With respect to the religious, or anti-religious sentiments, Byron wrote to Murray: "As for the 'orthodox,' let us hope they will buy on purpose to abuse--you will forgive the one if they will do the other." Yet he did alter Stanza VIII, and inserted what Moore calls a "magnificent stanza" in place of one that was churlish and sneering, and in all respects very much inferior.
Byron then proceeded to another point.

"Tell me fairly, did you show the MS.

to some of your corps ?" "I will have no traps for applause," he wrote to Mr.Murray, at the same time forbidding him to show the manuscript of "Childe Harold" to his Aristarchus, Mr.Gifford, though he had no objection to letting it be seen by any one else.

But it was too late.

Mr.Gifford had already seen the manuscript, and pronounced a favourable opinion as to its great poetic merits.