Chapter XXIII: Letter 415: To Mr. Murray

"March 2. 1821.

"This was the beginning of a letter which I meant for Perry, but
stopped short, hoping you would be able to prevent the theatres. Of
course you need not send it; but it explains to you my feelings on
the subject. You say that 'there is nothing to fear, let them do
what they please;' that is to say, that you would see me damned
with great tranquillity. You are a fine fellow."

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TO MR. PERRY.

"Ravenna, January 22. 1821.

"Dear Sir,

"I have received a strange piece of news, which cannot be more
disagreeable to your public than it is to me. Letters and the
gazettes do me the honour to say that it is the intention of some
of the London managers to bring forward on their stage the poem of
'Marino Faliero,' &c. which was never intended for such an
exhibition, and I trust will never undergo it. It is certainly
unfit for it. I have never written but for the solitary _reader_,
and require no experiments for applause beyond his silent
approbation. Since such an attempt to drag me forth as a gladiator
in the theatrical arena is a violation of all the courtesies of
literature, I trust that the impartial part of the press will step
between me and this pollution. I say pollution, because every
violation of a _right_ is such, and I claim my right as an author
to prevent what I have written from being turned into a stage-play.
I have too much respect for the public to permit this of my own
free will. Had I sought their favour, it would have been by a
pantomime.

"I have said that I write only for the reader. Beyond this I cannot
consent to any publication, or to the abuse of any publication of
mine to the purposes of histrionism. The applauses of an audience
would give me no pleasure; their disapprobation might, however,
give me pain. The wager is therefore not equal. You may, perhaps,
say, 'How can this be? if their disapprobation gives pain, their
praise might afford pleasure?' By no means: the kick of an ass or
the sting of a wasp may be painful to those who would find nothing
agreeable in the braying of the one or the buzzing of the other.

"This may not seem a courteous comparison, but I have no other
ready; and it occurs naturally."

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