which is already acquired. I can now leave it with Honour, as I have paid everything, and wish to pass a couple of years abroad, where I am certain of employing my time to far more advantage and at much less expence, than at our English Seminaries. 'Tis true I cannot enter France; but Germany, and the Courts of Berlin, Vienna, and Petersburg are still open, I shall lay the Plan before Hanson & Lord C. I presume you will all agree, and if you do not, I will, if possible, get away without your Consent though I should admire it more in the regular manner and with a Tutor of your furnishing. This is my project, at present I wish you to be silent to Hanson about it. Let me have your Answer. I intend remaining in Town a Month longer, when perhaps I shall bring my Horses and myself down to your residence in that execrable Kennel. I hope you have engaged a Man Servant, else it will be impossible for me to visit you, since my Servant must attend chiefly to his horses; at the same Time you must cut an indifferent Figure with only maids in your habitation.

(1806, February 26. Letter 47, to his Mother, Vol. I., p. 95.)

Many thanks for your amusing narrative of the last proceedings of my amiable Alecto, who now begins to feel the effects of her folly. I have just received a penitential epistle, to which, apprehensive of pursuit, I have despatched a moderate answer, with a kind of promise to return in a fortnight;-this, however (entre nous), I never mean to fulfil. Her soft warblings must have delighted her auditors, her

MATER FURIOSA

27

higher notes being particularly musical, and on a calm moonlight evening would be heard to great advantage. Had I been present as a spectator, nothing would have pleased me more; but to have come forward as one of the dramatis persona-St Dominic defend me from such a scene! Seriously, your mother has laid me under great obligations, and you, with the rest of your family, merit my warmest thanks for your kind connivance at my escape from "M" Byron furiosa."

Oh! for the pen of an Ariosto to rehearse, in epic, the scolding of that momentous eve,—or rather let me invoke the Shade of Dante to inspire me, for none but the author of the Inferno could properly preside over such an attempt. But, perhaps, where the pen might fail, the pencil would succeed. What a group!-M B. the principal figure; you cramming your ears with cotton, as the only antidote to total deafness; M" —— in vain endeavouring to mitigate the wrath of the lioness robbed of her whelp; and last, though not least, Elizabeth and Wousky,-wonderful to relate!-both deprived of their parts of speech, and bringing up the rear in mute astonishment. How did S. B. receive the intelligence? How many puns did he utter on so facetious an event? In your next inform me on this point, and what excuse you made to A. You are probably, by this time, tired of deciphering this hieroglyphical letter;-like Tony Lumpkin, you will pronounce mine to be "a damned up and down hand." All Southwell, without doubt, is involved in amazement. Apropos, how does my blue-eyed nun, the fair *? Is she Is she "robed in sable garb of woe?"

*

Here I remain at least a week or ten days; previous to my departure you shall receive my address, but what it will be I have not determined. My lodgings must be kept secret from Mr B. You may present my compliments to her, and say any attempt to pursue me will fail, as I have taken measures to retreat immediately to Portsmouth, on the first intimation of her removal from Southwell. You may add, I have proceeded to a friend's house in the country, there to remain a fortnight.

(1806, August 9. Letter 52, to John M. B. Pigot, Vol. I., p. 100.)

As I have already troubled your brother with more than he will find pleasure in deciphering, you are the next to whom I shall assign the employment of perusing this second Epistle. You will perceive from my first, that no idea of MT B.'s arrival had disturbed me at the time it was written; not so the present, since the appearance of a note from the illustrious cause of my sudden decampment has driven the "natural ruby from my cheeks," and completely blanched my woebegone countenance. This gunpowder intimation of her arrival (confound her activity!) breathes less of terror and dismay than you will probably imagine, from the volcanic temperament of her ladyship; and concludes with the comfortable assurance of all present motion being prevented by the fatigue of her journey, for which my blessings are due to the rough roads and restive quadrupeds of his Majesty's highways. As I have not the smallest inclination to be chased round the country, I shall e'en make a merit of

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necessity; and since, like Macbeth, "they've tied me to the stake, I cannot fly," I shall imitate that valorous tyrant, and "bear-like fight the course," all escape being precluded. I can now engage with less disadvantage, having drawn the enemy from her entrenchments, though, like the prototype to whom I have compared myself, with an excellent chance of being knocked on the head. However, "lay on Macduff, and damned be he who first cries, Hold, enough."

(1806, August 10. Letter 53, to Elizabeth Bridget Pigot, Vol. I., p. 103.)

I cannot exactly say with Cæsar, "Veni, vidi, vici ;" however, the most important part of his laconic account of success applies to my present situation: for though MTS Byron took the trouble of "coming," and "seeing," yet your humble servant proved the victor. After an obstinate engagement of some hours, in which we suffered considerable damage, from the quickness of the enemy's fire, they at length retired in confusion, leaving behind the artillery, field equipage, and some prisoners: their defeat is decisive for the present campaign. To speak more intelligibly, Mr B. returns immediately, but I proceed with all my laurels to Worthing, on the Sussex coast; to which place you will address (to be left at the post office) your next epistle.

(1806, August 15. Letter 55, to John M. B. Pigot, Vol. I., p. 105.)

I am £30,000 richer than I was at our parting, having just received intelligence from my lawyers

that a cause has been gained at Lancaster Assizes, which will be worth that sum by the time I come of age. [Byron was disappointed in his expectations. Fresh legal difficulties arose, and Newstead had to be sold before they were settled.] Mrs B. is, doubtless, acquainted of this acquisition, though not apprised of its exact value, of which she had better be ignorant; for her behaviour under any sudden piece of favourable intelligence, is, if possible, more ridiculous than her detestable conduct on the most trifling circumstances of an unpleasant nature. may give my compliments to her, and say that her detaining my servant's things shall only lengthen my absence for unless they are immediately despatched to 16, Piccadilly, together with those which have been so long delayed, belonging to myself, she shall never again behold my radiant countenance illuminating her gloomy mansion. If they are sent, I may probably appear in less than two years from the date of my present epistle.

You

(1806, August 26. Letter 57, to John M. B. Pigot, Vol. I., p. 107.)

I lent MTM B. £60 last year; of this I have never received a Sou and in all probability never shall. I do not mention the circumstance as any Reproach on that worthy and lamblike Dame, but merely to show you how affairs stand. 'Tis true myself and two Servants lodge in the House, but my Horses, etc., and their expences are defrayed by your humble Sert. I quit Cambridge in July, and shall have considerable payments to make at that period; for this purpose I must sell my Steeds. I paid . . . £20