were
returning from bathing in the Piraeus, you met the procession going
down to execute the sentence of the Waywode on this unfortunate
girl. Report continues to say, that on finding out what the object
of their journey was, and who was the miserable sufferer, you
immediately interfered; and on some delay in obeying your orders,
you were obliged to inform the leader of the escort, that force
should make him comply;--that, on farther hesitation, you drew a
pistol, and told him, that if he did not immediately obey your
orders, and come back with you to the Aga's house, you would shoot
him dead. On this, the man turned about and went with you to the
governor's house; here you succeeded, partly by personal threats,
and partly by bribery and entreaty, to procure her pardon on
condition of her leaving Athens. I was told that you then conveyed
her in safety to the convent, and despatched her off at night to
Thebes, where she found a safe asylum. Such is the story I heard,
as nearly as I can recollect it at present. Should you wish to ask
me any further questions about it, I shall be very ready and
willing to answer them. I remain, my dear Byron,

"Yours, very sincerely,

"SLIGO.

"I am afraid you will hardly be able to read this scrawl; but I am
so hurried with the preparations for my journey, that you must
excuse it."

* * * * *

Of the prodigal flow of his fancy, when its sources were once opened on
any subject, The Giaour affords one of the most remarkable
instances,--this poem having accumulated under his hand, both in
printing and through successive editions, till from four hundred lines,
of which it consisted in his first copy, it at present amounts to nearly
fourteen hundred. The plan, indeed, which he had adopted, of a series of
fragments,--a set of "orient pearls at random strung,"--left him free to
introduce, without reference to more than the general complexion of his
story, whatever sentiments or images his fancy, in its excursions, could
collect; and how little fettered he was by any regard to connection in
these additions, appears from a note which accompanied his own copy of
the paragraph commencing "Fair clime, where every season smiles,"--in
which he says, "I have not yet fixed the place of insertion for the
following lines, but will, when I see you--as I hav