There’s an Ode for you, is it not?—­worthy

        “Of * * * *, the grand metaquizzical poet,
        A man of vast merit, though few people know it;
        The perusal of whom (as I told you at Mestri)
        I owe, in great part, to my passion for pastry.

“Mestri and Fusina are the ‘trajects, or common ferries,’ to Venice; but it was from Fusina that you and I embarked, though ’the wicked necessity of rhyming’ has made me press Mestri into the voyage.

     “So, you have had a book dedicated to you?  I am glad of it, and
     shall be very happy to see the volume.

“I am in a peck of troubles about a tragedy of mine, which is fit only for the (* * * * *) closet, and which it seems that the managers, assuming a right over published poetry, are determined to enact, whether I will or no, with their own alterations by Mr. Dibdin, I presume.  I have written to Murray, to the Lord Chamberlain, and to others, to interfere and preserve me from such an exhibition.  I want neither the impertinence of their hisses, nor the insolence of their applause.  I write only for the reader, and care for nothing but the silent approbation of those who close one’s book with good humour and quiet contentment.

“Now, if you would also write to our friend Perry, to beg of him to mediate with Harris and Elliston to forbear this intent, you will greatly oblige me.  The play is quite unfit for the stage, as a single glance will show them, and, I hope, has shown them; and, if it were ever so fit, I will never have any thing to do willingly with the theatres.

     “Yours ever, in haste,” &c.

[Footnote 31:  Already given in his Journal.]

* * * * *

LETTER 410.  TO MR. MURRAY.

     “Ravenna, January 27. 1821.

“I differ from you about the Dante, which I think should be published with the tragedy.  But do as you please:  you must be the best judge of your own craft.  I agree with you about the title.  The play may be good or bad, but I flatter myself that it is original as a picture of that kind of passion, which to my mind is so natural, that I am convinced that I should have done precisely what the Doge did on those provocations.

     “I am glad of Foscolo’s approbation.

     “Excuse haste.  I believe I mentioned to you that—­I forget what it
     was; but no matter.

“Thanks for your compliments of the year.  I hope that it will be pleasanter than the last.  I speak with reference to England only, as far as regards myself, where I had every kind of disappointment—­lost an important law-suit—­and the trustees of Lady Byron refusing to allow of an advantageous loan to be made from my property to Lord Blessington,