e to have it paid as
soon as it can be made convenient to yourself.

"The new and last Canto is 130 stanzas in length; and may be made
more or less. I have fixed no price, even in idea, and have no
notion of what it may be good for. There are no metaphysics in it;
at least, I think not. Mr. Hobhouse has promised me a copy of
Tasso's Will, for notes; and I have some curious things to say
about Ferrara, and Parisina's story, and perhaps a farthing
candle's worth of light upon the present state of Italian
literature. I shall hardly be ready by October; but that don't
matter. I have all to copy and correct, and the notes to write.

"I do not know whether Scott will like it; but I have called him
the '_Ariosto_ of the North' in my _text_. _If he should not, say
so in time._

"An Italian translation of 'Glenarvon' came lately to be printed at
Venice. The censor (Sr. Petrotini) refused to sanction the
publication till he had seen me on the subject. I told him that I
did not recognise the slightest relation between that book and
myself; but that, whatever opinions might be upon that subject, _I_
would never prevent or oppose the publication of _any_ book, in
_any_ language, on my own private account; and desired him (against
his inclination) to permit the poor translator to publish his
labours. It is going forwards in consequence. You may say this,
with my compliments, to the author.

"Yours."

* * * * *

LETTER 293. TO MR. MURRAY.

"Venice, August 12. 1817.

"I have been very sorry to hear of the death of Madame de Stael,
not only because she had been very kind to me at Copet, but because
now I can never requite her. In a general point of view, she will
leave a great gap in society and literature.

"With regard to death, I doubt that we have any right to pity the
dead for their own sakes.

"The copies of Manfred and Tasso are arrived, thanks to Mr.
Croker's cover. You have destroyed the whole effect and moral of
the poem by omitting the last line of Manfred's speaking; and why
this was done, I know not. Why you persist in saying nothing of the
thing itself, I am equally at a loss to conjecture. If it is for
fear of telling me something disagreeable, you are wrong; because
sooner or later I must kn