Chapter CII: Letter 496: To Mr. Murray

"Montenero, Leghorn, June 6. 1822.

"I return you the revise of Werner, and expect the rest. With
regard to the Lines to the Po, perhaps you had better put them
quietly in a second edition (if you reach one, that is to say) than
in the first; because, though they have been reckoned fine, and I
wish them to be preserved, I do not wish them to attract IMMEDIATE
observation, on account of the relationship of the lady to whom
they are addressed with the first families in Romagna and the
Marches.

"The defender of 'Cain' may or may not be, as you term him, 'a tyro
in literature:' however I think both you and I are under great
obligation to him. I have read the Edinburgh review in Galignani's
Magazine, and have not yet decided whether to answer them or not;
for, if I do, it will be difficult for me not 'to make sport for
the Philistines' by pulling down a house or two; since, when I once
take pen in hand, I _must_ say what comes uppermost, or fling it
away. I have not the hypocrisy to pretend impartiality, nor the
temper (as it is called) to keep always from saying what may not be
pleasing to the hearer or reader. What do they mean by
'_elaborate_?' Why, _you_ know that they were written as fast as I
could put pen to paper, and printed from the _original_ MSS., and
never revised but in the proofs: _look_ at the _dates_ and the MSS.
themselves. Whatever faults they have must spring from
carelessness, and not from labour. They said the same of 'Lara,'
which I wrote while undressing after coming home from balls and
masquerades, in the year of revelry 1814. Yours."

"June 8. 1822.

"You give me no explanation of your intention as to the 'Vision of
Quevedo Redivivus,' one of my best things: indeed, you are
altogether so abstruse and undecided lately, that I suppose you
mean me to write 'John Murray, Esq., a Mystery,'--a composition
which would not displease the clergy nor the trade. I by no means
wish you to do what you don't like, but merely to say what you will
do. The Vision _must_ be published by some one. As to 'clamours,'
the die is cast: and 'come one, come all,' we will fight it out--at
least one of us."

* * * * *