"Ravenna, July 6. 1821.
"In agreement with a wish expressed by Mr. Hobhouse, it is my
determination to omit the stanza upon the _horse of Semiramis_ in
the fifth Canto of Don Juan. I mention this in case you are, or
intend to be, the publisher of the remaining Cantos.
"At the particular request of the Contessa G. I have promised _not_
to continue Don Juan. You will therefore look upon these three
Cantos as the last of the poem. She had read the two first in the
French translation, and never ceased beseeching me to write no more
of it. The reason of this is not at first obvious to a superficial
observer of FOREIGN manners; but it arises from the wish of all
women to exalt the sentiment of the passions, and to keep up the
illusion which is their empire. Now Don Juan strips off this
illusion, and laughs at that and most other things. I never knew a
woman who did _not_ protect _Rousseau_, nor one who did not dislike
De Grammont, Gil Bias, and all the comedy of the passions, when
brought out naturally. But 'king's blood must keep word,' as
Serjeant Bothwell says."
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