The decision adopted at the consultation had been, contrary to the opinion of Mr. Millingen and Dr. Freiber, to administer to the patient a strong antispasmodic potion, which, while it produced sleep, but hastened perhaps death.  In order to persuade him into taking this draught, Mr. Parry was sent for[1], and, without any difficulty, induced him to swallow a few mouthfuls.  “When he took my hand,” says Parry, “I found his hands were deadly cold.  With the assistance of Tita I endeavoured gently to create a little warmth in them; and also loosened the bandage which was tied round his head.  Till this was done he seemed in great pain, clenched his hands at times, gnashed his teeth, and uttered the Italian exclamation of ’Ah Christi!’ He bore the loosening of the band passively, and, after it was loosened, shed tears; then taking my hand again, uttered a faint good night, and sunk into a slumber.”

[Footnote 1:  From this circumstance, as well as from the terms in which he is mentioned by Lord Byron, it is plain that this person had, by his blunt, practical good sense, acquired far more influence over his Lordship’s mind than was possessed by any of the other persons about him.]

In about half an hour he again awoke, when a second dose of the strong infusion was administered to him.  “From those about him,” says Count Gamba, who was not able to bear this scene himself, “I collected that, either at this time, or in his former interval of reason, he could be understood to say—­’Poor Greece!—­poor town!—­my poor servants!’ Also, ‘Why was I not aware of this sooner?’ and ’My hour is come!—­I do not care for death—­but why did I not go home before I came here?’ At another time he said, ’There are things which make the world dear to me Io lascio qualche cosa di caro nel mondo:  for the rest, I am content to die.’  He spoke also of Greece, saying, ’I have given her my time, my means, my health—­and now I give her my life!—­what could I do more?’"[1]

[Footnote 1:  It is but right to remind the reader, that for the sayings here attributed to Lord Byron, however natural and probable they may appear, there is not exactly the same authority of credible witnesses by which all the other details I have given of his last hours are supported.]

It was about six o’clock on the evening of this day when he said, “Now I shall go to sleep;” and then turning round fell into that slumber from which he never awoke.  For the next twenty-four hours he lay incapable of either sense or motion,—­with the exception of, now and then, slight symptoms of suffocation, during which his servant raised his head,—­and at a quarter past six o’clock on the following day, the 19th, he was seen to open his eyes and immediately shut them again.  The physicians felt his pulse—­he was no more!