ese parts. At Faenza there is Lord
* * * * with an opera girl; and at the inn in the same town is a
Neapolitan Prince, who serves the wife of the Gonfaloniere of that
city. I am on duty here--so you see 'Cosi fan tut_ti_ e tut_te_.'

"I have my horses here, _saddle_ as well as carriage, and ride or
drive every day in the forest, the _Pineta_, the scene of
Boccaccio's novel, and Dryden's fable of Honoria, &c. &c.; and I
see my Dama every day; but I feel seriously uneasy about her
health, which seems very precarious. In losing her, I should lose a
being who has run great risks on my account, and whom I have every
reason to love--but I must not think this possible. I do not know
what I _should_ do if she died, but I ought to blow my brains
out--and I hope that I should. Her husband is a very polite
personage, but I wish he would not carry me out in his coach and
six, like Whittington and his cat.

"You ask me if I mean to continue D.J. &c. How should I know? What
encouragement do you give me, all of you, with your nonsensical
prudery? publish the two Cantos, and then you will see. I desired
Mr. Kinnaird to speak to you on a little matter of business; either
he has not spoken, or you have not answered. You are a pretty pair,
but I will be even with you both. I perceive that Mr. Hobhouse has
been challenged by Major Cartwright--Is the Major 'so cunning of
fence?'--why did not they fight?--they ought.

"Yours," &c.

* * * * *

LETTER 334. TO MR. HOPPNER.

"Ravenna, July 2. 1819.

"Thanks for your letter and for Madame's. I will answer it
directly. Will you recollect whether I did not consign to you one
or two receipts of Madame Mocenigo's for house-rent--(I am not sure
of this, but think I did--if not, they will be in my drawers)--and
will you desire Mr. Dorville[39] to have the goodness to see if
Edgecombe has _receipts_ to all payments _hitherto_ made by him on
my account, and that there are _no debts_ at Venice? On your
answer, I shall send order of further remittance to carry on my
household expenses, as my present return to Venice is very
problematical; and it may happen--but I can say nothing
positive--every thing with me being indecisive and undecided,
except the disgust which Venice excites when fairly