Though sweet the sound, disdain a borrow"d tone, Resign Achaia"s lyre, and strike your own: [1]
or,
Though soft the echo, scorn a borrow"d tone, Resign Achaia"s lyre, and strike your own.
So much for your admonition; but my note of notes, my solitary pun, [2] must not be given up--no, rather
"Let mightiest of all the beasts of chace That roam in woody Caledon"
come against me; my annotation must stand.
We shall never sell a thousand; then why print so many? Did you receive my yesterday"s note? I am troubling you, but I am apprehensive some of the lines are omitted by your young amanuensis, to whom, however, I am infinitely obliged.
Believe me, yours very truly,
BYRON.
[Footnote 1: Dallas (February 6, 1809) objected to the rhyme in the couplet:--
"Translation"s servile work at length disown, And quit Achaia"s Muse to court your own."
(For the corrected couplet, see "English Bards, etc"., lines 889, 890.)]
[Footnote 2: See "English Bards, etc.", line 1016, note 2.]
112.--To R. C. Dallas.
February 11, 1809.
I wish you to call, if possible, as I have some alterations to suggest as to the part about Brougham. [1]
B.
[Footnote 1: See "ibid.", line 524, note 2.]
113.--To R. C. Dallas.
February 12, 1809.
Excuse the trouble, but I have added two lines which are necessary to complete the poetical character of Lord Carlisle. [1]
..........in his age His scenes alone had d.a.m.n"d our singing stage; But Managers for once cried, "hold, enough!"
Nor drugg"d their audience with the tragic stuff!
Yours, etc.,
B.
[Footnote 1: See "ibid.", lines 733-736. Another letter, written February 15, 1809, runs as follows:--
"I wish you much to call on me, about _One_, not later, if convenient, as I have some thirty or forty lines for addition.
Believe me, etc.,
B."]
114.--To R. C. Dallas.
February 16, 1809.
_Ecce iterum Crispinus!_--I send you some lines to be placed after "Gifford, Sotheby, M"Niel." [1] Pray call tomorrow any time before two, and
Believe me, etc.,
B.
P.S.--Print soon, or I shall overflow with more rhyme.
[Footnote 1: See "English Bards, etc.", lines 819-830.]
115.--To R. C. Dallas.
February 19, 1809.