r. If I wrote a quarto, I don't know that I could
do more than amplify what I have here noted. It is to be observed
that while they do all this, the greatest outward respect is to be
paid to the husbands, not only by the ladies, but by their
Serventi--particularly if the husband serves no one himself (which
is not often the case, however); so that you would often suppose
them relations--the Servente making the figure of one adopted into
the family. Sometimes the ladies run a little restive and elope, or
divide, or make a scene: but this is at starting, generally, when
they know no better, or when they fall in love with a foreigner, or
some such anomaly,--and is always reckoned unnecessary and
extravagant.

"You enquire after Dante's Prophecy: I have not done more than six
hundred lines, but will vaticinate at leisure.

"Of the bust I know nothing. No cameos or seals are to be cut here
or elsewhere that I know of, in any good style. Hobhouse should
write himself to Thorwaldsen: the bust was made and paid for three
years ago.

"Pray tell Mrs. Leigh to request Lady Byron to urge forward the
transfer from the funds. I wrote to Lady Byron on business this
post, addressed to the care of Mr. D. Kinnaird."

* * * * *

LETTER 358. TO MR. BANKES.

"Ravenna, February 26. 1820.

"Pulci and I are waiting for you with impatience; but I suppose we
must give way to the attraction of the Bolognese galleries for a
time. I know nothing of pictures myself, and care almost as little:
but to me there are none like the Venetian--above all, Giorgione. I
remember well his Judgment of Solomon in the Mariscalchi in
Bologna. The real mother is beautiful, exquisitely beautiful. Buy
her, by all means, if you can, and take her home with you: put her
in safety: for be assured there are troublous times brewing for
Italy; and as I never could keep out of a row in my life, it will
be my fate, I dare say, to be over head and ears in it; but no
matter, these are the stronger reasons for coming to see me soon.

"I have more of Scott's novels (for surely they are Scott's) since
we met, and am more and more delighted. I think that I even prefer
them to his poetry, which (by the way) I redde for the first time
in my life in your rooms in Trinit