" Lord Byron laughed, and said my _apropos_ was very
wicked--but I maintained it was very just. He spoke much more warmly of
Moore's social attractions as a companion, which he said were unrivalled,
than of his merits as a poet.
When Lord Byron came to dine with us on Thursday, he arrived an hour
before the usual time, and appeared in good spirits. He said that he found
the passages and stairs filled with people, who stared at him very much;
but he did not seem vexed at this homage, for so it certainly was meant,
as the Albergo della Ville, where we resided, being filled with English,
all were curious to see their distinguished countryman. He was very gay at
dinner, ate of most of the dishes, expressed pleasure at partaking of a
plum pudding, _a l'Anglaise_, made by one of our English servants; was
helped twice, and observed, that he hoped he should not shock us by eating
so much: "But," added he, "the truth is, that for several months I have
been following a most abstemious _regime_, living almost entirely on
vegetables; and now that I see a good dinner, I cannot resist temptation,
though to-morrow I shall suffer for my gormandize, as I always do when I
indulge in luxuries." He drank three glasses of champagne, saying, that as
he considered it a _jour de fete_, he would eat, drink, and be merry.
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