“I thought that I had told you long ago, that it never was intended nor written with any view to the stage.  I have said so in the preface too.  It is too long and too regular for your stage, the persons too few, and the unity too much observed.  It is more like a play of Alfieri’s than of your stage (I say this humbly in speaking of that great man); but there is poetry, and it is equal to Manfred, though I know not what esteem is held of Manfred.

“I have now been nearly as long out of England as I was there during the time I saw you frequently.  I came home July 14th, 1811, and left again April 25th, 1816:  so that Sept. 28th, 1820, brings me within a very few months of the same duration of time of my stay and my absence.  In course, I can know nothing of the public taste and feelings, but from what I glean from letters, &c.  Both seem to be as bad as possible.

“I thought Anastasius excellent:  did I not say so?  Matthews’s Diary most excellent; it, and Forsyth, and parts of Hobhouse, are all we have of truth or sense upon Italy.  The Letter to Julia very good indeed, I do not despise * * * * * *; but if she knit blue stockings instead of wearing them, it would be better. You are taken in by that false stilted trashy style, which is a mixture of all the styles of the day, which are all bombastic (I don’t except my own—­no one has done more through negligence to corrupt the language); but it is neither English nor poetry.  Time will show.

“I am sorry Gifford has made no further remarks beyond the first Act:  does he think all the English equally sterling as he thought the first?  You did right to send the proofs:  I was a fool; but I do really detest the sight of proofs:  it is an absurdity; but comes from laziness.

“You can steal the two Juans into the world quietly, tagged to the others.  The play as you will—­the Dante too; but the Pulci I am proud of:  it is superb; you have no such translation.  It is the best thing I ever did in my life.  I wrote the play from beginning to end, and not a single scene without interruption, and being obliged to break off in the middle; for I had my hands full, and my head, too, just then; so it can be no great shakes—­I mean the play; and the head too, if you like.

“P.S.  Politics here still savage and uncertain.  However, we are all in our ‘bandaliers,’ to join the ’Highlanders if they cross the Forth,’ i.e. to crush the Austrians if they cross the Po.  The rascals!—­and that dog Liverpool, to say their subjects are happy!  If ever I come back, I’ll work some of these ministers.

     “Sept. 29.