“First and foremost, you must forward my letter to Moore dated 2d January, which I said you might open, but desired you to forward. Now, you should really not forget these little things, because they do mischief among friends. You are an excellent man, a great man, and live among great men, but do pray recollect your absent friends and authors.
“In the first place, your packets; then a letter from Kinnaird, on the most urgent business; another from Moore, about a communication to Lady Byron of importance; a fourth from the mother of Allegra; and fifthly, at Ravenna, the Contessa G. is on the eve of being divorced.—But the Italian public are on our side, particularly the women,—and the men also, because they say that he had no business to take the business up now after a year of toleration. All her relations (who are numerous, high in rank, and powerful) are furious against him for his conduct. I am warned to be on my guard, as he is very capable of employing sicarii —this is Latin as well as Italian, so you can understand it; but I have arms, and don’t mind them, thinking that I could pepper his ragamuffins, if they don’t come unawares and that, if they do, one may as well end that way as another; and it would besides serve you as an advertisement.
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‘Man may escape from rope or gun, &c.
But he who takes woman, woman, woman,’ &c.
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“P.S. I have looked over the press, but heaven knows how. Think what I have on hand and the post going out to-morrow. Do you remember the epitaph on Voltaire?
‘Ci-git l’enfant
gaté,’ &c. |
‘Here lies the spoilt child Of the world which he spoil’d.’ |
