“In the same style this German talks of gondolas on the Arno-a precious fellow to dare to speak of Italy! "He says also that Dante's chief defect is a want, in a word, of gentle feelings. Of gentle feelings!—and Francesca of Rimini-and the father's feelings in Ugolino and Beatrice and 'La Pia! Why, there is gentleness in Dante beyond all gentleness, when he is tender. It is true that, treating of the Christian Hades, or Hell, there is not much scope or site for gentleness—but who but Dante could have introduced any gentleness' at all into Hell? Is there any in Milton's? No-and Dante's Heaven is all love, and glory, and majesty. "One o'clock. "I have found out, however, where the German is right—it is about the Vicar of Wakefield. Of all romances in miniature (and, perhaps, this is the best shape in which romance can appear) the Vicar of Wakefield is, I think, the most exquisite.' He thinks!-he might be sure. But it is very well for a S**. I feel sleepy, and may as well get me to bed. To-morrow there will be fine weather. "Trust on, and think to-morrow will repay.' January 30, 1821. “The Count P. G. this evening (by commission from the C.) transmitted to me the new words for the next six months. *** and ***. The new sacred word is ***—the reply * * *—the rejoinder ***. The former word (now changed) was ***there is also ***, t Things seem fast coming to a crisis-ça ira! "We talked over various matters of moment and movement. These I omit; -if they come to any thing, they will speak for themselves. After these, we spoke of Kosciusko. Count R. G. told me that he has seen the Polish officers in the Italian war burst into tears on hearing his name. "Something must be up in Piedmont-all the letters and papers are stopped. Nobody knows any thing, and the Germans are concentrating near Mantua. Of the decision of Leybach nothing is known. This state of things cannot last long. The ferment in men's minds at present cannot be conceived without seeing it. "January 31, 1821.. "For several days I have not written any thing except a few answers to letters. In momentary expectation of an explosion of some kind, it is not easy to settle down to the desk for the higher kinds of composition. I could do it, to be sure, for, last summer, I wrote my drama in the very bustle of Madame la Contesse G.'s divorce, and all its process of accompaniments. At the same time, I also had the news of the loss of an important lawsuit in England. But these were only private and personal business; the present is of a different nature. "I suppose it is this, but have some suspicion that it may be laziness, which prevents me from writing; especially as Rochefoucault says that ‘laziness often masters them all '--speaking of the passions. If this were true, it could hardly be said that idleness is the root of all evil,' since this is supposed to spring from the passions only: ergo, that which masters all the passions (laziness, to wit) would in so much be a good. Who knows ? In the original MS. these watch-words are blotted over so as to be illegible. «Midnight. "I have been reading Grimm's Correspondence. He repeats frequently, in speaking of a poet, or a man of genius in any department, even in music (Gretry, for instance), that he must have 'une âme qui se tourmente, un esprit violent.' How far this may be true, I know not; but if it were, I should be a poet' per excellenza ;' for I have always had 'une âme,' which not only tormented itself but every body else in contact with it; and an 'esprit violent,' which has almost left me without any 'esprit' at all. As to defining what a poet should be, it is not worth while, for what are they worth? what have they done? "Grimm, however, is an excellent critic and literary historian. His Correspondence form the annals of the literary part of that age of France, with much of her politics; and, still more, of her way of life.' He is as valuable, and far more entertaining than Muratori or Tiraboschi-I had almost said, than Ginguené-but there we should pause, However, 'tis a great man in its line. "Monsieur St. Lambert has "Et lorsqu'à ses regards la lumière est ravie, This is, word for word, Thomson's "And dying, all we can resign is breath,' without the smallest acknowledgment from the Lorrainer of a poet. M. St. Lambert is dead as a man, and (for any thing I know to the contrary) damned, as a poet, by this time. However, his Seasons have good things, and, it may be, some of his own, "February 2, 1821. "I have been considering what can be the reason why I always wake, at a certain hour in the morning, and always in very bad spirits-I may say, in actual despair and despondency, in all respects-even of that which pleased me over night. In about an hour or two this goes off, and I compose either to sleep again, or, at least, to quiet. In England, five years ago, I had the same kind of hypochondria, but accompanied with so violent a thirst that I have drank as many as fifteen bottles of soda-water in one night, after going to bed, and been still thirsty-calculating, however, some lost from the bursting out and effervescence and overflowing of the soda-water, in drawing the corks, or striking off the necks of the bottles from mere thirsty impatience. At present, I have not the thirst; but the depression of spirits is no less violent. "I read in Edgeworth's Memoirs of something similar (except that his thirst expended itself on small beer) in the case of Sir F. B. Delaval; but then he was, at least, twenty years older. What is it?-liver? In England, Le Man (the apothecary) cured me of the thirst in three days, and it had lasted as many years. I suppose that it is all hypochondria. "What I feel most growing upon me are laziness, and a disrelish more powerful than indifference. If I rouse, it is into fury. I presume that I shall end (if not earlier by accident, or some such termination) like Swift—'dying at top.' I confess I do not contemplate this with so much horror as he apparently did for some years before it happened. But Swift had hardly begun life at the very period (thirty-three) when I feel quite an old sort of feel. "Oh! there is an organ playing in the street-a waltz, too! I must leave off to listen. They are playing a waltz which I have heard ten thousand times at the balls in London, between 1812 and 1815. Music is a strange thing.* "February 5, 1821. 'At last, the kiln's in a low.' The Germans are ordered to march, and Italy is, for the ten thousandth time, to become a field of battle. Last night the news came. "This afternoon-Count P. G. came to me to consult upon divers matters. We rode out together. They have sent off to the C. for orders. To-morrow the decision ought to arrive, and then something will be done. Returned― dined-read-went out-talked over matters. Made a purchase of some arms for the new enrolled Americani, who are all on tiptoe to march. Gave order for some harness and portmanteaus necessary for the horses. "Read some of Bowles's dispute about Pope, with all the replies and rejoinders. Perceive that my name has been lugged into the controversy, but have not time to state what I know of the subject. On some 'piping day of peace' it is probable that I may resume it. "February 9, 1821. "Before dinner wrote a little; also, before I rode out, Count P. G. called upon me, to let me know the result of the meeting of the C'. at F. and at B. ** returned late last night. Every thing was combined under the idea that the Barbarians would pass the Po on the 15th inst. Instead of this, from some previous information or otherwise, they have hastened their march and actually passed two days ago; so that all that can be done at present in Romagna is, to stand on the alert and wait for the advance of the Neapolitans. Every thing was ready, and the Neapolitans had sent on their own instructions and intentions, and calculated for the tenth and eleventh, on which days a general rising was to take place, under the supposition that the Barbarians could not advance before the 15th. "As it is, they have but fifty or sixty thousand troops, a number with which they might as well attempt to conquer the world as secure Italy in its present state. The artillery marches last, and alone, and there is an idea of an attempt to cut part of them off. All this will much depend upon the first steps of the Neapolitans. Here, the public spirit is excellent, provided it be kept up. This will be seen by the event. "It is probable, that Italy will be delivered from the Barbarians if the Neapolitans will but stand firm, and are united among themselves. Here they appear so. "February 10, 1821. "Day passed as usual-nothing new. Barbarians still in march-not well equipped, and, of course, not well received on their route. There is some talk of a commotion at Paris. "Rode out between four and six-finished my letter to Murray on Bowles's pamphlets-added postscript. Passed the evening as usual-out till elevenand subsequently at home. * In this little incident of the music in the streets thus touching so suddenly upon the nerve of memory, and calling away his mind from its dark bodings to a recollection of years and scenes the happiest, perhaps, of his whole life, there is something that appears to me peculiarly affecting, "February 11, 1821. "Wrote—had a copy taken of an extract from Petrarch's Letters, with reference to the conspiracy of the Doge, M. Faliero, containing the poet's opinion of the matter. Heard a heavy firing of cannon towards Comacchio-the Barbarians rejoicing for their principal pig's birthday, which is to-morrow-or Saint day I forget which. Received a ticket for the first ball to-morrow. Shall not go to the first, but intend going to the second, as also to the Veglioni. "To-day read a little in Louis B.'s Hollande, but have written nothing since the completion of the letter on the Pope controversy. Politics are quite misty for the present. The Barbarians still upon their march. It is not easy to divine what the Italians will now do. "Was elected yesterday 'Socio' of the Carnival ball society. This is the fifth carnival that I have passed. In the four former, I racketed a good deal. In the present, I have been as sober as Lady Grace herself. "February 14, 1821. “Much as usual. Wrote, before riding out, part of a scene of 'Sardanapalus' The first act nearly finished. The rest of the day and evening as before -partly without, in conversazione-partly at home. "Heard the particulars of the late fray at Russi, a town not far from this. It is exactly the fact of Romeo and Giulietta—not Romeo, as the Barbarian writes it. Two families of Contadini (peasants) are at feud. At a ball, the younger part of the families forget their quarrel, and dance together. An old man of one of them enters, and reproves the young men for dancing with the females of the opposite family. The male relatives of the latter resent this. Both parties rush home and arm themselves. They meet directly, by moonlight, in the public way, and fight it out. Three are killed on the spot, and six wounded, most of them dangerously,-pretty well for two families, methinks-and all fact, of the last week. Another assassination has taken place at Cesenna,-in all about forty in Romagna within the last three months. These people retain much of the middle ages. "February 15, 1821. "Last night finished the first act of Sardanapalus. To-night, or to-morrow, I ought to answer letters. "February 16, 1821. "Last night Il Conte P. G. sent a man with a bag full of bayonets, some muskets, and some hundreds of cartridges to my house, without apprizing me, though I had seen him not half an hour before. About ten days ago, when there was to be a rising here, the Liberals and my brethren C. asked me to purchase some arms for a certain few of our ragamuffins. I did so immediately, and ordered ammunition, &c. and they were armed accordingly. Well-the rising is prevented by the Barbarians marching a week sooner than appointed; and an order is issued, and in force, by the Government, that all persons having arms concealed, &c., &c., shall be liable to,' &c., &c.,-and what do my friends, the patriots, do two days afterwards? Why, they throw back upon my hands, and into my house, these very arms (without a word of warning previously) with which I had furnished them at their own request, and at my own peril and expense. "It was lucky that Lega was at home to receive them. If any of the servants had (except Tita and F. and Lega), they would have betrayed it immediately. In the mean time, if they are denounced or discovered, I shall be in a scrape. “At nine went out at eleven returned. Beat the crow for stealing the falcon's victuals. Read 'Tales of my Landlord'—wrote a letter-and mixed a moderate beaker of water with other ingredients. 66 February 18, 1821. "The news are that the Neapolitans have broken a bridge, and slain four pontifical carabiniers, whilk carabiniers wished to oppose. Besides the disrespect to neutrality, it is a pity that the first blood shed in this German quarrel should be Italian. However, the war seems begun in good earnest; for, if the Neapolitans kill the Pope's carabiniers, they will not be more delicate towards the Barbarians. If it be even so, in a short time 'there will be news o' thae craws', as Mrs. Alison Wilson says of Jenny Blane's 'unco cockernony' in the 'Tales of my Landlord.' "In turning over Grimm's Correspondence to-day, I found a thought of Tom Moore's in a song of Maupertuis to a female Laplander. This is Moore's, "Et tous les lieux, "And those eyes make my climate, wherever I roam.' But I am sure that Moore never saw it; for this was published in Grimm's Correspondence in 1813, and I knew Moore's by heart in 1812. There is also another, but an antithetical coincidence— "Le soleil luit, Des jours sans nuit Mais ces longs jours Seront trop courts, Passés près de Christine.' This is the thought reversed, of the last stanza of the ballad on Charlotte Lynes, given in Miss Seward's Memoirs of Darwin, which is pretty-I quote from memory of these last fifteen years. "For my first night I'll go To those regions of snow Where the sun for six months never shines; And think, even then, He too soon came again, To disturb me with fair Charlotte Lynes.' "To-day I have had no communication with my Carbonari cronies; but, in the mean time, my lower apartments are full of their bayonets, fusils, car |
