by this snarling critic.-Quere: had he not better have kept any further allusion to Miss K from the public mind? "Boeotum in crasso jurares aëre natum." (e) This Quixotic commentator lastly affects to be under serious apprehension for the opinion of the public respecting Lord Byron, in consequence of an anecdote or two, in which his Lordship has paid a gentlemanly compliment to a lady. "Mr. Nathan represents his Patron and friend," saith this sapient critic, "as a most silly and flippant personage; and as Lord Byron has been hitherto unknown to the public in this light, we hope our quotations may not be found tedious: his Lordship subsequently appears a solemn coxcomb; next as theatrical and affected: and lastly as a complete fool." In reference to this seeming alarm for the new character in which Lord Byron may appear, I trust I shall be excused the liberty of (e) I crave pardon for reminding my readers that the people of the Greek province of Boeotia were proverbially remarkable for their stupidity. applying to the critic, the old saying "Hæredis fletus sub personâ risus est." Respecting the one false accent which this grovelling crilic has, even with Ninety-eight eyes less than Argus, so miraculously discovered in One Hundred and Twenty-four pages, it may be necessary to bring to the recollection of this rusty-brained gentleman, the pains taken with him to ensure, (by a proper management of breath) a correct reading of the poetry, and how to avoid the imperfect accentuation, at a time when his sole happiness seemed centered in the attempt to sing with his base-toned voice, the bass of this then "beautiful glee:" besides which, if he had taken the trouble to look at page seventeen, he would most assuredly, without the aid of Diogenes's lantern, have discovered that Mr. Nathan took upon himself the liberty of adding two notes to correct the one false accent alluded to, at the risk of injuring the original melody. (ƒ) (f) See the Music of the Hebrew Melodies, No. 1, page 17. It would have been well also for the paper-skulled musician, who has meanly lent his services to the selfdubbed critic in this voyage of discovery, if he had read a little more, before he ventured to find fault with matters beyond his comprehension, for "So modern 'pothecaries taught the art, It is however natural that this souffre douleur of a flat should be startled at the appearance of a sharp in any shape or form, more especially when in company with an offspring of this musical idiot: for whether from blindness or the wilful desire to make right wrong, (as fools are sometimes capable of becoming knaves) he has contrived, in the given example of the sharp sixth, to introduce a monster in the shape of a note of his own creation !—More of this anon!!! Sir, I have the honor to subscribe myself, Your's, obediently, I. NATHAN. CONTENTS. Critical Remarks and Observations on 'She Walks in Beauty' Anecdote of Lord Byron respecting 'She Walks in Beauty,'- to whom the lines were addressed-his delight at seeing them placed first in the arrangement of the original pub- lication-his attachment to his sister-the anxiety he be- trayed whenever this composition was executed in her The religious sentiments of Lord Byron misunderstood-dis- jointed reflections of his contemplative mind — grave examination-malicious construction-condemnation of the Critical Remarks and Observations on Jephtha's Daughter ... Jephtha's sacrifice in obscurity—similar instances in fabulous history-literati of the present day consulted-homogeneous narratives - probability of its authenticity-rashness of .............. 78 The story of Idomenens continued relative to the sacrifice of Further conversation respecting Jephtha's daughter-Lord Byron suddenly put an end to the argument by a witty observation-ancient commentators agree in opinion- Jonathan's explanation of the bible in Chaldaic-Phinehas -curious quotations on the subject of Jephtha-chain of Jephtha's daughter redeemed with money-law in Israel- Medrish-no sacrifice of life to be concluded from sacred history-errors from literal translation-figurative expres- sions-curious observations in Medrish quoted............... Eastern nations-hieroglyphics-'I will go down by the moun- tains' incorrectly translated in the English bible from the original-singular and interesting explanation of this pas- sage from Medrish Tenhuma........ Ingenious interpretation of the word mountain by Rashi and David Kimshi - King David - Aben Ezzra - Don Aben persons similar to the Persian Magi Lord Byron successful in his metaphorical allusions-critical remarks and observations on the Wild Gazelle Gazelle - Antelope- tameless transport appropriate - Lord Byron's fondness for animals-beautiful parrots-one of them singularly attached to him-at war with strangers- indignation, jealousy and affection-cottage-throne-his |