Chapter 103

"Ravenna, May 20. 1820.

"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 Countess G. is on the eve of being separated. But the Italian public are on her 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:--

"Man may escape from rope or gun, &c. But he who takes woman, woman, woman, &c.

"Yours.

"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 gâté,' &c.

"'Here lies the spoilt child Of the world which he spoil'd.'

The original is in Grimm and Diderot, &c. &c. &c."

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