"I think you know some of the people of that theatre, or at least some one who knows them; and when you have read the play, you may say enough, perhaps, to induce them not to reject it. without consideration."

It does not appear that Mr. Peacock, the friend he wrote to, encouraged the poet's expectations in this instance; nor when the tragedy at length arrived, was the application at Covent Garden Theatre attended with success, for the manager, after reading it himself, pronounced the subject so objectionable, that he could not even submit the part to Miss O'Neil for her perusal.

It is a curious fact, however, connected with this affair, that Shelley strictly enjoined that his name was not to transpire as the author of "The Cenci." Secresy on this point he considered especially essential to its success, remarking, that his own sister-in-law, did she know it to be his, would hire sufficient people to drive it off the stage. Such was the honour in which he was held by his own family.

Though unsuccessful as an acting tragedy,

"The Cenci" was among the few things by Shelley which sold well on its publication, a fact which must have greatly disturbed the minds of his amiable relatives.

CHAPTER XIV.

Shelley's life at Florence-The Quarterly Review— Cowardly attack on Shelley-His removal to Pisa -Description of Pisa-The ode to a sky larkEpistle to Mrs. Gisborne-The boat on the Serchio.

SHELLEY'S residence at Florence, as at every other spot was but of short duration. The beauty of its approaches, no less than of the city itself, with its galleries and gardens, its Piazza Vecchia crowded with statues, and its fortressed palaces, its Cascine and its Santa Croce, possessed for him innumerable and almost inexhaustible attractions; but ill health never ceased to cast a shade over his happiest moments.

Naturally of a hopeful temperament, he frequently writes in a very cheering manner to his friends. In one instance he writes, "my health is better so long as the sirocco blows;" in another, "I think I have had an accession of strength since my residence in Italy, though the disease itself in the side, whatever it may be, is not subdued;" and about a month later he writes still more hopefully, "I have better health than I have known for a long time-ready for any stormy cruise."

But the keen, dry, piercing winds that sometimes come sweeping down from the Apennines, acted most prejudicially on his sensitive frame. Every fresh symptom of that lurking malady that preyed on him through life was more acute and painful than before, and he became impressed with the idea that the climate of Florence was highly detrimental to his health, so much so that he quitted it some time before he had intended.*

While he remained there, however, he made himself thoroughly acquainted with every work of art that the city and its many resorts contained; every day he passed several hours in the

* Mrs Shelley's Notes.

gallery and made copious notes on the most celebrated statues and other productions of the mighty masters of antiquity.

Some of these Mrs. Shelley has given us, and they discover the artistic eye with which he regarded works of this kind; they form also another specimen of his power over language, and the masterly manner in which he can describe the things he has seen.

At Florence Shelley first saw the critique in the Quarterly on his "Revolt of Islam," and Captain Medwin has preserved an anecdote connected with this circumstance which is highly characteristic, related by Lord Dillon.

His lordship observed one day, at Delesert's reading-room, a young man earnestly bent over the last Quarterly. It was Shelley. He went on reading to the end of the article in the same earnest manner, his nose almost touching the book: suddenly he burst into convulsive laughter, and hastily rising, closed the book and left the room, his Ha! ha! ringing down the stairs.*

This anecdote shows that Shelley knew how to appreciate the bathos contained in this article, * Medwin's Life of Shelley.

VOL. II.

K