"Ravenna, August 10. 1821."Your conduct to Mr. Moore is certainly very handsome; and I would not say so if I could help it, for you are not at present by any means in my good graces."With regard to additions, &c. there is a Journal which I kept in 1814 which you may ask him for; also a Journal which you must get from Mrs. Leigh, of my journey in the Alps, which contains all the germs of Manfred. I have also kept a small Diary here for a few months last winter, which I would send you, and any continuation. You would find easy access to all my papers and letters, and donot neglect this(in case of accidents) on account of the mass of confusion in which they are; for out of that chaos of papers you will find some curious ones of mine and others, if not lost or destroyed. If circumstances, however (which is almost impossible), made me ever consent to a publication in my lifetime, you would in that case, I suppose, make Moore some advance, in proportion to the likelihood or non-likelihood of success. You are both sure to survive me, however."You must also have from Mr. Moore the correspondence between me and Lady B. to whom I offered the sight of all which regards herself in these papers. This is important. He hasherletter, and a copy of my answer. I would rather Moore edited me than another."I sent you Valpy's letter to decide for yourself, and Stockdale's to amuse you.Iam always loyal with you, as I was in Galignani's affair, andyouwith me—now and then."I return you Moore's letter, which is very creditable to him, and you, and me."Yours ever."
"Ravenna, August 10. 1821.
"Your conduct to Mr. Moore is certainly very handsome; and I would not say so if I could help it, for you are not at present by any means in my good graces.
"With regard to additions, &c. there is a Journal which I kept in 1814 which you may ask him for; also a Journal which you must get from Mrs. Leigh, of my journey in the Alps, which contains all the germs of Manfred. I have also kept a small Diary here for a few months last winter, which I would send you, and any continuation. You would find easy access to all my papers and letters, and donot neglect this(in case of accidents) on account of the mass of confusion in which they are; for out of that chaos of papers you will find some curious ones of mine and others, if not lost or destroyed. If circumstances, however (which is almost impossible), made me ever consent to a publication in my lifetime, you would in that case, I suppose, make Moore some advance, in proportion to the likelihood or non-likelihood of success. You are both sure to survive me, however.
"You must also have from Mr. Moore the correspondence between me and Lady B. to whom I offered the sight of all which regards herself in these papers. This is important. He hasherletter, and a copy of my answer. I would rather Moore edited me than another.
"I sent you Valpy's letter to decide for yourself, and Stockdale's to amuse you.Iam always loyal with you, as I was in Galignani's affair, andyouwith me—now and then.
"I return you Moore's letter, which is very creditable to him, and you, and me.
"Yours ever."
LETTER 444. TO MR. MURRAY.
"Ravenna, August 16. 1821."I regret that Holmes can't or won't come: it is rather shabby, as I was always very civil and punctual with him. But he is but one * * more. One meets with none else among the English."I wait the proofs of the MSS. with proper impatience."So you have published, or mean to publish, the new Juans? Ar'n't you afraid of the Constitutional Assassination of Bridge Street? When first I saw the name ofMurray, I thought it had been yours; but was solaced by seeing that your synonyme is an attorneo, and that you are not one of that atrocious crew."I am in a great discomfort about the probable war, and with my trustees not getting me out of the funds. If the funds break, it is my intention to go upon the highway. All the other English professions are at present so ungentlemanly by the conduct of those who follow them, that open robbing isthe only fair resource left to a man of any principles; it is even honest, in comparison, by being undisguised."I wrote to you by last post, to say that you had done the handsome thing by Moore and the Memoranda. You are very good as times go, and would probably be still better but for the 'march of events' (as Napoleon called it), which won't permit any body to be better than they should be."Love to Gifford. Believe me, &c."P.S. I restore Smith's letter, whom thank for his good opinion. Is the bust by Thorwaldsen arrived?"
"Ravenna, August 16. 1821.
"I regret that Holmes can't or won't come: it is rather shabby, as I was always very civil and punctual with him. But he is but one * * more. One meets with none else among the English.
"I wait the proofs of the MSS. with proper impatience.
"So you have published, or mean to publish, the new Juans? Ar'n't you afraid of the Constitutional Assassination of Bridge Street? When first I saw the name ofMurray, I thought it had been yours; but was solaced by seeing that your synonyme is an attorneo, and that you are not one of that atrocious crew.
"I am in a great discomfort about the probable war, and with my trustees not getting me out of the funds. If the funds break, it is my intention to go upon the highway. All the other English professions are at present so ungentlemanly by the conduct of those who follow them, that open robbing isthe only fair resource left to a man of any principles; it is even honest, in comparison, by being undisguised.
"I wrote to you by last post, to say that you had done the handsome thing by Moore and the Memoranda. You are very good as times go, and would probably be still better but for the 'march of events' (as Napoleon called it), which won't permit any body to be better than they should be.
"Love to Gifford. Believe me, &c.
"P.S. I restore Smith's letter, whom thank for his good opinion. Is the bust by Thorwaldsen arrived?"
LETTER 445. TO MR. MURRAY.
"Ravenna, August 23. 1821."Enclosed are the two acts corrected. With regard to the charges about the shipwreck, I think that I told both you and Mr. Hobhouse, years ago, that there was not asingle circumstanceof it not taken fromfact; not, indeed, from anysingleshipwreck, but all from actual facts of different wrecks[46].Almost all Don Juan isreallife, either my own, or from people I knew. By the way, much of the description of thefurniture, in Canto third, is taken fromTully's Tripoli(praynote this), and therest from my own observation. Remember, I never meant to conceal this at all, and have only not stated it, because Don Juan had no preface nor name to it. If you think it worth while to make this statement, do so in your own way.Ilaugh at such charges, convinced that no writer ever borrowed less, or made his materials more his own. Much is coincidence: for instance, Lady Morgan (in a reallyexcellentbook, I assure you, on Italy) calls Venice anocean Rome: I have the very same expression in Foscari, and yetyouknow that the play was written months ago, and sent to England: the 'Italy' I received only on the 16th instant."Your friend, like the public, is not aware, that my dramatic simplicity isstudiouslyGreek, and must continue so:noreform ever succeeded at first[47]. I admire the old English dramatists; but this is quite another field, and has nothing to do with theirs. I want to make aregularEnglish drama, no matter whether for the stage or not, which is not my object,—but amental theatre."Yours."P.S. Can't accept your courteous offer."For Orford and for WaldegraveYou give much more than me you gave;Which is not fairly to behave,My Murray."Because if a live dog, 'tis said,Be worth a lion fairly sped,Alive lordmust be worthtwodead,My Murray."And if as the opinion goes,Verse hath a better sale than prose—Certes, I should have more than those,My Murray."But now this sheet is nearly cramm'd,So, ifyou will,Isha'n't be shamm'd,And if youwon't,youmay be damn'd,My Murray."These matters must be arranged with Mr. Douglas Kinnaird. He is my trustee, and a man of honour. To him you can state all your mercantile reasons, which you might not like to state to me personally, such as 'heavy season'—'flat public'—'don't go off'—'Lordship writes too much'—won't take advice'—'declining popularity'—deduction for the trade'—'make very little'—'generally lose by him'—'pirated edition'—'foreign edition'—'severe criticisms,' &c. with other hints and howls for an oration, which I leave Douglas, who is an orator, to answer."You can also state them more freely to a third person, as between you and me they could only produce some smart postscripts, which would not adorn our mutual archives."I am sorry for the Queen, and that's more than you are."
"Ravenna, August 23. 1821.
"Enclosed are the two acts corrected. With regard to the charges about the shipwreck, I think that I told both you and Mr. Hobhouse, years ago, that there was not asingle circumstanceof it not taken fromfact; not, indeed, from anysingleshipwreck, but all from actual facts of different wrecks[46].Almost all Don Juan isreallife, either my own, or from people I knew. By the way, much of the description of thefurniture, in Canto third, is taken fromTully's Tripoli(praynote this), and therest from my own observation. Remember, I never meant to conceal this at all, and have only not stated it, because Don Juan had no preface nor name to it. If you think it worth while to make this statement, do so in your own way.Ilaugh at such charges, convinced that no writer ever borrowed less, or made his materials more his own. Much is coincidence: for instance, Lady Morgan (in a reallyexcellentbook, I assure you, on Italy) calls Venice anocean Rome: I have the very same expression in Foscari, and yetyouknow that the play was written months ago, and sent to England: the 'Italy' I received only on the 16th instant.
"Your friend, like the public, is not aware, that my dramatic simplicity isstudiouslyGreek, and must continue so:noreform ever succeeded at first[47]. I admire the old English dramatists; but this is quite another field, and has nothing to do with theirs. I want to make aregularEnglish drama, no matter whether for the stage or not, which is not my object,—but amental theatre.
"Yours.
"P.S. Can't accept your courteous offer.
"For Orford and for WaldegraveYou give much more than me you gave;Which is not fairly to behave,My Murray."Because if a live dog, 'tis said,Be worth a lion fairly sped,Alive lordmust be worthtwodead,My Murray."And if as the opinion goes,Verse hath a better sale than prose—Certes, I should have more than those,My Murray."But now this sheet is nearly cramm'd,So, ifyou will,Isha'n't be shamm'd,And if youwon't,youmay be damn'd,My Murray.
"For Orford and for WaldegraveYou give much more than me you gave;Which is not fairly to behave,My Murray.
"Because if a live dog, 'tis said,Be worth a lion fairly sped,Alive lordmust be worthtwodead,My Murray.
"And if as the opinion goes,Verse hath a better sale than prose—Certes, I should have more than those,My Murray.
"But now this sheet is nearly cramm'd,So, ifyou will,Isha'n't be shamm'd,And if youwon't,youmay be damn'd,My Murray.
"These matters must be arranged with Mr. Douglas Kinnaird. He is my trustee, and a man of honour. To him you can state all your mercantile reasons, which you might not like to state to me personally, such as 'heavy season'—'flat public'—'don't go off'—'Lordship writes too much'—won't take advice'—'declining popularity'—deduction for the trade'—'make very little'—'generally lose by him'—'pirated edition'—'foreign edition'—'severe criticisms,' &c. with other hints and howls for an oration, which I leave Douglas, who is an orator, to answer.
"You can also state them more freely to a third person, as between you and me they could only produce some smart postscripts, which would not adorn our mutual archives.
"I am sorry for the Queen, and that's more than you are."
LETTER 446. TO MR. MOORE.
"Ravenna, August 24. 1821."Yours of the 5th only yesterday, while I had letters of the 8th from London. Doth the post dabble into our letters? Whatever agreement you make with Murray, if satisfactory toyou, must be so to me. There need be no scruple, because, though I used sometimes to buffoon to myself, loving a quibble as well as the barbarian himself (Shakspeare, to wit)—'that, like a Spartan, I would sell mylifeasdearlyas possible'—it never was my intention to turn it to personal, pecuniary account, but to bequeath it to a friend—yourself—in the event of survivorship. I anticipated that period, because we happened to meet, and I urged you to make what was possiblenowby it, for reasons which are obvious. It has been no possibleprivationto me, and therefore does not require the acknowledgments you mention. So, for God's sake, don't consider it like * * *"By the way, when you write to Lady Morgan, will you thank her for her handsome speeches in her book aboutmybooks? I do not know her address. Her work is fearless and excellent on the subject of Italy—pray tell her so—and I know the country. I wish she had fallen in withme, I could have told her a thing or two that would have confirmed her positions."I am glad you are satisfied with Murray, who seems to value dead lords more than live ones.I have just sent him the following answer to a proposition of his,"For Orford and for Waldegrave, &c."The argument of the above is, that he wanted to 'stint me of my sizings,' as Lear says,—that is to say,notto propose an extravagant price for an extravagant poem, as is becoming. Pray take his guineas, by all means—Itaught him that. He made me a filthy offer ofpoundsonce, but I told him that, like physicians, poets must be dealt with in guineas, as being the only advantage poets could have in the association withthem, as votaries of Apollo. I write to you in hurry and bustle, which I will expound in my next."Yours ever, &c."P.S. You mention something of an attorney on his way to me on legal business. I have had no warning of such an apparition. What can the fellow want? I have some lawsuits and business, but have not heard of any thing to put me to the expense of atravellinglawyer. They do enough, in that way, at home."Ah, poor Queen I but perhaps it is for the best, if Herodotus's anecdote is to be believed."Remember me to any friendly Angles of our mutual acquaintance. What are you doing? Here I have had my hands full with tyrants and their victims. There neverwassuch oppression, even in Ireland, scarcely!"
"Ravenna, August 24. 1821.
"Yours of the 5th only yesterday, while I had letters of the 8th from London. Doth the post dabble into our letters? Whatever agreement you make with Murray, if satisfactory toyou, must be so to me. There need be no scruple, because, though I used sometimes to buffoon to myself, loving a quibble as well as the barbarian himself (Shakspeare, to wit)—'that, like a Spartan, I would sell mylifeasdearlyas possible'—it never was my intention to turn it to personal, pecuniary account, but to bequeath it to a friend—yourself—in the event of survivorship. I anticipated that period, because we happened to meet, and I urged you to make what was possiblenowby it, for reasons which are obvious. It has been no possibleprivationto me, and therefore does not require the acknowledgments you mention. So, for God's sake, don't consider it like * * *
"By the way, when you write to Lady Morgan, will you thank her for her handsome speeches in her book aboutmybooks? I do not know her address. Her work is fearless and excellent on the subject of Italy—pray tell her so—and I know the country. I wish she had fallen in withme, I could have told her a thing or two that would have confirmed her positions.
"I am glad you are satisfied with Murray, who seems to value dead lords more than live ones.I have just sent him the following answer to a proposition of his,
"For Orford and for Waldegrave, &c.
"For Orford and for Waldegrave, &c.
"The argument of the above is, that he wanted to 'stint me of my sizings,' as Lear says,—that is to say,notto propose an extravagant price for an extravagant poem, as is becoming. Pray take his guineas, by all means—Itaught him that. He made me a filthy offer ofpoundsonce, but I told him that, like physicians, poets must be dealt with in guineas, as being the only advantage poets could have in the association withthem, as votaries of Apollo. I write to you in hurry and bustle, which I will expound in my next.
"Yours ever, &c.
"P.S. You mention something of an attorney on his way to me on legal business. I have had no warning of such an apparition. What can the fellow want? I have some lawsuits and business, but have not heard of any thing to put me to the expense of atravellinglawyer. They do enough, in that way, at home.
"Ah, poor Queen I but perhaps it is for the best, if Herodotus's anecdote is to be believed.
"Remember me to any friendly Angles of our mutual acquaintance. What are you doing? Here I have had my hands full with tyrants and their victims. There neverwassuch oppression, even in Ireland, scarcely!"
LETTER 447. TO MR. MURRAY.
"Ravenna, August 31. 1821."I have received the Juans, which are printed socarelessly, especially the fifth Canto, as to be disgraceful to me, and not creditable to you. It really must begone over againwith themanuscript, the errors are so gross;—words added—changed—so as to make cacophony and nonsense. You have been careless of this poem because some of your squad don't approve of it; but I tell you that it will be long before you see any thing half so good as poetry or writing. Upon what principle have you omitted the note on Bacon and Voltaire? and one of the concluding stanzas sent as an addition? because it ended, I suppose, with—"And do not link two virtuous souls for lifeInto thatmoral centaurman and wife?"Now, I must say, once for all, that I will not permit any human being to take such liberties with my writings because I am absent. I desire the omissions to be replaced (except the stanza on Semiramis)—particularly the stanza upon the Turkish marriages; and I request that the whole be carefully gone over with the MS."I never saw such stuff as is printed:—Gulleyaz instead of Gulbeyaz, &c. Are you aware that Gulbeyaz is a real name, and the other nonsense? I copied theCantosout carefully, so that there isnoexcuse, as the printer read, or at leastprints, the MS. of the plays without error."If you have no feeling for your own reputation, pray have some little for mine. I have read over the poem carefully, and I tell you,it is poetry. Your little envious knot of parson-poets may say what they please: time will show that I am not in this instance mistaken."Desire my friend Hobhouse to correct the press, especially of the last Canto, from the manuscript as it is. It is enough to drive one out of one's reason to see the infernal torture of words from the original. For instance the line—"Andpairtheir rhymes as Venus yokes her doves—is printed"Andpraisetheir rhymes, &c.Also 'precarious' for 'precocious;' and this line, stanza 133."And this strong extreme effect to tire no longer.Now do turn to the manuscript and see if I ever wrote such aline: it isnot verse."No wonder the poem should fail (which, however, it won't, you will see) with such things allowed to creep about it. Replace what is omitted, and correct what is so shamefully misprinted, and let the poem have fair play; and I fear nothing."I see in the last two numbers of the Quarterly a strong itching to assail me (see the review of 'The Etonian'); let it, and see if they sha'n't have enough of it. I do not allude to Gifford, who has always been my friend, and whom I do not consider as responsible for the articles written by others."You will publish the plays when ready. I am in such a humour about this printing of Don Juan so inaccurately, that I must close this."Yours."P.S. I presume that you havenotlost thestanzato which I allude? It was sent afterwards: look over my letters and find it."
"Ravenna, August 31. 1821.
"I have received the Juans, which are printed socarelessly, especially the fifth Canto, as to be disgraceful to me, and not creditable to you. It really must begone over againwith themanuscript, the errors are so gross;—words added—changed—so as to make cacophony and nonsense. You have been careless of this poem because some of your squad don't approve of it; but I tell you that it will be long before you see any thing half so good as poetry or writing. Upon what principle have you omitted the note on Bacon and Voltaire? and one of the concluding stanzas sent as an addition? because it ended, I suppose, with—
"And do not link two virtuous souls for lifeInto thatmoral centaurman and wife?
"And do not link two virtuous souls for lifeInto thatmoral centaurman and wife?
"Now, I must say, once for all, that I will not permit any human being to take such liberties with my writings because I am absent. I desire the omissions to be replaced (except the stanza on Semiramis)—particularly the stanza upon the Turkish marriages; and I request that the whole be carefully gone over with the MS.
"I never saw such stuff as is printed:—Gulleyaz instead of Gulbeyaz, &c. Are you aware that Gulbeyaz is a real name, and the other nonsense? I copied theCantosout carefully, so that there isnoexcuse, as the printer read, or at leastprints, the MS. of the plays without error.
"If you have no feeling for your own reputation, pray have some little for mine. I have read over the poem carefully, and I tell you,it is poetry. Your little envious knot of parson-poets may say what they please: time will show that I am not in this instance mistaken.
"Desire my friend Hobhouse to correct the press, especially of the last Canto, from the manuscript as it is. It is enough to drive one out of one's reason to see the infernal torture of words from the original. For instance the line—
"Andpairtheir rhymes as Venus yokes her doves—
"Andpairtheir rhymes as Venus yokes her doves—
is printed
"Andpraisetheir rhymes, &c.
"Andpraisetheir rhymes, &c.
Also 'precarious' for 'precocious;' and this line, stanza 133.
"And this strong extreme effect to tire no longer.
"And this strong extreme effect to tire no longer.
Now do turn to the manuscript and see if I ever wrote such aline: it isnot verse.
"No wonder the poem should fail (which, however, it won't, you will see) with such things allowed to creep about it. Replace what is omitted, and correct what is so shamefully misprinted, and let the poem have fair play; and I fear nothing.
"I see in the last two numbers of the Quarterly a strong itching to assail me (see the review of 'The Etonian'); let it, and see if they sha'n't have enough of it. I do not allude to Gifford, who has always been my friend, and whom I do not consider as responsible for the articles written by others.
"You will publish the plays when ready. I am in such a humour about this printing of Don Juan so inaccurately, that I must close this.
"Yours.
"P.S. I presume that you havenotlost thestanzato which I allude? It was sent afterwards: look over my letters and find it."
LETTER 448.[48]TO MR. MURRAY.
"The enclosed letter is written in bad humour, but not without provocation. However, let it (that is, the bad humour) go for little; but I must request your serious attention to the abuses of the printer, which ought never to have been permitted. You forget that all the fools in London (the chief purchasers of your publications) will condemn in me the stupidity of your printer. For instance, in the notes to Canto fifth, 'theAdriaticshore of the Bosphorus' instead of theAsiatic!!All this may seem little to you, so fine a gentleman with your ministerial connections, but it is serious to me, who am thousands of miles off, and have no opportunity of not proving myself the fool your printer makes me, except your pleasure and leisure, forsooth."The gods prosper you, and forgive you, for I can't."
"The enclosed letter is written in bad humour, but not without provocation. However, let it (that is, the bad humour) go for little; but I must request your serious attention to the abuses of the printer, which ought never to have been permitted. You forget that all the fools in London (the chief purchasers of your publications) will condemn in me the stupidity of your printer. For instance, in the notes to Canto fifth, 'theAdriaticshore of the Bosphorus' instead of theAsiatic!!All this may seem little to you, so fine a gentleman with your ministerial connections, but it is serious to me, who am thousands of miles off, and have no opportunity of not proving myself the fool your printer makes me, except your pleasure and leisure, forsooth.
"The gods prosper you, and forgive you, for I can't."
LETTER 449. TO MR. MOORE.
"Ravenna, September 3. 1821."By Mr. Mawman (a paymaster in the corps, in which you and I are privates) I yesterday expeditedto your address, under cover one, two paper books, containing theGiaour-nal, and a thing or two. It won'talldo—even for the posthumous public—but extracts from it may. It is a brief and faithful chronicle of a month or so—parts of it not very discreet, but sufficiently sincere. Mr. Mawman saith that he will, in person or per friend, have it delivered to you in your Elysian fields."If you have got the new Juans, recollect that there are some very gross printer's blunders, particularly in the fifth Canto,—such as 'praise' for 'pair'—'precarious' for 'precocious'—'Adriatic' for 'Asiatic'—'case' for 'chase'—besides gifts of additional words and syllables, which make but a cacophonous rhythmus. Put the pen through the said, as I would mine through * *'s ears, if I were alongside him. As it is, I have sent him a rattling letter, as abusive as possible. Though he is publisher to the 'Board ofLongitude,' he is in no danger of discovering it."I am packing for Pisa—but direct your lettershere, till further notice. Yours ever," &c.
"Ravenna, September 3. 1821.
"By Mr. Mawman (a paymaster in the corps, in which you and I are privates) I yesterday expeditedto your address, under cover one, two paper books, containing theGiaour-nal, and a thing or two. It won'talldo—even for the posthumous public—but extracts from it may. It is a brief and faithful chronicle of a month or so—parts of it not very discreet, but sufficiently sincere. Mr. Mawman saith that he will, in person or per friend, have it delivered to you in your Elysian fields.
"If you have got the new Juans, recollect that there are some very gross printer's blunders, particularly in the fifth Canto,—such as 'praise' for 'pair'—'precarious' for 'precocious'—'Adriatic' for 'Asiatic'—'case' for 'chase'—besides gifts of additional words and syllables, which make but a cacophonous rhythmus. Put the pen through the said, as I would mine through * *'s ears, if I were alongside him. As it is, I have sent him a rattling letter, as abusive as possible. Though he is publisher to the 'Board ofLongitude,' he is in no danger of discovering it.
"I am packing for Pisa—but direct your lettershere, till further notice. Yours ever," &c.
One of the "paper-books" mentioned in this letter as intrusted to Mr. Mawman for me, contained a portion, to the amount of nearly a hundred pages, of a prose story, relating the adventures of a young Andalusian nobleman, which had been begun by him, at Venice, in 1817. The following passage is all I shall extract from this amusing Fragment:—
"A few hours afterwards we were very good friends, and a few daysafter she set out for Arragon, with my son, on a visit to her father and mother. I did not accompany her immediately, having been in Arragon before, but was to join the family in their Moorish château within a few weeks."During her journey I received a very affectionate letter from Donna Josepha, apprising me of the welfare of herself and my son. On her arrival at the château, I received another still more affectionate, pressing me, in very fond, and rather foolish, terms, to join her immediately. As I was preparing to set out from Seville, I received a third—this was from her father, Don Jose di Cardozo, who requested me, in the politest manner, to dissolve my marriage. I answered him with equal politeness, that I would do no such thing. A fourth letter arrived—it was from Donna Josepha, in which she informed me that her father's letter was written by her particular desire. I requested the reason by return of post—she replied, by express, that as reason had nothing to do with the matter, it was unnecessary to give any—but that she was an injured and excellent woman. I then enquired why she had written to me the two preceding affectionate letters, requesting me to come to Arragon. She answered, that was because she believed me out of my senses—that, being unfit to take care of myself, I had only to set out on this journey alone, and making my way without difficulty to Don Jose di Cardozo's, I should there have found the tenderest of wives and—a strait waistcoat."I had nothing to reply to this piece of affection but a reiteration of my request for some lights uponthe subject. I was answered that they would only be related to the Inquisition. In the mean time, our domestic discrepancy had become a public topic of discussion: and the world, which always decides justly, not only in Arragon but in Andalusia, determined that I was not only to blame, but that all Spain could produce nobody so blamable. My case was supposed to comprise all the crimes which could, and several which could not, be committed, and little less than an auto-da-fé was anticipated as the result. But let no man say that we are abandoned by our friends in adversity—it was just the reverse. Mine thronged around me to condemn, advise, and console me with their disapprobation.—They told me all that was, would, or could be said on the subject. They shook their heads—they exhorted me—deplored me, with tears in their eyes, and—went to dinner."
"A few hours afterwards we were very good friends, and a few daysafter she set out for Arragon, with my son, on a visit to her father and mother. I did not accompany her immediately, having been in Arragon before, but was to join the family in their Moorish château within a few weeks.
"During her journey I received a very affectionate letter from Donna Josepha, apprising me of the welfare of herself and my son. On her arrival at the château, I received another still more affectionate, pressing me, in very fond, and rather foolish, terms, to join her immediately. As I was preparing to set out from Seville, I received a third—this was from her father, Don Jose di Cardozo, who requested me, in the politest manner, to dissolve my marriage. I answered him with equal politeness, that I would do no such thing. A fourth letter arrived—it was from Donna Josepha, in which she informed me that her father's letter was written by her particular desire. I requested the reason by return of post—she replied, by express, that as reason had nothing to do with the matter, it was unnecessary to give any—but that she was an injured and excellent woman. I then enquired why she had written to me the two preceding affectionate letters, requesting me to come to Arragon. She answered, that was because she believed me out of my senses—that, being unfit to take care of myself, I had only to set out on this journey alone, and making my way without difficulty to Don Jose di Cardozo's, I should there have found the tenderest of wives and—a strait waistcoat.
"I had nothing to reply to this piece of affection but a reiteration of my request for some lights uponthe subject. I was answered that they would only be related to the Inquisition. In the mean time, our domestic discrepancy had become a public topic of discussion: and the world, which always decides justly, not only in Arragon but in Andalusia, determined that I was not only to blame, but that all Spain could produce nobody so blamable. My case was supposed to comprise all the crimes which could, and several which could not, be committed, and little less than an auto-da-fé was anticipated as the result. But let no man say that we are abandoned by our friends in adversity—it was just the reverse. Mine thronged around me to condemn, advise, and console me with their disapprobation.—They told me all that was, would, or could be said on the subject. They shook their heads—they exhorted me—deplored me, with tears in their eyes, and—went to dinner."
LETTER 450. TO MR. MURRAY.
"Ravenna, September 4. 1821."By Saturday's post, I sent you a fierce and furibund letter upon the subject of the printer's blunders in Don Juan. I must solicit your attention to the topic, though my wrath hath subsided into sullenness."Yesterday I received Mr. ——, a friend of yours, and because he is a friend ofyours; and that's more than I would do in anEnglishcase, except for those whom I honour. I was as civil as I could be among packages even to the very chairs and tables, for I am going toPisain a few weeks, and have sent and amsending off my chattels. It regretted me[49]that, my books and every thing being packed, I could not send you a few things I meant for you; but they were all sealed and baggaged, so as to have made it a month's work to get at them again. I gave him an envelope, with the Italian scrap in it[50], alluded to in my Gilchrist defence. Hobhouse will make it out for you, and it will make you laugh, and him too, thespellingparticularly. The 'Mericani,' of whom they call me the 'Capo' (or Chief), mean 'Americans,' which is the name given inRomagnato a part of the Carbonari; that is to say, to thepopularpart, thetroopsof the Carbonari. They are originally a society of hunters in the forest, who took the name of Americans, but at present comprise some thousands, &c.; but I shan't let you further into the secret, which may be participated with the postmasters. Why they thought me their Chief, I know not: their Chiefs are like 'Legion, being many. However, it is a post of more honour than profit, for, now that they are persecuted, it is fit that I should aid them; and so I have done, as far as my means would permit. They will rise again some day, forthese fools of the government are blundering: they actually seem to knownothing; for they have arrested and banished many of theirownparty, and let others escape who are not their friends."What think'st thou of Greece?"Address to me here as usual, till you hear further from me."By Mawman I have sent a Journal to Moore; but it won't do for the public,—at least a great deal of it won't;—partsmay."I read over the Juans, which are excellent. Your squad are quite wrong; and so you will find by and by. I regret that I do not go on with it, for I had all the plan for several cantos, and different countries and climes. You say nothing of thenoteI enclosed to you[51], which will explain why I agreed to discontinue it (at Madame G——'s request); butyou are so grand, and sublime, and occupied, that one would think, instead of publishing for 'the Board ofLongitude,' that you were trying to discover it."Let me hear that Gifford isbetter. He can't be spared either by you or me."
"Ravenna, September 4. 1821.
"By Saturday's post, I sent you a fierce and furibund letter upon the subject of the printer's blunders in Don Juan. I must solicit your attention to the topic, though my wrath hath subsided into sullenness.
"Yesterday I received Mr. ——, a friend of yours, and because he is a friend ofyours; and that's more than I would do in anEnglishcase, except for those whom I honour. I was as civil as I could be among packages even to the very chairs and tables, for I am going toPisain a few weeks, and have sent and amsending off my chattels. It regretted me[49]that, my books and every thing being packed, I could not send you a few things I meant for you; but they were all sealed and baggaged, so as to have made it a month's work to get at them again. I gave him an envelope, with the Italian scrap in it[50], alluded to in my Gilchrist defence. Hobhouse will make it out for you, and it will make you laugh, and him too, thespellingparticularly. The 'Mericani,' of whom they call me the 'Capo' (or Chief), mean 'Americans,' which is the name given inRomagnato a part of the Carbonari; that is to say, to thepopularpart, thetroopsof the Carbonari. They are originally a society of hunters in the forest, who took the name of Americans, but at present comprise some thousands, &c.; but I shan't let you further into the secret, which may be participated with the postmasters. Why they thought me their Chief, I know not: their Chiefs are like 'Legion, being many. However, it is a post of more honour than profit, for, now that they are persecuted, it is fit that I should aid them; and so I have done, as far as my means would permit. They will rise again some day, forthese fools of the government are blundering: they actually seem to knownothing; for they have arrested and banished many of theirownparty, and let others escape who are not their friends.
"What think'st thou of Greece?
"Address to me here as usual, till you hear further from me.
"By Mawman I have sent a Journal to Moore; but it won't do for the public,—at least a great deal of it won't;—partsmay.
"I read over the Juans, which are excellent. Your squad are quite wrong; and so you will find by and by. I regret that I do not go on with it, for I had all the plan for several cantos, and different countries and climes. You say nothing of thenoteI enclosed to you[51], which will explain why I agreed to discontinue it (at Madame G——'s request); butyou are so grand, and sublime, and occupied, that one would think, instead of publishing for 'the Board ofLongitude,' that you were trying to discover it.
"Let me hear that Gifford isbetter. He can't be spared either by you or me."
LETTER 451. TO MR. MURRAY.
"Ravenna, September 12. 1821."By Tuesday's post, I forwarded, in three packets, the drama of Cain in three acts, of which I request the acknowledgment when arrived. To the last speech ofEve, in the last act (i.e.where she curses Cain), add these three lines to the concluding one—"May the grass wither from thy foot! the woodsDeny thee shelter! earth a home! the dustA grave! the sun his light! and Heaven her God!"There's as pretty a piece of imprecation for you, when joined to the lines already sent, as you may wish to meet with in the course of your business. But don't forget the addition of the above three lines, which are clinchers to Eve's speech."Let me know what Gifford thinks (if the play arrives in safety); for I have a good opinion of the piece, as poetry; it is in my gay metaphysical style, and in the Manfred line."You must at least commend my facility and variety, when you consider what I have done within the last fifteen months, with my head, too, full of other and of mundane matters. But no doubt youwill avoid saying any good of it, for fear I should raise the price upon you: that's right: stick to business. Let me know what your other ragamuffins are writing, for I suppose you don't like starting too many of your vagabonds at once. You may give them the start, for any thing I care."Why don't you publish myPulci—the best thing I ever wrote,—with the Italian to it? I wish I was alongside of you; nothing is ever done in a man's absence; every body runs counter, because theycan. If ever Idoreturn to England, (which I sha'n't, though,) I will write a poem to which 'English Bards,' &c. shall be new milk, in comparison. Your present literary world of mountebanks stands in need of such an Avatar. But I am not yet quite bilious enough: a season or two more, and a provocation or two, will wind me up to the point, and then have at the whole set!"I have no patience with the sort of trash you send me out by way of books; except Scott's novels, and three or four other things, I never saw such work, or works. Campbell is lecturing—Moore idling—S * * twaddling—W * * drivelling—C * * muddling—* * piddling—B * * quibbling, squabbling, and snivelling. * * willdo, if he don't cant too much, nor imitate Southey; the fellow has poesy in him; but he is envious, and unhappy, as all the envious are. Still he is among the best of the day. B * * C * * will do better by-and-by, I dare say, if he don't get spoiled by green tea, and the praises of Pentonville and Paradise Row. The pity of these men is, that they never lived inhigh life, nor insolitude: there is no medium for the knowledge of thebusyor thestillworld. If admitted into high life for a season, it is merely as spectators—they form no part of the mechanism thereof. Now Moore and I, the one by circumstances, and the other by birth, happened to be free of the corporation, and to have entered into its pulses and passions,quarum partes fuimus. Both of us have learnt by this much which nothing else could have taught us."Yours."P.S. I saw one of your brethren, another of the allied sovereigns of Grub Street, the other day, Mawman the Great, by whom I sent due homage to your imperial self. To-morrow's post may perhaps bring a letter from you, but you are the most ungrateful and ungracious of correspondents. But there is some excuse for you, with your perpetual levee of politicians, parsons, scribblers, and loungers. Some day I will give you a poetical catalogue of them."
"Ravenna, September 12. 1821.
"By Tuesday's post, I forwarded, in three packets, the drama of Cain in three acts, of which I request the acknowledgment when arrived. To the last speech ofEve, in the last act (i.e.where she curses Cain), add these three lines to the concluding one—
"May the grass wither from thy foot! the woodsDeny thee shelter! earth a home! the dustA grave! the sun his light! and Heaven her God!
"May the grass wither from thy foot! the woodsDeny thee shelter! earth a home! the dustA grave! the sun his light! and Heaven her God!
"There's as pretty a piece of imprecation for you, when joined to the lines already sent, as you may wish to meet with in the course of your business. But don't forget the addition of the above three lines, which are clinchers to Eve's speech.
"Let me know what Gifford thinks (if the play arrives in safety); for I have a good opinion of the piece, as poetry; it is in my gay metaphysical style, and in the Manfred line.
"You must at least commend my facility and variety, when you consider what I have done within the last fifteen months, with my head, too, full of other and of mundane matters. But no doubt youwill avoid saying any good of it, for fear I should raise the price upon you: that's right: stick to business. Let me know what your other ragamuffins are writing, for I suppose you don't like starting too many of your vagabonds at once. You may give them the start, for any thing I care.
"Why don't you publish myPulci—the best thing I ever wrote,—with the Italian to it? I wish I was alongside of you; nothing is ever done in a man's absence; every body runs counter, because theycan. If ever Idoreturn to England, (which I sha'n't, though,) I will write a poem to which 'English Bards,' &c. shall be new milk, in comparison. Your present literary world of mountebanks stands in need of such an Avatar. But I am not yet quite bilious enough: a season or two more, and a provocation or two, will wind me up to the point, and then have at the whole set!
"I have no patience with the sort of trash you send me out by way of books; except Scott's novels, and three or four other things, I never saw such work, or works. Campbell is lecturing—Moore idling—S * * twaddling—W * * drivelling—C * * muddling—* * piddling—B * * quibbling, squabbling, and snivelling. * * willdo, if he don't cant too much, nor imitate Southey; the fellow has poesy in him; but he is envious, and unhappy, as all the envious are. Still he is among the best of the day. B * * C * * will do better by-and-by, I dare say, if he don't get spoiled by green tea, and the praises of Pentonville and Paradise Row. The pity of these men is, that they never lived inhigh life, nor insolitude: there is no medium for the knowledge of thebusyor thestillworld. If admitted into high life for a season, it is merely as spectators—they form no part of the mechanism thereof. Now Moore and I, the one by circumstances, and the other by birth, happened to be free of the corporation, and to have entered into its pulses and passions,quarum partes fuimus. Both of us have learnt by this much which nothing else could have taught us.
"Yours.
"P.S. I saw one of your brethren, another of the allied sovereigns of Grub Street, the other day, Mawman the Great, by whom I sent due homage to your imperial self. To-morrow's post may perhaps bring a letter from you, but you are the most ungrateful and ungracious of correspondents. But there is some excuse for you, with your perpetual levee of politicians, parsons, scribblers, and loungers. Some day I will give you a poetical catalogue of them."
LETTER 452. TO MR. MOORE.
"Ravenna, September 17. 1821."The enclosed lines[52], as you will directly perceive, are written by the Rev. W.L.B * *. Of course it is forhimto deny them if they are not."Believe me yours ever and most affectionately,"B."P.S. Can you forgive this? It is only a reply to your lines against my Italians. Of course I willstandby my lines against all men; but it is heart-breaking to see such things in a people as the reception of that unredeemed * * * * * * in an oppressed country.Yourapotheosis is now reduced to a level with his welcome, and their gratitude to Grattan is cancelled by their atrocious adulation of this, &c. &c. &c."
"Ravenna, September 17. 1821.
"The enclosed lines[52], as you will directly perceive, are written by the Rev. W.L.B * *. Of course it is forhimto deny them if they are not.
"Believe me yours ever and most affectionately,
"B.
"P.S. Can you forgive this? It is only a reply to your lines against my Italians. Of course I willstandby my lines against all men; but it is heart-breaking to see such things in a people as the reception of that unredeemed * * * * * * in an oppressed country.Yourapotheosis is now reduced to a level with his welcome, and their gratitude to Grattan is cancelled by their atrocious adulation of this, &c. &c. &c."
LETTER 453. TO MR. MOORE.
"Ravenna, September 19, 1821."I am in all the sweat, dust, and blasphemy of an universal packing of all my things, furniture, &c. for Pisa, whither I go for the winter. The cause has been the exile of all my fellow Carbonics, and, amongst them, of the whole family of Madame G.; who, you know, was divorced from her husband last week, 'on account of P.P. clerk of this parish,' and who is obliged to join her father and relatives, now in exile there, to avoid being shut up in a monastery, because the Pope's decree of separation required her to reside incasa paterna, or else, for decorum's sake, in a convent. As I could not say with Hamlet, 'Get thee to a nunnery,' I am preparing to follow them."It is awful work, this love, and prevents all a man's projects of good or glory. I wanted to go to Greece lately (as every thing seems up here) with her brother, who is a very fine, brave fellow (I have seen him put to the proof), and wild about liberty.But the tears of a woman who has left her husband for a man, and the weakness of one's own heart, are paramount to these projects, and I can hardly indulge them."We were divided in choice between Switzerland and Tuscany, and I gave my vote for Pisa, as nearer the Mediterranean, which I love for the sake of the shores which it washes, and for my young recollections of 1809. Switzerland is a curst selfish, swinish country of brutes, placed in the most romantic region of the world. I never could bear the inhabitants, and still less their English visiters; for which reason, after writing for some information about houses, upon hearing that there was a colony of English all over the cantons of Geneva, &c. I immediately gave up the thought, and persuaded the Gambas to do the same."By the last post I sent you 'The Irish Avatar,'—what think you? The last line—'a name never spoke but with curses or jeers'—must run either 'a name only uttered with curses or jeers,' or, 'a wretch never named but with curses or jeers.' Becaseashow, 'spoke' is not grammar, except in the House of Commons; and I doubt whether we can say 'a namespoken,' formentioned. I have some doubts, too, about 'repay,'—'and for murder repay with a shout and a smile.' Should it not be, 'and for murder repay him with shouts and a smile, 'or 'rewardhim with shouts and a smile?'"So, pray put your poetical pen through the MS. and take the least bad of the emendations. Also, if there be any further breaking of Priscian's head, willyou apply a plaster? I wrote in the greatest hurry and fury, and sent it to you the day after; so, doubtless, there will be some awful constructions, and a rather lawless conscription of rhythmus."With respect to what Anna Seward calls 'the liberty of transcript,'—when complaining of Miss Matilda Muggleton, the accomplished daughter of a choral vicar of Worcester Cathedral, who had abused the said 'liberty of transcript,' by inserting in the Malvern Mercury Miss Seward's 'Elegy on the South Pole,' as herownproduction, with herownsignature, two years after having taken a copy, by permission of the authoress—with regard, I say, to the 'liberty of transcript,' I by no means oppose an occasional copy to the benevolent few, provided it does not degenerate into such licentiousness of Verb and Noun as may tend to 'disparage my parts of speech' by the carelessness of the transcribblers."I do not think that there is much danger of the 'King's Press being abused' upon the occasion, if the publishers of journals have any regard for their remaining liberty of person. It is as pretty a piece of invective as ever put publisher in the way to 'Botany.' Therefore, iftheymeddle with it, it is attheirperil. As for myself, I will answer any jontleman—though I by no means recognise a 'right of search' into an unpublished production and unavowed poem. The same applies to things publishedsansconsent. I hope you like, at least, the concluding lines of thePome?"What are you doing, and where are you? in England? Nail Murray—nail him to his owncounter, till he shells out the thirteens. Since I wrote to you, I have sent him another tragedy—'Cain' by name—making three in MS. now in his hands, or in the printer's. It is in the Manfred, metaphysical style, and full of some Titanic declamation;—Lucifer being one of the dram. pers. who takes Cain a voyage among the stars, and afterwards to 'Hades,' where he shows him the phantoms of a former world, and its inhabitants. I have gone upon the notion of Cuvier, that the world has been destroyed three or four times, and was inhabited by mammoths, behemoths, and what not; butnotby man till the Mosaic period, as, indeed, is proved by the strata of bones found;—those of all unknown animals, and known, being dug out, but none of mankind. I have, therefore, supposed Cain to be shown, in therationalPreadamites, beings endowed with a higher intelligence than man, but totally unlike him in form, and with much greater strength of mind and person. You may suppose the small talk which takes place between him and Lucifer upon these matters is not quite canonical."The consequence is, that Cain comes back and kills Abel in a fit of dissatisfaction, partly with the politics of Paradise, which had driven them all out of it, and partly because (as it is written in Genesis) Abel's sacrifice was the more acceptable to the Deity. I trust that the Rhapsody has arrived—it is in three acts, and entitled 'A Mystery,' according to the former Christian custom, and in honour of what it probably will remain to the reader."Yours," &c.
"Ravenna, September 19, 1821.
"I am in all the sweat, dust, and blasphemy of an universal packing of all my things, furniture, &c. for Pisa, whither I go for the winter. The cause has been the exile of all my fellow Carbonics, and, amongst them, of the whole family of Madame G.; who, you know, was divorced from her husband last week, 'on account of P.P. clerk of this parish,' and who is obliged to join her father and relatives, now in exile there, to avoid being shut up in a monastery, because the Pope's decree of separation required her to reside incasa paterna, or else, for decorum's sake, in a convent. As I could not say with Hamlet, 'Get thee to a nunnery,' I am preparing to follow them.
"It is awful work, this love, and prevents all a man's projects of good or glory. I wanted to go to Greece lately (as every thing seems up here) with her brother, who is a very fine, brave fellow (I have seen him put to the proof), and wild about liberty.But the tears of a woman who has left her husband for a man, and the weakness of one's own heart, are paramount to these projects, and I can hardly indulge them.
"We were divided in choice between Switzerland and Tuscany, and I gave my vote for Pisa, as nearer the Mediterranean, which I love for the sake of the shores which it washes, and for my young recollections of 1809. Switzerland is a curst selfish, swinish country of brutes, placed in the most romantic region of the world. I never could bear the inhabitants, and still less their English visiters; for which reason, after writing for some information about houses, upon hearing that there was a colony of English all over the cantons of Geneva, &c. I immediately gave up the thought, and persuaded the Gambas to do the same.
"By the last post I sent you 'The Irish Avatar,'—what think you? The last line—'a name never spoke but with curses or jeers'—must run either 'a name only uttered with curses or jeers,' or, 'a wretch never named but with curses or jeers.' Becaseashow, 'spoke' is not grammar, except in the House of Commons; and I doubt whether we can say 'a namespoken,' formentioned. I have some doubts, too, about 'repay,'—'and for murder repay with a shout and a smile.' Should it not be, 'and for murder repay him with shouts and a smile, 'or 'rewardhim with shouts and a smile?'
"So, pray put your poetical pen through the MS. and take the least bad of the emendations. Also, if there be any further breaking of Priscian's head, willyou apply a plaster? I wrote in the greatest hurry and fury, and sent it to you the day after; so, doubtless, there will be some awful constructions, and a rather lawless conscription of rhythmus.
"With respect to what Anna Seward calls 'the liberty of transcript,'—when complaining of Miss Matilda Muggleton, the accomplished daughter of a choral vicar of Worcester Cathedral, who had abused the said 'liberty of transcript,' by inserting in the Malvern Mercury Miss Seward's 'Elegy on the South Pole,' as herownproduction, with herownsignature, two years after having taken a copy, by permission of the authoress—with regard, I say, to the 'liberty of transcript,' I by no means oppose an occasional copy to the benevolent few, provided it does not degenerate into such licentiousness of Verb and Noun as may tend to 'disparage my parts of speech' by the carelessness of the transcribblers.
"I do not think that there is much danger of the 'King's Press being abused' upon the occasion, if the publishers of journals have any regard for their remaining liberty of person. It is as pretty a piece of invective as ever put publisher in the way to 'Botany.' Therefore, iftheymeddle with it, it is attheirperil. As for myself, I will answer any jontleman—though I by no means recognise a 'right of search' into an unpublished production and unavowed poem. The same applies to things publishedsansconsent. I hope you like, at least, the concluding lines of thePome?
"What are you doing, and where are you? in England? Nail Murray—nail him to his owncounter, till he shells out the thirteens. Since I wrote to you, I have sent him another tragedy—'Cain' by name—making three in MS. now in his hands, or in the printer's. It is in the Manfred, metaphysical style, and full of some Titanic declamation;—Lucifer being one of the dram. pers. who takes Cain a voyage among the stars, and afterwards to 'Hades,' where he shows him the phantoms of a former world, and its inhabitants. I have gone upon the notion of Cuvier, that the world has been destroyed three or four times, and was inhabited by mammoths, behemoths, and what not; butnotby man till the Mosaic period, as, indeed, is proved by the strata of bones found;—those of all unknown animals, and known, being dug out, but none of mankind. I have, therefore, supposed Cain to be shown, in therationalPreadamites, beings endowed with a higher intelligence than man, but totally unlike him in form, and with much greater strength of mind and person. You may suppose the small talk which takes place between him and Lucifer upon these matters is not quite canonical.
"The consequence is, that Cain comes back and kills Abel in a fit of dissatisfaction, partly with the politics of Paradise, which had driven them all out of it, and partly because (as it is written in Genesis) Abel's sacrifice was the more acceptable to the Deity. I trust that the Rhapsody has arrived—it is in three acts, and entitled 'A Mystery,' according to the former Christian custom, and in honour of what it probably will remain to the reader.
"Yours," &c.
LETTER 454. TO MR. MOORE.
"September 20. 1821."After the stanza on Grattan, concluding with 'His soul o'er the freedom implored and denied,' will it please you to cause insert the following 'Addenda,' which I dreamed of during to-day's Siesta:"Ever glorious Grattan! &c. &c. &c.I will tell you what to do. Get me twenty copies of the whole carefully and privately printed off, asyourlines were on the Naples affair. Send mesix, and distribute the rest according to your own pleasure."I am in a fine vein, 'so full of pastime and prodigality!'—So here's to your health in a glass of grog. Pray write, that I may know by return of post—address to me at Pisa. The gods give you joy!"Where are you? in Paris? Let us hear. You will take care that there be no printer's name, nor author's, as in the Naples stanza, at least for the present."
"September 20. 1821.
"After the stanza on Grattan, concluding with 'His soul o'er the freedom implored and denied,' will it please you to cause insert the following 'Addenda,' which I dreamed of during to-day's Siesta:
"Ever glorious Grattan! &c. &c. &c.
"Ever glorious Grattan! &c. &c. &c.
I will tell you what to do. Get me twenty copies of the whole carefully and privately printed off, asyourlines were on the Naples affair. Send mesix, and distribute the rest according to your own pleasure.
"I am in a fine vein, 'so full of pastime and prodigality!'—So here's to your health in a glass of grog. Pray write, that I may know by return of post—address to me at Pisa. The gods give you joy!
"Where are you? in Paris? Let us hear. You will take care that there be no printer's name, nor author's, as in the Naples stanza, at least for the present."
LETTER 455 TO MR. MURRAY.
"Ravenna, September 20. 1821."You need not send 'The Blues,' which is a mere buffoonery, never meant for publication.[53]"The papers to which I allude, in case of survivorship, are collections of letters, &c. since I was sixteen years old, contained in the trunks in the care of Mr. Hobhouse. This collection is at least doubled by those I have now here, all received since my last ostracism. To these I should wish the editor to have access,notfor the purpose ofabusing confidences, nor ofhurtingthe feelings of correspondents living, nor the memories of the dead; but there are things which would do neither, that I have left unnoticed or unexplained, and which (like all such things) time only can permit to be noticed or explained, though some are to my credit. The task will, of course, require delicacy; but that will not be wanting, if Moore and Hobhouse survive me, and, I may add, yourself; and that you may all three do so, is, I assure you, my very sincere wish. I am not sure that long life is desirable for one of my temper and constitutional depression of spirits, which of course I suppress in society; but which breaks out when alone, and in my writings, in spite of myself. It has been deepened, perhaps, by some long-past events (I do not allude to my marriage, &c.—on the contrary, that raised them by the persecution giving a fillip to my spirits); but I call it constitutional, as I have reason to think it. You know, or you donotknow, that my maternal grandfather (a very clever man, and amiable, I am told) was strongly suspected of suicide (he was found drowned in the Avon at Bath), and that another very near relative of the same branch took poison, and was merely saved by antidotes. For the first of these events there was noapparent cause, as he was rich, respected, and of considerable intellectual resources, hardly forty years of age, and not at all addicted to any unhinging vice. It was, however, but a strong suspicion, owing to the manner of his death and his melancholy temper. Thesecond hada cause, but it does not become me to touch upon it: it happened when I was far too young to be aware of it, and I never heard of it till after the death of that relative, many years afterwards. I think, then, that I may call this dejectionconstitutional. I had always been told that I resembled more my maternal grandfather than any of myfather'sfamily—that is, in the gloomier part of his temper, for he was what you call a good-natured man, and I am not."The Journal here I sent to Moore the other day; but as it is a mere diary, onlypartsof it would ever do for publication. The other Journal, of the Tour in 1816, I should think Augusta might let you have a copy of."I am much mortified that Gifford don't take to my new dramas. To be sure, they are as opposite to the English drama as one thing can be to another; but I have a notion that, if understood, they will in time find favour (thoughnoton the stage) with the reader. The simplicity of plot is intentional, and the avoidance ofrantalso, as also the compression of the speeches in the more severe situations. What I seek to show in 'The Foscaris' is thesuppressedpassions, rather than the rant of the present day. For that matter—"Nay, if thou'lt mouth,I'll rant as well as thou—would not be difficult, as I think I have shown in my younger productions—not dramaticones, to be sure. But, as I said before, I am mortified that Gifford don't like them; but I see no remedy, our notions on that subject being so different. How is he?—well, I hope? let me know. I regret his demur the more that he has been always my grand patron, and I know no praise which would compensate me in my own mind for his censure. I do not mindReviews, as I can work them at their own weapons."Yours, &c."Address to me atPisa, whither I am going. The reason is, that all my Italian friends here have been exiled, and are met there for the present, and I go to join them, as agreed upon, for the winter."
"Ravenna, September 20. 1821.
"You need not send 'The Blues,' which is a mere buffoonery, never meant for publication.[53]
"The papers to which I allude, in case of survivorship, are collections of letters, &c. since I was sixteen years old, contained in the trunks in the care of Mr. Hobhouse. This collection is at least doubled by those I have now here, all received since my last ostracism. To these I should wish the editor to have access,notfor the purpose ofabusing confidences, nor ofhurtingthe feelings of correspondents living, nor the memories of the dead; but there are things which would do neither, that I have left unnoticed or unexplained, and which (like all such things) time only can permit to be noticed or explained, though some are to my credit. The task will, of course, require delicacy; but that will not be wanting, if Moore and Hobhouse survive me, and, I may add, yourself; and that you may all three do so, is, I assure you, my very sincere wish. I am not sure that long life is desirable for one of my temper and constitutional depression of spirits, which of course I suppress in society; but which breaks out when alone, and in my writings, in spite of myself. It has been deepened, perhaps, by some long-past events (I do not allude to my marriage, &c.—on the contrary, that raised them by the persecution giving a fillip to my spirits); but I call it constitutional, as I have reason to think it. You know, or you donotknow, that my maternal grandfather (a very clever man, and amiable, I am told) was strongly suspected of suicide (he was found drowned in the Avon at Bath), and that another very near relative of the same branch took poison, and was merely saved by antidotes. For the first of these events there was noapparent cause, as he was rich, respected, and of considerable intellectual resources, hardly forty years of age, and not at all addicted to any unhinging vice. It was, however, but a strong suspicion, owing to the manner of his death and his melancholy temper. Thesecond hada cause, but it does not become me to touch upon it: it happened when I was far too young to be aware of it, and I never heard of it till after the death of that relative, many years afterwards. I think, then, that I may call this dejectionconstitutional. I had always been told that I resembled more my maternal grandfather than any of myfather'sfamily—that is, in the gloomier part of his temper, for he was what you call a good-natured man, and I am not.
"The Journal here I sent to Moore the other day; but as it is a mere diary, onlypartsof it would ever do for publication. The other Journal, of the Tour in 1816, I should think Augusta might let you have a copy of.
"I am much mortified that Gifford don't take to my new dramas. To be sure, they are as opposite to the English drama as one thing can be to another; but I have a notion that, if understood, they will in time find favour (thoughnoton the stage) with the reader. The simplicity of plot is intentional, and the avoidance ofrantalso, as also the compression of the speeches in the more severe situations. What I seek to show in 'The Foscaris' is thesuppressedpassions, rather than the rant of the present day. For that matter—
"Nay, if thou'lt mouth,I'll rant as well as thou—
"Nay, if thou'lt mouth,I'll rant as well as thou—
would not be difficult, as I think I have shown in my younger productions—not dramaticones, to be sure. But, as I said before, I am mortified that Gifford don't like them; but I see no remedy, our notions on that subject being so different. How is he?—well, I hope? let me know. I regret his demur the more that he has been always my grand patron, and I know no praise which would compensate me in my own mind for his censure. I do not mindReviews, as I can work them at their own weapons.
"Yours, &c.
"Address to me atPisa, whither I am going. The reason is, that all my Italian friends here have been exiled, and are met there for the present, and I go to join them, as agreed upon, for the winter."
LETTER 456. TO MR. MURRAY.
"Ravenna, September 24. 1821."I have been thinking over our late correspondence, and wish to propose to you the following articles for our future:—"1stly. That you shall write to me of yourself, of the health, wealth, and welfare of all friends; but ofme(quoad me) little or nothing."2dly. That you shall send me soda-powders, tooth-powder, tooth-brushes, or any such anti-odontalgic or chemical articles, as heretofore,'ad libitum,' upon being reimbursed for the same."3dly. That you shall not send me any modern, or (as they are called)newpublications, inEnglish whatsoever, save and excepting any writing, prose or verse, of (or reasonably presumed to be of) Walter Scott, Crabbe, Moore, Campbell, Rogers, Gifford, Joanna Baillie,Irving(the American), Hogg, Wilson (Isle of Palms man), oranyespecialsinglework of fancy which is thought to be of considerable merit;VoyagesandTravels, provided that they areneither in Greece, Spain, Asia Minor, Albania, nor Italy, will be welcome. Having travelled the countries mentioned, I know that what is said of them can convey nothing farther which I desire to know about them.—No other English works whatsoever."4thly. That you send me no periodical works whatsoever—noEdinburgh, Quarterly, Monthly, nor any review, magazine, or newspaper, English or foreign, of any description."5thly. That you send me no opinions whatsoever, eithergood,bad, orindifferent, of yourself, or your friends, or others, concerning any work, or works, of mine, past, present, or to come."6thly. That all negotiations in matters of business between you and me pass through the medium of the Hon. Douglas Kinnaird, my friend and trustee, or Mr. Hobhouse, as 'alter ego,' and tantamount to myself during my absence—or presence."Some of these propositions may at first seem strange, but they are founded. The quantity of trash I have received as books is incalculable, and neither amused nor instructed. Reviews and magazines are at the best but ephemeral and superficialreading: who thinks of thegrand article of last yearin anygiven Review? In the next place, if they regard myself, they tend to increaseegotism. If favourable, I do not deny that the praiseelates, and if unfavourable, that the abuseirritates. The latter may conduct me to inflict a species of satire which would neither do good to you nor to your friends:theymay smilenow, and so mayyou; but if I took you all in hand, it would not be difficult to cut you up like gourds. I did as much by as powerful people at nineteen years old, and I know little as yet, in three-and-thirty, which should prevent me from making all your ribs gridirons for your hearts, if such were my propensity: but it isnot; therefore let me hear none of your provocations. If any thing occurs so very gross as to require my notice, I shall hear of it from my legal friends. For the rest, I merely request to be left in ignorance."The same applies to opinions,good,bad, orindifferent, of persons in conversation or correspondence. These do notinterrupt, but theysoilthecurrentof mymind. I am sensitive enough, butnottill I amtroubled; and here I am beyond the touch of the short arms of literary England, except the few feelers of the polypus that crawl over the channels in the way of extract."All these precautionsinEngland would be useless; the libeller or the flatterer would there reach me in spite of all; but in Italy we know little of literary England, and think less, except what reaches us through some garbled and brief extract in some miserable gazette. Fortwo years(excepting two orthree articles cut out and sent toyouby the post) I never read a newspaper which was not forced upon me by some accident, and know, upon the whole, as little of England as you do of Italy, and God knowsthatis little enough, with all your travels, &c. &c. &c. The English travellersknow Italy as youknow Guernsey: how much isthat?"If any thing occurs so violently gross or personal as requires notice, Mr. Douglas Kinnaird will let meknow; but ofpraiseI desire to hearnothing."You will say, 'to what tends all this?' I will answerthat;—to keep my mindfree and unbiassedby all paltry and personal irritabilities of praise or censure—to let my genius take its natural direction, while my feelings are like the dead, who know nothing and feel nothing of all or aught that is said or done in their regard."If you can observe these conditions, you will spare yourself and others some pain: let me not be worked upon to rise up; for if I do, it will not be for a little. If youcannotobserve these conditions, we shall cease to be correspondents,—but notfriends, for I shall always be yours ever and truly,"Byron."P.S. I have taken these resolutions not from any irritation against you oryours, but simply upon reflection that all reading, either praise or censure, of myself has done me harm. When I was in Switzerland and Greece, I was out of the way of hearing either, andhow I wrote there!—In Italy I am out of the way of it too; but latterly, partly through my fault, and partly through your kindness in wishingto send me thenewestand most periodical publications, I have had a crowd of Reviews, &c. thrust upon me, which have bored me with their jargon, of one kind or another, and taken off my attention from greater objects. You have also sent me a parcel of trash of poetry, for no reason that I can conceive, unless to provoke me to write a new 'English Bards.' NowthisI wish to avoid; for if ever Ido, it will be a strong production; and I desire peace as long as the fools will keep their nonsense out of my way."[54]
"Ravenna, September 24. 1821.
"I have been thinking over our late correspondence, and wish to propose to you the following articles for our future:—
"1stly. That you shall write to me of yourself, of the health, wealth, and welfare of all friends; but ofme(quoad me) little or nothing.
"2dly. That you shall send me soda-powders, tooth-powder, tooth-brushes, or any such anti-odontalgic or chemical articles, as heretofore,'ad libitum,' upon being reimbursed for the same.
"3dly. That you shall not send me any modern, or (as they are called)newpublications, inEnglish whatsoever, save and excepting any writing, prose or verse, of (or reasonably presumed to be of) Walter Scott, Crabbe, Moore, Campbell, Rogers, Gifford, Joanna Baillie,Irving(the American), Hogg, Wilson (Isle of Palms man), oranyespecialsinglework of fancy which is thought to be of considerable merit;VoyagesandTravels, provided that they areneither in Greece, Spain, Asia Minor, Albania, nor Italy, will be welcome. Having travelled the countries mentioned, I know that what is said of them can convey nothing farther which I desire to know about them.—No other English works whatsoever.
"4thly. That you send me no periodical works whatsoever—noEdinburgh, Quarterly, Monthly, nor any review, magazine, or newspaper, English or foreign, of any description.
"5thly. That you send me no opinions whatsoever, eithergood,bad, orindifferent, of yourself, or your friends, or others, concerning any work, or works, of mine, past, present, or to come.
"6thly. That all negotiations in matters of business between you and me pass through the medium of the Hon. Douglas Kinnaird, my friend and trustee, or Mr. Hobhouse, as 'alter ego,' and tantamount to myself during my absence—or presence.
"Some of these propositions may at first seem strange, but they are founded. The quantity of trash I have received as books is incalculable, and neither amused nor instructed. Reviews and magazines are at the best but ephemeral and superficialreading: who thinks of thegrand article of last yearin anygiven Review? In the next place, if they regard myself, they tend to increaseegotism. If favourable, I do not deny that the praiseelates, and if unfavourable, that the abuseirritates. The latter may conduct me to inflict a species of satire which would neither do good to you nor to your friends:theymay smilenow, and so mayyou; but if I took you all in hand, it would not be difficult to cut you up like gourds. I did as much by as powerful people at nineteen years old, and I know little as yet, in three-and-thirty, which should prevent me from making all your ribs gridirons for your hearts, if such were my propensity: but it isnot; therefore let me hear none of your provocations. If any thing occurs so very gross as to require my notice, I shall hear of it from my legal friends. For the rest, I merely request to be left in ignorance.
"The same applies to opinions,good,bad, orindifferent, of persons in conversation or correspondence. These do notinterrupt, but theysoilthecurrentof mymind. I am sensitive enough, butnottill I amtroubled; and here I am beyond the touch of the short arms of literary England, except the few feelers of the polypus that crawl over the channels in the way of extract.
"All these precautionsinEngland would be useless; the libeller or the flatterer would there reach me in spite of all; but in Italy we know little of literary England, and think less, except what reaches us through some garbled and brief extract in some miserable gazette. Fortwo years(excepting two orthree articles cut out and sent toyouby the post) I never read a newspaper which was not forced upon me by some accident, and know, upon the whole, as little of England as you do of Italy, and God knowsthatis little enough, with all your travels, &c. &c. &c. The English travellersknow Italy as youknow Guernsey: how much isthat?
"If any thing occurs so violently gross or personal as requires notice, Mr. Douglas Kinnaird will let meknow; but ofpraiseI desire to hearnothing.
"You will say, 'to what tends all this?' I will answerthat;—to keep my mindfree and unbiassedby all paltry and personal irritabilities of praise or censure—to let my genius take its natural direction, while my feelings are like the dead, who know nothing and feel nothing of all or aught that is said or done in their regard.
"If you can observe these conditions, you will spare yourself and others some pain: let me not be worked upon to rise up; for if I do, it will not be for a little. If youcannotobserve these conditions, we shall cease to be correspondents,—but notfriends, for I shall always be yours ever and truly,
"Byron.
"P.S. I have taken these resolutions not from any irritation against you oryours, but simply upon reflection that all reading, either praise or censure, of myself has done me harm. When I was in Switzerland and Greece, I was out of the way of hearing either, andhow I wrote there!—In Italy I am out of the way of it too; but latterly, partly through my fault, and partly through your kindness in wishingto send me thenewestand most periodical publications, I have had a crowd of Reviews, &c. thrust upon me, which have bored me with their jargon, of one kind or another, and taken off my attention from greater objects. You have also sent me a parcel of trash of poetry, for no reason that I can conceive, unless to provoke me to write a new 'English Bards.' NowthisI wish to avoid; for if ever Ido, it will be a strong production; and I desire peace as long as the fools will keep their nonsense out of my way."[54]
LETTER 457. TO MR. MOORE.
"September 27. 1821."It was not Murray's fault. I did not send the MS.overture, but I send it now[55], and it may berestored;—or, at any rate, you may keep the original, and give any copies you please. I send it, as written, and as Ireadit to you—I have no other copy."By last week'stwoposts, in two packets, I sent to your address, atParis, a longish poem upon the late Irishism of your countrymen in their reception of * * *. Pray, have you received it? It is in 'the high Roman fashion,' and full of ferocious phantasy. Asyoucould not well take up the matter with Paddy (being of the same nest), I have;—but I hope still that I have done justice to his great men and his good heart. As for * * *, you will find it laid on with a trowel. I delight in your 'fact historical'—is it a fact?"Yours, &c."P.S. You have not answered me about Schlegel—why not? Address to me at Pisa, whither I am going, to join the exiles—a pretty numerous body at present. Let me hear how you are, and what you mean to do. Is there no chance of your recrossing the Alps? If the G. Rex marries again, let him not want an Epithalamium—suppose a joint concern of you and me, like Sternhold and Hopkins!"
"September 27. 1821.
"It was not Murray's fault. I did not send the MS.overture, but I send it now[55], and it may berestored;—or, at any rate, you may keep the original, and give any copies you please. I send it, as written, and as Ireadit to you—I have no other copy.
"By last week'stwoposts, in two packets, I sent to your address, atParis, a longish poem upon the late Irishism of your countrymen in their reception of * * *. Pray, have you received it? It is in 'the high Roman fashion,' and full of ferocious phantasy. Asyoucould not well take up the matter with Paddy (being of the same nest), I have;—but I hope still that I have done justice to his great men and his good heart. As for * * *, you will find it laid on with a trowel. I delight in your 'fact historical'—is it a fact?
"Yours, &c.
"P.S. You have not answered me about Schlegel—why not? Address to me at Pisa, whither I am going, to join the exiles—a pretty numerous body at present. Let me hear how you are, and what you mean to do. Is there no chance of your recrossing the Alps? If the G. Rex marries again, let him not want an Epithalamium—suppose a joint concern of you and me, like Sternhold and Hopkins!"
LETTER 458. TO MR. MURRAY.