ASSASSINATION AT RAVENNA.

39

and the only probable conjecture is, that they were cause and effect. The stanzas alluded to are as follows:

"The other evening ('twas on Friday last)-
This is a fact, and no poetic fable-
Just as my great coat was about me cast,
My hat and gloves still lying on the table,
I heard a shot-'twas eight o'clock-scarce past-—
And running out, as fast as I was able,

I found the military commandant

Stretch'd in the street, and able scarce to pant.

"Poor fellow! for some reason, surely bad,
They'd slain him with five slugs, and left him there
To perish on the pavement: so I had

Him borne into the house, and up the stair,
And stripp'd, and look'd to-But, why should I add
More circumstance? vain was ev'ry care;

The man was gone: in some Italian quarrel,
Kill'd by five bullets from an old gun-barrel."

In a note on this passage, Lord Byron informs the reader that the assassination took place on the 8th December 1820, in the streets of Ravenna, not a hundred paces from the residence of the writer. The circumstances were as described. There was found close by him an old gun-barrel, sawn half off, it had just been discharged, and was still warm.

There is the greatest probability that this shot was intended either for Francisco or his Lordship, as the latter had proved himself too skilful for any open antagonist with the sword, and too powerful

40

EMBARKATION FOR CYPRUS.

to be borne down by the arm of the law. However this might have been, his Lordship seems to have very wisely taken the hint, for one morning, without any previous intimation of his intention, he broke up from Ravenna, and marched away without beat of drum, attended by his female friend (Amelia), Francisco, and Captain Fullinton. They reached Descree, the nearest port, and embarked on board a Greek vessel bound to Limosel, in the island of Cyprus.

The accommodations on board were very inconvenient, and the passage very boisterous; but Lord Byron was devoid of fear, and loved on every opportunity to display his nautical skill, for which he had here sufficient exercise. The authorities received his Lordship with a degree of enthusiasm, as his name every where preceded him, and he was throughout Greece regarded as a brother Greek. Old Demetrius, with whom they took up their abode, was most hearty in their welHis house was situated under the hill at Cape Corso, at a distance from the town, and in rather a solitary spot; but that circumstance occasioned his Lordship no apprehension. The prospect was agreeable. The vessels might be seen gliding in and out of Limosel, with a distant view of Candia; and the classic recollections that crowd on the mind, of being on the spot where Sappho wrote, and Venus was worshipped as sovereign ruler of the world, is quite sufficient to enrapture

come.

the senses. It soon became, however, the source of grief, as Amelia was seized with a fever, and breathed her last. Lord Byron secluded himself for some days, until Captain Fullinton had paid the last sad rites to the remains of poor Amelia, when he applied himself to soothe his Lordship's grief, who at length began to resume his usual rambling excursions and serenity of mind.

The town of Limosel is famous for having been the rendezvous of the British squadron which blockaded Alexandria, after the great battle of the Nile, when the British captains, in order to get supplies of provisions, were compelled to fire upon the citadel, and to bombard the place, which is the only argument adapted to carry conviction to Turkish minds. His Lordship pointed out several marks of the shots on the walls; but what interested his companions still more, was the spring which he showed them to the westward of the mosque, where his Lordship was sitting and composing "The Corsair," when a Turk, from the bushes, fired a shot, which struck the portfolio and drove it out of his hand. We asked what his Lordship did on so trying an occasion?" I only removed," answered he, "to a more secure place, nearer to the town, as it was useless to pursue the assassin."-Some one inquired what cause his Lordship had given the Turk for so murderous and cowardly an attempt? "God knows; perhaps cause enough; but, at all events,

42

TURKISH PERFIDY.

I am not going to confess my sins to you, though you might promise me absolution." They put what conjectures they pleased upon this answer, for they could get none other.

His Lordship was excessively mistrustful of the Turks, and in truth he had latterly seen enough of them to make him so. He would therefore suffer only half the boat's crew to land at a time, and ordered the other half to keep strict watch on board, with loaded guns, as he said the Governor himself was very likely to send men by night to plunder the vessel, and then lay the deed at the door of the pirates. To evince the probability of similar treachery, he told the following adventure: "I remember," said his Lordship, "once being at anchor under the isle of Anti-Paros, in the Grecian Archipelago, and ready to sail when, in the dusk of the evening, a little girl, to whom we had given some paras in charity when on shore, swam alongside; she was nearly exhausted, having swam full an English mile. She informed us that the Turks were preparing four boats to attack us at midnight and murder us, as they suspected our having riches, from paying with gold for every thing we purchased. We immediately got under sail, but it was calm, and unfortunately we made little or no way, so that at midnight, through my glass, I plainly perceived the boats advancing fast. We had only two guns, which we loaded nearly to the muzzle, with three

NAVAL SKIRMISH.

43

round shot, and loose musket-balls; the crew was well provided with small arms, pistols, and sabres, and, what was still better, with stout hearts; for they roundly swore that they would all perish rather than be made slaves. That I told them was out of the question, as they were certain of being murdered by the Turks, if they suffered them to step on board. There were nineteen of us, twelve English, and seven Venetians, fortified by despair. Two of the boats advanced nearly within shot, when they commenced firing. Only one of their shot struck our vessel; and, imagining our Greek guns could reach them, they were fired. The mast of the first boat fell; and the fellows uttered a loud scream and dropped astern, preparing, no doubt, for another attack in conjunction with their comrades. However a light breeze sprung up, and spreading all our canvas and plying our oars, at day-light we were out of sight of the robbers and murderers, and the Venetian sailors, in pouring libations down their throats to drown their late apprehensions, congratulated each other on having obtained a great and glorious victory." It is right here to remark, that from another quarter we learned that the little Greek wench, who had been the means of saving all their lives, was promised by Lord Byron his protection and support so long as she lived. At Cape Otranto, three years after this notable event, she married an Italian fisherman.