Allegra with Antonio’s spouse till I can decide something about her and myself—­but I thought that you would have had an answer from Mrs. V——­r.[40] You have had bore enough with me and mine already.

“I greatly fear that the Guiccioli is going into a consumption, to which her constitution tends.  Thus it is with every thing and every body for whom I feel any thing like a real attachment;—­’War, death, or discord, doth lay siege to them.’  I never even could keep alive a dog that I liked or that liked me.  Her symptoms are obstinate cough of the lungs, and occasional fever, &c. &c. and there are latent causes of an eruption in the skin, which she foolishly repelled into the system two years ago:  but I have made them send her case to Aglietti; and have begged him to come—­if only for a day or two—­to consult upon her state.

“If it would not bore Mr. Dorville, I wish he would keep an eye on E——­ and on my other ragamuffins.  I might have more to say, but I am absorbed about La Gui. and her illness.  I cannot tell you the effect it has upon me.

     “The horses came, &c. &c. and I have been galloping through the
     pine forest daily.

     “Believe me, &c.

“P.S.  My benediction on Mrs. Hoppner, a pleasant journey among the Bernese tyrants, and safe return.  You ought to bring back a Platonic Bernese for my reformation.  If any thing happens to my present Amica, I have done with the passion for ever—­it is my last love.  As to libertinism, I have sickened myself of that, as was natural in the way I went on, and I have at least derived that advantage from vice, to love in the better sense of the word. This will be my last adventure—­I can hope no more to inspire attachment, and I trust never again to feel it.”

[Footnote 39:  The Vice-Consul of Mr. Hoppner.]

[Footnote 40:  An English widow lady, of considerable property in the north of England, who, having seen the little Allegra at Mr. Hoppner’s, took an interest in the poor child’s fate, and having no family of her own, offered to adopt and provide for this little girl, if Lord Byron would consent to renounce all claim to her.  At first he seemed not disinclined to enter into her views—­so far, at least, as giving permission that she should take the child with her to England and educate it; but the entire surrender of his paternal authority he would by no means consent to.  The proposed arrangement accordingly was never carried into effect.]

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