Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-08-04
"LoRD BYRON's CORsAIR."

"LORD BYRON'S CORSAIR."
We have hitherto regarded the poem of the
Cmsair, by Lord Byron, as work of imagi-
nation. 1t seems, however, that it is found
ed on fact, five may rely on statement in
publication entitled "The Life, Writings,
Opinions and Times of the Right Hon. Lord
Byron, sc. by an English gentleman in the
Greek Military service, and comrade of his
Lordship;" and which has very recently APP
peared in London. Among an immense store
of anecdotes, some of which were before pub
lished, and all of them deeply interesting,
which this work contains, the following Of the
Corsair possesses novelty:-[N York Post.
"Whilst Lord Byron was at Con-
stantinople, Venetian vessel anchored
in the port, where a quarrel ensued be-
tween the crew and Turkish sailors,
and ended in an affray. The Turks
were worsted; but the whole popula-
ton being ready to back them, the We
netians fled precipitately to their YES
sci, and got under weigh, unfortunate
ly leaving their captain on shore. As
sured of instant implement if he fell
into the hands of the Turks, he entered
the residence of Lord Byron, whom he
did not know even by sight, and re-
qrested his assistance to shelter him,
and put him in a way of rejoining his
friends. There was such an undaunted
courage and noble confidence in his
manner, as instantly gained him the
respect and esteem OF his Lordship;
who promised to protect him at the
risk of his own life; the Turks, how
ever, had seen him enter the house,
and no time was to be lost in getting
him out Of it. A suit Of female appa.
rel, belonging to a Greek slave, was
procured, and the captain decorated
with it; and sallying out thus DISCUS
ed, met with no interruption, as it is
the Turkish custom never to look at
female, but rather to turn away on
meeting one in their route. Lord By
ron followed at distance, hired
Greek boat into which they got, and
ordered it to put them on board the
British frigate. They were only just
in time; for they had scarce left the no.
tel, before it was surrounded by the
Turkish authorities, and searched from
top TO bottom; but the bird was
flown. Lord Byron threatened to COM
plain to the British ambassador Of the
insult, and talked loudly; but it was
only to stile suspicion. The Venetian
remained on board until the ship sail
ed with Lord Byron on board, and they
left it together at the island of Zea.-
Here, as they strolled together about the
islands of the Archipelago, gratitude *
friendship drew from the Venetian the
whole of his mostextraordinary history.
He was the heir of a noble and pow
erful family, and had fallen in love with
a young lady of another family, Of equal
rank, which, however, as is too fire.
quently the case in Italy, was at mortal
enmity with his own. They often met
at church, where for long time, their
sole intercourse was confined to an eX-
change of gIances, which soon convin-
ced both OF them that love was infinite
ly more powerful in their breasts than
family feud. At length they contrived
to exchange billets as we'll as glances,
and the violence of their passions, as
we'll as the opportunities of Conrad (for
it was he himself!) prevailed on the
blushing fair one, to admit him into
her balcony at midnight. Their love
was for time crowned with every sue
cess that heart could wish for; but it
was not SO secret as they hoped and be-
lieved. The lady was engaged in mar
riage to a cousin, whom she never
loved, and of whom, since she first saw
Conrad, she could not bear the sight.
Jealousy is as quick sighted as love;
he watched, until one unfortunate night
he made discovery of what was going
on between the lovers He laid plan,
with the other relations ofhis house,
to surprise and wipe out the dishono-
rable stain upon their family by the
blood Of the guilty pair. In effect,
they were nearly surprised together;
but, hearing an unusual stir in the
house at the dead hour of night, the
lovers suspected the horrible fate that
awaited them, and, escaping bya back
way, got into gondola, and were soon
among the Dalmatian isles, OH the op-
posite shore of the Adriatic. Here
they found solitude of silence and me-
lancholy not i'll suited to the disposition
of lovers. Half destroyed buildings