"January 19. 1815.
"Egad! I don't think he is 'down;' and my prophecy--like most
auguries, sacred and profane--is not annulled, but inverted.
"To your question about the 'dog'[64]--Umph!--my 'mother,' I won't
say any thing against--that is, about her: but how long a
'mistress' or friend may recollect paramours or competitors (lust
and thirst being the two great and only bonds between the amatory
or the amicable) I can't say,--or, rather, you know, as well as I
could tell you. But as for canine recollections, as far as I could
judge by a cur of mine own, (always bating Boatswain, the dearest
and, alas! the maddest of dogs,) I had one (half a _wolf_ by the
she side) that doted on me at ten years old, and very nearly ate me
at twenty. When I thought he was going to enact Argus, he bit away
the backside of my breeches, and never would consent to any kind of
recognition, in despite of all kinds of bones which I offered him.
So, let Southey blush and Homer too, as far as I can decide upon
quadruped memories.
"I humbly take it, the mother knows the son that pays her
jointure--a mistress her mate, till he * * and refuses salary--a
friend his fellow, till he loses cash and character--and a dog his
master, till he changes him.
"So, you want to know about milady and me? But let me not, as
Roderick Random says, 'profane the chaste mysteries of
Hymen'[65]--damn the word, I had nearly spelt it with a small _h_.
I like Bell as well as you do (or did, you villain!) Bessy--and
that is (or was) saying a great deal.
"Address your next to Seaham, Stockton-on-Tees, where we are going
on Saturday (a bore, by the way,) to see father-in-law, Sir Jacob,
and my lady's lady-mother. Write--and write more at length--both to
the public and yours ever most affectionately,
"B."
[Footnote 64: I had just been reading Mr. Southey's fine poem of
"Roderick;" and with reference to an incident in it, had put the
following question to Lord Byron:--"I should like to know from you, who
are one of the philocynic sect, whether it is probable, that any dog
(out of a melodrame) could recognise a master, whom neither his own
mother or mistress was able to find out. I don't care about Ulysses's
dog, &c.--all I want is to know from _you_ (who are renowned as 'friend
of the dog, companion of the bear') whether such a thing is probable."]
[Footnote 65: The letter H. is blotted in the MS.]
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