Curran, &c. &c. almost every body of much name of the old school.
But 'so am not I, said the foolish fat scullion,' therefore let us
make the most of our remainder.

"Let me find two lines from you at 'the hostel or inn.'

"Yours ever, &c.

"B."

* * * * *

LETTER 465. TO MR. MOORE.

"Ravenna, Oct. 28. 1821.

"''Tis the middle of night by the castle clock,' and in three hours
more I have to set out on my way to Pisa--sitting up all night to
be sure of rising. I have just made them take off my
bed-clothes--blankets inclusive--in case of temptation from the
apparel of sheets to my eyelids.

"Samuel Rogers is--or is to be--at Bologna, as he writes from
Venice.

"I thought our Magnifico would 'pound you,' if possible. He is
trying to 'pound' me, too; but I'll specie the rogue--or, at least,
I'll have the odd shillings out of him in keen iambics.

"Your approbation of 'Sardanapalus' is agreeable, for more reasons
than one. Hobhouse is pleased to think as you do of it, and so do
some others--but the 'Arimaspian,' whom, like 'a Gryphon in the
wilderness,' I will 'follow for his gold' (as I exhorted you to do
before), did or doth disparage it--'stinting me in my sizings.' His
notable opinions on the 'Foscari' and 'Cain' he hath not as yet
forwarded; or, at least, I have not yet received them, nor the
proofs thereof, though promised by last post.

"I see the way that he and his Quarterly people are tending--they
want a _row_ with me, and they shall have it. I only regret that I
am not in England for the _nonce_; as, here, it is hardly fair
ground for me, isolated and out of the way of prompt rejoinder and
information as I am. But, though backed by all the corruption, and
infamy, and patronage of their master rogues and slave renegadoes,
if they do once rouse me up,

"'They had better gall the devil, Salisbury.'

"I have that for two or three of them, which they had better not
move me to put in motion;--and yet, after all, what a fool I am to
disquiet myself about such fellows! It was all very well ten or
twelve years ago, when I was a 'curled darling,' and _min_ded such
things. At present, I _rate_ them at their true value; but, from
natural temper and bile, am not able to keep quiet.