Part 13
"I have now written nearly three _acts_ of another (intending to complete it in five), and am more anxious than ever to be preserved from such a breach of all literary courtesy and gentlemanly consideration.
"If we succeed, well: if not, previous to any future publication, we will request a _promise_ not to be acted, which I would even pay for (as money is their object), or I will not publish--which, however, you will probably not much regret.
"The Chancellor has behaved nobly. You have also conducted yourself in the most satisfactory manner; and I have no fault to find with any body but the stage-players and their proprietor. I was always so civil to Elliston personally, that he ought to have been the last to attempt to injure me.
"There is a most rattling thunder-storm pelting away at this present writing; so that I write neither by day, nor by candle, nor torchlight, but by _lightning_ light: the flashes are as brilliant as the most gaseous glow of the gas-light company. My chimney-board has just been thrown down by a gust of wind: I thought that it was the 'Bold Thunder' and 'Brisk Lightning' in person.--_Three_ of us would be too many. There it goes--_flash_ again! but
"I tax not you, ye elements, with unkindness; I never gave ye _franks_, nor _call'd_ upon you;
as I have done by and upon Mr. Elliston.
"Why do you not write? You should at least send me a line of
## particulars: I know nothing yet but by Galignani and the Honourable
Douglas.
"Well, and how does our Pope controversy go on? and the pamphlet? It is impossible to write any news: the Austrian scoundrels rummage all letters.
"P.S. I could have sent you a good deal of gossip and some _real_ information, were it not that all letters pass through the Barbarians' inspection, and I have no wish to inform _them_ of any thing but my utter abhorrence of them and theirs. They have only conquered by treachery, however."
[Footnote 38: The account given, by Madame Guiccioli, of his anxiety on this occasion, fully corroborates his own:--"His quiet was, in spite of himself, often disturbed by public events, and by the attacks which, principally in his character of author, the journals levelled at him. In vain did he protest that he was indifferent to those attacks. The impression was, it is true, but momentary, and he, from a feeling of noble pride, but too much disdained to reply to his detractors. But, however brief his annoyance was, it was sufficiently acute to occasion him much pain, and to afflict those who loved him. Every occurrence relative to the bringing Marino Faliero on the stage caused him excessive inquietude. On, the occasion of an article in the Milan Gazette, in which mention was made of this affair, he wrote to me in the following manner:--'You will see here confirmation of what I told you the other day! I am sacrificed in every way, without knowing the _why_ or the _wherefore_. The tragedy in question is not (nor ever was) written for, or adapted to, the stage; nevertheless, the plan is not romantic; it is rather regular than otherwise;--in point of unity of time, indeed, perfectly regular, and failing but slightly in unity of place. You well know whether it was ever my intention to have it acted, since it was written at your side, and at a period assuredly rather more _tragical_ to me as a _man_ than as an _author_; for _you_ were in affliction and peril. In the mean time, I learn from your Gazette that a cabal and party has been formed, while I myself have never taken the slightest step in the business. It is said that the author read it aloud!!!--here, probably, at Ravenna?--and to whom? perhaps to Fletcher!!!--that illustrious literary character,'" &c. &c.--"Ma però la sua tranquillità era suo malgrado sovente alterata dalle publiche vicende, e dagli attachi che spesso si direggevano a lui nei giornali come ad autore principalmente. Era invano che egli protestava indifferenza per codesti attachi. L'impressione non era é vero che momentanea, e purtroppo per una nobile fierezza sdegnava sempre di rispondere ai suoi dettratori. Ma per quanto fosse breve quella impressione era però assai forte per farlo molto soffrire e per affliggere quelli che lo amavano. Tuttociò che ebbe luogo per la rappresentazione del suo Marino Faliero lo inquictò pure moltissimo e dietro ad un articolo di una Gazetta di Milano in cui si parlava di quell' affare egli mi scrisse così--'Ecco la verità di ciò che io vi dissi pochi giorni fa, come vengo sacrificato in tutte le maniere seza sapere il _perché_ e il _come_. La tragedia di cui si parla non è (e non era mai) nè scritta nè adattata al teatro; ma non è però romantico il disegno, è piuttosto regolare--regolarissimo per l' unità del tempo, c mancando poco a quella del sito. Voi sapete bene se io aveva intenzione di farla rappresentare, poichè era scritta al vostro fianco e nei momenti per certo più _tragici_ per me come _uomo_ che come _autore_,--perchè _voi_ eravate in affanno ed in pericolo. Intanto sento dalla vostra Gazetta che sia nata una cabala, un partito, e senza ch' io vi abbia presa la minima parte. Si dice che _l'autore ne fece la letlura!!!_--quì forse? a Ravenna?--ed a chi? forse a Fletcher!!!--quel illustre litterato,'" &c. &c.]
* * * * *
LETTER 428. TO ME. MOORE.
"Ravenna, May 20. 1821.
"Since I wrote to you last week I have received English letters and papers, by which I perceive that what I took for an Italian _truth_ is, after all, a French lie of the Gazette de France. It contains two ultra-falsehoods in as many lines. In the first place, Lord B. did _not_ bring forward his play, but opposed the same; and, secondly, it was _not_ condemned, but is continued to be acted, in despite of publisher, author, Lord Chancellor, and (for aught I know to the contrary) of audience, up to the first of May, at least--the latest date of my letters. You will oblige me, then, by causing Mr. Gazette of France to contradict himself, which, I suppose, he is used to. I never answer a foreign _criticism_; but this is a mere matter of fact, and not of _opinions_. I presume that you have English and French interest enough to do this for me--though, to be sure, as it is nothing but the _truth_ which we wish to state, the insertion may be more difficult.
"As I have written to you often lately at some length, I won't bore you further now, than by begging you to comply with my request; and I presume the 'esprit du corps' (is it 'du' or 'de?' for this is more than I know) will sufficiently urge you, as one of '_ours_,' to set this affair in its real aspect. Believe me always yours ever and most affectionately,
"BYRON."
* * * * *
LETTER 429. TO MR. HOPPNER.
"Ravenna, May 25. 1821.
"I am very much pleased with what you say of Switzerland, and will ponder upon it. I would rather she married there than here for that matter. For fortune, I shall make all that I can spare (if I live and she is correct in her conduct); and if I die before she is settled, I have left her by will five thousand pounds, which is a fair provision _out_ of England for a natural child. I shall increase it all I can, if circumstances permit me; but, of course (like all other human things), this is very uncertain.
"You will oblige me very much by interfering to have the FACTS of the play-acting stated, as these scoundrels appear to be organising a system of abuse against me, because I am in their '_list_.' I care nothing for _their criticism_, but the matter of fact. I have written _four_ acts of another tragedy, so you see they _can't_ bully me.
"You know, I suppose, that they actually keep a _list_ of all individuals in Italy who dislike them--it must be numerous. Their suspicions and actual alarms, about my conduct and presumed intentions in the late row, were truly ludicrous--though, not to bore you, I touched upon them lightly. They believed, and still believe here, or affect to believe it, that the whole plan and project of rising was settled by me, and the _means_ furnished, &c. &c. All this was more fomented by the barbarian agents, who are numerous here (one of them was stabbed yesterday, by the way, but not dangerously):--and although when the Commandant was shot here before my door in December, I took him into my house, where he had every assistance, till he died on Fletcher's bed; and although not one of them dared to receive him into their houses but myself, they leaving him to perish in the night in the streets, they put up a paper about three months ago, denouncing me as the Chief of the Liberals, and stirring up persons to assassinate me. But this shall never silence nor bully my opinions. All this came from the German Barbarians."
* * * * *
LETTER 430. TO MR. MURRAY.
"Ravenna, May 25. 1821.
"Mr. Moray,
"Since I wrote the enclosed a week ago, and for some weeks before, I have not had a line from you: now, I should be glad to know upon what principle of common or _un_common feeling, you leave me without any information but what I derive from garbled gazettes in English, and abusive ones in Italian (the Germans hating me as a _coal-heaver_), while all this kick-up has been going on about the play? You SHABBY fellow!!! Were it not for two letters from Douglas Kinnaird, I should have been as ignorant as you are negligent.
"So, I hear Bowles has been abusing Hobhouse? If that's the case, he has broken the truce, like Morillo's successor, and I will cut him out, as Cochrane did the Esmeralda.
"Since I wrote the enclosed packet, I have completed (but not copied out) four acts of a new tragedy. When I have finished the fifth, I will copy it out. It is on the subject of 'Sardanapalus,' the last king of the Assyrians. The words _Queen_ and _Pavilion_ occur, but it is not an allusion to his Britannic Majesty, as you may tremulously imagine. This you will one day see (if I finish it), as I have made Sardanapalus _brave_, (though voluptuous, as history represents him,) and also as _amiable_ as my poor powers could render him:--so that it could neither be truth nor satire on any living monarch. I have strictly preserved all the unities hitherto, and mean to continue them in the fifth, if possible; but _not_ for _the stage_. Yours, in haste and hatred, you shabby correspondent! N."
* * * * *
LETTER 431. TO MR. MURRAY.
"Ravenna, May 28. 1821.
"Since my last of the 26th or 25th, I have dashed off my fifth act of the tragedy called 'Sardanapalus.' But now comes the copying over, which may prove heavy work--heavy to the writer as to the reader. I have written to you at least six times sans answer, which proves you to be a--bookseller. I pray you to send me a copy of Mr. _Wrangham_'s reformation of '_Langhorne_'s Plutarch.' I have the Greek, which is somewhat small of print, and the Italian, which is too heavy in style, and as false as a Neapolitan patriot proclamation. I pray you also to send me a Life, published some years ago, of the _Magician Apollonius_ of Tyana. It is in English, and I think edited or written by what Martin Marprelate calls '_a bouncing priest_.' I shall trouble you no farther with this sheet than with the postage. Yours, &c. N.
"P.S. Since I wrote this, I determined to enclose it (as a half sheet) to Mr. Kinnaird, who will have the goodness to forward it. Besides, it saves sealing-wax."
* * * * *
LETTER 432. TO MR. MURRAY.
"Ravenna, May 30. 1821.
"Dear Moray,
"You say you have written often: I have only received yours of the eleventh, which is very short. By this post, _five_ packets, I send you the tragedy of Sardanapalus, which is written in a rough hand: perhaps Mrs. Leigh can help you to decipher it. You will please to acknowledge it by return of post. You will remark that the _unities_ are all _strictly_ observed. The scene passes in the same _hall_ always: the time, a _summer's night_, about nine hours, or less, though it begins before sunset and ends after sun-rise. In the third act, when Sardanapalus calls for a _mirror_ to look at himself in his armour, recollect to quote the Latin passage from _Juvenal_ upon _Otho_ (a similar character, who did the same thing): Gifford will help you to it. The trait is perhaps too familiar, but it is historical, (of _Otho_, at least,) and natural in an effeminate character."
* * * * *
LETTER 433. TO MR. HOPPNER.
"Ravenna, May 31. 1821.
"I enclose you another letter, which will only confirm what I have said to you.
"About Allegra'--I will take some decisive step in the course of the year; at present, she is so happy where she is, that perhaps she had better have her _alphabet_ imparted in her convent.
"What you say of the _Dante_ is the first I have heard of it--all seeming to be merged in the _row_ about the tragedy. Continue it!--Alas! what could Dante himself _now_ prophesy about Italy? I am glad you like it, however, but doubt that you will be singular in your opinion. My _new_ tragedy is completed.
"The B * * is _right_,--I ought to have mentioned her _humour_ and _amiability_, but I thought at her _sixty_, beauty would be most agreeable or least likely. However, it shall be rectified in a new edition; and if any of the parties have either looks or qualities which they wish to be noticed, let me have a minute of them. I have no private nor personal dislike to _Venice_, rather the contrary, but I merely speak of what is the subject of all remarks and all writers upon her present state. Let me hear from you before you start.
"Believe me, ever, &c.
"P.S. Did you receive two letters of Douglas Kinnaird's in an endorse from me? Remember me to Mengaldo, Soranzo, and all who care that I should remember them. The letter alluded to in the enclosed, 'to the _Cardinal_,' was in answer to some queries of the government, about a poor devil of a Neapolitan, arrested at Sinigaglia on suspicion, who came to beg of me here; being without breeches, and consequently without pockets for halfpence, I relieved and forwarded him to his country, and they arrested him at Pesaro on suspicion, and have since interrogated me (civilly and politely, however,) about him. I sent them the poor man's petition, and such information as I had about him, which I trust will get him out again, that is to say, if they give him a fair hearing.
"I _am_ content with the article. Pray, did you receive, some posts ago, Moore's lines which I enclosed to you, written at Paris?"
* * * * *
LETTER 434. TO MR. MOORE.
"Ravenna, June 4. 1821.
"You have not written lately, as is the usual custom with literary gentlemen, to console their friends with their observations in cases of magnitude. I do not know whether I sent you my 'Elegy on the _recovery_ of Lady * *:'--
"Behold the blessings of a lucky lot-- My play is damn'd, and Lady * * _not_.
"The papers (and perhaps your letters) will have put you in possession of Muster Elliston's dramatic behaviour. It is to be presumed that the play was _fitted_ for the stage by Mr. Dibdin, who is the tailor upon such occasions, and will have taken measure with his usual accuracy. I hear that it is still continued to be performed--a piece of obstinacy for which it is some consolation to think that the discourteous histrio will be out of pocket.
"You will be surprised to hear that I have finished another tragedy in _five_ acts, observing all the unities strictly. It is called 'Sardanapalus,' and was sent by last post to England. It is _not for_ the stage, any more than the other was intended for it--and I shall take better care _this_ time that they don't get hold on't.
"I have also sent, two months ago, a further letter on Bowles, &c.; but he seems to be so taken up with my 'respect' (as he calls it) towards him in the former case, that I am not sure that it will be published, being somewhat too full of' pastime and prodigality.' I learn from some private letters of Bowles's, that _you_ were 'the gentleman in asterisks.' Who would have dreamed it? you see what mischief that clergyman has done by printing notes without names. How the deuce was I to suppose that the first four asterisks meant 'Campbell' and _not_ 'Pope,' and that the blank signature meant Thomas Moore[39]? You see what comes of being familiar with parsons. His answers have not yet reached me, but I understand from Hobhouse, that _he_ (H.) is attacked in them. If that be the case, Bowles has broken the truce, (which he himself proclaimed, by the way,) and I must have at him again.
"Did you receive my letters with the two or three concluding sheets of Memoranda?
"There are no news here to interest much. A German spy (_boasting_ himself such) was stabbed last week, but _not_ mortally. The moment I heard that he went about bullying and boasting, it was easy for me, or any one else, to foretell what would occur to him, which I did, and it came to pass in two days after. He has got off, however, for a slight incision.
"A row the other night, about a lady of the place, between her various lovers, occasioned a midnight discharge of pistols, but nobody wounded. Great scandal, however--planted by her lover--_to be_ thrashed by her husband, for inconstancy to her regular Servente, who is coming home post about it, and she herself retired in confusion into the country, although it is the acme of the opera season. All the women furious against her (she herself having been censorious) for being _found out_. She is a pretty woman--a Countess * * * *--a fine old Visigoth name, or Ostrogoth.
"The Greeks! what think you? They are my old acquaintances--but what to think I know not. Let us hope howsomever.
"Yours,
"B."
[Footnote 39: In their eagerness, like true controversialists, to avail themselves of every passing advantage, and convert even straws into weapons on an emergency, my two friends, during their short warfare, contrived to place me in that sort of embarrassing position, the most provoking feature of which is, that it excites more amusement than sympathy. On the one side, Mr. Bowles chose to cite, as a support to his argument, a short fragment of a note, addressed to him, as be stated, by "a gentleman of the highest literary," &c. &c., and saying, in reference to Mr. Bowles's former pamphlet, "You have hit the right nail on the head, and * * * * too." This short scrap was signed with four asterisks; and when, on the appearance of Mr. Bowles's Letter, I met with it in his pages, not the slightest suspicion ever crossed my mind that I had been myself the writer of it;--my communications with my reverend friend and neighbour having been (for years, I am proud to say) sufficiently frequent to allow of such a hasty compliment to his disputative powers passing from my memory. When Lord Byron took the field against Mr. Bowles's Letter, this unlucky scrap, so authoritatively brought forward, was, of course, too tempting a mark for his facetiousness to be resisted; more especially as the person mentioned in it, as having suffered from the reverend critic's vigour, appeared, from the number of asterisks employed in designating him, to have been Pope himself, though, in reality, the name was that of Mr. Bowles's former antagonist, Mr. Campbell. The noble assailant, it is needless to say, made the most of this vulnerable point; and few readers could have been more diverted than I was with his happy ridicule of "the gentleman in asterisks," little thinking that I was myself, all the while, this veiled victim,--nor was it till about the time of the receipt of the above letter, that, by some communication on the subject from a friend in England, I was startled into the recollection of my own share in the transaction.
While by one friend I was thus unconsciously, if not innocently, drawn into the scrape, the other was not slow in rendering me the same friendly service;--for, on the appearance of Lord Byron's answer to Mr. Bowles, I had the mortification of finding that, with a far less pardonable want of reserve, he had all but named me as his authority for an anecdote of his reverend opponent's early days, which I had, in the course of an after-dinner conversation, told him at Venice, and which,--pleasant in itself, and, whether true or false, harmless,--derived its sole sting from the manner in which the noble disputant triumphantly applied it. Such are the consequences of one's near and dear friends taking to controversy.]
* * * * *
LETTER 435. TO MR. MOORE.
"Ravenna, June 22. 1821.
"Your dwarf of a letter came yesterday. That is right;--keep to your 'magnum opus '--magnoperate away. Now, if we were but together a little to combine our 'Journal of Trevoux!' But it is useless to sigh, and yet very natural,--for I think you and I draw better together, in the social line, than any two other living authors.
"I forgot to ask you, if you had seen your own panegyric in the correspondence of Mrs. Waterhouse and Colonel Berkeley? To be sure _their_ moral is not quite exact; but _your passion_ is fully effective; and all poetry of the Asiatic kind--I mean Asiatic, as the Romans called _Asiatic_ oratory,' and not because the scenery is Oriental--must be tried by that test only. I am not quite sure that I shall allow the Miss Byrons (legitimate or illegitimate) to read Lalla Rookh--in the first place, on account of this said _passion_; and, in the second, that they mayn't discover that there was a better poet than papa.
"You say nothing of politics--but, alas! what can be said?
"The world is a bundle of hay, Mankind are the asses who pull, Each tugs it a different way,-- And the greatest of all is John Bull!
"How do you call your new project? I have sent Murray a new tragedy, ycleped 'Sardanapalus,' writ according to Aristotle--all, save the chorus--could not reconcile me to that. I have begun another, and am in the second act;--so you see I saunter on as usual.
"Bowles's answers have reached me; but I can't go on disputing for ever,--particularly in a polite manner. I suppose he will take being _silent_ for _silenced_. He has been so civil that I can't find it in my liver to be facetious with him,--else I had a savage joke or two at his service. * * *
"I can't send you the little journal, because it is in boards, and I can't trust it per post. Don't suppose it is any thing
## particular; but it will show the _intentions_ of the natives at
that time--and one or two other things, chiefly personal, like the former one.