“With regard to the critique on ‘Manfred,’ you have been in such a devil of a hurry, that you have only sent me the half:  it breaks off at page 294.  Send me the rest; and also page 270., where there is ’an account of the supposed origin of this dreadful story,’—­in which, by the way, whatever it may be, the conjecturer is out, and knows nothing of the matter.  I had a better origin than he can devise or divine, for the soul of him.

     “You say nothing of Manfred’s luck in the world; and I care not. 
     He is one of the best of my misbegotten, say what they will.

“I got at last an extract, but no parcels.  They will come, I suppose, some time or other.  I am come up to Venice for a day or two to bathe, and am just going to take a swim in the Adriatic; so, good evening—­the post waits.  Yours, &c.

     “B.

“P.S.  Pray, was Manfred’s speech to the Sun still retained in Act third?  I hope so:  it was one of the best in the thing, and better than the Colosseum.  I have done fifty-six of Canto fourth, Childe Harold; so down with your ducats.”

* * * * *

LETTER 289.  TO MR. MOORE.

     “La Mira, Venice, July 10. 1817.

“Murray, the Mokanna of booksellers, has contrived to send me extracts from Lalla Rookh by the post.  They are taken from some magazine, and contain a short outline and quotations from the two first Poems.  I am very much delighted with what is before me, and very thirsty for the rest.  You have caught the colours as if you had been in the rainbow, and the tone of the East is perfectly preserved.  I am glad you have changed the title from ’Persian Tale.’

“I suspect you have written a devilish fine composition, and I rejoice in it from my heart; because ’the Douglas and the Percy both together are confident against a world in arms.’  I hope you won’t be affronted at my looking on us as ‘birds of a feather;’ though on whatever subject you had written, I should have been very happy in your success.

     “There is a simile of an orange-tree’s ‘flowers and fruits,’ which
     I should have liked better if I did not believe it to be a
     reflection on * * *.

     “Do you remember Thurlow’s poem to Sam—­’When Rogers;’ and that
     d——­d supper of Rancliffe’s that ought to have been a dinner? 
     ‘Ah, Master Shallow, we have heard the chimes at midnight.’  But

        “My boat is on the shore,
          And my bark is on the sea;
        But, before I go, Tom Moore,
          Here’s a double health to thee!

        “Here’s a sigh to those who love me,
          And a smile to those who hate;
        And whatever sky’s above me,
          Here’s a heart for every fate.