of these two young persons,—­knave, if you connive at it.  Take your choice,—­but don’t break out (after twelve months of the closest intimacy, under your own eyes and positive sanction) with a scandal, which can only make you ridiculous and her unhappy.’

“He swore that he thought our intercourse was purely amicable, and that I was more partial to him than to her, till melancholy testimony proved the contrary.  To this they answer, that ’Will of this wisp’ was not an unknown person, and that ‘clamosa Fama’ had not proclaimed the purity of my morals;—­that her brother, a year ago, wrote from Rome to warn him that his wife would infallibly be led astray by this ignis fatuus, unless he took proper measures, all of which he neglected to take, &c. &c.

     “Now he says that he encouraged my return to Ravenna, to see ’in
     quanti piedi di acqua siamo,’ and he has found enough to drown him
     in.  In short,

        “’Ce ne fut pas le tout; sa femme se plaignit—­
        Proces—­La parente se joint en excuse et dit
        Que du Docteur venoit tout le mauvais menage;
        Que cet homme etoit fou, que sa femme etoit sage. 
        On fit casser le mariage.’

It is but to let the women alone, in the way of conflict, for they are sure to win against the field.  She returns to her father’s house, and I can only see her under great restrictions—­such is the custom of the country.  The relations behave very well:—­I offered any settlement, but they refused to accept it, and swear she shan’t live with G. (as he has tried to prove her faithless), but that he shall maintain her; and, in fact, a judgment to this effect came yesterday.  I am, of course, in an awkward situation enough.

“I have heard no more of the carabiniers who protested against my liveries.  They are not popular, those same soldiers, and, in a small row, the other night, one was slain, another wounded, and divers put to flight, by some of the Romagnuole youth, who are dexterous, and somewhat liberal of the knife.  The perpetrators are not discovered, but I hope and believe that none of my ragamuffins were in it, though they are somewhat savage, and secretly armed, like most of the inhabitants.  It is their way, and saves sometimes a good deal of litigation.

     “There is a revolution at Naples.  If so, it will probably leave a
     card at Ravenna in its way to Lombardy.

“Your publishers seem to have used you like mine.  M. has shuffled, and almost insinuated that my last productions are dull.  Dull, sir!—­damme, dull!  I believe he is right.  He begs for the completion of my tragedy on Marino Faliero, none of which is yet gone to England.  The fifth act is nearly completed, but it is dreadfully long—­40 sheets of long paper of 4 pages each—­about 150 when printed; but ‘so full of pastime and prodigality’ that I think it will do.

     “Pray send and publish your Pome upon me; and don’t be afraid of
     praising me too highly.  I shall pocket my blushes.