The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-05-04

phlo auu TlBiu, oue NiOieutly IauB tuO ocii
beside her, and thus summoning the SER
wants of the house, abruptly terminated
the interview by ordering her husbands
forcible expulsion from. her presence.
From that time, more than ever before,
Byron's mighty spirit was effectually
broken he found himself now indeed
without hope in the world; and in state
of detection and dismay, such as few men
have ever suffered, he retired to commune
more sadly than ever with the immortal
muse, and the more dangerous personifca.
tions supplying its alternative.
Lady Kavauagh, who was then at
Nice, occupying apartments adjoining
those of Lady Byron, with whom shc was
especially intimate, communicated these
circumstances to her niece, Mrs. Jane
Kelly, Of Stradbally, Queens County,
Ireland and they are well known to the
children of that lady, who now reside in
the American city of Brooklyn.
Lady Kavanagh was in her own apart
ments when the occurrence took place !;
and being attracted by the unusual noise
and hustle which it created, she proceed.
ed to inquire the cause, thus coming al.
most Immediately after into the presence
Of Lady Byron. Ten minutes could not
have elapsed after the expulsion of Lord
Byron, before Lady Kavanagh was pres
eat with her. alone, and heard recital of
the incident from the lady's own lips.
Lady Kavanagh described hei as having
been in a state Of nervous agitation, com.
planning of the cruelty Of the shock which
the occurrence had inflicted on her, but
uttcring not one word Of sympathy for
her forsaken husband--not one solitary
I reflection on the stern severity of ner
conduct toward him. Whether she ever
expressed, or indeed experienced, at any
subsequent time, either regret for her re.
ceptiou Of Byron on this affecting occa.
sion, or sympathy with his broken and
hopeless condition, will now probably for.
ever remain unknown; but judging from
the incident itself, as well as from others
in her biography, such feelings had slight
if any affinity with her general character
and disposition. Yet it is difficult to con.
ceive of heart in which such remem.
brances might not at some unsupported
moment strike latent chord Of tender.
ness. Whether they did so or not the
words of tho poet who excaims.
TOO late. You've crushed the light out of Il
gem
You did not know the price Of la you spoken
But one kind word"
seems to have singular application to
the incident.
But even this was not the end. How.
ever broken and almost hopeless, Lord
Byron did not discontinue his personal
effort at reconciliation, even with so la.
mentable failure TO discourage him. He
probably felt that the surprise might
have been too much for Lady Byron's
nervous system, and that after time for
calm reflection she might possibly regret
the lnexorable course she had pursued,
and perhaps gladly embrace similar op.
portnnity if it should be again offered.
At oil events anon afterward the ;llustri.
GUS poet again "stoopcd to conquer
what alas seems to have been uncon.
querable. On this second occasion he
disguised himself as coachman, and sue.
ceeded in mounting her carriage. His
success, however, was no better than
before; for no sooner had Lady Byron
become aware of his identity, than she
vehemently and unfinchingly repudated
him, again firmly declining to hold even
one moments intercourse with him.
1t was Lady Kavanagh who likewise
related this circumstances, and further
alleged that her authority for it, as for
the other, was Lady Byron herself, who
seemed rather proud than regretful at the
attitude which she had thus maintained.
Lady Byron soon afterward left Italy,
and travelling through France returned to
England. With her after.history, this
hasty sketch has no connection. There
have not been wanting those who consid.
cred her mentally somewhat disordered,
either through temperament or the agita.
tlons OF her marital troubles; and in the
light OF such supposition she might be
judged With otherwise impossible cn,cn.
cy.
Byron also left Italy the following
year, but not for England The land Of
his childhood knew him no more, He
sailed for Greece, no doubt first seeking
the inspiration Of the old Hellenic land
but to become, later, though SO briefly, a
sharer in one Of the most praisew orthy
enterprises Of his century-thc attempt to
free the land of Spartan valor and Ho.
meric song. There, beyond doubt, his
muse received fresh and if possible more
exalted inspiration but there, all too
soon' he breathed forth his lofty. even if
misguided spirit. passing to that yet more
distant land where the pains and troubles
of mortality are unknown, and where
there are those who believe that the tri.
fling errors Of this itful life are magnani.
mously forgiven.-From The Aldine for
May.