'opinion" of her country women; and at my time of 'life (three and thirty, 22d January, 1821), that is to say, after the life I have led, a good opinion is the only rational one which a man should entertain of 'the whole sex-up to thirty, the worst possible opinion a man can have of them in general, the better for himself. Afterwards, it is a matter of no importance to them, nor to him either, what opinion 'he entertains-his day is over, or, at least, should be. 'You see how sober I am become.'

LETTER 418.

TO MR. MURRAY.

'Ravenna, April 21st, 1821.

'I enclose you another letter on Bowles. But I premise that it is not like the former, and that I am 'not at all sure how much, if any, of it should be pub'lished. Upon this point you can consult with Mr. Gifford, and think twice before you publish it at all.

Yours truly,

B.

'P.S. You may make my subscription for Mr. 'Scott's widow, &c. thirty instead of the proposed ten pounds but do not put down my name; put down 'N. N. only. The reason is, that, as I have men'tioned him in the enclosed pamphlet, it would look 'indelicate. I would give more, but my disappoint'ments last year about Rochdale and the transfer 'from the funds render me more economical for the ' present.'

Ravenna, April 26th, 1821. 'The child continues doing well, and the accounts are regular and favourable. It is gratifying to me you and Mrs. Shelley do not disapprove of the

' that

step which I have taken, which is merely tempo

rary.

'I I am very sorry to hear what you say of Keats-is 'it actually true? I did not think criticism had been 'so killing. Though I differ from you essentially in your estimate of his performances, I so much abhor 'all unnecessary pain, that I would rather he had 'been seated on the highest peak of Parnassus than have perished in such a manner. Poor fellow ! though with such inordinate self-love he would probably have not been very happy. I read the review of "Endymion" in the Quarterly. It was severe, but surely not so severe as many reviews in that and other journals upon others.

6

I recollect the effect on me of the Edinburgh on my first poem; it was rage, and resistance, and 'redress-but not despondency nor despair. I grant 'that those are not amiable feelings; but, in 'this world of bustle and broil, and especially in the career of writing, a man should calculate upon 'his powers of resistance before he goes into the 6 arena.

'Expect not life from pain nor danger free,

· Nor deem the doom of man reversed for thee.

"You know my opinion of that second-hand school ' of poetry. You also know my high opinion of your ' own poetry, because it is of no school. I read Cenci-but, besides that I think the subject essentially undramatic, I am not an admirer of our old dramatists, as models. I deny that the English have ' hitherto had a drama at all. Your Cenci, however, 'was a work of power, and poetry. As to my drama, pray revenge yourself upon it, by being as free as I have been with yours.

' to see.

'I have not yet got your Prometheus, which I long I have heard nothing of mine, and do not 'know that it is yet published. I have published a pamphlet on the Pope controversy, which you will 'not like. Had I known that Keats was dead-or 'that he was alive and so sensitive-I should have ' omitted some remarks upon his poetry, to which I was provoked by his attack upon Pope, and my disapprobation of his own style of writing.

'You want me to undertake a great Poem-I have 'not the inclination nor the power. As I grow older, 'the indifference-not to life, for we love it by in'stinct-but to the stimuli of life, increases. Besides, 'this late failure of the Italians has latterly disappointed me for many reasons, some public, some personal. My respects to Mrs. S.

• Yours ever. 'P.S. Could not you and I contrive to meet this 'summer? Could not you take a run here alone?'

'Ravenna, April 26th, 1821. 'I sent you by last postis a large packet, which will 'not do for publication (I suspect), being, as the ap'prentices say, "damned low." I put off also for a 'week or two sending the Italian scrawl which will 'form a note to it. The reason is that, letters being opened, I wish to "bide a wee."

'Well, have you published the Tragedy? and does 'the Letter take?

6 Is it true, what Shelley writes me, that poor John 'Keats died at Rome of the Quarterly Review? I am very sorry for it, though I think he took the wrong line as a poet, and was spoilt by Cockneyfying, and

6

'suburbing, and versifying Tooke's Pantheon and Lempriere's Dictionary. I know, by experience, that 'a savage review is hemlock to a sucking author; and the one on me (which produced the English Bards, &c.) knocked me down-but I got up again. Instead of bursting a blood-vessel, I drank three bottles of claret, and began an answer, finding that 'there was nothing in the article for which I could lawfully knock Jeffrey on the head, in an honourable way. However, I would not be the person who ( wrote the homicidal article for all the honour and glory in the world, though I by no means approve of that school of scribbling which it treats upon.

'You see the Italians have made a sad business of it, all owing to treachery and disunion amongst 'themselves. It has given me great vexation. The execrations heaped upon the Neapolitans by the 'other Italians are quite in unison with those of the ' rest of Europe. 'Yours, &c.

P.S. Your latest packet of books is on its way here, but not arrived. Kenilworth excellent. Thanks 'for the pocket-books, of which I have made presents 'to those ladies who like cuts, and landscapes, and all that. I have got an Italian book or two which I 'should like to send you if I had an opportunity.

I am not at present in the very highest health,— spring, probably; so I have lowered my diet and 'taken to Epsom salts.

As you say my prose is good, why don't you treat

'with Moore for the reversion of the Memoirs ?-conditionally, recollect; not to be published before decease. He has the permission to dispose of them, and I advised him to do so."

LETTER 421.

TO MR. MOORE.

'Ravenna, April 28th, 1821.

You cannot have been more disappointed than myself, nor so much deceived. I have been so at 'some personal risk also, which is not yet done away

' with. However, no time nor circumstances shall 'alter my tone nor my feelings of indignation against tyranny triumphant. The present business has been as much a work of treachery as of cowardice,though both may have done their part. If ever you ' and I meet again, I will have a talk with you upon 'the subject. At present, for obvious reasons, I can ' write but little, as all letters are opened. In mine they shall always find my sentiments, but nothing 'that can lead to the oppression of others.

You will please to recollect that the Neapolitans ' are nowhere now more execrated than in Italy, and 'not blame a whole people for the vices of a province. That would be like condemning Great Britain be'cause they plunder wrecks in Cornwall.

And now let us be literary;-a sad falling off, but it is always a consolation. If " Othello's occupation 'be gone," let us take to the next best; and, if we 'cannot contribute to make mankind more free and 'wise, we may amuse ourselves and those who like it. What are you writing? I have been scribbling at 'intervals, and Murray will be publishing about now.

Lady Noel has, as you say, been dangerously ill; 'but it may console you to learn that she is dangerously well again.

I have written a sheet or two more of Memoranda for you; and I kept a little Journal for about a month ' or two, till I had filled the paper-book. I then left 'it off, as things grew busy, and, afterwards, too