ess (to use no harsher term),
it is not wonderful that Lord Byron should at last be driven into a
feeling of distaste towards his medical companion, of whom he one day
remarked, that "he was exactly the kind of person to whom, if he fell
overboard, one would hold out a straw, to know if the adage be true that
drowning men catch at straws."

A few more anecdotes of this young man, while in the service of Lord
Byron, may, as throwing light upon the character of the latter, be not
inappropriately introduced. While the whole party were, one day, out
boating, Polidori, by some accident, in rowing, struck Lord Byron
violently on the knee-pan with his oar; and the latter, without
speaking, turned his face away to hide the pain. After a moment he
said, "Be so kind, Polidori, another time, to take more care, for you
hurt me very much."--"I am glad of it," answered the other; "I am glad
to see you can suffer pain." In a calm suppressed tone, Lord Byron
replied, "Let me advise you, Polidori, when you, another time, hurt any
one, not to express your satisfaction. People don't like to be told that
those who give them pain are glad of it; and they cannot always command
their anger. It was with some difficulty that I refrained from throwing
you into the water; and, but for Mrs. Shelley's presence, I should
probably have done some such rash thing." This was said without ill
temper, and the cloud soon passed away.

Another time, when the lady just mentioned was, after a shower of rain,
walking up the hill to Diodati, Lord Byron, who saw her from his balcony
where he was standing with Polidori, said to the latter, "Now, you who
wish to be gallant ought to jump down this small height, and offer your
arm." Polidori chose the easiest part of the declivity, and leaped;--but
the ground being wet, his foot slipped, and he sprained his ankle.[117]
Lord Byron instantly helped to carry him in and procure cold water for
the foot; and, after he was laid on the sofa, perceiving that he was
uneasy, went up stairs himself (an exertion which his lameness made
painful and disagreeable) to fetch a pillow for him. "Well, I did not
believe you had so much feeling," was Polidori's gracious remark,
which, it may be supposed, not a little clouded the noble poet's brow.

A dialogue which Lord Byron himself used to mention as having taken
place between them during their journey on the Rhine, is amusingly
characteristic of both the persons concerned. "After al