Canto Xii. Stanza Xxxi., _et Seq_.]

{265} In Sir Thomas More, for instance, on the scaffold, and Anne Boleyn, in the Tower, when, grasping her neck, she remarked, that it "was too slender to trouble the headsman much." During one part of the French Revolution, it became a fashion to leave some "mot" as a legacy; and the quantity of facetious last words spoken during that period would form a melancholy jest-book of a considerable size.

{268} I breathe but in the hope--his altered breast May seek another--and have mine at rest. Or if unwonted fondness now I feign.{A}--[MS.]

{A}[The alteration was sent to the publishers on a separate quarto sheet, with a memorandum, "In Canto first--nearly the end," etc.--a rare instance of inaccuracy on the part of the author.]

{270} The opening lines, as far as section ii., have, perhaps, little business here, and were annexed to an unpublished (though printed) poem [The Curse of Minerva]; but they were written on the spot, in the Spring of 1811, and--I scarce know why--the reader must excuse their appearance here--if he can. [See letter to Murray, October 23, 1812.]

{271} Socrates drank the hemlock a short time before sunset (the hour of execution), notwithstanding the entreaties of his disciples to wait till the sun went down.

The twilight in Greece is much shorter than in our own country: the days in winter are longer, but in summer of shorter duration.

{272} The Kiosk is a Turkish summer house: the palm is without the present walls of Athens, not far from the temple of Theseus, between which and the tree, the wall intervenes.--Cephisus' stream is indeed scanty, and Ilissus has no stream at all.

{273} [After the battle of Salamis, B.C. 480, Paros fell under the dominion of Athens.]

{274} They gather round and each his aid supplies.--[MS.]

{275} Within that cave Debate waxed warm and strange.--[MS.] Loud in the cave Debate waxed warm and strange.-- [January 6, 1814.] In that dark Council words waxed warm and strange.-- [January 13, 1814.]

The comboloio, or Mahometan rosary; the beads are in number ninety-nine. [Vide ante, p. 181, The Bride of Abydos, Canto II. line 554.]

{276} Methinks a short release by ransom wrought Of all his treasures not too cheaply bought.--[MS. erased.] Methinks a short release for ransom--gold.--[MS.]

{277} Of thine adds certainty to all I heard.--[MS.]

{278} When every coming hour might view him dead.--[MS.]

"And I have leapt In transport from my flinty couch, to welcome The thunder as it burst upon my roof, And beckon'd to the lightning, as it flash'd And sparkled on these fetters."