2.

Verona, Jan. 1770.

My very dearest sister,—­

I have at last got a letter a span long after hoping so much for an answer that I lost patience; and I had good cause to do so before receiving yours at last.  The German blockhead having said his say, now the Italian one begins.  Lei e piu franca nella lingua italiana di quel che mi ho immaginato.  Lei mi dica la cagione perche lei non fu nella commedia che hanno giocata i Cavalieri.  Adesso sentiamo sempre una opera titolata Il Ruggiero.  Oronte, il padre di Bradamante, e un principe (il Signor Afferi) bravo cantante, un baritono, [Footnote:  “You are more versed in the Italian language than I believed.  Tell me why you were not one of the actors in the comedy performed by the Cavaliers.  We are now hearing an opera called ‘Il Ruggiero.’  Oronte, the father of Bradamante, is a Prince (acted by Afferi, a good singer, a baritone).”] but very affected when he speaks out a falsetto, but not quite so much so as Tibaldi in Vienna.  Bradamante innamorata di Ruggiero (ma [Footnote:  “Bradamante is enamored of Ruggiero, but"]—­she is to marry Leone, but will not) fa una povera Baronessa, che ha avuto una gran disgrazia, ma non so la quale; recita [Footnote:  “Pretends to be a poor Baroness who has met with some great misfortune, but what it is I don’t know, she performs”] under an assumed name, but the name I forget; ha una voce passabile, e la statura non sarebbe male, ma distuona come il diavolo.  Ruggiero, un ricco principe innamorato di Bradamante, e un musico; canta un poco Manzuolisch [Footnote:  Manzuoli was a celebrated soprano, from whom Mozart had lessons in singing when in London.] ed ha una bellissima voce forte ed e gia vecchio; ha 55 anni, ed ha una [Footnote:  “She has a tolerable voice, and her appearance is in her favor, but she sings out of tune like a devil Ruggiero, a rich Prince enamored of Bradamante, is a musico, and sings rather in Manzuoli’s style, and has a fine powerful voice, though quite old; he is fifty-five, and has a”] flexible voice.  Leone is to marry Bradamante—­richississimo e, [Footnote:  “Immensely rich.”] but whether he is rich off the stage I can’t say.  La moglie di Afferi, che ha una bellissima voce, ma e tanto susurro nel teatro che non si sente niente.  Irene fa una sorella di Lolli, del gran violinista che habbiamo sentito a Vienna, a una [Footnote:  “Afferi’s wife has a most beautiful voice, but sings so softly on the stage that you really hear nothing at all.  A sister of Lolli, the great violinist whom we heard at Vienna, acts Irene; she has a”] very harsh voce, e canta sempre [Footnote:  “Voice, and always sings”] a quaver too tardi o troppo a buon’ ora.  Granno fa un signore, che non so come si chiame; e la prima volta che lui recita. [Footnote:  “Slow or too fast.  Ganno is acted by a gentleman whose name I never heard.  It is his first appearance on the stage.”] There is a ballet between each act.