Today our noble Poet is 226 years young and I'm celebrating with a slice or two of this delicious cake that was purchased in his honour!
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He began the Ravenna Journal on January 4 and made his final entry on February 27 which also happens to be the day that I was born, albeit a few years later!
Byron celebrated his own birthday on Monday January 22 1821 and the excitement that he felt is reflected in the journal entry...
It is three minutes past twelve. - "'Tis the middle of the night by the castle clock," and I am now thirty-three!
"Eheu, fugaces, Posthume, Posthume,
Labuntur anni;"
but I don't regret them so much for what I have done, as for what I might have done.
Though life's road, so dim and dirty,
I have dragg'd to three-and-thirty.
What have these years left to me?
Nothing - except thirty-three.
As he watched the minutes tick by towards his birthday the evening before with palpable exhilaration he completed his journal on Sunday January 21 1821 with the following entry:
To-morrow is my birthday - that is to say, at twelve o' the clock, midnight, i.e. in twelve minutes, I shall have completed thirty and three years of age!!!! - and I go to my bed with a heaviness of heart at having lived so long, and to so little purpose.
I agree that 226 years is rather a long time to have lived for so long, however, I would have to disagree with him that his life has been spent with so little purpose and in honour of His Lordship’s birthday I have created another unique tribute!
For beginning at the dawn of Wednesday January 22 2014 and continuing every hour until midnight, I shall be publishing a series of blog posts about my travels as a ‘Regency’ Recondite as I go in search of a dead poet’s society and with extracts from his letters and poetry including some from his admirers and detractors alike, I hope that it will prove to be an enjoyable sojourn for you; albeit from the comfort of your chair!
Simply click on the link and without 'Sparing the Horses', let your travels commence!
Adieu for now!
Tee Bylo