It is indeed a sad and a humiliating thing to know, that in the same year, there proceeded from the same pen two productions in all things so different as the fourth canto of "Childe Harold" and his loathsome "Don Juan." 'We have mentioned one, and, all will admit, the worst instance of the private malignity which has been embodied in so many passages of "Don Juan;" and we are quite sure the lofty-minded and virtuous men whom Lord Byron has debased himself by insulting will close the volume which contains their own injuries, with no feelings save those of pity for him that has inflicted them, and for her who partakes so largely in the same injuries.'-- August, 1819.
* * * * * 'BLACKWOOD,'-- iterum.
'We shall, like all others who say anything about Lord Byron, begin, sans apologie, with his personal character.

This is the great object of attack, the constant theme of open vituperation to one set, and the established mark for all the petty but deadly artillery of sneers, shrugs, groans, to another.

Two widely different matters, however, are generally, we might say universally, mixed up here,--the personal character of the man, as proved by his course of life; and his personal character, as revealed in or guessed from his books.

Nothing can be more unfair than the style in which this mixture is made use of.

Is there a noble sentiment, a lofty thought, a sublime conception, in the book?
"Ah, yes!" is the answer.