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LETTER 369. TO MR. HOPPNER.

Ravenna, April 18. 1820.

"I have caused write to Siri and Will

halm to send with Vincenza, in a boat, the camp-beds and swords left in their care

when I quitted Venice. There are also several pounds of Manton's best powder in a Japan case; but unless I felt sure of getting it away from V. without seizure, I won't have it ventured. I can get it in here, by means of an acquaintance in the customs, who has offered to get it ashore for me; but should like to be certiorated of 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.

"I wrote to you a week or so ago, and hope you are in good plight and spirits. Sir Humphry 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 which I should have done, if I had go, thought of meeting the man of chemistry. He called this morning, and I shall go in search of him at Corso time. I believe today, being Monday, there is no great conversazione, and only the family one at the Marchese Cavalli's, where I go as a relation sometimes; so that, unless he stays a day or two, we should hardly meet in public.

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"The theatre is to open in May for the fair, if there is not a row in all Italy by that time, the Spanish business has set them all a constitutioning, and what will be the end, no one knows it is also 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 370. TO MR. MURRAY.

"Ravenna, April 23. 1820. "The proofs don't contain the last stanzas of Canto second, but end abruptly with the 105th stanza.

"I told you long ago that the new Cantos2 were not good, and I also told you a reason. Recollect, I do not oblige you to publish them; you may suppress them, if you like, but I can alter nothing. I have erased the six stanzas about those two impostors, Southey and Wordsworth (which I suppose will give you great pleasure), but I can do no more. I can neither recast, nor replace; but I give you leave to put it all into the fire, if you

1 [See BYRONIANA.]

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like, or not to publish, and I think that's sufficient.

"I told you that I wrote on with no good will that I had been, not frightened, but hurt by the outcry, and, besides, that when I wrote last November, I was ill in body, and in very great distress of mind about some private things of my own; but 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.

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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 Pulci must answer for his own irreligion: I one; and so it shall go to press as it is. 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 enquiries about Italian society. It is fit you should like something, and be d―d to

you.

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My love to Scott. I shall think higher of knighthood ever after for his being dubbed. By the way, he is the first poet titled for his talent in Britain: it has happened abroad before now; but on the Continent titles are universal and worthless. Why don't you send me Ivanhoe and the Monastery? I have never written to Sir Walter, for I know he has a thousand things, and I a thousand nothings, to do; but I hope to see him at Abbotsford before very long, and I will sweat his claret for him, though Italian abstemiousness has made my brain but a shilpit concern for a Scotch sitting inter pocula.' I love Scott and Moore, and all the better brethren; but I hate and abhor that puddle of water-worms whom you have taken into your troop.

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MORGANTE MAGGIORE.

any one's except Pope's and Goldsmith's, of which all is good? and yet these two last are the poets your pond poets would explode. But if one half of the two new Cantos be good in your opinion, what the devil would you have more? No-no; no poetry is generally good-only by fits and starts—and you are lucky to get a sparkle here and there. You might as well want a midnight all stars as rhyme all perfect.

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We are on the verge of a row here. Last night they have overwritten all the city walls with Up with the republic!' and Death to the Pope!' &c. &c. 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.

"April 24. 1820. 8 o'clock, P.M.

"The police have been, all noon and after, searching for the inscribers, but have caught none as yet. They must have been all night about it, for the 'Live Republics - Death to Popes and Priests,' are innumerable, and plastered over all the palaces: ours has plenty. There is 'Down with the Nobility,' too; they are down enough already, for that matter. A very heavy rain and wind having come on, I did not get on horseback to go out and 'skirr the country;' but I shall mount to-morrow, and take a canter among the peasantry, who are a savage, resolute race, always riding with guns in their hands. I wonder they don't suspect the serenaders, for they play on the guitar here all night, as in Spain, to their mistresses.

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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 I have not as good a right to the character of Vates,' in both senses of the word, as Fitzgerald and Coleridge?

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"Crimson tears will follow yet—' and have not they?

"I can't pretend to foresee what will happen among you Englishers at this distance, but I vaticinate a row in Italy; in whilk case, I don't know that I won't have a finger in it. I dislike the Austrians, and think the Italians infamously oppressed; and if they begin, why, I will recommend the erection

1 ["Freedom ne'er shall want an heir; Millions breathe but to inherit Her for ever bounding spirit

When once more her hosts assemble,

443

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"From your not having written again, an intention which your letter of the 7th ultimo indicated, I have to presume that the Prophecy of Dante' has not been found more worthy than its predecessors in the eyes of your illustrious synod. In that case, you will be in some perplexity; to end which, I repeat to you, that you are not to consider yourself as bound or pledged to publish any thing because it is mine, but always to act according to your own views, or opinions, or those of your friends; and to be sure that you will in no degree offend me by declining the article,' to use a technical phrase. The prose observations on John Wilson's attack, I do not intend for publication at this time; and I send a copy of verses to Mr. Kinnaird Po) which must not be published either. (they were written last year on crossing the mention this, because it is probable he may I give you a copy. Pray recollect this, as they are mere verses of society, and written upon private feelings and passions. And, moreover, I can't consent to any mutilations or omissions of Pulci: the original has been ever free from such in Italy, the capital of Christianity, and the translation may be so in England; ; though you will think it strange that they should have allowed such freedom for so many centuries to the Morgante, while the other day they confiscated the whole translation of the fourth canto of Childe Harold, and have persecuted Leoni, could have told him, had he consulted me the translator-so he writes me, and so I much more politics interest men in these before his publication. This shows how 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 Leoni's account.

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mai, e penso di farlo ristampare in Inghilterra senza nulla escludere. Sciagurata condizione di questa mia patria! se patria si può chiamare una terra così avvilita dalla fortuna, dagli unomini, da se medesima.'

66

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 countrymen.'

"Sir Humphry 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 to Mount Vesuvius, asked "if there was not a similar volcano in Ireland? My only notion of an Irish volcano consisted of the lake of Killarney, which I naturally conceived her to mean; but, on second thoughts, I divined that she alluded to Iceland and to Hecla - and so it proved, though she sustained her volcanic topography for some time with all the amiable pertinacity of the feminie.' She soon after turned to me and asked me various questions about Sir Humphry's philosophy, and I explained as well as an oracle his skill in gases, safety lamps, and ungluing the Pompeian MSS. 'But what do you call him?' said she. 'A great chemist,' quoth I. What can he do?' repeated the lady, Almost any thing,' said I. 'Oh, then, mio caro, do pray beg him to give me something to dye my eyebrows black. I have tried a thousand things, and the colours all come off; and besides, they don't grow; can't he invent something to make them grow?' All this with the greatest earnestness; and what you will be surprised at, she is neither ignorant nor a fool, but really well educated and clever. But they speak like children, when first out of their convents; and, after all, this is better than an English blue-stocking.

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"His

1 [In a letter of this same date Lord Byron says, countrymen execrate Castlereagh as the cause, by the conduct of the English at Genoa. Surely that man will not die in his bed! There is no spot of the earth where his name is not a hissing, and a curse. Imagine what must be the man's talent for odium, who has contrived to spread his infamy like a pestilence from Ireland to Italy, and to make his name an execration in all languages."]

2 ["Argal, if there has been any borrowing, Anstey must be the creditor, and not the debtor." See Works, p. 809.]

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"I did not tell Sir Humphry of this last piece of philosophy, not knowing how he might take it. Davy was much taken with Ravenna, and the PRIMITIVE Italianism of the people, who are unused to foreigners : but he only stayed a day.

"Send me Scott's novels and some news.

the second act of a tragedy on the subject "P. S.-I have begun and advanced into of the Doge's conspiracy (i. e. the story of Marino Faliero); but my present feeling is so little encouraging on such matters, that I

begin to think I have mined my talent out, and proceed in no great phantasy of finding

a new vein.

"P. S.-I sometimes think (if the Italians don't rise) of coming over to England in the autumn after the coronation, (at which I would not appear, on account of my family schism,) but as yet I can decide nothing. The place must be a great deal changed since I left it, now more than four years ago."

LETTER 372. TO MR. MURRAY.

"Ravenna, May 20. 1820. "Murray, my dear, make my respects to Thomas Campbell, and tell him from me, with faith and friendship, three things that he must right in his poets: Firstly, he says Anstey's Bath Guide characters are taken from Smollett. 'Tis impossible :- the Guide was published in 1766, and Humphrey Clinker in 1771-dunque, 'tis Smollett who has taken from Anstey. Secondly, he does not know to whom Cowper alludes, when he says that there was one who built a church to God, and then blasphemed his name:' it was 'Deo erexit Voltaire' to whom that maniacal Calvinist and coddled poet alludes.3 Thirdly, he misquotes and spoils a passage from Shakspeare, 'to gild refined gold, to paint the lily,' &c.; for lily he puts rose, and bedevils in more words than one the whole quotation. +

"The Calvinist meant Voltaire, and the church of Ferney, with its inscription, Deo erexit Voltaire.'”. Ibid.]

4 ["In the Life of Burns, Mr. Campbell quotes Shakspeare thus:—

"To gild refined gold, to paint the rose, Or add fresh perfume to the violet.' "This version by no means improves the original, which is as follows:

"To gild refined gold, to paint the lily,

To throw a perfume on the violet,' &c. "A great poet quoting another should be correct: he should also be accurate when he accuses a Parnassian brother of that dangerous charge 'borrowing:' a poet

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authors.

"In the first place, your packets; then a letter from Kinnaird, on the most urgent business; another from Moore, about a communication to Lady Byron of importance; a fourth from the mother of Allegra; and, fifthly, at Ravenna, the Countess G. is on the eve of being separated. But the Italian public are on her side, particularly the women, and the men also, because they say that he had no business to take the business up now after a year of toleration. All her relations (who are numerous, high in rank, and powerful) are furious against him for his conduct. I am warned to be on my guard, as he is very capable of employing sicarithis is Latin as well as Italian, so you can understand it; but I have arms, and don't mind them, thinking that I could pepper his ragamuffins if they don't come unawares, and that, if they do, one may as well end that way as another; and it would besides serve you

as an advertisement :—

"Man may escape from rope or gun, &c.

But he who takes woman, woman, woman, &c.

"Yours.

"P. S.-I have looked over the press, but heaven knows how. Think what I have

had better borrow any thing (excepting money) than the thoughts of another- they are always sure to be reclaimed; but it is very hard, having been the lender, to be denounced as the debtor; as is the case of Anstey versus Smollett. As there is honour amongst thieves' let there be some amongst poets, and give each his due. None can afford to give it more than Mr. Campbell himself, who, with a high reputation for originality, and a fame which cannot be shaken, is the only poet of the times (except Rogers) who can be reproached (and in him it is indeed a reproach) with having written too little." See Works, p. 809.]

LETTER 374.

TO MR. MOORE.

"Ravenna, May 24. 1820.

"I wrote to you a few days ago. There is also a letter of January last for you at Murray's, which will explain to you why I am here. Murray ought to have forwarded it long ago. I enclose you an epistle from a countrywoman of yours at Paris, which has moved my entrails. You will have the goodness, perhaps, to enquire into the truth of her story, and I will help her as far as I can,though not in the useless way she proposes. Her letter is evidently unstudied, and so natural, that the orthography is also in a state of nature.

"Here is a poor creature, ill and solitary, who thinks, as a last resource, of translating you or me into French! Was there ever such a notion? It seems to me the consummation of despair. Pray enquire, and let me know, and, if you could draw a bill on me here for a few hundred francs, at your banker's, I will duly honour it,—that is, if she is not an impostor. If not, let me know, that I may get something remitted by my banker Longhi, of Bologna, for I have no correspondence myself, at Paris: but tell her she must not translate ;- -if she does, it will be the height of ingratitude.

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2

"I had a letter (not of the same kind, but in French and flattery) from a Madame Sophie Gail, of Paris, whom I take to be the spouse of a Gallo-Greek of that name. Who is she? and what is she? and how came she to take an interest in my poeshie or its author? If you know her, tell her, with my compliments, that, as I only read French, I have not answered her letter; but would have done so in Italian, if I had not thought it would look like an affectation. I have just

1 ["Ci-git l'enfant gâté du monde qu'il gâta."]

2 According to his desire, I waited upon this young lady, having provided myself with a rouleau of fifteen or twenty Napoleons to present to her from his Lordship; but, with a very creditable spirit, my young countrywoman declined the gift, saying that Lord Byron had mistaken the object of her application to him, which was to request that, by allowing her to have the sheets of some of his works before publication, he would enable her to prepare early translations for the French booksellers, and thus afford her the means of acquiring something towards a livelihood.

been scolding my monkey for tearing the seal of her letter, and spoiling a mock book, in which I put rose leaves. I had a civet- | cat the other day, too; but it ran away, after scratching my monkey's cheek, and I am in search of it still. It was the fiercest beast I ever saw, and like ** in the face and

manner.

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I have a world of things to say; but, as they are not come to a dénouement, I don't care to begin their history till it is wound

up. After you went, I had a fever, but got well again without bark. Sir Humphry Davy was here the other day, and liked Ravenna very much. He will tell you any thing you may wish to know about the place and your humble servitor.

Your apprehensions (arising from Scott's) were unfounded. There are no damages in this country, but there will probably be a separation between them, as her family, which is a principal one, by its connections, are very much against him, for the whole of his conduct;- and he is old and obstinate, and she is young and a woman, determined to sacrifice every thing to her affections. I have given her the best advice, viz. to stay with him,-pointing out the state of a separated woman, (for the priests won't let lovers live openly together, unless the husband sanctions it,) and making the most exquisite moral reflections, but to no purpose. She says, 'I will stay with him, if he will let you remain with me. It is hard that I should be the only woman in Romagna who is not to have her Amico; but, if not, I will not live with him; and as for the consequences, love, &c. &c. &c.—you know how females reason on such occasions.

"He says he has let it go on till he can do so no longer. But he wants her to stay, and dismiss me; for he doesn't like to pay back her dowry and to make an alimony. Her relations are rather for the separation, as they detest him, indeed, so does every body. The populace and the women are, as usual, all for those who are in the wrong, viz. the lady and her lover. I should have retreated, but honour, and an erysipelas which has attacked her, prevent me, say nothing of love, for I love her most entirely, though not enough to persuade her to sacrifice every thing to a frenzy. 'I see how it will end; she will be the sixteenth Mrs. Shuffleton.'

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to

My paper is finished, and so must this

letter.

B.

Yours ever, you have not com

"P. S. I regret that pleted the Italian Fudges. you to be still in Paris? or five things of mine in

Pray, how come Murray has four hand—the new

Don Juan, which his back-shop synod don't admire ;—a translation of the first canto of Pulci's Morgante Maggiore, excellent ; — a short ditto from Dante, not so much approved; the Prophecy of Dante, very grand and worthy, &c. &c. &c. :-a furious prose answer to Blackwood's Observations on Don Juan, with a savage Defence of Popelikely to make a row. The opinions above quote from Murray and his Utican senate; - you will form your own, when you see the things.

"You will have no great chance of seeing me, for I begin to think I must finish in Italy. But, if you come my way, you shall have a tureen of macaroni. Pray tell me about yourself, and your intents.

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My trustees are going to lend Earl Blessington sixty thousand pounds (at six per cent.) on a Dublin mortgage. Only think of my becoming an Irish absentee!"

LETTER 375. TO MR. HOPPNER.

"Ravenna, May 25. 1820.

“A German named Ruppsecht has sent me, heaven knows why, several Deutsche Gazettes, of all which I understand neither word nor letter. I have sent you the enclosed to beg you to translate to me some remarks, which appear to be Goethe's upon Manfred, and if I may judge by two notes of admiration (generally put after something ridiculous by us) and the word 'hypocordrisch,' are any thing but favourable. I shall regret this, for I should have been proud of Goethe's good word; but I shan't alter my opinion of him, even though he should be

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'Will you excuse this trouble, and do me this favour? - Never mind-soften nothing -I am literary proof-having had good and evil said in most modern languages. "Believe me, &c."

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Ravenna, June 1. 1890. "I have received a Parisian letter from W. W., which I prefer answering through you, if that worthy be still at Paris, and, as he says, an occasional visitor of In yours. November last he wrote to me a well-meaning letter, stating, for some reasons of his own, his belief that a re-union might be effected between Lady B. and myself. To this 1 answered as usual; and he sent me a second letter, repeating his notions, which letter I

1 [Mr. Wedderburn Webster; now Sir James Webster Wedderburn, 1838.]

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