Life of Lord Byron, Vol. I eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 367 pages of information about Life of Lord Byron, Vol. I.

Life of Lord Byron, Vol. I eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 367 pages of information about Life of Lord Byron, Vol. I.

“At Orchomenus, where stood the Temple of the Graces, I was tempted to exclaim, ’Whither have the Graces fled?’—­Little did I expect to find them here.  Yet here comes one of them with golden cups and coffee, and another with a book.  The book is a register of names, some of which are far sounded by the voice of fame.  Among them is Lord Byron’s, connected with some lines which I shall send you:—­

    “’Fair Albion, smiling, sees her son depart,
    To trace the birth and nursery of art;
    Noble his object, glorious is his aim,
    He comes to Athens, and he—­writes his name.’

“The counterpoise by Lord Byron:—­

    “’This modest bard, like many a bard unknown,
    Rhymes on our names, but wisely hides his own;
    But yet whoe’er he be, to say no worse,
    His name would bring more credit than his verse.’

“The mention of the three Athenian Graces will, I can foresee, rouse your curiosity, and fire your imagination; and I may despair of your farther attention till I attempt to give you some description of them.  Their apartment is immediately opposite to ours, and if you could see them, as we do now, through the gently waving aromatic plants before our window, you would leave your heart in Athens.

“Theresa, the Maid of Athens, Catinco, and Mariana, are of middle stature.  On the crown of the head of each is a red Albanian skull-cap, with a blue tassel spread out and fastened down like a star.  Near the edge or bottom of the skull-cap is a handkerchief of various colours bound round their temples.  The youngest wears her hair loose, falling on her shoulders,—­the hair behind descending down the back nearly to the waist, and, as usual, mixed with silk.  The two eldest generally have their hair bound, and fastened under the handkerchief.  Their upper robe is a pelisse edged with fur, hanging loose down to the ankles; below is a handkerchief of muslin covering the bosom, and terminating at the waist, which is short; under that, a gown of striped silk or muslin, with a gore round the swell of the loins, falling in front in graceful negligence;—­white stockings and yellow slippers complete their attire.  The two eldest have black, or dark hair and eyes; their visage oval, and complexion somewhat pale, with teeth of dazzling whiteness.  Their cheeks are rounded, and noses straight, rather inclined to aquiline.  The youngest, Mariana, is very fair, her face not so finely rounded, but has a gayer expression than her sisters’, whose countenances, except when the conversation has something of mirth in it, may be said to be rather pensive.  Their persons are elegant, and their manners pleasing and lady-like, such as would be fascinating in any country.  They possess very considerable powers of conversation, and their minds seem to be more instructed than those of the Greek women in general.  With such attractions it would, indeed, be remarkable, if they did not meet with great attentions from the travellers who occasionally are resident in Athens.  They sit in the eastern style, a little reclined, with their limbs gathered under them on the divan, and without shoes.  Their employments are the needle, tambouring, and reading.

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Life of Lord Byron, Vol. I from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.