346—to William Gifford
November 12, 1813.
My Dear Sir,—I hope you will consider, when I venture on any request, that it is the reverse of a certain Dedication, and is addressed,
not
to "The Editor of the
Quarterly Review
" but to Mr. Gifford. You will understand this, and on that point I need trouble you no farther.
You have been good enough to look at a thing of mine in MS.—a Turkish story, and I should feel gratified if you would do it the same favour in its probationary state of printing. It was
, I cannot say for amusement, nor "obliged by hunger and request of friends,"
but in a state of mind, from circumstances which occasionally occur to "us youth," that rendered it necessary for me to apply my mind to something, any thing but reality; and under this not very brilliant inspiration it was composed. Being done, and having at least diverted me from myself, I thought you would not perhaps be offended if Mr. Murray forwarded it to you. He has done so, and to apologise for his doing so a second time is the object of my present letter.
I beg you will
not
send me any answer. I assure you very sincerely I know your time to be occupied, and it is enough, more than enough, if you read; you are not to be bored with the fatigue of answers.
A word to Mr. Murray will be sufficient, and send it either to the flames or
"A hundred hawkers' load,
On wings of wind to fly or fall abroad."
It
no better than the first, as the work of a week, and scribbled
stans pede in uno
, (by the by, the only foot I have to stand on); and I promise never to trouble you again under forty cantos, and a voyage between each. Believe me ever,
Your obliged and affectionate servant,
Byron
.
Pope,
Epistle to Arbuthnot
, l. 44.
Horace,
Sat
. 1. iv. 10.