Note 177 — THE BRIDE OF ABYDOS.[124]
Reading edition
[In the first draft of a supplementary fragment, line 883 ran thus—
"and tints tomorrow with { a fancied an airy } ray."
A note was appended—
"Mr. My. Choose which of the 2 epithets 'fancied' or 'airy' may be best—or if neither will do—tell me and I will dream another— "Yours, "Bn"
The epithet ("prophetic") which stands in the text was inserted in a revise dated December 3, 1813. Two other versions were also sent, that Gifford might select that which was "best, or rather not worst"—
"and { gilds tints } the hope of morning with its ray." "And gilds to-morrow's hope with heavenly ray."
(Letters, 1898, ii. 282.)
On the same date, December 3rd, two additional lines were affixed to the quatrain (lines 886-889)—
"Soft as the Mecca Muezzin's strains invite Him who hath journeyed far to join the rite."
And in a later revise, as "a last alteration"—
"Blest as the call which from Medina's dome Invites devotion to her Prophet's tomb."
An erased version of this "last alteration" ran thus—
"Blest as the Muezzin's strain from Mecca's dome Which welcomes Faith to view her Prophet's tomb."[A]
[A] [It is probable that Byron, who did not trouble himself to distinguish between "lie" and "lay," and who, as the MS. of English Bards, and Scotch Reviewers (see line 732, Poetical Works, 1898, i. 355) reveals, pronounced "petit maître" anglicé in four syllables, regarded "dome" (vide supra) as a true and exact rhyme to "tomb," but, with his wonted compliance, was persuaded to make yet another alteration.] ]