_Mattheson._ "In the year 1709, at his departure from Hamburg, Handel was 25 years old. He resided a year in Florence before he went to Venice, where he had his 'Agrippina' performed at the theatre of St. Gio Crisostomo, during the Carnival in 1710. Now, let him calculate who can, and convince himself whether this makes, from February 24th, 1684, eighteen years, as our biographer says, or whether it amounts to twenty-six." _Mainwaring_ (P. 74). "It was in the winter of the year 1710 when he arrived at London." _Mattheson._ "In this year he performed his 'Agrippina' at Venice, and in 1709 he was still in Hamburg."[16] _Mainwaring_ (P. 74). "During this period scarce a mail arrived from Holland which did not bring some fresh accounts of victories or advantages gained by the English hero [Marlborough] over the armies of a monarch but lately the terror of Europe, though now the scorn of every Dutch burgomaster." _Mattheson._ "What a Frenchman may say to this is his own concern. In Handel's biography it is lugged in; and such scurrilities reveal an ignoble heart." _Mainwaring_ (P. 88). "Our business is not to play the panegyrist but the historian." _Mattheson._ "If you know that, blessed are you if you act upon it." _Mainwaring_ (P. 110). "Having one day some words with Cuzzoni on her refusing to sing _Falsa imagine_ in 'Ottone': 'Oh! Madame,' Handel said, 'je scais bien que vous etes une veritable diablesse; mais je vous ferai scavoir, moi, que je suis Beelzebub, le _chef_ des diables!' With this he took her up by the waist, and swore that if she made any more words he would fling her out of the window. It is to be noted that this was formerly one of the methods of executing criminals in some parts of Germany, a process not unlike that of the Tarpeian rock, and probably derived from it." _Mattheson._ "This heroic deed was undoubtedly accomplished unawares. Who could face such a woman with her claws? The Quixotic story with its ingenious reference to the Tarpeian rock, and to criminal processes, testify to the author's extensive reading in law and history. Whoever can read it without a smile is commendable, especially if he is a German, better informed and phlegmatic." _Mainwaring_ (P. 115). "The little taste he [Handel] had already had of adversity lessened that self-confidence which success is apt to inspire. He found that it was not the necessary consequence of great abilities, and that without prudence the greatest may be almost annihilated in the opinions of men." _Mattheson._ "To this the British proverb applies: 'Give a man luck and throw him into the Thames.'"