Note 370 — Chapter IX · “THE VISION OF JUDGMENT”

The recurrence in the Vision of many familiar devices of Don Juan reminds us that the Vision marks Byron’s resumption of the ottava rima, which he had left off on December 27, 1820, at the completion of Don Juan, Canto V., because of the request of the Countess Guiccioli that he discontinue the work. In the meantime he turned his attention to the drama, and Cain, The Two Foscari, and Sardanapalus were published in December, 1821. The Vision then was his only work in the octave stanza between December 27, 1820, and June, 1822, when he began Canto VI. of Don Juan.