104 | LORD BYRON’S |
Communication from the legislative body with
Lord Byron—He rescues a Turkish prisoner—Letter from
Coray to Mavrocordato—Lord
Byron obliged to keep a Suliote guard in his house—Disturbances
between the Suliotes and citizens of Missolonghi—Prince
Mavrocordato’s account of his own escape from the
Turks—Lord Byron’s sentiments as to his own situation
in Greece—Affray with the Suliotes—The Turkish squadron come out of the
Gulf—The Speziot ships return home—Lord Byron’s
conversation with Count Gamba on his expedition against
Lepanto—Missolonghi blockaded—Lord Byron’s poem on
his birthday—His resolution—Presentiment of dying in Greece—Messenger
sent to Mr. Parry—Arrival of Captain Yorke
at Missolonghi—His remonstrance with the Greek authorities—Lord
Byron releases four Turkish prisoners—His letter to Yussuff
Pacha on that occasion—Lord Byron appointed
commander of the expedition against Lepanto—Captain
Yorke’s second visit—Lord Byron’s
letter on the observance of neutrality—He arranges the dispute between
Captain Yorke and the Greeks—Difference of opinion between
Colonel
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 105 |
January 15.—We had news from the Morea: Lord Byron’s letters had been circulated there, and not without effect. The legislative body were pursuing the same energetic measures as before; and public opinion was daily more pronounced in their favour: but, with this increase of influence and favour, they were still in want of means to complete their endeavours. They requested from Lord Byron a further loan of 30,000 dollars; his means did not allow of such an advance.
The Germans arrived from the Morea; but their number was much less than we
expected; and of those who came, some were ill, some wanted to return home, and
106 | LORD BYRON’S |
January 16.—We transacted a variety of business with Colonel Stanhope and Mavrocordato. Notice was brought to us that a Turk had been taken prisoner
by a Greek privateer. Lord Byron and myself went in our
canoe to visit him. The man spoke Italian, and was extremely cast down; he was of Dulcigno,
and had been in the service of the Pacha of Scutari. Returning
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 107 |
108 | LORD BYRON’S |
After dinner this day, we were surprised by a violent altercation near the customhouse: it had arisen between the customhouse officers and certain Speziot sailors; and the cause of dispute was a sum of 25 paras, about twopence halfpenny! Both parties were furious; attaghans and pistols were flourishing about. My Lord ran into the midst of the combatants, and contrived to quiet them.
Many letters came, particularly one of an interesting nature, from the
celebrated Coray to Mavrocordato. In one part of this letter, Coray
expressed his surprise that Ipsilanti should have
retained and been proud of his title of Prince, a mark of disgrace rather than of honour,
since conferred upon him by the barbarous oppressors of his country. It might seem as if
this reproof applied also to Mavrocordato;
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 109 |
This evening, whilst Mavrocordato was
with Lord Byron, two sailors, belonging to
110 | LORD BYRON’S |
I have mentioned this occurrence as it happened; but up to this time it had
been a matter of surprise to us how complete a tranquillity had been maintained in a
small
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 111 |
We had news of Parry: he had been at
Corfu for eight days, and was to leave that
112 | LORD BYRON’S |
January 17.—Another portion of our loan was this day paid to Mavrocordato, who required it to satisfy part of the
arrears of the Suliotes. No news came to-day. It poured down rain without intermission. The
captain of the privateer came to apologise to Lord
Byron, who would not receive him unless he brought with him the man who had
offended on the former evening. The man was brought; his manner of excusing himself was
truly oriental: “If,” he said, “O Effendi,
you think that I meant to insult you, here is my head for you!” He then
proceeded to say that he was intoxicated, and that he was not aware that the Turk was under
his Excellency’s protection; and, he added,
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 113 |
Mavrocordato came this evening, as he did every
evening, to confer with Lord Byron: nothing could be more interesting
than their conversations: I was generally present. To-night he gave us an account of his
escape from Patras. He was passing the night close to that town, on his way to Tripolitza,
in 1822: a band of the enemy surprised him in his sleep, and were in the house before he
was aware; but his baggage saved him; for whilst the Turks were disputing about the booty,
he slipped away
114 | LORD BYRON’S |
January 18.—The morning was occupied with business. Colonel Stanhope was em-
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 115 |
The rain abated a little, but the roads were so broken up that we could not
ride. Lord Byron and myself went in the
monoxila (canoe); we had no other means of getting a little fresh
air. Byron talked much to me of his expedition against Lepanto. He
owned he had no great confidence in his troops; and yet he must make use of them, as he had
no better; and, in order to make these better, he had no other way than to obtain their
confidence by showing that he had confidence in them. “Above all,” he
added, “these semibarbarians should never entertain the least suspicion of your
personal courage.” He went on to speak of his eagerness to begin his
campaign; joked a
116 | LORD BYRON’S |
Returning from our airing, we received several important communications
from the castles (of Lepanto and Morea), and from Prevesa: Yussuff Pacha was in great embarrassment; his troops seemed inclined to
mutiny, and his fleet would not leave the harbour. The arrival of Lord Byron, and our preparations, had a good deal caused this
consternation; for it appeared that the captain of an Austrian brig of war, who had two
days before anchored off Missolonghi, under pretext of getting pro
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 117 |
About nine o’clock this evening we heard discharges of musquetry,
which continued longer, and were more frequent than usual. We were accustomed to hear this
noise; for the Greeks are in the habit of unloading their guns in the streets; and, as they
never draw their charges, the balls frequently whistled close to our heads. To-night,
however, the firing was repeated so often, that we thought some disturbance had arisen; and
we soon learnt, that the Suliotes and the citizens were at last come to blows. We got all
our arms in readi-
118 | LORD BYRON’S |
January 19.—Early in the morning we saw the Greek fleet making sail,
and the Turkish ships standing out of the mouth of the Gulf. We now learnt the immediate
cause of last night’s disturbance. Some Suliotes had gone to a house to take up their
quarters, according to the permission given them by the magistrates of Misso-
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 119 |
120 | LORD BYRON’S |
I found Lord Byron this morning much irritated at the affair of last night, and also at the retreat of the Greek fleet, which he thought might endanger the arrival of Mr. Parry, and of the money which he expected from Zante.
The city was in a state of confusion in consequence of the late quarrel:
many people went so far as to say that it had been premeditated, and that treasonable
machinations were on foot. Mavrocordato instituted a
military commission, and arrested some of both parties concerned; amongst others, a
primate. This measure
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 121 |
January 20.—This morning neither the Greek nor the Turkish fleet were in sight. At noon Lord Byron and myself went out on horseback. He conversed a long time with me on his expedition. The substance of what he said was as follows:
“I have not much hope of success; but something may be done during
these months, if it be only to employ ourselves and these troops, and keep them at
least from being idle and creating disturbances: in the mean time, those principles
which are now in action in Greece will gradually produce their effect, both here and in
other countries. I never was myself a great admirer of the mere mechanical soldier: he
is too often the slave of the caprice and selfishness of tyrants. Our
122 | LORD BYRON’S |
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 123 |
On our return, Mavrocordato had a long conference with my Lord. We then went into Colonel Stanhope’s apartment, where our whole party was assembled, and we had some excellent music from the Germans, on their flutes; besides songs, accompanied with the guitar. Byron was fond of music in general; and he was partial to German music, particularly to their national songs.
January 21.—We were blockaded: ten Turkish ships of war were cruising
in front of Missolonghi. We thought of some mode of driving them off. We had neither
cannon, nor perhaps sailors, fit for gun-boats. As for a fireship, we had not the necessary
124 | LORD BYRON’S |
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 125 |
January 22.—This morning Lord Byron came from his bedroom into the apartment where Colonel Stanhope and some friends were assembled, and said, with a smile, “You were complaining, the other day, that I never write any poetry now:—this is my birthday, and I have just finished something, which, I think, is better than what I usually write.” He then produced those noble and affecting verses on his own birthday, which were afterwards found written in his journal, with only the following introduction:—January 22; on this day I complete my thirty-sixth year.
126 | LORD BYRON’S |
1.
‘Tis time this heart should be unmoved,
Since others it hath ceased to move;
Yet, though I cannot be beloved,
Still let me love!
|
2.
My days are in the yellow leaf;
The flowers and fruits of love are gone;
The worm, the canker, and the grief
Are mine alone!
|
3.
The fire that on my bosom preys
Is lone as some volcanic isle;
No torch is kindled at its blaze—
A funeral pile!
|
4.
The hope, the fear, the jealous care,
The exalted portion of the pain
And power of love, I cannot share,
But wear the chain.
|
5.
But ‘tis not thus—and ’tis not here—
Such thoughts should shake my soul, nor now,
Where glory decks the hero’s bier,
Or binds his brow.
|
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 127 |
6.
The sword, the banner, and the field,
Glory and Greece, around me see!
The Spartan, borne upon his shield,
Was not more free.
|
7.
Awake! (not Greece—she is awake!)
Awake, my spirit! Think through whom
Thy life-blood tracks its parent lake,
And then strike home!
|
8.
Tread those reviving passions down,
Unworthy manhood! unto thee
Indifferent should the smile or frown
Of beauty be.
|
9.
If thou regret’st thy youth, why live?
The land of honourable death
Is here:—up to the field, and give
Away thy breath!
|
10.
Seek out—less often sought than found,
A soldier’s grave—for thee the best;
Then look around, and choose thy ground,
And take thy rest.
|
128 | LORD BYRON’S |
We perceived from these lines, as well as from his daily conversations, that his ambition and his hope were irrevocably fixed upon the glorious objects of his expedition to Greece, and that he had made up his mind to “return victorious, or return no more.” Indeed, he often said to me, “Others may do as they please—they may go—but I stay here, that is certain.” The same determination was expressed in his letters to his friends; and this resolution was not unaccompanied with the very natural presentiment—that he should never leave Greece alive. He one day asked his faithful servant, Tita, whether he thought of returning to Italy? “Yes,” said Tita; “if your Lordship goes, I go.” Lord Byron smiled, and said, “No, Tita, I shall never go back from Greece—either the Turks, or the Greeks, or the climate, will prevent that.”—But to proceed with my narrative.
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 129 |
It was proposed to send some one to Cephalonia to advise Mr. Parry of our position. The plan was to pass the Turkish fleet in the night: a boat was soon found; we all offered our services; Mr. Hesketh was fixed upon. He was directed, if he found Parry in the Ionian Islands, to desire him to proceed first to Calamo, thence to Petala, and to Dragomestri, where he could disembark his stores, and send them by canal-boats to Missolonghi in spite of the Turks. He was also to provide himself, in Cephalonia, with materials for constructing a fireship. We wished to take this opportunity of sending our Turkish prisoner to the Ionian Islands, but the man was afraid to leave our protection. He had heard of the Turks killed at Ithaca, and all our entreaties were in vain. Mr. Hesketh set off.
January 23.—A foreign brig of war passed the Turkish cruisers, and
anchored
130 | LORD BYRON’S |
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 131 |
Lord Byron, when he sent the four Turkish prisoners to Yussuff Pacha, transmitted to him at the same time the following letter:
“A vessel in which a friend and some domestics of mine
were embarked was detained a short time ago, and released by order of your
Highness. I have now to thank you, not for liberating the vessel, which, as
carrying a neutral flag, and being under British protection, no one had a right
to detain, but for treating my friends with so much kindness whilst they were
in your hands. In the hope, therefore, that it may not be
132 | LORD BYRON’S |
January 24.—Perpetual rain. Our brigade of artillery commenced their
exercise in something like good order, and with a fair prospect of making the necessary
progress. We had more offers of recruits than we could accept of. My Lord was busily
employed writing letters: he was in bad spirits and temper, the effect of the weather,
which kept him within doors, and his health was visibly impaired by the want of active
exercise. Some of the Suliotes of those who were in the fray the
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 133 |
January 25.—My Lord was in better health and spirits. Colonel Stanhope informed Mr.
Meyer that unless something was quickly resolved upon respecting the
expedition, Byron would take some decisive step, and
depart either for Athens or for Cranidi, where the legislative body were assembled. About
one o’clock in the afternoon, Mavrocordato
came, and announced to my Lord, that at last the expedition was in readiness: he read the
134 | LORD BYRON’S |
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 135 |
January 26.—Captain Yorke, of the
English gun-brig Alacrity, came on shore with two officers, and
they were presented by Colonel Stanhope to my Lord, who
received them with the utmost courtesy. Captain Yorke had orders to
demand satisfaction, not only for the prize lately taken under Patras, but also for many
previous infractions of the neutrality of the Ionian flag. Byron had long predicted that this would be the case, and had expressed
himself surprised at the moderation of the Ionian government, using at the same time every
argument to convince the Greeks how much it was their interest to keep on good terms with
the European powers, and particularly with the Ionian authorities. It was only a few hours
before Captain Yorke’s arrival that he had occasion to answer
the petition
136 | LORD BYRON’S |
“Lord Byron replies to the subscribers of the petition, that doubtless he feels himself interested in the restoration of the Ionian boat, the Don Giovanni; but that he is so solely for the sake of the Greek government, and of the Greeks themselves, who, unless they comply, will rush headlong into a most dangerous controversy with the Ionian government, and with the English, of which the beginning alone can as yet be seen. Over the decision of the tribunals, Lord Byron has not, nor pretends to have, the slightest influence. The judges and the law must decide according to the code. Lord Byron has confined himself to doing that which is his particular duty, which in this case was to represent to the Greek government the inevitable consequences of their proceedings with respect to the Ionian flag. Lord Byron neither has, nor can have, any personal interest for one side or the other.”
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 137 |
Byron read this letter to Captain Yorke, and convinced him what pains he took to instil into the
Greeks a prudent observance of the Ionian neutrality. He then began to joke about his
expedition, which, however, he said he was resolved upon undertaking. Captain
Yorke said, that he would bring his brig off Lepanto, to give refuge to the
fugitives, whether Greeks or Turks. “For Heaven’s sake,” replied
Byron, “don’t come; for, if they are sure of a
place of safety, all my troops will run away.” He continued some time
laughing with Captain Yorke at his intended military command, and
observed (alluding to his lameness) that he had one requisite of a general, He, at least,
could not run away. The fact is, that although Lord Byron was
seriously intent upon the great object of his journey to Greece, and had calmly resolved to
accomplish it or to die, yet such was his fear of being taken for an empty
138 | LORD BYRON’S |
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 139 |
140 | LORD BYRON’S |
The colonel could not relish, nor
indeed understand Lord Byron’s pleasantry,
especially when directed against Mr. Bentham’s
political theories: the more his Lordship laughed, the more serious the colonel became; and
the discussion seldom ended without a strong reproof, which irritated his Lordship for the
moment; but so far from leaving any unfavourable impression, increased his regard for an
antagonist of so much truth and sincerity. When parting from him one evening, after a
discussion of this nature, Lord Byron went up to him
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 141 |
January 27.—Nothing particular happened this morning; but at nine in
the evening we had a messenger from Mr.
Parry—a young Englishman of the name of Humphreys, who had been in Greece before with Colonel Gordon. He told us that the ship Anna,
with Mr. Parry and the stores sent by the English Greek committee, was
waiting in Ithaca for the orders of Lord Byron and
Colonel Stanhope. Our answer was, that we were
blockaded in Missolonghi; that he should come to Dragomestri; there he would disembark his
stores, and then dismiss his vessel on her
142 | LORD BYRON’S |
Mr. Humphreys went back with the answer the same night. It seems, the Anna had been detained three weeks at Malta, and ten days at Corfu: what a loss of invaluable time! Byron received this evening many letters from England, all of them full of good news of his affairs and of his friends; this made him in high spirits.
January 28.—The most commodious building in the whole town that we
could convert into a military laboratory or arsenal was an old seraglio, which had been
allotted for quarters to some of the Suliotes. Since December, the government had promised
Colonel Stanhope to give it up to him for the use
of Mr. Parry. We had great difficulty in forcing
them to keep
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 143 |
My Lord received letters from Ulysses,
proposing a congress at Salona, which is only two days’ journey from Lepanto.
Ulysses is one of those chieftains, whose adherence
144 | LORD BYRON’S |
January 29.—The Turkish squadron returned into the Gulf; but our Speziot friends were nowhere to be seen; they had gone home; so that although our blockade was at end, our naval force had vanished also.
Mavrocordato spoke to me of the difficulty of
uniting the Suliotes into a single body: there were six heads of families amongst them, all
of whom had equal pretensions both by their birth and their exploits, and neither of whom
would obey either of his comrades. They did not make so much difficulty of obeying a
stranger, and consented to act under my orders, as lieutenant to Lord Byron. Our friend Draco
declared he would serve as
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 145 |
146 | LORD BYRON’S |
Lord Byron was much gratified by the receipt of the
letter from Londo, and talked to me a good deal of
his visit to him in 1809: Londo was then lively, and indeed childish;
and, to the no small amusement of his household, endeavoured to rival his English guests in
several rough games, such as jumping over chairs and tables, in which his long robes much
impeded his progress, and added to the laughter of his friends. But, under this almost
infantine exterior, he cherished a mature spirit of patriotism, which occasionally burst
through the restraints of despotism; and one day whilst playing draughts with
Lord Byron, on the name of Riga being pronounced, he leaped from the table, and,
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 147 |
Sons of the Greeks, arise! The glorious hour’s gone forth. |
Lord Byron answered his letter himself, in the following terms:
“Mi è stato gratissimo il vedere i vostri caratteri. La Grecia fu per me sempre, come per tutti gli uomini di qualche sentimento ed educazione, la terra promessa del valore, delle arti e della libertà: e il viaggiare nella mia gioventù fra le sue rovine per certo non aveva rafreddato il mio amore per la patria degli eroi: ma oltre ciò’ io ho verso di voi doveri di amicizia e di riconoscenza per la ospitalità che esercitaste meco durante il mio soggiorno nel paese di cui ora siete di venuto uno dei primi difensori ed ornamenti. Il rivederci servendo la vostra patria al vostro fianco e sotto i vostri occhj sarà per me uno dei momenti più felici della mia vita. Intanto nella fiducia di rivederci quanto prima sono vostro devot.
148 | LORD BYRON’S |
January 30.—I had a letter from Praidi, telling me that the primates of Anatolico invited my Lord to pay them a visit on next Sunday, the day after to-morrow. Lord Byron accepted the invitation: he wrote some letters, attended to some private business, and afterwards rode out.
January 31.—Mavrocordato paid
a long visit to Byron. It must not be supposed that their
conversations on all occasions turned on nothing but public affairs: on the contrary, they
talked now and then upon general topics, and I remember very well, that one evening when
they were together, they had a sort of trial of skill as to their recollection of Turkish
history. Mavrocordato is esteemed very accomplished in this
particular, and tried Byron on the genealogy of the
Ottoman emperors. Wherever there was any difference of opinion, we always found, on re-
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 149 |
We visited the place chosen for the artillery exercise. From the good order
and good conduct which soon became observable in our little corps, we were able to draw
very favourable inferences as to the facility of forming a regular Greek army, if we had
only means to pay them punctually: but, at this time, such was the distress of the
government at Missolonghi, that if Lord Byron had not
guaranteed the payment of the expenses necessary for the disembarkation of the stores from
on board
150 | LORD BYRON’S |
We had this day a messenger from Dragomestre, informing us that Mr. Parry was arrived, and was employed in disembarking his stores; an important event for us.
≪ PREV | NEXT ≫ |