Thomas Moore - Life of Lord Byron, Vol. IV

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* * * * *

Of his daily rides on the Lido, which he mentions in this letter, the
following account, by a gentleman who lived a good deal with him at
Venice, will be found not a little interesting:--

"Almost immediately after Mr. Hobhouse's departure, Lord Byron proposed
to me to accompany him in his rides on the Lido. One of the long narrow
islands which separate the Lagune, in the midst of which Venice stands,
from the Adriatic, is more particularly distinguished by this name. At
one extremity is a fortification, which, with the Castle of St. Andrea
on an island on the opposite side, defends the nearest entrance to the
city from the sea. In times of peace this fortification is almost
dismantled, and Lord Byron had hired here of the Commandant an
unoccupied stable, where he kept his horses. The distance from the city
was not very considerable; it was much less than to the Terra Firma,
and, as far as it went, the spot was not ineligible for riding.

"Every day that the weather would permit, Lord Byron called for me in
his gondola, and we found the horses waiting for us outside of the fort.
We rode as far as we could along the sea-shore, and then on a kind of
dyke, or embankment, which has been raised where the island was very
narrow, as far as another small fort about half way between the
principal one which I have already mentioned, and the town or village of
Malamocco, which is near the other extremity of the island,--the
distance between the two forts being about three miles.

"On the land side of the embankment, not far from the smaller fort, was
a boundary stone which probably marked some division of property,--all
the side of the island nearest the Lagune being divided into gardens for
the cultivation of vegetables for the Venetian markets. At the foot of
this stone Lord Byron repeatedly told me that I should cause him to be
interred, if he should die in Venice, or its neighbourhood, during my
residence there; and he appeared to think, as he was not a Catholic,
that, on the part of the government, there could be no obstacle to his
interment in an unhallowed spot of ground by the sea-side. At all
events, I was to overcome whatever difficulties might be raised on this
account. I was, by no means, he repeatedly told me, to allow his body to
be removed to England, nor permit any of his family to interfere with
his funeral.

"Nothing could be more delightful than these rides on the Lido were to
me. We were from half to three quarters of an hour crossing the water,
during which his conversation was always most amusing and interesting.
Sometimes he would bring with him any new book he had received, and read
to me the passages which most struck him. Often he would repeat to me
whole stanzas of the poems he was engaged in writing, as he had composed
them on the preceding evening; and this was the more interesting to me,
because I could frequently trace in them some idea which he had started
in our conversation of the preceding day, or some remark, the effect of
which he had been evidently trying upon me. Occasionally, too, he spoke
of his own affairs, making me repeat all I had heard with regard to
him, and desiring that I would not spare him, but let him know the worst
that was said."

* * * * *

LETTER 308. TO MR. MURRAY.

"Venice, Feb. 20. 1818.

"I have to thank Mr. Croker for the arrival, and you for the
contents, of the parcel which came last week, much quicker than any
before, owing to Mr. Croker's kind attention and the official
exterior of the bags; and all safe, except much friction amongst
the magnesia, of which only two bottles came entire; but it is all
very well, and I am exceedingly obliged to you.

"The books I have read, or rather am reading. Pray, who may be the
Sexagenarian, whose gossip is very amusing? Many of his sketches I
recognise, particularly Gifford, Mackintosh, Drummond, Dutens, H.
Walpole, Mrs. Inchbald, Opie, &c., with the Scotts, Loughborough,
and most of the divines and lawyers, besides a few shorter hints of
authors, and a few lines about a certain '_noble author_,'
characterised as malignant and sceptical, according to the good old
story, 'as it was in the beginning, is now, but _not_ always shall
be:' do you know such a person, Master Murray? eh?--And pray, of
the booksellers, which be _you_? the dry, the dirty, the honest,
the opulent, the finical, the splendid, or the coxcomb bookseller?
Stap my vitals, but the author grows scurrilous in his grand
climacteric!

"I remember to have seen Porson at Cambridge, in the hall of our
college, and in private parties, but not frequently; and I never
can recollect him except as drunk or brutal, and generally both: I
mean in an evening, for in the hall he dined at the Dean's table,
and I at the Vice-master's, so that I was not near him; and he then
and there appeared sober in his demeanour, nor did I ever hear of
excess or outrage on his part in public,--commons, college, or
chapel; but I have seen him in a private party of undergraduates,
many of them fresh men and strangers, take up a poker to one of
them, and heard him use language as blackguard as his action. I
have seen Sheridan drunk, too, with all the world; but his
intoxication was that of Bacchus, and Porson's that of Silenus. Of
all the disgusting brutes, sulky, abusive, and intolerable, Porson
was the most bestial, as far as the few times that I saw him went,
which were only at William Bankes's (the Nubian discoverer's)
rooms. I saw him once go away in a rage, because nobody knew the
name of the 'Cobbler of Messina,' insulting their ignorance with
the most vulgar terms of reprobation. He was tolerated in this
state amongst the young men for his talents, as the Turks think a
madman inspired, and bear with him. He used to recite, or rather
vomit, pages of all languages, and could hiccup Greek like a Helot;
and certainly Sparta never shocked her children with a grosser
exhibition than this man's intoxication.

"I perceive, in the book you sent me, a long account of him, which
is very savage. I cannot judge, as I never saw him sober, except in
_hall_ or combination-room; and then I was never near enough to
hear, and hardly to see him. Of his drunken deportment, I can be
sure, because I saw it.

"With the Reviews I have been much entertained. It requires to be
as far from England as I am to relish a periodical paper properly:
it is like soda-water in an Italian summer. But what cruel work you
make with Lady * * * *! You should recollect that she is a woman;
though, to be sure, they are now and then very provoking; still, as
authoresses, they can do no great harm; and I think it a pity so
much good invective should have been laid out upon her, when there
is such a fine field of us Jacobin gentlemen for you to work upon.

"I heard from Moore lately, and was sorry to be made aware of his
domestic loss. Thus it is--'medio de fonte leporum'--in the acme of
his fame and his happiness comes a drawback as usual.

"Mr. Hoppner, whom I saw this morning, has been made the father of
a very fine boy[15].--Mother and child doing very well indeed. By
this time Hobhouse should be with you, and also certain packets,
letters, &c. of mine, sent since his departure.--I am not at all
well in health within this last eight days. My remembrances to
Gifford and all friends.

"Yours, &c.

"B.

"P.S. In the course of a month or two, Hanson will have probably to
send off a clerk with conveyances to sign (Newstead being sold in
November last for ninety-four thousand five hundred pounds), in
which case I supplicate supplies of articles as usual, for which,
desire Mr. Kinnaird to settle from funds in their bank, and deduct
from my account with him.

"P.S. To-morrow night I am going to see 'Otello,' an opera from our
'Othello,' and one of Rossini's best, it is said. It will be
curious to see in Venice the Venetian story itself represented,
besides to discover what they will make of Shakspeare in music."

[Footnote 15: On the birth of this child, who was christened John
William Rizzo, Lord Byron wrote the four following lines, which are in
no other respect remarkable than that they were thought worthy of being
metrically translated into no less than ten different languages; namely,
Greek, Latin, Italian (also in the Venetian dialect), German, French,
Spanish, Illyrian, Hebrew, Armenian, and Samaritan:--

"His father's sense, his mother's grace
In him, I hope, will always fit so;
With (still to keep him in good case)
The health and appetite of Rizzo."

The original lines, with the different versions just mentioned, were
printed, in a small neat volume (which now lies before me), in the
seminary of Padua.]

* * * * *

LETTER 309. TO MR. HOPPNER.

"Venice, February 28. 1818.

"My dear Sir,

"Our friend, il Conte M., threw me into a cold sweat last night, by
telling me of a menaced version of Manfred (in Venetian, I hope, to
complete the thing) by some Italian, who had sent it to you for
correction, which is the reason why I take the liberty of troubling
you on the subject. If you have any means of communication with the
man, would you permit me to convey to him the offer of any price he
may obtain or think to obtain for his project, provided he will
throw his translation into the fire[16], and promise not to
undertake any other of that or any other of _my_ things: I will
send his money immediately on this condition.

"As I did not write _to_ the Italians, nor _for_ the Italians, nor
_of_ the Italians, (except in a poem not yet published, where I
have said all the good I know or do not know of them, and none of
the harm,) I confess I wish that they would let me alone, and not
drag me into their arena as one of the gladiators, in a silly
contest which I neither understand nor have ever interfered with,
having kept clear of all their literary parties, both here and at
Milan, and elsewhere.--I came into Italy to feel the climate and be
quiet, if possible. Mossi's translation I would have prevented, if
I had known it, or could have done so; and I trust that I shall yet
be in time to stop this new gentleman, of whom I heard yesterday
for the first time. He will only hurt himself, and do no good to
his party, for in _party_ the whole thing originates. Our modes of
thinking and writing are so unutterably different, that I can
conceive no greater absurdity than attempting to make any approach
between the English and Italian poetry of the present day. I like
the people very much, and their literature very much, but I am not
the least ambitious of being the subject of their discussions
literary and personal (which appear to be pretty much the same
thing, as is the case in most countries); and if you can aid me in
impeding this publication, you will add to much kindness already
received from you by yours Ever and truly,

"BYRON.

"P.S. How is _the_ son, and mamma? Well, I dare say."

[Footnote 16: Having ascertained that the utmost this translator could
expect to make by his manuscript was two hundred francs, Lord Byron
offered him that sum, if he would desist from publishing. The Italian,
however, held out for more; nor could he be brought to terms, till it
was intimated to him pretty plainly from Lord Byron that, should the
publication be persisted in, he would horsewhip him the very first time
they met. Being but little inclined to suffer martyrdom in the cause,
the translator accepted the two hundred francs, and delivered up his
manuscript, entering at the same time into a written engagement never to
translate any other of the noble poet's works.

Of the qualifications of this person as a translator of English poetry,
some idea may be formed from the difficulty he found himself under
respecting the meaning of a line in the Incantation in Manfred,--"And
the wisp on the morass,"--which he requested of Mr. Hoppner to expound
to him, not having been able to find in the dictionaries to which he had
access any other signification of the word "wisp" than "a bundle of
straw."]

* * * * *

LETTER 310. TO MR. ROGERS.

"Venice, March 3. 1828.

"I have not, as you say, 'taken to wife the Adriatic.' I heard of
Moore's loss from himself in a letter which was delayed upon the
road three months. I was sincerely sorry for it, but in such cases
what are words?

"The villa you speak of is one at Este, which Mr. Hoppner
(Consul-general here) has transferred to me. I have taken it for
two years as a place of Villeggiatura. The situation is very
beautiful, indeed, among the Euganean hills, and the house very
fair. The vines are luxuriant to a great degree, and all the fruits
of the earth abundant. It is close to the old castle of the Estes,
or Guelphs, and within a few miles of Arqua, which I have visited
twice, and hope to visit often.

"Last summer (except an excursion to Rome) I passed upon the
Brenta. In Venice I winter, transporting my horses to the Lido,
bordering the Adriatic (where the fort is), so that I get a gallop
of some miles daily along the strip of beach which reaches to
Malamocco, when in health; but within these few weeks I have been
unwell. At present I am getting better. The Carnival was short, but
a good one. I don't go out much, except during the time of masques;
but there are one or two conversazioni, where I go regularly, just
to keep up the system; as I had letters to their givers; and they
are particular on such points; and now and then, though very
rarely, to the Governor's.

"It is a very good place for women. I like the dialect and their
manner very much. There is a _naivete_ about them which is very
winning, and the romance of the place is a mighty adjunct; the _bel
sangue_ is not, however, now amongst the _dame_ or higher orders;
but all under _i fazzioli_, or kerchiefs (a white kind of veil
which the lower orders wear upon their heads);--the _vesta
zendale_, or old national female costume, is no more. The city,
however, is decaying daily, and does not gain in population.
However, I prefer it to any other in Italy; and here have I pitched
my staff, and here do I purpose to reside for the remainder of my
life, unless events, connected with business not to be transacted
out of England, compel me to return for that purpose; otherwise I
have few regrets, and no desires to visit it again for its own
sake. I shall probably be obliged to do so, to sign papers for my
affairs, and a proxy for the Whigs, and to see Mr. Waite, for I
can't find a good dentist here, and every two or three years one
ought to consult one. About seeing my children I must take my
chance. One I shall have sent here; and I shall be very happy to
see the legitimate one, when God pleases, which he perhaps will
some day or other. As for my mathematical * * *, I am as well
without her.

"Your account of your visit to Fonthill is very striking: could you
beg of _him_ for _me_ a copy in MS. of the remaining _Tales_?[17] I
think I deserve them, as a strenuous and public admirer of the
first one. I will return it when read, and make no ill use of the
copy, if granted. Murray would send me out any thing safely. If
ever I return to England, I should like very much to see the
author, with his permission. In the mean time, you could not oblige
me more than by obtaining me the perusal I request, in French or
English,--all's one for that, though I prefer Italian to either. I
have a French copy of Vathek which I bought at Lausanne. I can read
French with great pleasure and facility, though I neither speak nor
write it. Now Italian I _can_ speak with some fluency, and write
sufficiently for my purposes, but I don't like their _modern_ prose
at all; it is very heavy, and so different from Machiavelli.

"They say Francis is Junius;--I think it looks like it. I remember
meeting him at Earl Grey's at dinner. Has not he lately married a
young woman; and was not he Madame Talleyrand's _cavaliere
servente_ in India years ago?

"I read my death in the papers, which was not true. I see they are
marrying the remaining singleness of the royal family. They have
brought out Fazio with great and deserved success at Covent Garden:
that's a good sign. I tried, during the directory, to have it done
at Drury Lane, but was overruled. If you think of coming into this
country, you will let me know perhaps beforehand. I suppose Moore
won't move. Rose is here. I saw him the other night at Madame
Albrizzi's; he talks of returning in May. My love to the Hollands.

"Ever, &c.

"P.S. They have been crucifying Othello into an opera (_Otello_, by
Rossini): the music good, but lugubrious; but as for the words, all
the real scenes with Iago cut out, and the greatest nonsense
instead; the handkerchief turned into a _billet-doux_, and the
first singer would not _black_ his face, for some exquisite reasons
assigned in the preface. Singing, dresses, and music, very good."

[Footnote 17: A continuation of Vathek, by the author of that very
striking and powerful production. The "Tales" of which this unpublished
sequel consists are, I understand, those supposed to have been related
by the Princes in the Hall of Eblis.]

* * * * *

LETTER 311. TO MR. MOORE.

"Venice, March 16. 1818.

"My dear Tom,

"Since my last, which I hope that you have received, I have had a
letter from our friend Samuel. He talks of Italy this summer--won't
you come with him? I don't know whether you would like our Italian
way of life or not.

"They are an odd people. The other day I was telling a girl, 'You
must not come to-morrow, because Margueritta is coming at such a
time,'--(they are both about five feet ten inches high, with great
black eyes and fine figures--fit to breed gladiators from--and I
had some difficulty to prevent a battle upon a rencontre once
before,)--'unless you promise to be friends, and'--the answer was
an interruption, by a declaration of war against the other, which
she said would be a 'Guerra di Candia.' Is it not odd, that the
lower order of Venetians should still allude proverbially to that
famous contest, so glorious and so fatal to the Republic?

"They have singular expressions, like all the Italians. For
example, 'Viscere'--as we would say, 'My love,' or 'My heart,' as
an expression of tenderness. Also, 'I would go for you into the
midst of a hundred _knives_.'--'_Mazza ben_,' excessive
attachment,--literally, 'I wish you well even to killing.' Then
they say (instead of our way, 'Do you think I would do you so much
harm?') 'Do you think I would _assassinate_ you in such a
manner?'--'Tempo _perfido_,' bad weather; 'Strade _perfide_,' bad
roads,--with a thousand other allusions and metaphors, taken from
the state of society and habits in the middle ages.

"I am not so sure about _mazza_, whether it don't mean _massa_,
_i.e._ a great deal, a _mass_, instead of the interpretation I have
given it. But of the other phrases I am sure.

"Three o' th' clock--I must 'to bed, to bed, to bed,' as mother S *
* (that tragical friend of the mathematical * * *) says.

"Have you ever seen--I forget what or whom--no matter. They tell me
Lady Melbourne is very unwell. I shall be so sorry. She was my
greatest _friend_, of the feminine gender:--when I say 'friend,' I
mean _not_ mistress, for that's the antipode. Tell me all about you
and every body--how Sam is--how you like your neighbours, the
Marquis and Marchesa, &c. &c.

"Ever," &c.

* * * * *

LETTER 312. TO MR. MURRAY.

"Venice, March 25. 1818.

"I have your letter, with the account of 'Beppo,' for which I sent
you four new stanzas a fortnight ago, in case you print, or
reprint.

"Croker's is a good guess; but the style is not English, it is
Italian;--Berni is the original of _all_. Whistlecraft was _my_
immediate _model_! Rose's 'Animali' I never saw till a few days
ago,--they are excellent. But (as I said above) Berni is the father
of that kind of writing, which, I think, suits our language, too,
very well;--we shall see by the experiment. If it does, I shall
send you a volume in a year or two, for I know the Italian way of
life well, and in time may know it yet better; and as for the verse
and the passions, I have them still in tolerable vigour.

"If you think that it will do you and the work, or works, any good,
you may put my name to it; _but first consult the knowing ones_. It
will, at any rate, show them that I can write cheerfully, and repel
the charge of monotony and mannerism.

"Yours," &c.

* * * * *

LETTER 313. TO MR. MURRAY.

"Venice, April 11. 1818.

"Will you send me by letter, packet, or parcel, half a dozen of the
coloured prints from Holmes's miniature (the latter done shortly
before I left your country, and the prints about a year ago); I
shall be obliged to you, as some people here have asked me for the
like. It is a picture of my upright self done for Scrope B. Davies,
Esq.[18]

"Why have you not sent me an answer, and list of subscribers to the
translation of the Armenian _Eusebius_? of which I sent you printed
copies of the prospectus (in French) two moons ago. Have you had
the letter?--I shall send you another:--you must not neglect my
Armenians. Tooth-powder, magnesia, tincture of myrrh,
tooth-brushes, diachylon plaster, Peruvian bark, are my personal
demands.

"Strahan, Tonson, Lintot of the times,
Patron and publisher of rhymes,
For thee the bard up Pindus climbs,
My Murray.

"To thee, with hope and terror dumb,
The unfledged MS. authors come;
Thou printest all--and sellest some--
My Murray.

"Upon thy table's baize so green
The last new Quarterly is seen,
But where is thy new Magazine,
My Murray?

"Along thy sprucest bookshelves shine
The works thou deemest most divine--
The 'Art of Cookery,' and mine,
My Murray.

"Tours, Travels, Essays, too, I wist,
And Sermons to thy mill bring grist!
And then thou hast the 'Navy List,'
My Murray.

"And Heaven forbid I should conclude
Without 'the Board of Longitude,'
Although this narrow paper would,
My Murray!"

[Footnote 18: There follows, in this place, among other matter, a long
string of verses, in various metres, to the amount of about sixty lines,
so full of light gaiety and humour, that it is with some reluctance I
suppress them. They might, however, have the effect of giving pain in
quarters where even the author himself would not have deliberately
inflicted it;--from a pen like his, touches may be wounds, and without
being actually intended as such.]

* * * * *

LETTER 314. TO MR. MURRAY.

"Venice, April 12. 1818.

"This letter will be delivered by Signor Gioe. Bata. Missiaglia,
proprietor of the Apollo library, and the principal publisher and
bookseller now in Venice. He sets out for London with a view to
business and correspondence with the English booksellers: and it is
in the hope that it may be for your mutual advantage that I furnish
him with this letter of introduction to you. If you can be of use
to him, either by recommendation to others, or by any personal
attention on your own part, you will oblige him and gratify me. You
may also perhaps both be able to derive advantage, or establish
some mode of literary communication, pleasing to the public, and
beneficial to one another.

"At any rate, be civil to him for my sake, as well as for the
honour and glory of publishers and authors now and to come for
evermore.

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