t to be
found in our version, but the Armenian--but which seems to me very
orthodox, and I have done it into scriptural prose English.[134]

"Ever," &c.

[Footnote 134: The only plausible claim of these epistles to
authenticity arises from the circumstance of St. Paul having (according
to the opinion of Mosheim and others) written an epistle to the
Corinthians, before that which we now call his first. They are, however,
universally given up as spurious. Though frequently referred to as
existing in the Armenian, by Primate Usher, Johan. Gregorius, and other
learned men, they were for the first time, I believe, translated from
that language by the two Whistons, who subjoined the correspondence,
with a Greek and Latin version, to their edition of the Armenian History
of Moses of Chorene, published in 1736.

The translation by Lord Byron is, as far as I can learn, the first that
has ever been attempted in English; and as, proceeding from _his_ pen,
it must possess, of course, additional interest, the reader will not be
displeased to find it in the Appendix. Annexed to the copy in my
possession are the following words in his own handwriting:--"Done into
English by me, January, February, 1817, at the Convent of San Lazaro,
with the aid and exposition of the Armenian text by the Father Paschal
Aucher, Armenian friar.--BYRON. I had also (he adds) the Latin text, but
it is in many places very corrupt, and with great omissions."]

* * * * *

LETTER 270. TO MR. MURRAY.

"Venice, April 2. 1817.

"I sent you the whole of the Drama at _three several_ times, act by
act, in separate covers. I hope that you have, or will receive,
some or the whole of it.

"So Love has a conscience. By Diana! I shall make him take back the
box, though it were Pandora's. The discovery of its intrinsic
silver occurred on sending it to have the lid adapted to admit
Marianna's portrait. Of course I had the box remitted _in statu
quo_, and had the picture set in another, which suits it (the
picture) very well. The defaulting box is not touched, hardly, and
was not in the man's hands above an hour.

"I am aware of what you say of Otway; and am a very great admirer
of his,--all except of that maudlin b--h of chaste lewdness and
blubbering curiosity, Belvidera, whom I utterly despise, abhor, and
detest. But the story of Marino Falie