Byron quote translation?

[celticdragonfly]

Karl was reading a book I gave him, from the library, about the Regency period. It gives a famous quote from Byron about Glenarvon, what he replied when someone asked him what he thought of his portrait in the book:

Elle aurait été plus ressemblante si j'avais voulu donner plus de séances.

They don't give the translation. Mechanical translation only gives It would have been more resembling if I had wanted to give more meetings. I keep thinking I've heard this quote properly translated somewhere, but I can't find it. Anyone?

Comments

[lolleeroberts.livejournal.com]

My admittedly rusty college French says "It would have resembled me more if I had volunteered for more sittings."

Basically saying he can't gripe that it doesn't look like him when he refused to sit for his portrait.

[joyeuse13.livejournal.com]

Yep, more sittings. Who likes to sit still for portraits?

[17catherines.livejournal.com]

Without looking at a dictionary, may I suggest "It would have been a more apt portrait if I had been willing to give more sittings" - I believe Glenarvon was Caroline Lamb's portrayal of Byron and he was not impressed by it.

love

Catherine