Shakespeare's Othello 3.3.206-07. The passage Venetian draper, was Byron's current amorosa. continues: 'dare not show their husbands.' 3. Blonde (Italian).
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738 / GEORGE GORDON, LORD BYRON
was not, till that evening, aware of the extent to which it had gone. It is very well known that almost all the married women have a lover; but it is usual to keep up the forms, as in other nations. I did not, therefore, know what the devil to say. I could not out with the truth, out of regard to her, and I did not choose to lie for my sake;?besides, the thing told itself. I thought the best way would be to let her explain it as she chose (a woman being never at a loss?the devil always sticks by them)?only determining to protect and carry her off, in case of any ferocity on the part of the Signor. I saw that he was quite calm. She went to bed, and next day?how they settled it, I know not, but settle it they did. Well?then I had to explain to Marianna about this never to be sufficiently confounded sister-in-law; which I did by swearing innocence, eternal constancy, &c. &c. * * * But the sister-in-law, very much discomposed with being treated in such wise, has (not having her own shame before her eyes) told the affair to half Venice, and the servants (who were summoned by the fight and the fainting) to the other half. But, here, nobody minds such trifles, except to be amused by them. I don't know whether you will be so, but I have scrawled a long letter out of these follies.
Believe me ever. &c.
To Douglas Kinnaird1
[DON JUAN: 'IS IT NOT LIFE?']
Venice. Octr. 26th. [1819]
My dear Douglas?My late expenditure has arisen from living at a distance from Venice and being obliged to keep up two establishments, from frequent journeys?and buying some furniture and books as well as a horse or two? and not from any renewal of the EPICUREAN system2 as you suspect. I have been faithful to my honest liaison with Countess Guiccioli3?and I can assure you that She has never cost me directly or indirectly a sixpence?indeed the circumstances of herself and family render this no merit.?I never offered her but one present?a broach of brilliants?and she sent it back to me with her own hair in it (I shall not say of what part but that is an Italian custom) and a note to say that she was not in the habit of receiving presents of that value? but hoped that I would not consider her sending it back as an affront?nor the value diminished by the enclosure.?I have not had a whore this halfyear? confining myself to the strictest adultery. Why should you prevent Hanson from making a peer4 if he likes it?I think the 'Garretting' would be by far the best parliamentary privilege?I know of. Damn your delicacy.? It is a low commercial quality?and very unworthy a man who prefixes 'honourable' to his nomenclature. If you say that I must sign the bonds?I suppose that I must?but it is very iniquitous to make me pay my debts?you have no idea of the pain it gives one.?Pray do three things?get my property out of
1. Kinnaird, a friend from Cambridge days, was relationship lasted until Byron set sail for Greece Byron's banker and literary agent in London. in the summer of 1823.
2. I.e., money spent on pleasures of the senses. 4. I.e., being made a peer (of the realm). John 3. Byron mentions having fallen in love with Hanson, Byron's solicitor and agent before Kin- Teresa Guiccioli ('a Romagnuola Countess from naird took over his principal business affairs, never Ravenna?who is nineteen years old & has a realized this ambition.
Count of fifty') in a letter of April 6, 1819. Their
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LETTERS / 739
the funds?get Rochdale5 sold?get me some information from Perry about South America6?and 4thly. ask Lady Noel not to live so very long. As to Subscribing to Manchester?if I do that?I will write a letter to Burdett7? for publication?to accompany the Subscription?which shall be more radical than anything yet rooted?but I feel lazy.?I have thought of this for some time?but alas! the air of this cursed Italy enervates?and disfranchises the thoughts of a man after nearly four years of respiration?to say nothing of emission.?As to 'Don Juan'?confess?confess?you dog?and be candid? that it is the sublime of that there sort of writing?it may be bawdy?but is it not good English??it may be profligate?but is it not life, is it not the thing?? Could any man have written it?who has not lived in the world??and tooled in a post-chaise? in a hackney coach? in a Gondola? against a wall? in a court carriage? in a vis a vis?8?on a table??and under it??I have written about a hundred stanzas of a third Canto?but it is damned modest?the outcry has frightened me.?I had such projects for the Don?but the Cant is so much stronger than Cunt?now a days,?that the benefit of experience in a man who had well weighed the worth of both monosyllables?must be lost to despairing posterity.?After all what stuff this outcry is?Lalla Rookh and Little?are more dangerous than my burlesque poem can be?Moore has been here?we got tipsy together?and were very amicable?he is gone on to Rome?I put my life (in M.S.) into his hands9?(not for publication) you?or any body else may see it?at his return.?It only comes up to 1816. He is a noble fellow?and looks quite fresh and poetical?nine years (the age of a poem's education) my Senior?he looks younger?this comes of marriage and being settled in the Country. I want to go to South America?I have written to Hobhouse all about it.?I wrote to my wife?three months ago?under care to Murray?has she got the letter?or is the letter got into Rlackwood's magazine? You ask after my Christmas pye?Remit it any how?Circulars' is the best?you are right about income?I must have it all?how the devil do I know that I may live a year or a month??I wish I knew that I might regulate my spending in more ways than one.?As it is one always thinks that there is but a span.?A man may as well break or be damned for a large sum as a small one?I should be loth to pay the devil or any other creditor more than sixpence
in the pound.?
[scrawl for signature]
P.S.?I recollect nothing of 'Davies's landlord'?but what ever Davies says?I will swear to?and that's more than he would.?So pray pay?has he a landlady too??perhaps I may owe her something. With regard to the bonds I will sign them but?it goes against the grain. As to the rest?you can't err?so long as you don't pay. Paying is executor's or executioner's work. You may write somewhat oftener?Mr. Galignani's messenger2 gives the outline of your public affairs?but I see no results?you have no man yet?(always excepting Burdett?& you & H[obhouse] and the Gentlemanly leaven of your two-penny loaf of rebellion) don't forget however my charge of
5. An estate that Byron had inherited in Lanca-face. shire. 9. Byron's famous memoirs, which were later sold 6. Byron was considering the possibility of emi-to John Murray and burned in the publisher's grating to South America, specifically to Vene-office.
zuela. 1. Letters of credit that could be exchanged for
7. Sir Francis Burdett, member of Parliament for cash. Westminster, a reformer and leader of opposition 2.
