A Savage Attack.
The following poem appeared in the ‘ Athemnnm,’July 13:—
TO HOWARD FITZOKRALU. I chanced upon a new book yesterday : I opened it, and, where my linger lay ’Twixt page and uncut page, these woid-i I read— Some six or seven at moat—and learned thereby That you, Fitzgerald, whom by car and ere She never knew, “ thanked God my wife was dead.’ Ay, dead ! and wore yourself alive, good Fi'z, How to return you thanks would task my win ; ({(Kicking you seems the common lot of curs— While more appropriate greeting lends you grace ; Surely to spit there glorifies your face— Spitting—from lips oucc sanctified by Hers. Robert 13rowni.no.
July 8,1889. This remarkable outburst of feeling is said to be due not only to the cruel remark of Mr Fitz Gerald, but also to a long standing animosity between the translator of ‘ Omar Kayyam ’ and the Browning family. Whether this bo so or not, the gentleman who is responsible for the publication of the offensive sentence sent the following communication to the ‘ Athemcum,’ in the columns of which journal it appeared on July 20
Trinity College, Cambridge, July 16, 18S9. I find that by a grave oversight hive allowed a sentence to stand in one of Edward FitzGerald’s letters which has stirred the ust resentment of Mr Browning. FitzGerald’s expression was evidently thrown off with tho freedom that men permit themselves in correspondence with their intimate friends ; and I feel how great an injustice X have done to FitzGerald in making public what was but tho careless outburst of a passing mood, and thus investing it with a significance which was never designed. That I should have allowed a passage to remain which has bo wronged the dead and pained the living causes me, I need not say, extreme vexation, and X can only beg publicly to express my sincere regret. William Aldls Wrioiit.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD18890928.2.34
Bibliographic details
A Savage Attack., Evening Star, Issue 8024, 28 September 1889
Word Count
315A Savage Attack. Evening Star, Issue 8024, 28 September 1889
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