because it is badly translated. Now you
say, and I say, and others say, that the translation is a good one;
and so it shall go to press as it is. Pulci must answer for his own
irreligion: I answer for the translation only.

"Pray let Mr. Hobhouse look to the Italian next time in the proofs:
this time, while I am scribbling to you, they are corrected by one
who passes for the prettiest woman in Romagna, and even the
Marches, as far as Ancona, be the other who she may.

"I am glad you like my answer to your enquiries about Italian
society. It is fit you should like _something_, and be d----d to
you.

"My love to Scott. I shall think higher of knighthood ever after
for his being dubbed. By the way, he is the first poet titled for
his talent in Britain: it has happened abroad before now; but on
the Continent titles are universal and worthless. Why don't you
send me Ivanhoe and the Monastery? I have never written to Sir
Walter, for I know he has a thousand things, and I a thousand
nothings, to do; but I hope to see him at Abbotsford before very
long, and I will sweat his claret for him, though Italian
abstemiousness has made my brain but a shilpit concern for a Scotch
sitting 'inter pocula.' I love Scott, and Moore, and all the better
brethren; but I hate and abhor that puddle of water-worms whom you
have taken into your troop.

"Yours, &c.

"P.S. You say that _one half_ is very good: you are _wrong_; for,
if it were, it would be the finest poem in existence. _Where_ is
the poetry of which _one half_ is good? is it the _AEneid_? is it
_Milton's_? is it _Dryden's_? is it any one's except _Pope's_ and
_Goldsmith's_, of which _all_ is good? and yet these two last are
the poets your pond poets would explode. But if _one half_ of the
two new Cantos be good in your opinion, what the devil would you
have more? No--no; no poetry is _generally_ good--only by fits and
starts--and you are lucky to get a sparkle here and there. You
might as well want a midnight _all stars_ as rhyme all perfect.

"We are on the verge of a _row_ here. Last night they have
overwritten all the city walls with 'Up with the republic!' and
'Death to the Pope!' &c. &c. This would be nothing in London, where
the walls are privileged. But here it is a different thing: they