"
Murray showed the early part of "Byron's Life" to Lockhart, who replied
to him at once:
_Mr. Lockhart to John Murray_.
_February_ 23, 1829.
"I can't wait till tomorrow to say that I think the beginning of 'Byron'
quite perfect in every way--the style simple, and unaffected, as the
materials are rich, and how sad. It will be Moore's greatest work--at
least, next to the 'Melodies,' and will be a fortune to you. My wife
says it is divine. By all means engrave the early miniature. Never was
anything so drearily satisfactory to the imagination as the whole
picture of the lame boy's start in life."
Moore was greatly touched by this letter. He wrote from Sloperton:
_Mr. Moore to John Murray_.
"Lockhart's praise has given me great pleasure, and his wife's even
still greater; but, after all, the merit is in my subject--in the man,
not in me. He must be a sad bungler who would spoil such a story."
As the work advanced, Sir Walter Scott's opinion also was asked.
_Mr. Lockhart to John Murray_.
_September_ 29, 1829.
"Sir Walter has read the first 120 pages of Moore's 'Life of Byron'; and
he says they are charming, and not a syllable _de trop_.
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