career.

And soon this was followed by the letter so often quoted, showing the
white-heat of his enthusiasm:

Now that "Francesca da Rimini" is done,--all but the
polishing,--I have time to look around and see how I have
been neglecting my friends during my state of "possession."
Of course you wish to know my opinion of the bantling; I
shall suppose you do, at all events. Well, then, I am better
satisfied with "Francesca da Rimini" than with any of my
previous plays. It is impossible for me to say what you, or
the world, will say of it; but if it do not please you both,
I do not know what I am about. The play is more dramatic than
former ones, fiercer in its display of intense passions, and,
so far as mere poetry goes, not inferior, if not superior, to
any of them. In this play I have dared more, risked more, than
I ever had courage to do before. _Ergo_, if it be not a great
triumph, it will certainly be a great failure. I doubt whether
you, in a hundred guesses, could hit upon the manner in which
I have treated the story. I shall not attempt to prejudice
you regarding the play; I would rather have you judge for
yourself, even if your decision be adverse. Am I not the devil
and all for rapid composition? My speed frightens me, and
makes me fearful of the merits of my work. Yet, on coolly
going over my work, I find little to object to, either as to
the main design or its details. I touch up, here and there,
but I do little more. The reason for my rapid writing is
that I never attempt putting pen to paper before my design is
perfectly mature. I never start with one idea, trusting to the
glow of poetical composition for the remainder. That will
do in lyrical poetry, but it would be death and damnation to
dramatic. But just think of it!--twenty-eight hundred lines in
about three weeks! To look back upon such labour is appalling!
Let me give you the whole history of my manner of composition
in a few words. If it be not interesting to you, you differ
from me, and I mistake the kind of matters that interest you.
While I am writing I eat little, I drink nothing, I meditate
my work, literally, all day. By the time night arrives I am in
a highly nervous and excited state. About nine o'clock I begin
writing and smoking, and I continue the two exercises, _pari
passu_, until about f