"I thought that I had told you long ago, that it never was intended nor written with any view to the stage. I have said so in the preface too. It is too long and too regular for your stage, the persons too few, and the _unity_ too much observed. It is more like a play of Alfieri's than of your stage (I say this humbly in speaking of that great man); but there is poetry, and it is equal to Manfred, though I know not what esteem is held of Manfred. "I have now been nearly as long _out_ of England as I was there during the time I saw you frequently. I came home July 14th, 1811, and left again April 25th, 1816: so that Sept. 28th, 1820, brings me within a very few months of the same duration of time of my stay and my absence. In course, I can know nothing of the public taste and feelings, but from what I glean from letters, &c. Both seem to be as bad as possible. "I thought _Anastasius excellent_: did I not say so? Matthews's Diary most excellent; it, and Forsyth, and parts of Hobhouse, are all we have of truth or sense upon Italy. The Letter to Julia very good indeed, I do not despise * * * * * *; but if she knit blue stockings instead of wearing them, it would be better. _You_ are taken in by that false stilted trashy style, which is a mixture of all the styles of the day, which are _all bombastic_ (I don't except my _own_--no one has done more through negligence to corrupt the language); but it is neither English nor poetry. Time will show. "I am sorry Gifford has made no further remarks beyond the first Act: does he think all the English equally sterling as he thought the first? You did right to send the proofs: I was a fool; but I do really detest the sight of proofs: it is an absurdity; but comes from laziness. "You can steal the two Juans into the world quietly, tagged to the others. The play as you will--the Dante too; but the _Pulci_ I am proud of: it is superb; you have no such translation. It is the best thing I ever did in my life. I wrote the play from beginning to end, and not a _single scene without interruption_, and being obliged to break off in the middle; for I had my hands full, and my head, too, just then; so it can be no great shakes--I mean the play; and the head too, if you like. "P.S. Politics here still savage and uncertain. However, we are all in our 'bandaliers,' to join the 'Highlanders if they cross the Forth,' _i.e._ to crush the Austrians if they cross the Po. The rascals!--and that dog Liverpool, to say their subjects are _happy_! If ever I come back, I'll work some of these ministers. "Sept. 29.