"Your offered address will be as acceptable as you can wish. I don't much care what the wretches of the world think of me--all _that's_ past. But I care a good deal what _you_ think of me, and, so, say what you like. You _know_ that I am not sullen; and, as to being _savage_, such things depend on circumstances. However, as to being in good humour in _your_ society, there is no great merit in that, because it would be an effort, or an insanity, to be otherwise. "I don't know what Murray may have been saying or quoting.[14] I called Crabbe and Sam the fathers of present Poesy; and said, that I thought--except them--_all_ of '_us youth_' were on a wrong tack. But I never said that we did not sail well. Our fame will be hurt by _admiration_ and _imitation_. When I say _our_, I mean _all_ (Lakers included), except the postscript of the Augustans. The next generation (from the quantity and facility of imitation) will tumble and break their necks off our Pegasus, who runs away with us; but we keep the _saddle_, because we broke the rascal and can ride. But though easy to mount, he is the devil to guide; and the next fellows must go back to the riding-school and the manege, and learn to ride the 'great horse.' "Talking of horses, by the way, I have transported my own, four in number, to the Lido (_beach_ in English), a strip of some ten miles along the Adriatic, a mile or two from the city; so that I not only get a row in my gondola, but a spanking gallop of some miles daily along a firm and solitary beach, from the fortress to Malamocco, the which contributes considerably to my health and spirits. "I have hardly had a wink of sleep this week past. We are in the agonies of the Carnival's last days, and I must be up all night again, as well as to-morrow. I have had some curious masking adventures this Carnival; but, as they are not yet over, I shall not say on. I will work the mine of my youth to the last veins of the ore, and then--good night. I have lived, and am content. "Hobhouse went away before the Carnival began, so that he had little or no fun. Besides, it requires some time to be thoroughgoing with the Venetians; but of all this anon, in some other letter. "I must dress for the evening. There is an opera and ridotto, and I know not what, besides balls; and so, ever and ever yours, "B. "P.S. I send this without revision, so excuse errors. I delight in the fame and fortune of Lalla, and again congratulate you on your well-merited success." [Footnote 13: This possibly may have been the subject of the Poem given in p. 152. of the first volume.]