Billeder på siden
PDF
ePub

female, canvassed, not as depending on their con- who is a native of Arezzo. The Countess Guiccioli, duct to their husbands or wives, but to their mis- who is reckoned a very cultivated young lady, and tress or lover. If I wrote a quarto, I don't know the dictionary, say cuirass. I have written cuirass that I could do more than amplify what I have here but helmet runs in my head nevertheless-and will noted. It is to be observed that while they do all run in verse very well, whilk is the principal_point. this, the greatest outward respect is to be paid to I will ask the Sposa Spina Spinelli, too, the Floren the husbands, not only by the ladies, but by their tine bride of Count Gabriel Rusponi, just imported Serventi-particularly if the husband serves no one from Florence, and get the sense out of somehimself (which is not often the case, however); so body.

that you would often suppose them relations-the "I have just been visiting the new cardinal, who Serventi making the figure of one adopted into the arrived the day before yesterday in his legation. He family. Sometimes the ladies run a little restive seems a good old gentleman, pious and simple, and and elope, or divide, or make a scene; but this is not quite like his predecessor, who was a bon vivant, at starting, generally, when they know no better, in the worldly sense of the words. or when they fall in love with a foreigner, or some such anomaly, and is always reckoned unnecessary and extravagant.

"You inquire after Dante's Prophecy: I have not done more than six hundred lines, but will vatici

nate at leisure.

"Enclosed is a letter which I received some time ago from Dallas. It will explain itself. I have not answered it. This comes of doing people good. At one time or another (including copyrights) this person has had about fourteen hundred pounds of my money, and he writes what he calls a posthu "Of the bust I know nothing. No cameos or mous work about me, and a scrubby letter accusing seals are to be cut here or elsewhere that I know me of treating him ill, when I never did any such of, in any good style. Hobhouse should write him- thing. It is true that I left off letter-writing, as I self to Thorwaldsen: the bust was made and paid have done with almost every body else; but I can't for three years ago. see how that was misusing him.

[ocr errors]

Pray tell Mrs. Leigh to request Lady Byron to urge forward the transfer from the funds. I wrote to Lady Byron on business this post, addressed to the care of Mr. D. Kinnaird."

LETTER CCCCXXIII.

TO MR. BANKES.

"Ravenna, February 26, 1820.

"I look upon his epistle as the consequence of my not sending him another hundred pounds, which he wrote to me for about two years ago, and which I thought proper to withhold, he having had his share, methought, of what I could dispone upon others.

"In your last you ask me after my articles of domestic wants: I believe they are as usual; the bull-dogs, magnesia, soda-powders, tooth-powders, brushes, and every thing of the kind which are here unattainable. You still ask me to return to England: alas! to what purpose? You do not know what you are requiring. Return I must, probably, "Pulci and I are waiting for you with impatience; some day or other (if I live), sooner or later; but but I suppose we must give way to the attraction of it will not be for pleasure, nor can it end in good. the Bolognese galleries for a time. I know nothing You inquire after my health and SPIRITS in large of pictures myself, and care almost as little; but to letters: my health can't be very bad, for I cured me there are none like the Venetian-above all, myself of a sharp tertian ague, in three weeks, Giorgione. I remember well his judgment of Sol- with cold water, which had held my stoutest gonomon in the Mariscalchi in Bologna. The real dolier for months, notwithstanding all the bark of mother is beautiful, exquisitely beautiful. Buy her, the apothecary,-a circumstance which surprised by all means, if you can, and take her home with Dr. Aglietti, who said it was a proof of great stamiyou put her in safety-for be assured there are na, particularly in so epidemic a season. I did it troublous times brewing for Italy; and as I never out of dislike to the taste of bark (which I can't could keep out of a row in my life, it will be my fate, I dare say, to be over head and ears in it; but no matter, these are the stronger reasons for coming to see me soon.

bear), and succeeded, contrary to the prophecies of every body by simply taking nothing at all. As to spirits, they are unequal, now high, now low, like other people's, I suppose, and depending upon circumstances.

"I have more of Scott's novels (for surely they are Scott's) since we met, and am more and more "Pray send me W. Scott's new novels. What delighted. I think that I even prefer them to his are their names and characters? I read some of poetry, which (by-the-way) I redde for the first his former ones, at least once a day, for an hour or time in my life in your rooms in Trinity college. So. The last are too hurried: he forgets Ravens"There are some curious commentaries on Dante preserved here, which you should see. Believe me ever faithfully and most affectionately,

"Yours, &c."

LETTER CCCCXXIV.

TO MR. MURRAY.

"Ravenna, March 1, 1820.

wood's name, and calls him Edgar and then Nor man; and Girder, the cooper, is styled now Gilbert, and now John, and he don't make enough of Montrose; but Dalgetty is excellent, and so is Lucy Ashton, and the b-h her mother. What is Iranhoe? and what do you call his other? are there two? Pray make him write at least two a year: I like no reading so well.

"The editor of the Bologna Telegraph has sent me a paper with extracts from Mr. Mulock's (his name always reminds me of Muley Moloch of Morocco) Atheism answered,' in which there is a long elogium of my poesy, and a great compati "I sent you by last post the translation of the mento' for my misery. I never could understand first canto of the Morgante Maggiore, and wish you what they mean by accusing me of irreligion. to ask Rose about the word 'sbergo,' i. e., usbergo,' However, they may have it their own way. This which I have translated cuirass. I suspect that it gentleman seems to be my great admirer, so I take means helmet also. Now, if so, which of the senses what he says in good part, as he evidently intends is best accordant with the text? I have adopted kindness, to which I can't accuse myself of being cuirass, but will be amenable to reasons. Of the invincible. Yours, &c." natives, some say one, and some t'other; but they are no great Tuscans in Romagna. However, I will

ask Sgricci (the famous improvisatore) to-morrow,|

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

"In case, in your country, you should not readily "Last post I sent you, 'The Vision of Dante,'-lay hands on the Morgante Maggiore, I send you first four cantos. Enclosed you will find line for the original text of the first canto, to correspond line, in third rhyme (terza rima,*) of which your with the translation which I sent you a few days ago. British_blackguard reader as yet understands noIt is from the Naples edition in quarto of 1732,—thing, Fanny of Rimini. You know that she was dated Florence, however, by a trick of the trade, born here, and married, and slain, from Cary, Boyd, which you, as one of the allied sovereigns of the and such people. I have done it into cramp Engprofession, will perfectly understand without any lish, line for line, and rhyme for rhyme, to try the farther spiegazione. possibility. You had best append it to the poems "It is strange that here nobody understands the already sent by last three posts. I shall not allow real precise meaning of 'sbergo,' or 'usbergo,'* an you to play the tricks you did last year, with the old Tuscan word, which I have rendered cuirass, prose you post-scribed to Mazeppa, which I sent to (but am not sure it is not helmet.) I have asked at you not to be published, if not in a periodical paper, least twenty people, learned and ignorant, male and-and there you tacked it, without a word of explafemale, including poets, and officers civil and mili-nation. If this is published, publish it with the tary. The dictionary says cuirass, but gives no original, and together with the Pulci translation, or authority; and a female friend of mine says posi- the Dante imitation. I suppose you have both by tively cuirass, which makes me doubt the fact still now, and the Juan long before.

more than before. Ginguene says, 'bonnet de fer' with the usual superficial decision of a Frenchman, so that I can't believe him: and what between the dictionary, the Italian woman, and the Frenchman, there's no trusting to a word they say. The context too, which should decide, admits equally of either meaning, as you will perceive. Ask Rose, Hobhouse, Merivale, and Foscolo, and vote with the majority. Is Frere a good Tuscan? if he be, bother him too. I have tried, you see, to be as accurate as I well could. This is my third or fourth letter, or packet, within the last twenty days."

not.

LETTER CCCCXXVI.

TO MR. MURRAY.

"Ravenna, March 14, 1820.

LETTER CCCCXXVIII.

TO MR. MURRAY.

"Ravenna, March 23, 1820.

"I have received your letter of the 7th. Besides the four packet you have already received, I have sent the Pulci a few days after, and since (a few days ago) the first four cantos of Dante's Prophecy, (the best thing I ever wrote, if it be not unintelligible,) and by last post a literal translation, word for word (versed like the original) of the episode of Francesca of Rimini. I want to hear what you think of the new Juans, and the translations, and the Vision. They are all things that are, or ought to be, very different from one another.

"If you choose to make a print from the Venetian, you may: but she don't correspond at all to "Enclosed is Dante's Prophecy-Vision-or what contrary, the Contessa G. does (except that she is the character you mean her to represent. On the Where I have left more than one reading, fair), and is much prettier than the Fornarina; but (which I have done often,) you may adopt that have no picture of her except a miniature, which which Gifford, Frere, Rose, and Hobhouse, and is very ill done; and, besides, it would not be proothers of your Utican Senate think the best, or least bad. The preface will explain all that is per, on any account whatever, to make such a use of it, even if you had a copy. explicable. These are but the first four cantos: if approved, I will go on.

"Pray mind in printing: and let some good Italian scholar correct the Italian quotations.

I

"Recollect that the two new cantos only count with us for one. together: perhaps that were best. So you have put You may put the Pulci and Dante rare fellow.-I must now put myself in a passion to your name to Juan after all your panic. You are a continue my prose.

"Four days ago I was overturned in an open car riage, between the river and a steep bank,-wheels dashed to pieces, slight bruises, narrow escape, and "I have caused H. to write to Thorwaldsen. Pray all that: but no harm done, though coachman, foot-be careful in sending my daughter's picture-I mean, man, horses, and vehicle were all mixed together that it be not hurt in the carriage, for it is a journey like macaroni. It was owing to bad driving, as I rather long and jolting." say; but the coachman swears to a start on the part of the horses. We went against a post on the verge of a steep bank, and capsized. I usually go out of the town in a carriage, and meet the saddle horses at the bridge; it was in going there that we boggled; but I got my ride, as usual, after the accident. They say here it was all owing to St. Antonio of Padua (serious, I assure you),-who does thirteen miracles a day,-that worse did not come of it. I have no objection to this being his fourteenth in the four-and-twenty hours. He presides which I will trouble you to acknowledge the receipt over overturns and all escapes therefrom, it seems; by next post. Mr. Hobhouse must have the correcand they dedicate, pictures, &c., to him, as the tion of it for the press. You may show it first to sailors once did to Neptune, after the high Roman whom you please. fashion.' "Yours, in haste."

• Usbergo is obviously the same as hauberk, habergcon, &c., all from the German hala-berg, or covering of the neck. See Gray's Bard, "Helm nor bauberk'a twisted mail."

LETTER CCCCXXIX.

TO MR. MURRAY.

"Ravenna, March 28, 1829. "Enclosed is a Screed of Doctrine' for you, of

"I wish to know what became of my two epistles from St. Paul, (translated from the Armenian three

• See Poems, p. 572.

Letter in answer to Mr. Bowles, p. 1037.

years ago and more,) and of the letter to Roberts ones than any at Venice. There are small games at of last autumn, which you never have attended to? hazard, that is, faro, where nobody can point more There are two packets with this. than a shilling or two;-other card-tables, and as

"P. S. I have some thoughts of publishing the much talk and coffee as you please. Every body Hints from Horace,' written ten years ago-if Hob- does and says what they please; and I do not recolhouse can rummage them out of my papers left at lect any disagreeable events, except being three his father's, with some omissions and alterations times falsely accused of flirtation, and once being previously to be made when I see the proofs."

LETTER CCCCXXX.

TO MR. MURRAY.

"Ravenna, March 29, 1820.

robbed of six sixpences by a nobleman of the city, a
Counte. I did not suspect the illustrious de-
linquent; but the Countess V and the Mar-
quis L
told me of it directly, and also that it
was a way he had, of filching money when he saw
it before him; but I did not ar him for the cash,
but contented myself with telling him that if he
did it again, I should anticipate the law.

"There is to be a theatre in April, and a fair, and an opera, and another opera in June, besides the fine weather of nature's giving, and the rides in the Forest of Pine. With my respects to Mrs. Hopp"BYRON. ner, believe me ever, &c.

"Herewith you will receive a note (enclosed) on Pope, which you will find tally with a part of the text of last post. I have at last lost all patience with the atrocious cant and nonsense about Pope," "P. S. Could you give me an item of what bocks with which our present *s are overflowing, and remain at Venice? I don't want them, but want to am determined to make such head against it as an know whether the few that are not here are there, individual can, by prose or verse; and I will at least and were not lost by the way. I hope and trust you do it with good will. There is no bearing it any have got all your wine safe, and that it is drinkable. longer; and if it goes on, it will destroy what little Allegra is prettier, I think, but as obstinate as a good writing or taste remains among us. I hope mule, and as ravenous as a vulture: health good, to there are still a few men of taste to second me; but judge of the complexion-temper tolerable but for if not, I'll battle it alone, convinced that it is in the vanity and pertinacity. She thinks herself handbest cause of English literature. some and will do as she pleases."

"I have sent you so many packets, verse and prose, lately, that you will be tired of the postage, if not of the perusal. I want to answer some parts of your last letter, but I have not time, for I must 'boot and saddle,' as my Captain Craigengilt (an officer of the old Napoleon Italian army) is in waiting, and my groom and cattle to boot.

6

LETTER CCCCXXXII.

TO MR. MURRAY.

"You have given me a screed of metaphor and what not about Pulci, and manners, going without "Ravenna, April 9, 1920. clothes, like our Saxon ancestors.' Now, the Sax- "In the name of all the devils in the printing ons did not go without clothes; and, in the next office, why don't you write to acknowledge the place, they are not my ancestors, nor yours either; receipt of the second, third, and fourth packets, viz., for mine were Norman, and yours, I take it by your the Pulci translation and original, the Danticles, name, were Gae!. And, in the next, I differ from the Observations on, &c.? You forget that you you about the 'refinement' which has banished the keep me in hot water till I know whether they are comedies of Congreve. Are not the comedies of arrived, or if I must have the bore of recopying. Sheridan acted to the thinnest houses? I know (as ex-committee that The School for Scandal' was

*

"Have you gotten the cream of translations, the worst stock-piece upon record. I also know that Francesca of Rimini, from the Inferno? Why, I Congreve gave up writing because Mrs. Centlivre's have sent you a warehouse of trash within the last balderdash drove his comedies off. So it is not de- month, and you have no sort of feeling about you: cency, but stupidity, that does all this; for Sheridan a pastry-cook would have had twice the gratitude, is as decent a writer as need be, and Congreve and thanked me at least for the quantity. no worse than Mrs. Centlivre, of whom Wilkes "To make the letter heavier, I enclose you the (the actor) said, not only her play would be Cardinal Legate's (our Campeius) circular for his damned, but she too.' He alluded to 'A Bold conversazione this evening. It is the anniversary of Stroke for a Wife.' But last, and most to the pur- the Pope's tiara-tion, and all polite Christians, pose, Pulci is not an indecent writer-at least in his even of the Lutheran creed, must go and be civil. first canto, as you will have perceived by this time. And there will be a circle, and a faro-table, (for "You talk of refinement:- are you all more shillings, that is, they don't allow high play,) and moral? are you so moral? No such thing. I know all the beauty, nobility, and sanctity of Ravenna what the world is in England, by my own proper present. The cardinal himself is a very goodexperience of the best of it-at least of the loftiest; natured little fellow, bishop of Muda, and legate and I have described it every where as it is to be here, a decent believer in all the doctrines of the found in all places. church. He has kept his housekeeper these forty "But to return. I should like to see the proofs years * **, but is reckoned a pious man, of mine answer, because there will be something to and a moral liver. omit or to alter. But pray let it be carefully printed. When convenient let me have an answer.

LETTER CCCCXXXI.

TO MR. HOPPNER.

"Yours."

"Ravenna, March 31, 1820.
*
*

"Ravenna continues much the same as I described it Conversazioni all Lent, and much better

"I am not quite sure that I won't be among you this autumn, for I find that business don't go onwhat with trustees and lawyers-as it should do, with all deliberate speed.' They differ about in vestments in Ireland.

[ocr errors]

"Between the devil and deep sea,
Between the lawyer and trustee,

I am puzzled; and so much time is lost by my not
being upon the spot, what with answers, demurs,
rejoinders, that it may be I must come and look to
it; for one says do, and t'other don't, so that I
know not which way to turn: but perhaps they can
manage without me.
"Yours, &c

P. S. I have begun a tragedy on the subject of swords left in their care when I quitted Venice. Marino Faliero, the Doge of Venice; but you There are also several pounds of Manton's best powshan't see it these six years, if you don't acknow- der in a japan case; but unless I felt sure of getting 'edge my packets with more quickness and preci- it away from V. without seizure, I won't have it sion. Always write, if but a line, by return of post, ventured. I can get it in here, by means of an acwhen any thing arrives, which is not a mere letter. quaintance in the customs, who has offered to get it "Address direct to Ravenna; it saves a week's ashore for me; but should like to be certiorated of time, and much postage." its safety in leaving Venice. I would not lose it for its weight in gold-there is none such in Italy, as I take it to be.

LETTER CCCCXXXIII.

TO MR. MURRAY.

"Ravenna, April 16, 1820.

"Post after post arrives without bringing any acknowledgment from you of the different packets (excepting the first) which I have sent within the last two months, all of which ought to be arrived long ere now; and as they were announced in other letters, you ought at least to say whether they are come or not. You are not expected to write frequent or long letters, as your time is much occu-, pied; but when parcels that have cost some pains in the composition, and great trouble in the copying, are sent to you, I should at least be put out of suspense, by the immediate acknowledgment, per return of post, addressed directly to Ravenna. I am naturally-knowing what continental posts are -anxious to hear that they are arrived: especially as I loath the task of copying so much, that if there was a human being that could copy my blotted MSS., he should have all they can ever bring for his trouble. All I desire is two lines, to say, such a day I received such a packet. There are at least six unacknowledged. This is neither kind nor

courteous.

"I have, besides, another reason for desiring you to be speedy, which is, that there is THAT brewing in Italy, which will speedily cut off all security of

"I wrote to you a week or so ago, and hope you are in good plight and spirits. Sir Humphrey Davy is here, and was last night at the cardinal's. As I had been there last Sunday, and yesterday was warm, I did not go, which I should have done, if I had thought of meeting the man of chemistry. He at Corso time. called this morning, and I shall go in search of him there is no great conversazione, and only the family I believe to-day, being Monday, tion sometimes, so that, unless he stays a day or one at the Marchese Cavalli's, where I go as a relatwo, we should hardly meet in public. "The theatre is to open in May for the fair, if there is not a row in all Italy by that time,-the and what will be the end no one knows-it is also Spanish business has set them all a constitutioning, necessary thereunto to have a beginning.

"Yours, &c." "P. S. My benediction to Mrs. Hoppner. How is your little boy? Allegra is growing, and has increased in good looks and obstinacy.'

LETTER CCCCXXXV.

TO MR. MURRAY.

"Ravenna, April 23, 1820.

"The proofs don't contain the last stanzas of communication, and set all your Anglo-travellers canto second, but end abruptly with the one hunflying in every direction, with their usual fortitude dred and fifth stanza.

in foreign tumults. The Spanish and French af- "I told you long ago that the new cantos* were fairs have set the Italians in a ferment; and no not good, and I also told you a reason. Recollect, wonder they have been too long trampled on. I do not oblige you to publish them; you may supThis will make a sad scene for your exquisite travel- press them, if you like, but I can alter nothing. I ler, but not for the resident, who naturally wishes a have erased the six stanzas about those two impospeople to redress itself. I shall, if permitted by tors, * (which I suppose will give you

the natives, remain to see what will come of it, and great pleasure,) but I can do no more. I can neither perhaps to take a turn with them, like Dugald Dal-recast, nor replace; but I give you leave to put it getty and his horse, in case of business; for I shall all into the fire, if you like, or not to publish, and I think it by far the most interesting spectacle and think that's sufficient.

moment in existence, to see the Italians send the "I told you that I wrote on with no good-willbarbarians of all nations back to their own dens. I that I had been, not frightened, but hurt by the have lived long enough among them to feel more outcry, and, besides, that when I wrote last Novemfor them as a nation than for any other people in ber, I was ill in body, and in very great distress of existence. But they want union, and they want mind about some private things of my own; but principle; and I doubt their success. However, they will try, probably, and if they do, it will be a good cause. No Italian can hate an Austrian more than I do: unless it be the English, the Austrians seem to me the most obnoxious race under the sky. "But I doubt if any thing be done, it won't be so quietly as in Spain. To be sure, revolutions are not to be made with rose water, where there are foreigners as masters.

"Write while you can; for it is but the toss up of a paul that there will not be a row that will somewhat retard the mail by-and-by.

"Yours, &c."

LETTER CCCCXXXIV.

TO MR. HOPPNER.

"Ravenna, April 18, 1820. "I have caused you to write to Siri and Wilhalm to send with Vincenza, in a boat, the camp-beds and

you would have it: so I sent it to you, and to make it lighter, cut it in two-but I can't piece it together again. I can't cobble: I must either make a spoon or spoil a horn,'-and there's an end; for there's no remeid: but I leave you free will to suppress the whole, if you like it.

"About the Morgante Maggiore, I won't have a line omitted. It may circulate, or it may not; but all the criticism on earth shan't touch a line, unless it be because it is badly translated. Now you say, and I say, and others say, that the translation is a good one; and so it shall go to press as it is. Pulci must answer for his own irreligion: I answer for the translation only.

*

"Pray let Mr. Hobhouse look to the Italian next time in the proofs: this time, while I am scribbling to you, they are corrected by one who passes for the prettiest woman in Romagna, and even the Marches, as far as Ancona, be the other who she may. "I am glad you like my answer to your inquiries

• Of Don Juan.

LETTER CCCCXXXVI.

TO MR. MURRAY.

about Italian society. It is fit you should like something, and be d-d to you.

"Ravenna, May 8, 1991

My love to Scott. I shall think higher of knighthood ever after for his being dubbed. Bythe-way, he is the first poet titled for his talent in Britain: it has happened abroad before now; but "From your not having written again, an intenon the continent titles are universal and worthless. tion which your letter of the 7th ultimo indicated, I Why don't you send me Ivanhoe and the Monas- have to presume that the Prophecy of Dante' has tery? I have never written to Sir Walter, for I not been found more worthy than its predecessors know he has a thousand things, and I a thousand in the eyes of your illustrious synod. In that case, nothings to do; but I hope to see him at Abbots- you will be in some perplexity; to and which, I ford before very long, and I will sweat his claret for repeat to you, that you are not to consider yourself him, though Italian abstemiousness has made my as bound or pledged to publish any thing because it brain but a shilpit concern for a Scotch sitting is mine, but always to act according to your own 'inter pocula.' I love Scott, and Moore, and all views, or opinions, or those of your friends; and to the better brethren; but I hate and abhor that pud-be sure that you in no degree offend me by declindle of water-worms whom you have taken into ing the article,' to use a technical phrase. The your troop. "Yours, &c. prose observations on John Wilson's attack,* I do "P. S. You say that one-half is very good: you not intend for publication at this time; and I send are wrong; for, if it were, it would be the finest a copy of verses to Mr. Kinnaird, (they were written poem in existence. Where is the poetry of which last year on crossing the Po,)† which must not be I mention this, because it is one-half is good? is it the Eneid? is it Milton's published either.

is it Dryden's? is it any one's except Pope's and probable he may give you a copy. Pray recollect Goldsmith's, of which all is good? and yet these this, as they are mere verses of society, and written last two are the poets your pond poets would ex-upon private feelings and passions. And, moreplode. But if one-half of the two new cantos be over, I can't consent to any mutilations or omissions of Pulci: the original has been ever free from good in your opinion, what the devil would you have more? No-no; no poetry is generally good such in Italy, the capital of Christianity, and the -only by fits and starts-and you are lucky to get a translation may be so in England; though you will sparkle here and there. You might as well want a think it strange that they should have allowed such midnight all stars as rhyme all perfect. freedom for many centuries to the Morgante, while "We are on the verge of a row here. Last night the other day they confiscated the whole transla they have overwritten all the city walls with Uption of the fourth canto of Childe Harold, and have the republic!' and 'Death to the Pope!' &c., &c. persecuted Leoni, the translator-so he writes me, This would be nothing in London, where the walls are privileged. But here it is a different thing: they are not used to such fierce political inscriptions, and the police is all on the alert, and the Cardinal glares pale through all his purple.

and so I could have told him, had he consulted me before its publication. This shows how much more politics interest men in these parts than religion.— Half a dozen invectives against tyranny confiscate Childe Harold in a month; and eight-and-twenty cantos of quizzing monks and knights, and church government, are let loose for centuries. I copy Le

oni's account.

"April 24th, 1820, 8 o'clock, P. M. "The police have been, all noon and after, searching for the inscribers, but have caught none as yet: canto del Childe Harold fu confiscata in ogni parte: "Non ignorerà forse che la mia versione del 4° They must have been all night about it, for the ed io stesso ho dovuto soffrir vessaxioni altrettanto 'Live republics-Death to Popes and Priests,' are innumerable, and plastered over all the palaces: ridicole quanto illiberali, ad arte che alcuni versi ours has plenty. There is 'Down with the Nobili- fossero esclusi dalla censura.

on,

Ma siccome il divieto

ty,' too; they are down enough already, for that non fa d'ordinario che accrescere la curiosità cosi matter. A very heavy rain and wind having come quel carme sull'Italia è ricercato più che mai, e I did not go out and skirr the country; but penso di farlo ristampare in Inghilterra senza nulla I shall mount to-morrow, and take a canter among escludere. Sciagurata condizione di questa mia the peasantry, who are a savage, resolute race, al- patria! se patria si può chiamare una terra cosi ways riding with guns in their hands. I wonder avvilita dalla fortuna, dagli uomini, da se medethey don't suspect the serenaders, for they play on the guitar here all night, as in Spain, to their mistresses.

I

"Talking of politics, as Caleb Quotem says, pray look at the conclusion of my Ode on Waterloo, written in the year 1815, and comparing it with the Duke de Berri's catastrophe in 1820, tell me if have not as good a right to the character of 'Vates, in both senses of the word, as Fitzgerald and Coleridge?

'Crimson tears will follow yet-'

and have not they?

sima.'

"Rose will translate this to you. Has he had his letter? I enclosed it to you months ago.

"This intended piece of publication I shall dissuade him from, or he may chance to see the inside of St. Angelo's. The last sentence of his letter is the common and pathetic sentiment of all his coun trymen.

"Sir Humphrey Davy was here last fortnight, and I was in his company in the house of a very pretty Italian lady of rank, who, by way of displaying her learning in presence of the great chemist, then describing his fourteenth ascension of Mount Vesu"I can't pretend to foresee what will happen viùs, asked if there was not a similar volcane in among you Englishers at this distance, but I vatici- Ireland?' My only notion of an Irish voleano nate a row in Italy; in whilk case, I don't know consisted of the lake of Killarney, which I natathat I won't have a finger in it. I dislike the Aus- rally conceived her to mean; but on second thoughts trians, and think the Italians infamously oppressed; I divined that she alluded to Iceland and to Hecla and if they begin, why, I will recommend the-and so it proved, though she sustained her volcanerection of a sconce upon Drumsnab,' like Dugald ic topography for some time with all the amiable Dalgetty."

• See Beppo, stanza lxxvi.

pertinacity of the feminie.' She soon after turned to me, and asked me various questions about Sir Humphrey's philosophy, and I explained as well as an oracle his skill in gasen safety lamps, and ungluing the Pompeian MSS. But what do you call

• See Letter to the editor of Blackwood's Magasine.

↑ Boe Poems, p. 572.

1

« ForrigeFortsæt »