[438] [His sister, the Honourable Mrs. Leigh.—These stanzas—the parting tribute to her whose tenderness had been his sole consolation in the crisis of domestic misery—were, we believe, the last verses written by Lord Byron in England. In a note to Mr. Rogers, dated April 16 [1816], he says, "My sister is now with me, and leaves town to-morrow; we shall not meet again for some time at all events—if ever! and under these circumstances I trust to stand excused to you and Mr. Sheridan, for being unable to wait upon him this evening."—Note to Edition of 1832, x. 193.
A fair copy, broken up into stanzas, is endorsed by Murray, "Given to me (and I believe composed by Ld. B.), Friday, April 12, 1816.">[
[sn] ——grew waste and dark.—[MS. M.]
[so] {545} When Friendship shook——.—[MS. M.]
[sp] Thine was the solitary star.—[MS. M.]
[sq] Which rose above me to the last.—[MS. M.]
And when the cloud between us came.—[MS. M.]
And when the cloud upon me came.—[Copy C. H.]
[ss] Which would have closed on that last ray.—[MS. M.]
[st] Then stiller stood the gentle Flame.—[MS. M.]