Besides, I hate giving pain, unless provoked; and he is an author, and must feel like his brethren; and although his Liberality repaid my marginal flippancies with a compliment--the highest compliment--that don't reconcile me to myself--nor to _you_.

It was a breach of confidence to do this without my leave; I don't know a living man's book I take up so often or lay down more reluctantly than Israeli's, and I never will forgive you--that is, for many weeks.

If he had got out of humour I should have been less sorry; but even then I should have been sorry; but really he has heaped his "coals of fire" so handsomely upon my head that they burn unquenchably.
You ask me of the two reviews [Footnote: Of "Childe Harold" in the _Quarterly_ and _Blackwood._]--I will tell you.

Scott's is the review of one poet on another--his friend; Wilson's, the review of a poet too, on another--his _Idol_; for he likes me better than he chooses to avow to the public with all his eulogy.

I speak judging only from the article, for I don't know him personally.
Here is a long letter--can you read it?
Yours ever, B.
In the course of September 1818 Lord Byron communicated to Mr.Moore that he had finished the first canto of a poem in the style and manner of "Beppo." "It is called," he said, "'Don Juan,' and is meant to be a little quietly facetious upon everything; but," he added, "I doubt whether it is not--at least so far as it has yet gone--too free for these very modest days." In January 1819 Lord Byron requested Mr.Murray to print for private distribution fifty copies of "Don Juan." Mr.Murray urged him to occupy himself with some great work worthy of his reputation.