Scott wrote a poem which was published in 1815, under the title of _The Field of Waterloo_, and prefaced it thus: "It may be some apology for the imperfections of this poem, that it was composed hastily, and during a short tour upon the Continent, where the author's labours were liable to frequent interruption; but its best apology is, that it was written for the purpose of assisting the Waterloo subscription." This plea did not disarm hostile criticism. Thomas, Lord Erskine, expressed himself as follows:-- "On Waterloo's ensanguined plain Lie tens of thousands of the slain; But none by sabre or by shot Fell half so flat as Walter Scott." Wrote Thomas Moore in his _Diary_: "I have read _Walter_-loo. The battle murdered many, and _he_ has murdered the battle; 'tis sad stuff." The Earl of Carlisle wrote a sixpenny pamphlet advocating small theatres; and on the day it was issued the newspapers contained the announcement that he had given a large subscription to a public fund, a circumstance which formed the theme of the following epigram by his cousin, Lord Byron: "Carlisle subscribes a thousand pounds Out of his rich domains; And for sixpence circles round The product of his brains: 'Tis thus the difference you may hit Between his fortune and his wit." Byron made his unhappy marriage the subject of at least three epigrams. Here are two of them as follows:-- ON HIS WEDDING-DAY. "Here's a happy new year! But with reason I beg you'll permit me to say-- Wish me many returns of the season, But as few as you please of the day." At a later period he wrote-- "This day, of all our days, has done The worst for _me_ and _you_: 'Tis just six years since we were _one_, And five since we were _two_." Lord Byron's friend, Thomas Moore, wrote many excellent epigrams, and not a few were penned about him. He published his first volume of poems under the name of Thomas Little. It is stated that a lady found a copy of the book under the pillow of her maid's bed, and wrote on it in pencil:-- "You read _Little_, I guess; I wish you'd read _less_." The servant was equal to her mistress, and wrote:-- "I read Little before, Now I mean to read _Moore_." Lord Byron wrote the following in 1811 on Moore's farcical opera:-- "Good plays are scarce; So Moore writes farce; The poet's fame grows brittle-- We knew before That Little's Moore, But now 'tis Moore that's Little." Respecting Moore's duel with Lord Jeffrey, Theodore Hook composed the following lines:-- "When Anacreon would fight, as the poets have said, A reverse he displayed in his vapour, For while all his poems were loaded with lead, His pistols were loaded with paper. For excuses, Anacreon old custom may thank, Such salvo he should not abuse; For the cartridge, by rule, is always made blank That is fired away at _Reviews_."