_not_ for _the stage_. Yours, in haste and hatred, you shabby
correspondent! N."

* * * * *

LETTER 431. TO MR. MURRAY.

"Ravenna, May 28. 1821.

"Since my last of the 26th or 25th, I have dashed off my fifth act
of the tragedy called 'Sardanapalus.' But now comes the copying
over, which may prove heavy work--heavy to the writer as to the
reader. I have written to you at least six times sans answer, which
proves you to be a--bookseller. I pray you to send me a copy of Mr.
_Wrangham_'s reformation of '_Langhorne_'s Plutarch.' I have the
Greek, which is somewhat small of print, and the Italian, which is
too heavy in style, and as false as a Neapolitan patriot
proclamation. I pray you also to send me a Life, published some
years ago, of the _Magician Apollonius_ of Tyana. It is in English,
and I think edited or written by what Martin Marprelate calls '_a
bouncing priest_.' I shall trouble you no farther with this sheet
than with the postage. Yours, &c. N.

"P.S. Since I wrote this, I determined to enclose it (as a half
sheet) to Mr. Kinnaird, who will have the goodness to forward it.
Besides, it saves sealing-wax."

* * * * *

LETTER 432. TO MR. MURRAY.

"Ravenna, May 30. 1821.

"Dear Moray,

"You say you have written often: I have only received yours of the
eleventh, which is very short. By this post, _five_ packets, I send
you the tragedy of Sardanapalus, which is written in a rough hand:
perhaps Mrs. Leigh can help you to decipher it. You will please to
acknowledge it by return of post. You will remark that the
_unities_ are all _strictly_ observed. The scene passes in the same
_hall_ always: the time, a _summer's night_, about nine hours, or
less, though it begins before sunset and ends after sun-rise. In
the third act, when Sardanapalus calls for a _mirror_ to look at
himself in his armour, recollect to quote the Latin passage from
_Juvenal_ upon _Otho_ (a similar character, who did the same
thing): Gifford will help you to it. The trait is perhaps too
familiar, but it is historical, (of _Otho_, at least,) and natural
in an effeminate character."

* * * * *

LETTER 433. TO MR. HOPPNER.

"Ravenna, May 31. 1821.

"I enclose you a