foe such treaty never should be kept. Then burst the blatant beast, and roared and raged and—slept!!!" |
| XXVIII | "Thus unto heaven appealed the people; heaven, Which loves the lieges of our gracious King, Decreed that ere our generals were forgiven, Inquiry should be held about the thing. But mercy cloaked the babes beneath her wing; And as they spared our foes so spared we them. (Where was the pity of our sires for Byng?) Yet knaves, not idiots, should the law condemn. Then live ye, triumph gallants! and bless your judges' phlegm." |
