at he is not certain on the point, feeling anxious to
know whether he imbibed his first draughts of poetry at the expense of
his stomach. Notwithstanding that he was at the head of the humanity
class, and could translate the _Georgics_ into Italian prose, he found
great difficulty in understanding the easiest of Italian poets. The
master, however, soon perceived him reading the book by stealth, and
confiscated it, leaving the future poet deprived for the present of all
poetical guidance.

During this period he was in a wretched state of health, being
constantly attacked by various extraordinary diseases. He describes
himself as not growing at all, and as resembling a very delicate and
pale wax taper. In 1760 he passed in the class of rhetoric, and
succeeded, moreover, in recovering his Ariosto, but read very little of
it, partly from the difficulty he found in understanding it, and partly
because the continued breaks in the story disgusted him. As to Tasso, he
had never even heard his name. He obtained a few of Metastasio's plays
as _libretti_ of the Opera at carnival time, and was much pleased with
them, and also with some of Goldoni's comedies that were lent to him.

"But the dramatic genius, of which the germs perhaps existed in me, was
soon buried or extinguished for want of food, of encouragement, and
every thing else. In short, my ignorance and that of my instructors, and
the carelessness of every body in every thing exceeded all conception."

The following year he was promoted into the class of philosophy, which
met in the adjoining university. The following is his description of the
course:

"This school of peripatetic philosophy was held after dinner. During the
first half-hour we wrote out the lecture at the dictation of the
professor, and in the subsequent three-quarters of an hour, when he
commented upon it, Heaven knows how, in Latin, we scholars wrapped
ourselves up comfortably in our mantles, and went fast asleep; and among
the assembled philosophers, not a sound was heard except the drawling
voice of the professor himself, half asleep, and the various notes of
the snorers, who formed a most delightful concert in every possible
key."

During his holidays this year, his uncle took him to the Opera for the
first time, where he heard the _Mercato di Malmantile_. The music
produced a most extraordinary effect upon him, and for several weeks
afterwards he remained immersed in a strange but not unpleasing