Polidori's story, like the play referred to, has for its principal character an Englishman, Lord Ruthven, the Earl of Marsden, who is the vampire. In each case there is a supposed death, where the dying man asks that his body be placed where the last rays of the moon can fall upon it. The corpse then mysteriously vanishes. In each story there is a complication of a rash pledge of silence made by a man that discovers the diabolical nature of the earl, who, having risen from the dead, is ravaging society as a vampire. In each case a peculiar turn of the story is that the masculine vampire requires for his subsistence the blood of young women, to whom he must be married. He demands a new victim, hence a hurried wedding is planned. In the play the ceremony is interrupted by the bride's father, but in the novelette the plot is finished and the girl becomes the victim of the destroyer. It is a question which of these productions was written first, and which imitated the other, or if they had a common source. The author of the drama admits getting his material from a French play, but where did Polidori get his? Byron seems to have been fascinated with the vampire theme, for in addition to his unsuccessful short story, he has used the theme in his poem, _The Giaour_. Here he brings in the idea that the vampire curse is a judgment from God for sin, and that the most terrible part of the punishment is the being forced to prey upon those who in life were dearest to him, which idea occurs in various stories. "But first on earth as Vampyre sent Thy corse shall from its tomb be rent; Then ghastly haunt thy native place And suck the blood of all thy race; There from thy _daughter_, _sister_, _wife_, At midnight drain the stream of life; Yet loathe the banquet which perforce Must feed thy livid, living corse. Thy victims, ere they yet expire Shall know the demon for their sire; As, cursing thee, thou cursing them, Thy flowers are withered on the stem. But one, that for thy crime must fall, The youngest, best-beloved of all, Shall bless thee with a _father's_ name-- That word shall wrap thy heart in flame! Yet must thou end the task and mark Her cheek's last tinge, her eye's last spark, And the last glassy glance must view Which freezes o'er its lifeless blue; Then with unhallowed hand shall tear The tresses of her yellow hair, Of which, in life, a lock when shorn Affection's fondest pledge was worn,-- But now is borne away by thee Memorial of thine agony! Yet with thine own best blood shall drip Thy gnashing teeth and haggard lip; Then stalking to thy sullen grave Go--and with ghouls and Afrits rave, Till these in horror shrink away From specter more accursed than they!"