The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-08-02
The Last Days of Byron,
An American thus writes :


Ipassed the winter of Byron's death
in Greece, and the latter part of Febru-
ary went to Missolonghia to see him.
He was then suffering from the effect of
fit of epilepsy, which occurred in the
| middle of February. The first time
| called at his residence | was not permit
ted to see him; but, in a few days, | re-
ceived polite note from him, at the
| hand of a negro servant, who was ma
| tive of America, and whom Byron was
kind to and proud of to the last.
found the poet in a weak and rather
irritable state, but he treated me with the
utmost Kindness. He said that at the
time / first called upon him, all strangers
and most of his friends were excluded
from his room.
"But,n said he, chad I known an
American was at the door, you should
not have beendenied. love yourcoun-
try, sir it is the only spot of Gods
green earth not desecratel by tyranny"
In our conversation / alluded to the
| sympathy at that time felt in America
| for struggling Greece. All he said at
the time in reply was: Poor Greece!
Ipoor Greece! once the richest on earth.
God knows l have tried to help thee!n
He then referred in rapturous terms
to Bozzaris, then just fallen, and show
ed me a letter from the chief.
: In few days after / left him, l re-
ceived another note from him, request
ing me to call, and bring with me r.
, wings Sketch Book / took it in my
{ hand, and went once more to the Illus
triotls authors residence. He rose from
his couch when entered, and, pressing
| my hand warmly, said:
Have you brought the Sketch
Book ?o
| ! handed it to him, when, selling it
with enthusiasm, he turned to I" The
| Broken Heart.n THAT said he, sis
lone of the finest things ever written on
earth, and l want to hear an American
read it. But, say, do you know lr-
wing ?o
Ireplied that l had never seen him,
: "God bless him!n exclaimed Byron;
} he is genius; and he has something
better than genius-a heart. l wish l
could see him, but fear / never shall.
Well, read them, The Broken Heart
yes, The Broken Heart What
wordu
In closing the first paragraph, said:
} "Shall confess it? believe in broken
hearts,"
"Yes," exclaimed Byron, "and so do
+, and SO does every one philosophers
and fools. !"
So + waited whenever he interrupted
me, until he requested me to go on; yet
cared more for the commentary, as it
came fresh from Byron's heart. While
l was reading one of the most touching
portions of the mournful piece, Iobserv-
ed that Byron wept. He turned hiseyes
upon me, and said:
"You see me weep, sir; Irving him.
self never wrote that story without weep
ing. nor can hear it without tears. I
have not wept much in this work, for
trouble never brings tears to my eyes;
but always have tears for the Broken
Heart"
When read the last line of Moore's
; verses. at the close of the piece, Byron
said:
"What being that Tom is, and Irv-
inc and Emmett, and his beautiful love!
What beings all. Sir, how many such
men as Washington Irving are there in
America? God don't send many such
shirts into this world. / want to see
America for five reasons | want to see
irving; want to see your stupendous
scenery; l want to see Washington's
grave; want to see the classic form of
| living freedom want to see your gov
eminent recognize Greece as an indepen-
dent nation. Poor Greece"
Those were the last words of Byron.