Volume I Part 20 (1/2)

[Footnote 2: See page 41 [Letter 14], note 1 [Footnote 5].]

[Footnote 3: See page 81 [Letter 38], [Foot]note 1.]

[Footnote 4: In the theatricals, which took place at Southwell in the autumn of 1806, Byron was the chief mover. A letter received by Mr.

Pigot, quoted by Moore ('Life', p. 38), shows how eagerly his return from Harrogate was expected:--

”Tell Lord Byron that, if any accident should r.e.t.a.r.d his return, his mother desires he will write to her, as she shall be 'miserable' if he does not arrive the day he fixes. Mr. W. B. has written a card to Mrs.

H. to offer for the character of 'Henry Woodville,'--Mr. and Mrs.---- not approving of their son's taking a part in the play: but I believe he will persist in it. Mr. G. W. says, that sooner than the party should be disappointed, 'he' will take any part,--sing--dance--in short, do any thing to oblige. Till Lord Byron returns, nothing can be done; and positively he must not be later than Tuesday or Wednesday.”

A full account of the theatricals is given in a ma.n.u.script written by Miss Bristoe, one of the performers. Two plays were represented, (1) c.u.mberland's 'Wheel of Fortune' and (2) Allingham's 'Weatherc.o.c.k'. The following were the respective casts:--

(1) 'Penruddock', Lord Byron.

'Sir David Daw', Mr. C. Becher.

'Woodville', Captain Lightfoot.

'Sydenham', Mr. Pigot.

'Henry Woodville', Mr. H. Houson.

'Mrs. Woodville', Miss Bristoe.

'Emily Tempest', Miss J. Leacroft 'Dame Dunckley', Miss Leacroft.

'Weazel', Mr. G. Wylde.

'Jenkins', Mr. G. Heathcote.

(2) 'Tristram Fickle', Lord Byron.

'Old Fickle', Mr. Pigot.

'Briefwit', Captain Lightfoot.

'Sneer', Mr. R. Leacroft.

'Variella', Miss Bristoe.

'Ready', Miss Leacroft.

'Gardener', Mr. C. Becher.

'Barber', Mr. G. Wylde.

Between the two plays, a member of the Southwell choir sang ”The Death of Abercrombie.” The brave General, attended by two aides-de-camp, all three in the costume of the Southwell volunteers, appeared on the stage, and the General, sinking into the outstretched arms of his two friends, warbled out his dying words in a style which convulsed Byron with laughter.

The play itself nearly came to an untimely conclusion. Captain Lightfoot screwed his failing courage to the sticking point by several gla.s.ses of wine, with the result that, being a very abstemious man, he became tipsy. But ”restoratives were administered,” and he went through his part with credit. Byron, who was the star of the company, repeatedly brought down the house by his acting.

(For Byron's Prologue to 'The Wheel of Fortune', see 'Poems', vol. i.

pp. 45, 46.) Moore's account of the epilogue, written by the Rev. J. T.