Monday, August 6, 2012

Admiration (Byron's) for His (Samuel Rogers's) Genius

Samuel Rogers (1763-1855)
In case you were wondering...

The wording in Melville's dedication of Moby-Dick to Nathaniel Hawthorne
"IN TOKEN
OF MY ADMIRATION FOR HIS GENIUS"
 is strictly traditional.  The nearest and best known model has to be Bryon's 1813 dedication of
The Giaour:
TO
SAMUEL ROGERS, ESQ.

AS A SLIGHT BUT MOST SINCERE TOKEN
OF ADMIRATION OF HIS GENIUS;

RESPECT FOR HIS CHARACTER,
AND GRATITUDE FOR HIS FRIENDSHIP;

THIS PRODUCTION IS INSCRIBED BY

HIS OBLIGED 
AND AFFECTIONATE SERVANT,

BYRON. 

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