"LADY BYRON TO HER LORD."

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 27, 1 February 1908, Page 13

"LADY BYRON TO HER LORD."

In the January Pall Mall Magazine there are printed certain verses — thirteen four-line stanzas in all — to which is prefixed an introductory explanation : ' "We have received this copy of verses from his Grace the Duke of Argyll, with tho following note: 'These lines, "Lardy Byron to her Lord," were found .among some letters dating from her time. I havo in vain made search for any previoub publication. They ale unknown to men versed in the literature of that date. As they have force, and seem to be a curiosity, I ask leave to send them to you.' " It will be noted that the Duke makes no suggestion as to authenticity, doscribing thorn merely as a curiosity. They are uninspired and amateurish, in the highly artificial style of the period, with references to a former inlpassioned affection such as Lady Byron seems never to havo professed, expressions of lofty scorn, and a confusion of metaphors in which meteors, reptiles, bitter cups, and similar properties figure. As might be supposed, the pieco is suggested by Byron's well-known "Fare Thee Well," to which, in fact, it takes the form of a direct reply. We quote a single stanza ; one stanza is enough to show its stylo — the superfine "sensibility" 'which was the mode ninety years ago : — For this vay early faith was plighted, For this I left a. mother's care ; When scarce the bridal torch was lighted, It sank, extinguished by despair. Thd remarkable thing is, that the editor seems to tako it for granted that tho rhymes are the composition of Lady Byron, and refers to other verses "which paused between the- pair." As a matter of fact, in the storm of public indignation — not wholly anmerited— a great deal of bad and indifferent verso was written by sympathisers with Lady Byron, and is from time to time mistaken for her work by the unwary. Only a year or two a"go a somewhat similar manusciipt was found aniong some papers in the possession of a nobleman, and as authorities on the literature at the time were not acquainted with the lines, there were some who contended, for their authenticity. They were a closer parody of Byron's verses oven than thui-e from which we have quoted, beginning thus : — Ye 6! Farewell 1 lCiu-ewell for ever I Thou thyself hast lixetl our doom ; Bade hope's fairest blossoms witliet, Ne'er i!gaiu for me to bloom. After about a year the lines were traced to an obscure annual published in Scotland in 1824. Some one, we anticipate, will likewise throw some light on the authorship of the effusion to which the Pall Mall has given such wide publicity. Some day, it may be, we shall find it seriously maintained that "I am monarch of all I survey" was tho genuine work of Alexander Selkirk.

Kittio. — "Is it true that the rabbit slops with one eye open, mamma':" Mamma. — "Yes, dear." Kittie.— "Then when he is asleep, isn't he only halfasleej??'-