Caricatures for Albe by Claire Clairmont

Caricatures for Albe

The last his Death. He dead, extended on his bed, covered all but his breast, which many wigged doctors are cutting open to find out (as one may be saying) what was the extraordinary disease of which this great man died—His heart laid bare, they find an immense capital I grown on its surface—and which had begun to pierce the breast—They are all astonishment.

One says, "A new disease." Another, "I never had a case of this before." A third, "What medicine would have been proper?" The fourth, holding up a finger, "A Desert island."


                                                —Claire Clairmont
                                                 on Lord Byron