Note 191 — Chapter VII · THE ITALIAN INFLUENCE

Dr. Eichler has neglected to notice the important fact that at the time of the composition of Beppo, Byron could have been familiar with only the first two cantos of The Monks, and the Giants. A brief comparison of dates will establish this point. Cantos I. and II. of Frere’s poem were published in 1817; Beppo, written in the autumn of 1817 (Letters, iv., 172), was sent to Murray on January 19, 1818 (Letters, iv., 193), and given out for sale on February 28 of the same year. Not until later in 1818 were the last two cantos of Frere’s work printed, and the full edition of four cantos came out some months later. On July 17, 1818, Byron wrote Murray, “I shall be glad of Whistlecraft,” referring doubtless to the newly issued complete edition of The Monks, and the Giants.