The Works of Lord Byron: Letters and Journals
Chapter 38 : Though sweet the sound, disdain a borrowd tone, Resign Achaias lyre, and strike your ow

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.