It is impossible to mistake, in this finished and exquisite portrait, the matured beauty, the negligent attire, and love of solitude which characterised Leonora: the resemblance was so perfect, as to be universally recognised and acknowledged. But is it not, as M. Ginguené remarks, equally certain that Tasso has pourtrayed himself as Olindo? Ei che modesto è, com' essa è bella, Brama, assai, poco spera, nulla chiede! He, full of modesty and truth, Loved much, hoped little, and desired nought! Has he not in the verse Ed o mia morte avventurosa appiena, breathed forth all the smothered passion of his soul?-- Ed o mia morte avventurosa appiena! Oh fortunati miei dolci martiri! S'impetrerò che giunto seno a seno L'anima mia nella tuo bocca io spiri, E venendo tu meco a un tempo meno In me fuor mandi gli ultimi sospiri! And O! how happy were my death! how blest These tortures,--could I but the meed obtain, That breast to breast, and lip to lip, our souls Might flee together, and our latest sighs Mingle in death. This episode is critically a defect in the poem: it seems to stand alone, unconnected in any way with the main action; he acknowledged this; but he absolutely, and obstinately, refused to alter it, or strike it out. He, who was in general amenable to criticism, even to a degree of weakness, willed that it should stand an everlasting monument of his tenderness, and of the virtues and the charms of her who inspired it:--and thus it has been. A cruel, and, as I think, a most unjust imputation rests on the memory of the Princess Leonora. She is accused of cold-heartedness, in suffering Tasso to remain so long imprisoned, without interceding in his favour, or even vouchsafing any reply to his affecting supplications for release, and for her mediation in his behalf. The excuse alledged by those who would fain excuse her,--"That she feared to compromise herself by any interference," is ten times worse than the accusation itself. But though there exists, I suppose, no _written_ proof that Leonora pleaded the cause of Tasso, or sought to mitigate his sufferings; neither is there any proof of the contrary. We know little, or rather nothing, of the private intrigues of Alphonso's palace: we have no "mémoires secrètes" of that day; no diaries kept by prying courtiers, to enlighten us on what passed in the recesses of the royal apartments: and upon mere negative presumption, shall we brand the character of a woman, who appears on every other occasion so blameless, so tender-hearted, and beneficent, with the imputation of such barbarous selfishness? for the honour of our sex, and human nature, I must believe it impossible.