—Editor ↩
The Turkish zecchino is a gold coin, worth about seven shillings and sixpence. The para is not quite equal to an English halfpenny. —Editor ↩
Candide’s increased satisfaction with life is implied in the narrative. For example, in chap. XVIII, where Candide visits Eldorado:—
“Never was there a better entertainment, and never was more wit shown at table than that which fell from His Majesty. Cacambo explained the king’s bons mots to Candide, and notwithstanding they were translated, they still appeared bons mots.”
This was after supper. See, too, Part II chap. II. —Editor ↩
See Plutarch in Alex., Q. Curt. Hist. Alexand., and Sir Richard Clayton’s “Critical Inquiry into the Life of Alexander the Great,” 1763 [from the Examen Critique, etc., of Guilhem de Clermont-Lodève, Baron de Sainte Croix, 1775.]
[“He used to say that sleep and the commerce with the sex were the things that made him most sensible of his mortality, … He was also very temperate in eating.”
—Plutarch’s Alexander, Langhorne, 1838, p. 473]
But for mere food, I think with Philip’s son,
—[MS.]
Or Ammon’s—for two fathers claimed this one.
The assassination alluded to took place on the 8th of December, 1820, in the streets of Ravenna, not a hundred paces from the residence of the writer. The circumstances were as described.
[“December 9, 1820. I open my letter to tell you a fact, which will show the state of this country better than I can. The commandant of the troops is now lying dead in my house. He was shot at a little past eight o’clock, about two hundred paces from my door. I was putting on my great coat to visit Madame la Comtessa G., when I heard the shot. On coming into the hall, I found all my servants on the balcony, exclaiming that a man was murdered. I immediately ran down, calling on Tita (the bravest of them) to follow me. The rest wanted to hinder us from going, as it is the custom for everybody here, it seems, to run away from ‘the stricken deer.’ … we found him lying on his back, almost, if not quite, dead, with five wounds; one in the heart, two in the stomach, one in the finger, and the other in the arm. Some soldiers cocked their guns, and wanted to hinder me from passing. However, we passed, and I found Diego, the adjutant, crying over him like a child—a surgeon, who said nothing of his profession—a priest, sobbing a frightened prayer—and the commandant, all this time, on his back, on the hard, cold pavement, without light or assistance, or anything around him but confusion and dismay. As nobody could, or would, do anything but howl and pray, and as no one would stir a finger to move him, for fear of consequences, I lost my patience—made my servant and a couple of the mob take up the body—sent off two soldiers to the guard—despatched Diego to the Cardinal with the news, and had him carried upstairs into my own quarters. But it was too late—he was gone. … I had him partly stripped—made the surgeon examine him, and examined him myself. He had been shot by cut balls or slugs. I felt one of the slugs, which had gone through him, all but the skin. … He only said, ‘O Dio!’ and ‘Gesu!’ two or three times, and appeared to have suffered little. Poor fellow! he was a brave officer; but had made himself much disliked by the people.”
—Letter to Moore, December 9, 1820, Letters, 1901, V 133. The commandant’s name was Del Pinto (Life, p. 472)]
—so I had
—[MS.]
Him borne, as soon’s I could, up several pair
Of stairs—and looked to—But why should I add
More circumstances?—.
And now as silent as an unstrung drum.
—[MS.]
The light and elegant wherries plying about the quays of Constantinople are so called. ↩
Ilderim, a Syrian Tale, by Henry Gally Knight, was published in 1816; Phrosyne, a Grecian Tale, and Alashtar, an Arabian Tale, in 1817. Moore’s Lalla Kookh also appeared in 1817. —Editor ↩
St. Bartholomew was “discoriate, and flayed quick” (Golden Legend, 1900, V 43). —Editor ↩
We from impalement—.
—[MS.]
“Many of the seraï and summerhouses [on the Bosphorus] have received these significant, or rather fantastic names: one is the Pearl Pavilion; another is the Star Palace; a third the Mansion of Looking-glasses.”
—Travels in Albania, 1858, II 243
Of speeches, beauty, flattery—there is no
—[MS.]
Method more sure—.
Guide des Voyageurs; Directions for Travellers, etc.—Rhymes, Incidental and Humorous; Rhyming Reminiscences; Effusions in Rhyme, etc.—Lady Morgan’s Tour in Italy; Tour Through Istria, etc., etc.—Sketches of Italy; Sketches of Modern Greece, etc., etc.—Historical Illustrations of the Fourth Canto of Childe Harold, by J. C. Hobhouse, 1818. —Editor ↩
In Turkey nothing is more common than for the Mussulmans to take several glasses of strong spirits by way of appetiser. I have seen them take as many as six of raki before dinner, and swear that they dined the better for it: I tried the experiment, but fared like the Scotchman, who having heard that the birds called kittiwakes were admirable whets, ate six of them, and complained that “he was no hungrier than when he began.” ↩
“Everything is so still [in the court of the
