THE LIFE OF

LORD BYRON

GEORGE GORDON BYRON was born in Holles, through the care and daily instruction of this nurse, street, London, on the 22d day of January, 1788. he attained a far earlier and more intimate acquaint Soon after his birth, his father deserted him, and the ance with the Sacred Writings, than falls to the lot whole responsibility of his early training devolved of most young people. on his mother, who, with him, soon after repaired to Aberdeen, where they resided for some time in almost complete seclusion.

The defect in the formation of his foot, and a great weakness of constitution, induced his mother to keep him from an attendance on school, that he migh expand his lungs and brace his limbs, upon the mountains of the neighborhood.

The infancy of Byron was marked with the workngs of that wild and active spirit which he so fully displayed in all subsequent years of his life. As a This was evidently the most judicious method for child, his temper was violent, or rather, sullenly imparting strength to his bodily frame; and the se passionate. Being angrily reprimanded by his nurse, quel showed that it likewise imparted tone and one day, for having soiled or torn a new frock in vigor to his mind. The savage grandeur of nature which he had just been dressed, he got into one of around him; the feeling that he was upon the hills his "silent rages," (as he termed them,) seized the where

frock with both hands, rent it from top to bottom, and stood in sullen stillness, setting his censurer and her wrath at defiance.

"Foreign tyrant never trud,

But freedom, with her falchion bright,
Swept the stranger from her sight;"

Notwithstanding these unruly outbreaks, in which he was too much encouraged by the example of his his intercourse with a people whose chief amusemother, who frequently proceeded to the same extremities with her own caps, gowns, &c., there was in his disposition a mixture of affectionate sweetness and playfulness, which attached many to him, and which rendered him then, as in riper years, easily manageable by those who loved and understood him sufficiently to be at once gentle and firm The malformation of his foot was a subject on enough for the task. which young Byron was extremely sensitive. As The undivided affection of the mother was natu- his nurse was walking with him one day, she was tally centered in her son, who was her darling; and joined by a female friend, who said, "What a pretty when he only went out for an ordinary walk, she boy, Byron is! what a pity he has such a leg." On would entreat him, with tears in her eyes, to take hearing this allusion to his infirmity, the child's are of himself, as she had nothing on earth but eyes flashed with anger, and, striking at her with a him to live for;" a conduct not at all pleasing to exclaimed, "Dinna speak of it!" little whip which he held in his hand, he impatiently his adventurous spirit; the more especially as some As an instance of his quickness and energy at this ene, would laugh and ridicule about it. This ex- period, might be mentioned a little incident that octessive maternal affection and indulgence, and the curred one night during the performance of "Tamtntire absence of that salutary discipline so neces-ing a Shrew," which his nurse had taken hi n to see. sary to childhood, doubtless contributed to the He had attended some time, with silent interest; formation of these unpleasant traits of character but, in the scene between Katherine and Petruchio that distinguished Byron from all others in subse- where the following dialogue takes place,

ments consisted in the recital of heroic tales of other

times, feats of strength, and a display of independ
ence, blended with the wild, supernatural stories pe-
culiar to remote and thinly-peopled districts;-all
feeling innate in his character.
these were calculated to foster that peculiar poetical

of his companions, who beheld the affectionate

quent years.

"Kath.-1 know it is the moon.
Pet.-Nay, then, you lie,—it is the blessed sun,"

An accident, at the time of birth, caused a malformation of one of his feet. Many expedients were used to restore the limb to its proper shape, George started up, and cried out boldly, "But I say under the direction of Dr. Hunter. His nurse, to it is the moon, sir.'

whom fell the task of putting on the bandages, Byron was not quite five years of age when he was would often sing him to sleep, or relate to him sto- sent to a day school at Aberdeen, taught by Mr. ries and legends, in which, like most other children, Bowers. At that school he remained about one he manifested great delight. She also taught him year.

to repeat a great number of Psalms; and the first During his schoolboy days he was lively, warmand twenty-third were among the earliest that he hearted, generous, and high-spirited. He was, how. committed to memory. Out of these lessons arose, ever, passionate and resentful, and to a remarkable long afterwards, the "Hebrew Melodies; which, degree venturesome and fearless. If he received an but for them, never would have been written, though injury, he was sure to revenge it: though the casti Beron studied Lowth on the Sacred Poetry of the gation he inflicted might be long on its way, yet it Hebrews all his life. It is a remarkable fact, that, came at length, and severely.