Byron, George Gordon Byron, Baron, 1788-1824 -- Last years; Poets, English -- 19th century -- Biography
'When Lord Byron took my hand, I found his hands were deadly cold.
With Tita's assistance, I endeavoured gently to create a little warmth
in them, and I also loosened the bandage which was tied round his
head. Till this was done, he seemed in great pain--clenched his hands
at times, and gnashed his teeth. He bore the loosening of the band
passively; and after it was loosened, he shed tears. I encouraged him
to weep, and said: "My lord, I thank God, I hope you will now be
better; shed as many tears as you can; you will sleep and find ease."
He replied faintly, "Yes, the pain is gone; I shall sleep now." He
took my hand, uttered a faint "Good-night," and dropped to sleep. My
heart ached, but I thought then his sufferings were over, and that he
would wake no more. He did wake again, however, and I went to him; he
knew me, though scarcely. He was less distracted than I had seen him
for some time before; there was the calmness of resignation, but there
was also the stupor of death. He tried to utter his wishes, but he was
not able to do so. He said something about rewarding Tita, and uttered
several incoherent words. There was either no meaning in what he said,
or it was such a meaning as we could not expect at that moment. His
eyes continued open only a short time, and then, at about six o'clock
in the evening of the 18th April, he sank into a slumber, or rather, I
should say, a stupor, and woke and knew no more.'
It must be borne in mind that the details given above were written by a
man who asserts that he was present during the period of which he gives an
account. Gamba, as we have seen, was not present, and the details which he
gives are avowedly gathered from those who happened to be in the room.
'From those about him,' says Gamba, 'I collected that, either at this
time or in his former interval of reason, Byron could be understood to
say, "Poor Greece! Poor town! My poor servants!" Also, "Why was I not
aware of this sooner?" and, "My hour is come! I do not care for death.
But why did I not go home before I came here?" At another time he
said: "There are things which make the world dear to me."'
He said this in Italian, and Parry may of course not have understood him.
'Io lascio qualche cosa di caro nel mondo.' He also said: 'I am content to
die.' In speaking of Greece, he said: 'I have given her my time, my means,
my health, and now I give her my life! What could I do more?'
Byron remained insensible, immovable, for twenty-four hours. There were
occasional symptoms of suffocation, and a rattling in the throat, which
induced his servants occasionally to raise his head. Gamba says:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account