“Day passed as usual—­nothing new.  Barbarians still in march—­not well equipped, and, of course, not well received on their route.  There is some talk of a commotion at Paris.

“Rode out between four and six—­finished my letter to Murray on Bowles’s pamphlets—­added postscript.  Passed the evening as usual—­out till eleven—­and subsequently at home.

“February 11. 1821.

“Wrote—­had a copy taken of an extract from Petrarch’s Letters, with reference to the conspiracy of the Doge, M. Faliero, containing the poet’s opinion of the matter.  Heard a heavy firing of cannon towards Comacchio—­the Barbarians rejoicing for their principal pig’s birthday, which is to-morrow—­or Saint day—­I forget which.  Received a ticket for the first ball to-morrow.  Shall not go to the first, but intend going to the second, as also to the Veglioni.

“February 13. 1821.

“To-day read a little in Louis B.’s Hollande, but have written nothing since the completion of the letter on the Pope controversy.  Politics are quite misty for the present.  The Barbarians still upon their march.  It is not easy to divine what the Italians will now do.

“Was elected yesterday ‘Socio’ of the Carnival ball society.  This is the fifth carnival that I have passed.  In the four former, I racketed a good deal.  In the present, I have been as sober as Lady Grace herself.

“February 14. 1821

“Much as usual.  Wrote, before riding out, part of a scene of ‘Sardanapalus.’  The first act nearly finished.  The rest of the day and evening as before—­partly without, in conversazione—­partly at home.

“Heard the particulars of the late fray at Russi, a town not far from this.  It is exactly the fact of Romeo and Giulietta—­not Romeo, as the Barbarian writes it.  Two families of Contadini (peasants) are at feud.  At a ball, the younger part of the families forget their quarrel, and dance together.  An old man of one of them enters, and reproves the young men for dancing with the females of the opposite family.  The male relatives of the latter resent this.  Both parties rush home and arm themselves.  They meet directly, by moonlight, in the public way, and fight it out.  Three are killed on the spot, and six wounded, most of them dangerously,—­pretty well for two families, methinks—­and all fact, of the last week.  Another assassination has taken place at Cesenna,—­in all about forty in Romagna within the last three months.  These people retain much of the middle ages.

“February 15. 1821.

“Last night finished the first act of Sardanapalus.  To-night, or to-morrow, I ought to answer letters.

“February 16. 1821.