NOTES

ΤΟ

THE POEMS.

Note 1, page 149.

Written after swimming from Sestos to Abydos.

On the 3d of May, 1810, while the Salsette (Captain Bathurst) was lying in the Dardanelles, Lieutenant Ekenhead of that frigate and the writer of these rhymes swam from the European shore to the Asiatic-by-the-by, from Abydos to Sestos would have been more correct. The whole distance from the place whence we started to our landing on the other side, including the length we were carried by the current, was computed by those on board the frigate at upwards of four English miles; though the actual breadth is barely one. The rapidity of the current is such that no boat can row directly across, and it may in some measure be estimated from the circumstance of the whole distance being accomplished by one of the parties in an hour and five, and by the other in an hour and ten, minutes. The water was

extremely cold from the melting of the mountain-snows. About three weeks before, in April, we had made an attempt, but having ridden all the way from the Troad the same morning, and the water being of an icy chillness, we found it necessary to postpone the completion till the frigate anchored below the castles, when we swam the straits, as just stated; entering a considerable way above the European, and landing below the Asiatic, fort. Chevalier says that a young Jew swam the same distance for his mistress; and Oliver mentions its having been done by a Neapolitan; but our consul, Tarragona, remembered neither of these circumstances, and tried to dissuade us from the attempt. A number of the Salsette's crew were known to have accomplished a greater distance; and the only thing that surprised me was, that, as doubts had been entertained of the truth of Leander's story, no traveller had ever endeavoured to ascertain its practicability.

Note 2, page 150.

Ζώη με, σάς ἀγαπῶ.

Zoe mou, sas agapo, or Zwn uỡ, đás ảyaww, a Romaic expression of tenderness: if I translate it I shall affront the gentlemen, as it may seem that I supposed they could not; and if I do not I may affront the ladies. For fear of any misconstruction on the part of the latter 1 shall do so, begging pardon of the learned. "" means, My life, I love you!" which sounds very prettily in all languages, and is as much in fashion in Greece at this day as, Juvenal tells us, the two first words were amongst the Roman ladies, whose erotic expressions were all Hellenized.

It

Note 3, page 151, line 13.

By all the token-flowers that tell.

In the East (where the ladies are not taught to write, lest they should scribble assignations) flowers, cinders, pebbles, &c. convey the sentiments of the parties by that A cinder universal deputy of Mercury-an old woman. says, "I burn for thee;" a bunch of flowers tied with hair, "Take me and fly;" but a pebble declares-what nothing else can.

Note 4, page 151, line 19.

Though I fly to Istambol.

Constantinople.

Note 5, page 153, line 7.

And the seven-hill'd city seeking.

Constantinople. 66 Επλαλοφος.”

Note 6, page 216, line 8.

Turning rivers into blood.

See Rev. chap. viii. verse 7, &c. "The first angel "sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with "blood," &c.

Verse 8. "And the second angel sounded, and as it 66 were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into "the sea; and the third part of the sea became "blood," &c.

Verse 10. "And the third angel sounded, and there "fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a "lamp; and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters."

Verse 11. 66 And the name of the star is called "Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became "wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because "they were made bitter."

Note 7, page 216, line last.

Whose realm refused thee even a tomb.

Murat's remains are said to have been torn from the grave and burnt.

Note 8, page 220, line 14.

Blessing him they served so well.

"At Waterloo, one man was seen, whose left arm was shattered by a cannon ball, to wrench it off with the other, and throwing it up in the air, exclaimed to his There comrades, Vive l'Empereur, jusqu'à la mort.' were many other instances of the like: this you may, however, depend on as true."-A private Letter from Brussels.

Note 9, page 223, line 3.

Of three bright colours, each divine.

The tri-colour.

Note 10, page 226, line 8.

Leman! these names are worthy of thy shore.
Geneva, Ferney, Coppet, Lausanne.

Note 11, page 241, line 14.

Like to the Pontic monarch of old days.

Mithridates of Pontus.

THE END.