Notwithstanding all these various changes, the couplet in question
stands at present thus:--

"Blest as the Muezzin's strain from Mecca's wall
To pilgrims pure and prostrate at his call."

In addition to his own watchfulness over the birth of his new poem, he
also, as will be seen from the following letter, invoked the veteran
taste of Mr. Gifford on the occasion:--

LETTER 144. TO MR. GIFFORD.

"November 12. 1813.

"My dear Sir,

"I hope you will consider, when I venture on any request, that it
is the reverse of a certain Dedication, and is addressed, _not_ to
'The Editor of the Quarterly Review,' but to Mr. Gifford. You will
understand this, and on that point I need trouble you no farther.

"You have been good enough to look at a thing of mine in MS.--a
Turkish story, and I should feel gratified if you would do it the
same favour in its probationary state of printing. It was written,
I cannot say for amusement, nor 'obliged by hunger and request of
friends,' but in a state of mind from circumstances which
occasionally occur to 'us youth,' that rendered it necessary for me
to apply my mind to something, any thing but reality; and under
this not very brilliant inspiration it was composed. Being done,
and having at least diverted me from myself, I thought you would