Chapter XL: 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."

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