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ii8 TRELAWNY'S LETTERS
and when the one sulked the other sulked ;
but was any man except Shelley big enough
to brook his lordship's moods ? That Byron
valued Trelawny is certain ;
he invited him to
Greece because he knew his worth. Once
arrived, Byron had the wit to perceive that
Mavrocordato, albeit the meanest of masters,
was the best and most serviceable to be had
at the moment. Trelawny, as was to be
expected, fell under the spell of Odysseus, at
that time in more or less open revolt against
the provisional government, but an adventurer
of fierce and reckless spirit, in manner and
appearance a romantic outlaw, a man after
his own heart. Henceforth Byron is reckoned
at best a dupe, and at worst a sluggish poltroon ;
while Trelawny, it is said, imitated his hero so
loyally that " he ate, dressed, and even spat
in his manner." When the poet died Trelawny
spoke with characteristic feeling :
" With all his faults I loved him truly. . . .
If it gave me pain witnessing his frailties, he
wanted a little excitement to awaken
only
and put forth virtues that redeemed them
all."
But the iron had entered into his soul, old
sores rankled, he could not forgive ; to the
last he was willing to pay back his rival in
his own coin sneers and abuse.