"Ravenna, March 23. 1820.
"I have received your letter of the 7th. Besides the four packets
you have already received, I have sent the Pulci a few days after,
and since (a few days ago) the four first Cantos of Dante's
Prophecy, (the best thing I ever wrote, if it be not
_unintelligible_,) and by last post a literal translation, word for
word (versed like the original), of the episode of Francesca of
Rimini. I want to hear what you think of the new Juans, and the
translations, and the Vision. They are all things that are, or
ought to be, very different from one another.
"If you choose to make a print from the Venetian, you may; but she
don't correspond at all to the character you mean her to represent.
On the contrary, the Contessa G. does (except that she is fair),
and is much prettier than the Fornarina; but I have no picture of
her except a miniature, which is very ill done; and, besides, it
would not be proper, on any account whatever, to make such a use of
it, even if you had a copy.
"Recollect that the two new Cantos only count with us for one. You
may put the Pulci and Dante together: perhaps that were best. So
you have put your name to Juan, after all your panic. You are a
rare fellow. I must now put myself in a passion to continue my
prose. Yours," &c.
"I have caused write to Thorwaldsen. Pray be careful in sending my
daughter's picture--I mean, that it be not hurt in the carriage,
for it is a journey rather long and jolting."
* * * * *