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Ful/lifttedFe&f/. /fg&iy G.G K^Jiolin.pon.I'aeeT-ne/lerA^ti
I R S
OF THE
LIFE AND WRITINGS
OF THE
ABATE METASTASIO.
IN WHICH ARE INCORPORATED,
TRANSLATIONS
OF HIS
PRINCIPAL LETTERS.
By CHARLES BURNEY, Mus. D, F. R. S,
Omniaque ejus non folum fafta, fed etiam difla meminiffet.
Cic. Somn, SciP.
IN THREE VOLUMES,
VOL. I.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR G. G. AND J. ROBINSON,
PATERNOSTER-ROW.
M.DCC.XCVI.
PREFACE
r JTO wlfh for information concerning fu£h
benefactors as have greatly contributed to
our inftruftion or amufement, is a natural curio*
%, which has gratitude for its bafis. And the
lovers of Italian Poetry, as well as vocal Mufic,
(if I may judge of the feelings of others by my
own) regard Metaftafio as the primary fource of
their moit exquifite delight in the union of thofe
arts. But this poet has ftill higher claims on
our reverence and affeaion, from his innoxious
life and moral charaaer, which give a kind of
dignity to innocent pleafures, and to humanity.
The life and writings of Metaftafio have been
fo much conne&ed with that art, upon the ftudy
and hiftory of which, fo great a portion" of my
own life has been fpent, that his Letters feemed
to furnifli neceffary materials to the completion
pf my mufical annals. Indeed, if thefe letters
had come to my hands previous to the publica-
tion of my General Hijiory, feveral points rela-
tive to the progrefs of the muficaj drama would
fcavebeen illuftrated from them. But, befides
their intimate conneaion with mufic and its
profeflbrs, I found in them fo many pleafing
beautiful, and new fentiments, on other fub-
— 2 )?&h
iv P R E F A C "E.
je&ts, written in a ftyle fo fuperior in elegance,
grace, and facility, to any other Italian profe
with which I am acquainted, that I wjfhed to
recommend them to the ftudents and lovers of
Italian literature in general, as models of famiT
liar letters, and of eafy and elegant profe.
The admirers of a foreign dramatic poet, of
whofe productions none have been well tran-
flated, except a few by my worthy friend, Mr.
Hoole, cannot be very numerous, nor is it likely
that a general curiofity concerning his life and
writings will now be excited. However, as a
Poet of refined tafte and fentiments, and a Man
pofTeffed of every moral and focial virtue that
embellifhes fociety, apd exalts human nature,
his conduct and opinions deferve difplay, as
much as his literary abilities admiration.
The pofthumous publication of his private
letters, which during many years of his life had
been copied previous tp their departure for the
place of their deftination, by a young Italian
fettled at Vienna, as an exercife in his own
language, will enable me in the courfe of thefe
Memoirs to. let the poet fpeak for himfelf on
many fubje&s, concerning which it is natural
for a curious reader to wifh to know his genuine
fentiments.
The incidents in his life, anterior to his arrival
at the capital of Germany, will be given from
authentic accounts, publiilied by his countrymen
in
PREFACE. r
ih Italy fince his deceafe, and which, from their
fingularity, and the myftery in which they were
long involved, feemed in want of indifputable
Vouchers to render them credible.
There are few circumftances relative to his
fubfequent life and writings, but what may be
gathered from his works themfelves, particularly
his epiftolary correfpondence, which from a few
of his private letters, that, in defiance of all his
folicitude to keep from the prefs, the vanity of
his friends had made public, were long wiftied
for by his countrymen {a).
The hiftory of a hero, is to be found in his
public tranfa&ions ; and that of a man of letters,
in his private correfpondence. The moft authen-
tic and fatisfa6tory hiftory of Cicero, is to be'
gathered from his Epijiol^e Familiares, or private
(«) It is faid in his Eloge by Andrea Rubei, of the
Academy of Sciences at Mantua, written two months after
the Poet's deceafe, and printed at Venice, that, " in his let-
ters to his friends he difleminated that fvveet urbanity which
.his heart never failed to furnifh. Oh, what a precious gift it
would be to the world; if fome benefactor to mankind would
publifh them! Whatever is now faid of his heart, would be
then demonftrated. From the few that have been feen, we
may imagine the reft to be replete with moralitjy, friendfhip,
gratitude, found criticifm, fage counfel, and religious fenti-
ments. Where can we find in Italy a feries of modern letters
which would furnifh fuch ufeful, fuch delightful lelTons to
inexperienced youth ? We look towards them with eager
Expectation, and hope they will foon be hi our pofieffion."
Elogj Italian?, Tomo imo.
a. 3 letters.
vi PREFACE.
letters, not intended for publication ; the letters
of Erafmus compofe the bell part of Dr. Jortin's
Life of that honeft and learned divine; as the let-
ters of Petrarch do of his Memoirs by the Abbe-
de Sade ; and above all, the letters of Gray,ingeni-
oufly incorporated by his friend Mr. Mafon in hia
Memoirs, which have always appeared to me the
molt agreeable fpecies of biography that has-
ever been publifhed. Dr. Johnfon, in his admi-
rable Lives of our Poets, though his opinions,
concerning the merit of fome of them are dis-
puted, and have never fatisfied my own mind,
has manifefted fuch powers of intellect, and
profound critical knowledge, as will probably
fettle the- national opinion on many fubje£ts of
literature upon an immoveable foundation. In-
deed his biographical fketches are more confined 1
to difcriminative criticifm on the works of our
poets, than their manners and private life; but
of Metaftafio, whofe writings are well known
to breathe the molt noble fentiments, and pureft:
morality, we wiiTied to know how his privater
life correfponded with his public principles.
And how could this be better difcovered by ar
foreio-ner, at the diftance of London from Vienna,
than by his Letters ? His countrymen, the Ita-
lians, almoft equally diftant from his refidence-
during more than fifty years of his exiftence, feem
to know as little concerning his private life, as
we do in England, except from his letters; few
of
PREFACE. xu
of which Were publifhecl, when moft of his bio-
graphers went to work.
The lives of the poet, that have been attempted,
and the public orations and eulogies that were
compofed and pronounced upon him in the lite-
rary academies of Italy, by men of the firft
eminence for learning and fcience, before and
after his deceafe, are innumerable. His coun-
trymen, in poffeffion of thefe, may have' their
curiofity fufficiently gratified > but as the prefent
work is intended to- convey to Engiifh readers
fome idea of the genius and moral worth of this
extraordinary man, I mall give them, from his
bell biographers and eulogifts that I have been
able to procure, the moft prominent features of
his character, 'as far as they agree with what I
faw and heard at Vienna, in my vifits to the
Imperial Laureat, and enquiries concerning him,
of his friends and moft intimate acquaintance.
The Firft biographical effay that'appeared after
the poet's deceafe, was A Compendium of the Life of
the celebrated Imperial Laureat, Pietro Meta-
stasis, written in German, for the ufe of his
future Biographers, by Joseph Rezer. This was
publifhed at Vienna, in 1782, in an 8vo pam-
phlet of only 53 pages. It was foon after tran-
flated into Italian, and publifhed likewife in
Vienna : a different tranflation, in Italian, appear-
ed at Rome in 1 783 5 and from this fmall tract,
the principal traits of his perfon and character
a 4 feern.
vili PREFACE.
feem to have been drawn, by his fubfequent
panegyrifts and biographers.
II. Elogio di Pietro Metastasio, written
by Andrea Rubbi, 1782, two months after the
Poet's death, and publifhed at Venice in the
1 ft. vol. of Elogj Italianty in 12 vols. 8vo. This
is a continued rhapfody of praife and admira-
tion, which required all the intrinfic merit,
worth, and fame of Metaftafio, to render palat-
able. The biographical information is tradi-
tional, and. the annotations are fo injudicioufly
felecled, as, if authentic, to confute the chief
part of his perfonal praife. But this writer, who
repeats fuch wild and incredible goffipping
ftories concerning the poet's -prejudices, is the
greater! enthufiaft for his virtues and benignity
of heart, of all his panegyrifts.
III. Elogio dell' Abate Pietro Metasta-
sio, read at a general meeting of the Arcadian
Academy at Rome, in Auguft, 1782, by the
Abate Taruffi. None of the panegyrifts or
biographers of the poet were fo well acquainted"
with his public works and private life as this
eulogift, who had redded many years at Vienna,
as Auditor and Secretary of Legation to the
Pope's Nuncio, and who enjoyed the friendfhip of
Metaftafio in the moft intimate and confidential
manner. A man of found learning, and uner-
ring judgment andtafte in literature and the fine
arts.
IV. Storia,
PREFACE. Is
IV. Storia, or Hiftory of the dramatic Poet,
FietroTrapassi Abate M£TASTAsio,illuftrated
with notes, and many of his letters ; written by
Captain Marc Antonio Aluigi. In Afifi,
1783, 8vo. 170 pages.
This is one of the moft confiderable, in length, of
anyof the lives that have been written of our bard.
The author has taken great pains in collecting all
the information which he could procure from the
poet's works, and from tradition; but having
had no perfonal knowledge of him, nor ever been
in the lift of his correfpondents, his information
is neither new nor well authenticated.
V. Elogio di Pietro Metastasio, publifhed
in a work entitled Elogj d'alcuni illuflri ltalianu
Eulogies, or characters of illuftrious Italians, by
Monfignor Angelo Fabbroni, Bifhop of Pifa,
1784, 8vo. 98 pages.
This learned prelate was long in correfpond-
ence with Metaftafio, and folicited his permiilion
to write his life, and affiftance in furnifhing ma-
terials, previous to his deceafe ; to which requeft
the poet's negative will be found in the courfe
of his Letters.
There are many juft reflections and critical
remarks in this Eloge, but the biographical part
is chiefly copied from Rezer.
VI. Vita fia florid* The Life or Hiftory of the
Abate Peter Metaftafio, Caefarean Poet. Venice,
printed by Zatta, 1784, and prefixed to the
edition
* PRE F A C E.
edition of the Poet's works, copied from that of
Paris. AnonymousV It has, however, been faid
by the editor of the Nue edition, to have been
written by the late Abate Giovan Francesco.
Altanesi, in his latter days, of which he gives
the following fevere, butjuft, character. "This
work is rendered infiifferable by a heap of ilrange
and inapplicable quotations, by pedantry, and
by the blunders with which it abounds, copied
from another life which Was publifhed by
,Aluigi> in 1783.
VII. Memorie perfervire alia vita — Memoirs to-
wards a Life of Metaftaiio, collected by Saverio*
Mattei, 8vo. Naples, 1785.
Thefe Memoirs were publifhed with an Eloge
on Jomelli, or an Effay on the progrefs of The-
atrical Poetry and Mufic, by the fame author.
Sig. Sav. Mattei is not only pofTerTed of deep
and extenfive learning, but abilities as a poet r
and great knowledge and good tafte in mufic ;
concerning which he feems to have heard, read,
and meditated, more than any man of letters
in Italy.. 'He rather points out in this tract, in a
loofe and irregular way, juft as recollection dic-
tates, materials for other biographers, than at-
tempts a regular life of his friend and correfpon-
dent Metaftafio himfe-lf- However, his di£
jointed materials are all ufeful, and many of
them fuch as are no where elfe to be found.
VIIL RaggionamentOy or a Difcourfe by John
3 Baptift
PREFACE. ■ ' #
Baptift Morefchi, in praife of Peter Metaftaflo,
Tead at a meeting of the Academy degli Fervidi
in Bologna, 1786- This difcourfe, prefixed ta
the firft volume of Metaftafio's Letters, is a florid
,analyfis of his dramas, abounding in enthufiaftic
encomiums, but contains no anecdotes or bio-
graphical information concerning the poet's life
and manners. It is, however., not devoid of
eloquence.
IX. Vita dell' Abate P i-e.tr o Met ast Asi^fcritt&r
dell'Avocato Carlo Cristini. In this life, written^
by the Editor of the complete edition of all Meta-
ftafio's Works, in twenty vols. i2mo. with two
volumes of Remarks and Obfervations on his dra*
matic productions, publiflied at Nice, in 17S5
and 1786. the author feems judicioufly to have,
availed himfelf of the labours of all his predecef?
fors; having compiled a life from the information
obtained by the refearches of others, not from a
perfonal acquaintance or correfpondence with
the poet, nor any new fources of informations
except what he procured at Naples from Signor
Mattei. This is doubtlefs the moft ample and
fatisfactory life of Metaftafio which I have feen,
occupying 214 pages of the firft volume of the.
edition to which it is prefixed.
The author of this life has done me the
honour to refer feveral times to my German 'four:
once, indeed, to point out a miftake, which I
£hall here moft readily acknowledge and correct
xn PREFACE.
At the time of my vifiting Vienna, ten year&
before the deceafe of Metaftafio, the hiftory of
the early part of his life was very imperfectly
known ; and the bequeji of a friend had been tra-
ditionally handed about, inftead of that of the
Romanina, which is now univerfally known and
allowed. The ftory had been told me by a per-
fon of high rank* whqfe information, in other"
refpefts, has flood the teft of the ftricTeft exa-
mination; but at this time, even the Abate
Tarufri, Metaftafio's countryman and intimate
friend, was unacquainted with the Will of the
Romanina, and feemed to credit the ftory which
was then in circulation concerning Metaftafio's
generofity to the relations of a deceafed friend.
At the time of Metaftafio's deceafe, there
were fix capital editions of his works in the
prefs, and innumerable have been the editions
fince, to moft of which a life of the author is
prefixed, which has been confulted, though
unprofitably, in hopes of new information. In-
deed my beft refources of information have
flowed from the pofthumous publication of the five
volumes of his letters, which firft appeared with
the complete edition of his poetical works at
Nice, 1786, but without the le aft attention to 1
chronology. The principal of thefe, however,
I have arranged, tranflated, and interwoven in*
the Memoirs: making the poet, as often as
2 poflibky
PREFACE. *Si
poffible., fpeak for himfelf, and relate his owq
irory.
I might add, as an advantage to myfelf, at
leaft, if not to my enterprize, that I had a per-
fonal acquaintance with feveral of the Poet's
correfpondents : fuch as Padre Martini, HaiTe^
Jomelli, and Farinelli ; that I am in poffeffioa
of the works of raoft of his literary friends, to
whom his letters are preferred; and was a
ftranger to the perfon or talents of but few of
the opera compofers or fingers that are ocpafion-
ally mentioned in his correfpondence.
But ftill hoping for farther information, and
unwilling to fhrink from any pains, or leave
untried any poffible means of procuring it, I
ventured to addrefs a letter to his eleve and
executrix, the accomplifhed Mademoifelk Mar-
tines, at Vienna, telling her of my deiign, and
fpecifying all the materials which I had been
able to collect for its accomplishment. At the
fame time entreating her to inform me whether
it would be poffible to augment them by public
books or private anecdotes ? And had the fatif-
faction oi being aflured by this lady (the perfon
beft qualified to anfwer my queftion) after pe-
rufing the lift of books which I had procured
previous to writing the life of Metaftafio, that
" fhe could recollect no others ; nor could thofe
ft of whom fhe had enquired."
« They
.siv PREFACE.
" They have been printing here *, (fhe adds)
" ever fince the month of June, 1794, the ge-»
*' nuine letters of Metaftafio to his friends, and
* c other particular pieces, of which I fend you a
<c catalogue, and which I have ceded to a young
£c phyfician, Dr. Lewis Careno by name, an Ita-
" lian, fettled here with great reputation m
€t medicine and literature ; he intends to make
"three editions at the fame time, two in the
" form of that of Paris, 1780, and one in that
"of Venice of 1781.
" The firft volume has left the prefs ever fince
""October, 1794, and the fecond is near finifli-
•* ed ; fo that towards the month of April next
(Mademoifelle Martines's letter is dated Janu-
ary 25th 1795), " all the three volumes w]\\
" appear under the title of " Opere pqftume dell 1
" ylbate Pietro Metastasiq, Vienna, 1795."
" In the firft will be found a manufcript wel|
" worthy of the author : OJfervazioni da me fatte
€i Julie T'ragedie e Commedie'Greche, which takes up
" a third part of that volume ; then begin the
"Telected letters. In the next volume, the let-
" ters are continued ; and the third will contain
" letters and billets written by the late emprefs
"Maria Teresa* and little poetical pieces
* e collected from his writings. The impreffion
" will be executed with the utmoft elegance and
" neatnefs. For your further information, I have
* At Vienna.
" inclofe^
P R E F A,C E.
oiv
** inclofed a copy of the Printer's advertife-
f ment.
tc I would be more circurnftantial to you with
& regard to the Bard ; but that I fee you are
f c furnilhed with the bell books concerning him,
" and may draw thence a deal of information.
41 If in any thing elfe I may be of fervice to
f you, it will give me a true fatisfa&ion, as it
P does to affure you of that real efteem with
ft which I am, Sir,
H Your moll humble fervant,
" Marianne Martines."
This extract, literally copied from the original
letter with which I have been favoured, I could
»ot refill inferting in my Preface ; not only for
the information it will afford the admirers of
Metaflalio concerning the three additional
Volumes of his works, printed in 4to, 8vo, and
i2mo, to fuit any edition of his former writ-
ings of which they may be in poueffion, but as
a fpecimen of the marvellous accuracy with
which this ingenious lady is able to write in a
language, which Ihe has acquired at the dillance
of a thoufand miles from our Illand !
o. . . •
E
OF THE
LIFE AND WRITINGS
OF THE ABATE
PIETRO METASTASIS
SECTION I.
Jf ietro Trapasso, the fecond fori of Fe-
lice TrapalTo of Alifi, and Francefca GalafU
of Bologna, was born at Rome, Jan. 6th,
1698, in the parifh of Santi Lorenzo & Da-
mafo, where he was baptifedthe 19th of the
fame month, by Card. Ottoboni.
His father, though defcended from a family
in Aiili which had long enjoyed the privileges
of free-citizens; but which, by a gradual de-
cline, was reduced to poverty, not being able
vol. 1. B te>
(?)
to fubfiil. in the place of his birth, lifted for
a foldier in the regiment of Corn, and foon
after married Francefca Galaifi, by whom
he had many children befides the Poet.
While he was in garrifon, to the fmall pay
> of a foldier, he added fomething towards
the maintenance of his family, by becom-
ing an Amanuenfis. And at length, having
ferved the ufual time, and by extreme in-
duftry and oeconomy faved a little money,
he entered into partnership with a mop-keeper
at Rome, for the fale of goods which be-
long to what the Romans call Parte bianco^
confiiting of oil, flower, paftry, and other
culinary materials.
And having been fomewhat profperous in
this kind of rherchandife, he placed his two
eldefr, fons, Leopoldo, and Pietro, at a Gram-
• mar-School. The latter difcovered an extra-
ordinary quicknefs and difpofition for litera-
ture, and a violent paffion for poetry, with a
power of making verfes, extempore, on any
given Subject, before he was ten years
old (# ).
This
(a) This fpecies of infpiration, allowed to the improvi-
/atari of Italy, was long doubted in England by thofe
who had never croffed the Alps, till the arrival of the
celebrated Talassi in our country about ten years ago*
when
( 3 )
This faculty he was habituated to exef-
cife, after fchool hours, at his father's fhop^
where great crowds ufed to affemble in the
ftreet of an evening to hear the young Tra-
paffi ling, alV improvijia ; who, befides the
harmony of his numbers, was gifted with
the melody of a fine voice. During one
of thefe tuneful fits, the learned civilian
Gravina having accidentally paffed that
way, was {truck with the fweetnefs of the
child's voice, and ftill more with his verfes,
which he fodn found were extempore, and
either upon perfons who flood near him, or
on playful fubjec~ts of their fuggefting.
Gravina was fo aftonifhed and pleafed at
the precocity of the little bard's talents,
that he flopt to carefs, and converfe with
him, offering him money for his perform-
ance, which however the child modeftly de-
clined to accept. This fo much increafed the
civilian's admiration, that he inftantly con-
ceived awifh to adopt him, for the pleafureof
cultivating a foil which nature had rendered
fo fertile, that even the fpontaneous flowers
and fruits it produced were of a fuperior
when the raoft obftinate infidels were converted to the
faith, and obliged to confefs the reality of the art.
b 2 kind.
( 4 )
kind. Without hefitation he therefore ap-
plied to his parents, foliciting them to trans-
fer to him the care of their fon's education,
prom.ifing to become not only his preceptor,
but father* •
As the child was ftill to remain at Rome,
and no cruel preliminary was mentioned, by
which his natural parents were prohibited
from feeing him and cheriming reciprocal
afFeclion, Felix was too wife, and zealous for
•the welfare of his fon, to refufe the proffer-
ed patronage ; and the next morning Pietro
was conducted by his father and mother to
the houfe of Gravina, . and wholly configned
to his care and protection.
Our young bard was now, from the le-
gitimate child of a fhop-keeper, become
the adopted fon of a man of letters. And
as his learned patron was partial to Greek
literature, and wifhed to implant in the
mind of the young Roman a refpecl: and
reverence for ancient lore, he tranflated his
name into Greek : calling him Metas-
tasio, inflead of Trapq/fi '; as MeTot£a.<rig,
Mutatio, feemed at once to exprefs his
former name of Trapa/fb, and his new fitua-
tion as an adopted child.
And
( 5 )
And having changed his name, he un-
dertook the more difficult talk of changing,
or at leaft, enlarging, his mental faculties,
and at the fame time that he was ftudying
the learned languages, and imbuing his
mind with the fciences, he wifhed to make
him an orator rather than a poet, and deter-
mined that he mould ftudy the Law as a pro-
feffion ; that, and Divinity, being the only
two roads by which a man of learning could
arrive at honours and dignity in Rome.
Poets, indeed, were rewarded with barren
praife and acclamation, but wealth and afflu-
ence were Grangers to their doors.
Yet while he was obliged to read the dry
, books of the Law, and to hear the wran-
gling and jargon of the bar, his natural
paffion never quitted him, but
True as the needle to the Polar ftar
Which nightly guides the advent'rous mariner,
Its glowing influence pointed out the way
Through flow'ry paths of poetry to ftray f
And however he was ofteniibly occupied
by Other ftudies, he found time, by flealth,
to read the great models of the art, of
which fays an Italian writer, " he fucked
the fweet, and devoured the fubftance."
Jndeed he was as much in difguife in thg
P 3 robes
( 6 )
robe? of the Forum, as Achilles in thofe of
a female. At the names of Homer and
Ariofto, which were his favourite poets,
he was unable to contain himfelf; and
Gravina difcovering, in fpite of his pupil's
determination to conform implicitly to his
will, that this exchinve paffion for poetry
was infuperable, at length permitted him
to read thofe poets which he himfelf thought
not only the beft, but the only models of
perfection. At the age of fourteen, during
the early period of this indulgence, Metaftafio
produced his Tragedy of ' GiuJiinQj conform-
able to the rigour of all the rule's of the
ancient Greek dramatic writers, with which
his learned preceptor had fupplied him.
But he lifped the numbers of the dry and
formal fcenes of this Coup d'Ejfai in a
manner which he afterwards difliked in
proportion to the pains he had taken tq
walk the itage in Greek bufkins. We have
his own opinion of this production in a
letter written to Signor Calfabigi, in which
he fays : " I mould have wifhed that none
of my early productions, which favour too
much of adolefcence, might have appeared
in the Paris edition, particularly the Tra-
gedy of Giujlino, written at fourteen years of
3 . £S e i
( 7 ).
age : when the authority of my illunrious
mailer did not fufFer me to move a ftep from
the moft religious imitation of the Greeks ;
and when my inexperience and want of dis-
cernment were unable to diftinguiih gold
from lead, even in thofe mines themfelves,
of which he then began to diiplay to me
the treafures." Atto II. Sc. 4. of this
Tragedy is finely written, and abounding in
profound fentiments. There are chorufes
a la Grec, and airs aWItalienne, at the end
of each act ; but of which (as there are
five acts) thefe airs and chorufes only could
have been fiing (b). Cleo?ie, the footh-fayer,
pleads his cauie very ably for an advocate
at fourteen, to the fair widow Afteria,
Atto III. Sc. 5. The three firft acts are
mild and unimpafhoned ; but the fourth, is
all diftrefs and agitation. An incident
occurs in this act fimilar to that in Shak-
fpeare's Romeo and Juliet, where Romeo,
fupponng Juliet dead, drinks poifon, which
he has fcarcely fwallowed when fhe revives :
Thus Sophia, fupponng Juflin to have been
(b) It does not appear that this Tragedy was ever pei>
formed as an Opera. The drama of the fame name, fet
by Handel and brought out in 173751s founded on a very
different hiftorical fadt.
B 4 , irrecover-
( 8 >
irrecoverably drowned, takes a fatal draught ;
but is foon; after informed that he is reco-
vered.
It feems fomewhat inconnftent, that Gra-
vina, whofe firfr. impreffions in favour of his
young pupil were the effects of his prema-
ture genius for poetry, mouldy check his
progrefs in that art, in favour of another
ftudy for which he had no paflion or uncom-
mon dilpofition ; but thinking mere of his
future fortune than fame, he chained him to
legiflation, pandects, edicts, decrees, codes,
rolls, and every fpecies of advocation* that
was likely to contribute to his profeflional
knowledge and advancement.
But after producing the Tragedy of Giuf-
tino upon Gravina's favourite Greek model',
the learned civilian feems not only to have
tolerated, but encouraged his pupil's adora-
tion of the mufes ; and at eighteen carried
him to Naples exprefsly to afford him an
opportunity of finging extempore with the
molt celebrated ImproVifatori of Italy at that
time. Metaftafio, in a letter to AlgarottJ
* Alas ! my thrice gentle Caflio;
My advocation is not now in tune.
Shaksp. Othelio,
written
(9 )
written in 1757; gives the following account
-of this poetical contention. "It is your
wifh to have fpecimens of the verfes which
I made extempore, during my childhood ;
but how can I poffibly gratify this wiih ? I
do not deny but that a natural talent for
harmony and the mufes, was difcovered in
me, that was thought fomewhat uncommon,
and more early than ufiial, that is, at ten or
eleven years old; that this phenomenon lb
dazzled my great matter Gravina, that he
was partial to it, and cheriihed me as a foil
worthy of his cultivation : and that fo late
as the year 17 1 6, he exhibited me to fpeak
verfes, God knows how, for the benefit of
Georgio Lorentino, upon all kinds of fub-
je.cls, at which time I had for competitors the
illufhious Rolli, Vagnini, and the Cavalier
Perfetti, men who were then arrived at full
maturity, and veterans in Pindaric battles/'
And it is related by his biographers, that
in this very year of his age, he fung, all*
improvijla, at Naples, forty oclave ilanzas
on a fubjecl: propofed to him by one of the
audience, which was the magnificence of
princes, and he was heard with wonder and
rapture by all the learned prefent. They
admired the fecundity of his ide.as, the fu-
blimity
( 10 )
blimity of his conceptions, the flights of his
fancy, and the facility and neatnefs of his
expreffion. Indeed he became in that city,
the general and favourite fubjecf of literary
academies and aiTemblies of good tafte and
polite converfation ; where nothing was re-
peated but the favourite verfes which he had
liing extempore, and which were remem-
bered by thofe who had heard them from
his own mouth : on thefe occasions, the
order, clearnefs, and learning, with which
he treated the fubjecls, as well as the beauty
of his verfes, the fweetnefs of his voice, the
grace of his action, his modeft deportment,
and the expreflion of his countenance, were
univerfally extolled. By thefe excellencies,
joined to his fine features and great natural
dignity, he became the idol of all who heard
and faw him ; and the love of his preceptor,
Gravina, encrealed with his years, as the
genius and gratitude of his pupil rendered
him every day more and more fatisfied with
his own difcernment in felecling and adopt-
ing him.
With his poetical fludies Metaftafio ftill
continued , to purfue thofe of the law, and
in order to obtain a pafTport through the two
moft promising roads to preferment at Rome,
he
( •« )
he cherifhed alfo a hope of riling in the
church ; affumed the clerical habit, and took
the minor orders of prieflhood ; not indeed,
fay the Italian writers of his life/ from any
partiality for that profemon, but by the advice
of his affectionate mailer, as the molt likely
means of obtaining honour and emoluments.
At twenty years of age he had the mis-
fortune to lofe his learned preceptor and
patron, Gravina, who died in 171 8, aged
fifty-four. It has been doubted whether
this event, which his heart inclined him to
regard as the greater!: calamity, was not a
fortunate circumftance for his fame. Meta-
ftafio, whofe writings evince him to have
]been all tendernefs, gratitude and dilintereft-
ed fenlibility, bewailed this misfortune with
thedeepeft. affliction; and in the Elegy called
La Strada della Gloria^ written on this occa-
sion, and read at a full alfembly of the
members of the arcadian academy founded
by Gravina, he gave a public teftimony of
his lorrow and gratitude, expreflive of thofe
noble fentiments, which he cherilhed and
praclifed to the end of his life. Nor did the
beneficent will of his matter, diminiih his
grief or dry his tears, though w.hen opened it
was
( 12 )
was found to have been made in 171 7, and
that he had appointed him his heir.
By this liberal acl:, he verified his pro-
mife to the parents of Metaftafio, of treat-
ing: him as his own child. The advantage
to his talents and to the lovers of poetry,
which is fuppofed to have been derived from
this early lofs of his learned tutor, was the
opportunity it afforded his genius, to free
itfelf from the trammels of Grecian rules and
fervile imitation. But though in his dramas
he has more pathos, poetry, nature, and
facility, than we are now able to find in the
ancient Greek tragedians, yet his early fhidy
of them certainly elevated his ideas and
ftyle, and taught him how to fhun the
vulgarity and abfurdities with which the
early popular dramatifts of raoft countries
abound. He may be faid to write with
claflic elegance, though he had liberated
himfelf from claffic chains.
Gravina rendered his name more cele-
brated by educating and forming the tafte
of Metaftaiio, than by all the productions
of his own pen. This learned civilian was
born in the dioceie of Cofenza, in the Pon-
tificate of Innocent XT. and was called to
Rome
( «3 )
Rome and honoured with a profellional
chair, as a doctor of laws, at the Univerfity
delta Sapienza. He had many friends by
whom he was fincerely loved and refpecl-
ed ; but he had like wife many enemies, who
tried to deprefs and mortify him in their
writings. The celebrated fatires of Quintus
Settanus were all written againft him, under
the feigned name of Filodemo. They are
extremely bitter; but it is imagined that
Gravina brought feverity upon himfelf, by
his rough treatment of others in his critical
writings, where he neither fpared the inge-
nious nor the learned, any more than the
dull and the ignorant. His works confift of
his Poetics, or la Raglan Poetica ; a treatife
on tragedy publifhed by Metaftafio, and four
tragedies, entitled Palamedes, Andromeda, Ap-
pius Claudius, and Servius Tullius, which
could not have been written by Sophocles
himfelf in a more Grecian flyle. But the
moft celebrated of all his profeffional pro-
ductions, is entitled Originum 'Juris, libri
tres, the moft learned work which has ap-
peared on that fubjecT:, and which is ftill
much read and ftudied by proficients in the
law. He left behind him the character of
but a moderate poet and orator, though
pofTefTed
( H )
poffefTed of great learning and claffical know-
ledge. Gravina's bequeft to Metaftafio con-
fifted of 15,000 Roman crowns, between
three and four thoufand pounds fterling in
money, a mm, fays his anonymous biogra-
pher, not contemptible, if he had known as
well how to keep as deferve it.' But the
mufes are no great friends to oeconomy : and
poet and parfimony in the vocabulary of
Apollo have a very oppofite fignification.
Beiides the fpecie, he left him an excellent
library, and a great quantity of rich furniture,
with three fmall places, of which he had put
him in poiTeflion before his deceafe, and a
little eftate in the kingdom of Naples.
Metaftafio' s refpecl and gratitude for his
preceptor and benefactor, will appear in
fb many of the letters which will be inferted
in the courfe of thefe Memoirs, that we
mall only here cite from a letter to his bro-
ther Leopold, a paffage in which the good
fenfe and found judgment, as well as affec-
tion for his mental mailer, appear in a ftrong
light.
" The Abate Molinari informs me, that
a pious ecclefiaftic has written the life of
our excellent Gravina, which he intends to
publilh. And I underftand, that it is his
inten-
( i5 )
intention particularly to exculpate him from
the charge of irreligion, falfely afcribed to
him by fome of his enemies. I am ex-
tremely grateful to any one who manifefts
partiality for a man to whom I owe fo
much. But, between ourfelves, I fear this
zeal is now out of feafon. All rivalry is at an
end ; and the republic of letters now only
remembers the fame which his learned labours
have merited. So that an apology at this
time would only inform the world of what
at prefent it is wholly ignorant : that fbme
doubts were once entertained concerning
the orthodoxy of this great man. Try to
get acquainted with the good ecclefiaftic,
and if poffible to fee his work. And after
due praile and acknowledgements for his in-
tentions, communicate to him, with all pof-
lible humility, my doubts of the expediency
of fuch a publication. But do it gently :
for if the author expects much applaufe or
profit from his work, he will not eafily be
prevailed on to relinquifh it."
Our poet is now become a free agent,
matter of himfelf, and a defpotic prince
over no inconnderable fortune. His con-
verfation and verfes had too much excel-
lence to want admirers. And his table was
too
( i6 )
too well ferved to be in want of guefts. He
now wholly quitted the dry ftudy of the
law, and devoted himfelf and his fortune to
the mufes and his friends. There was no
poetical afiembly in which he did not read
fbme new production : as our Garrick in the
early part of his life was found wherever
lovers of theatrical amufements were afTem-
bled, Stimulated by the applaufe which
every piece univerfally received, Metaftafio
thought of nothing but how to have it re-
newed by another compofition. The love of
praife is an infirmity to which the beft minds
are perhaps the moft fubject. During this
intoxication, not a thought feems to have
been beftowed on his prefent finances or fu-
ture fortune. If he reflected at all during
thefe times of diffipation, it was on the
number of his friends and" admirers, and the
certainty of patronage whenever he mould
want it. What his predeceflbr Petrarca has
faid of the temple of love, was ftill more ap-
plicable to that of fortune, by Metaftafio.
Errori, Jogni, ed immagini fmorte
Eran d'intorno aWarco trionfale,
E falfe opinion! in fu le porte,
E lubrico fperar fu per le fcale * .
* Petrar. trionf. d'Amore.
Error
( it )
Errors and Dreams and Thoughts half form'd abound,
And crowd the bafelefs fabric all around;
While at the threfhold falfe Opinions ftand,
And on the ftepsj vain Hope, with magic wand-.
Thole whom the poet's young imagina-
tion had dignified with the title of friends,
were only indulging their love of poetry
and good cheer, at his expence. Among
all the lefTons of literature and feience,
which his learned and liberal patron had
taught him, he feems to have forgotten
thofe of worldly wifdom* And in pointing
out to his genius and diligence the means
of meriting the property he left him, he
wholly neglected to tell him how to pre-
ferve it, and that the flattery of the poor
and the rich is alike felfifh : the one for
profit* and the other for pleafure. And
indeed it is faid, that during this time,
among his mofl ardent admirers at Rome,
befides thofe who profited from his bounty,
there were many perfons of the higheft
rank and authority, who feemed proud q£
being thought his patrons and protectors.
But the zeal of thefe cooled in proportion
as he became likely to want their protec-
tion ; and what Pliny has faid of the Cin-
namon tree, feems applicable to the great
vol. i. c in
( i« )
in general, corticis, in quo fumma gratice f
nothing but the bark, the mere outfide, is
of any value. For want of thefe inftruc-
tions, his patron's legacy was foon diffipat-
ed ; not in the fupport of vice, but moftly
in munificence and good cheer. Many of
his fugitive pieces were produced during
this period, particularly his fonnet on
the celebrated Gafparini, in 171 9, (the
year after his patron's death) when that
elegant and pleating compofer was in the
height of his favour at Rome. Many of
his cantatas, canzonets, and fonnets were
produced even at a more early period (c).
Finding himfelf in two years time
wholly reduced to his two fmall Roman
places, his little Neapolitan poffeflions, and
his library, he went to Naples with the
firm resolution of ferioufly renaming the
ftudy of the law. Being arrived in that
city 1720, he placed himfelf under the
guidance of an advocate of the name of
Paglietti, earneflly entreating his amftance
in the ftudy of jurifprudence, and pro-
mifing on his own part, ta fecond the in-
(c) See Hift. Muf. vol. iy.
flruclions
( 19 )
ftru&ions which he mould receive with all
poffible diligence and docility (d). 1 aglietti
was one of the mod eminent lawyers at that
time in the city of Naples ; but fo rigorous
a difciplinarian, and fo totally devoted to his
profeffion, that he not only defpifed but ab-
folutely hated every fpecies of ornamental
knowledge or literature. Poetry was there-
fore ranked by him among the moil; deadly
fins of which an advocate could pombly be
guilty. Indeed it was to him an object, of
fuch horror, that he trembled at the mere
mention of it. It is natural therefore to fup-
pofe that Paglietti', devoid of all tafte for the
arts of elegance, which help to humanize
and polifh our favage nature, was rough,
four, and forbidding in his addrefs and man-
ners : he was all law, and of that fevere and
' mercilefs fort, which knows not how to par-
don the fmalleft imprudence or deviation
from worldly wifdom.
(d) Though moft of the biographers of Metaftaiio agree
in this account of his placing himfelf under a celebrated
adyocate at Naples, in order to purfue the ftudy of the
law after the deceafe of Gravina ; the Poet himfelf, in his
letters to Saverio Mattei, calls him the celebrated advocate,
and afterwards counfel Cajiagnola.
c 2 Metaflafio
( 2° )
Metaftafio was not ignorant of his feverky
and invincible hatred for poetry; but in-
ftead of looking upon it as an evil, he was
the more eager to place himfelf under his
moft rigid difcipline, in order to prevent a
relapfe into poetry, which had hitherto been
to him fo unprofitable a ftudy. The recep-
tion of Metaftaiio by this Lycurgus, and his
firft. lecture, were perhaps rendered more
auftere and acrid by the fame of his poetical
talents, with which not only Naples but all
Italy was already filled; but Metaftafio
hearing it with heroic patience, renewed
his promife of unwearied application, and
kept it fo well during his firfl refidence un-
der the advocate's roof, that he began to
entertain great hopes of his becoming an ex-
cellent lawyer, and treated him with as
much fweetnefs as his bitter nature would
allow. He knew that the ftudies of his
young difciple were frequently impeded by
the vifits of perfons of learning and diftinc-
tion, to whom his poetical abilities were Well
known, and who remembered him when he
was brought to Naples, as an improvifatore^
by Gravina. But now their expectations were
transferred to his legal abilities, upon which,
from
. ( « )
from his learning and application, they had
formed the higheft hopes. It is certain that
Metaftafio at this time, exercifing the greateft
tyranny over his natural inclination, refrained
entirely, not only from writing verfes, but from
fpeaking them extempore, in fpite of all fo-
licitation. The firft breach of contract with
the rugged advocate, and firft feduclion of
the mufe during his refidence at Naples, was
in the beginning of 172 1, at the inftigation
of the countefs of Althan, who prevailed on
him to write an Epithalamium for the nup-
tials of her relation the marquis Pigna-
telli with a lady of the Pinelli family ; it
confifts of near one hundred octave ftanzas,
is full of elegance, and in the higheft clafs of
poetry, The drama of Endymion, the firft
that he produced exprefsly for mufic, is faid
to have been written on the fame occafion,
of which the following dedicatory epiftle to
the countefs d' Althan, dated May 30, 1721,
is printed at the head of his letters. " If it
is natural, moft illuftrious and excellent Lady,
for tender fathers to regard their children
with affection, as a part of themfelves, and
a continuation of their own exiftence,
with how much greater reafon ought intel-
Jectual parents to love the productions of
c 3 their
( £ )
their minds, and to cultivate that celefKal
ipark which diitinguifhes us from brutes,
and renders us fuperior to all other terreftial
beings. "
The red is common flattery — declaring
that if he durft, he would fay the very fine
things which he does fay, of the lady's high
rank and illuftrious progenitors.
Metaitafio's next infringement of the
laws laid down by the advocate Paglietti
againft the wicked practice of poetry, was
cccalioned by an application from the Vice-
roy of Naples himfelf, that he would write
a drama for mufic, to be performed on the
birth-day of the emprefs Elizabeth, confort
of the emperor Charles VI. who was then
in pofleflion of that kingdom. It is faid
that he was with difficulty prevailed upon
to enter on this talk, and only complied upon
a promife that it mould be kept a profound
fecret. Our bard in perpetual fear of the
inexorable lawyer, was obliged to facrifice
his hours of deep to this contraband com-
merce with the mules. The piece was en-
titled The Gardens of the Hesperides,
and is one of the moir. beautiful of his early
productions. The viceroy on receiving it
I pie-
< *3 )
prefented him with two hundred ducats, and
is faid by the anonymous author of his life
to have received his promife of fecrecy,
which he kept fo religioufly, that neither the
compofer, the fingers, nor the printer him-
felf had the leafb fufpicion who was the
author. That the young Bard may have
wi fried to lie concealed during the rehearfal
and nrft performance of his dramatic at-
tempt, is probable; but that he continued
longer to make a myflery of the parentage
of this poetical child, when it had received
fuch unequivocal marks of public favour, is
fully confuted by the firft edition of this
drama, which now lies before me, and to
the dedication of which his name is fubfcribed
at full length (ej. It has been truly faid,
that when a falfehood has gained admiffion
into a book, it is more likely to be copied
(e) As the firft Edition is become very fcarce, and
fettles feveral difputed points in the Life of the Lyric
Bard, I fhall infert the title here, ent ire,
Gli Orti Esperidi componimento drama tied da can-
tarjz, in occajione del felicijjimo giorno natalizio delta fac,
Cef. Catt. Real Macjla di Elifabetta Augujla Imperairice
regnanie, per commando dell " > illuft mo y ed Eccel"" s Sig, D*
Mane' Antonio Borgheji, Principe di Sulmone, Viccre^ £sV,
del Regno di Napoli, In Napoli, 172 1, 4-to. per Francefco.
Ricciardo.
£ 4 than
( *4 )
than confuted. And this ftory of Metaftafia
wishing to lie concealed during the perform-*
ance and fuccefs of his nrft drama at Naples,
after being hazarded by one biographer, has
been taken upon trufr. by all fubfequent wri-^
ters of his life ; and I mould have been of
the number had I not luckily met with the
original printed copy. The dedication of
this drama to the Vice-Queen, dated Naples,
28th of Auguft 1 72 1, is elegantly written,
but abounds not with uncommon ideas.
" If, fays he, the choice of a grand ancj
fublime fubjecl were fufjicient to fecure the
fuccefs of a literary production, I mould
have no reafon to dread the fate of this. But
if it is true, that the more vaft and majefUc N
the edifice, the more folid mould be the
foundation, and the workmanship the more
exquisite, I have the greater reafon to fear
that the enterprize prefcribed to me, is too
high for my abilities. Deign therefore, moil
illuflrious lady, to fuffer me to avail myfelf
of the fplendor of your name, to make
amends for the defects of my pen. Already
the care of the Gardens of the He/perides,
whence my work has its name, is taken
from the fabulous dragon and affigned to a
defcendant of the glorious family of Bor-
ghefe.
( 25 ) ■
ghefe (f). And if every other reafon fhoul4
fail to induce your acceptance of this humble
offering, it is hoped that your excellency will
be propitious to my prayer, in confederation
of the grandeur of the fubjecl: and the com-
mands which emboldened the mule to fo
daring a flight. I might now launch out
in the praifes of your excellence, and of your
molt worthy confort, but befides my injunc-
tions to the contrary, I mould neither be
able to fay fo much as is univerfally known,
nor fo little, but that your modefty would be
offended with it. Therefore, without length-
ening this addrefs unneceffarily, imploring
for this production that patronage and par-
tiality with which the author has been ho-*
noured by your excellency from his mod:
early youth, I prefume with the moft pro-
found refpec~r. and reverence, to fubfcribe
myfelf your excellency's mofl humble, moil
devoted, and moff. obliged fervant,
W^Aug-aS. PlETRO MeTASTASIO."
Porpora had the honour of fetting to
mufic this firft Lyric efFufion of our Bard. It
only confifts of two acts. The principal
(f) " Let us, for once, (fays the Ab. Cri/ilani, the mofl
exacl: and judicious of Metafrafio's biographers) forgive
fhe Poet the ufe of fo infipid an argument."
4 female
( & )
female finger was theRoMANiNA, of whom
we fliall "have frequent occafion to fpeak
hereafter. Thofe of the other four fingers
employed, were in England during Handel's
Opera Regency : Pinacci, Pafi, and La
Merighi. The fcenes and decorations, of
which, three or four plates are .given in this
4to edition, were extremely fplendid, but
not in the ufiial good tafte of Italy in fubfe-
quent times.
The next drama that was written at the
expence of his legal fludies, or his moments
of reft and recreation, was Angelica. This
was printed at Naples, 1722, and fet by
Porpora, for the Emprefs's birth-day (g).
The preface to this piece is printed in the
firft volume of the author's letters, in which
he fays: "The learned and excellent men, in
every faculty, that abound in Naples, at pre-
fent, more than in any other city in Europe,
are not accuftomed to demean themfelves fo
far as to judge of works fo much below then-
notice as this; yet as every production of art,
which necefhty or choice brings into the
world, fhould be fubmitted to their deeifion,
(g) It has been faid in fome accounts of Metaftafio's
early produ&ions, that Farinellis firft performance was
in this Serenata, &c.
as
( *7 )
as worthy arbiters of its merit, the author
is anxious to excufe, not to defend, the
defects of the prefent drama. And in-
deed it would, perhaps, have been better
able to defend itielf, both as to the conduct
of the fable and the elegance of the dialogue,
had the author been allowed more time to
correct and polifh it, previous to its being fet
to mufic ; but the producing poetry different
from that in common ufe ; the adopting
each part to the particular talents and abili-
ties of the performers ; and many other re-
ftraints, which are difficult to explain to
thole who are unaccuftomed to fuch labours,
ought in juftice to exempt the author from
the cenfure of negligence. Thofe, however,
who generally fet up for the moll: unerring
judges of the works of others, feek for
nothing but defects ; and the inftant a work
appears, {it in judgment over it, boldly pro-
nouncing fentence, and exercifingthe wretch-
ed employment of begging praife for them-
felves, for denouncing the faults of others.
As the author did not undertake the prefent
work in order to acquire reputation, but in
obedience to thofe who honoured him, with
their commands ; and as he luckily fucceeded
in
( *8 )
*n pleafmg them, he readily renounces all
other claims to favour.
" The plot is taken from Ariofto, as every
one muft know ; but for the convenience of
reprefentation, it has been altered in fome
parts."
The poems which he produced at Naples,
were the admiration of all perfons pofTefTed
of a love and tafte for poetry, particularly
the Gardens of the Hefperides-, but none felt its
beaaties fo forcibly as the Bulgarella
detta Romanina, the greateft: female linger
and aclrefs of her time ; who having peiv
formed the part of Venus in that occafiona'l
drama, was fo enchanted with the uncom-
mon beauty of the poetry, that me could not
reft till me had been introduced to the ac-
quaintance of the author. Indeed, tradition
fays, that this drama had an effecT: upon the
audience in general, which Naples had never
before experienced. The recitative was
hardly begun, when the fpectators, formed a
more curious fpeclacle than the actors them-
felves : fo great was the change in their be-
haviour and mode of liftemng that was in-
ftantly produced. Violent noife and Uflh
bridled clamour, ufed to reign in every part
Qf-
( 29 ) '
of that theatre, and could never be fubdued
but with great difficulty, even when fome
capital finger had a favourite air to perform;
and it was no fooner over, than the din was
renewed with fuch vehemence, that even
the orcheftra could not be heard. But now,
every one delighted by the new and decorous
arrangement of the fcenes, original beauty
and fweetnefs of the verfe, the force of the
fentiments, the texture of the parts, and all the
Wonders of Metaftafio's dramatic poetry, was
forced, almoftinfenfibly, into profound filencc
and attention. The companions of Dido
while Eneas was relating the tragical events
which happened at the liege of Troy, could
not have liftened. with more eagernefs than
the Neapolitan audience did at this repre-
fentation. Univerfal curiofity was excited,
and enquiries made, after the author, whc,
though a poet and fond of praife, is faid to
have wifhed to lie concealed. But the Bui*
garlni who was not only pleafed in common
with the lovers of poetry, but impreired
with the molt lively gratitude to the author
of the Hefperides, for the flattering reception
and unbounded applaufe which this piece
had procured her, both as an actrefs and
linger, v/as impatient to be perfonally ac-
quainted
( 3° )
quainted with him. And having difcovered
that me knew one of his intimate friends,
fhe prevailed upon him to try to bring the
poet to her houfe. He at nrft refitted the
folicitation ; but, at length, ceafing to be in-,
exorable, he was induced to make her a
vilit. The Romanina (as ihe was generally,
called from being a native of that city,) had
no fooner feen him, than fhe felt an uncom-
mon regard for him. His poetical abilities,
elegance of manners, and fine countenance,
together with the circumftance of his beine
her countryman, or rather townfman, all
joined to increafe her regard ; while Metaf-
tafio on his part felt. equally unable, with all
the ftoicifm he could mufler, to refill: the
defire of improving the acquaintance ; and
frequently returned to enjoy the pleafure of
her converfation.
He had foon reafon to believe, from the
countenance and behaviour of Paglietti, that
neither his theatrical production* nor the
new ftage acquaintance which he had made,
was unknown to him. The praifes he re-
ceived from the Romanina, and all thofe
to whom the fecret had been divulged, and
their preffing inftances that he would con-
tinue to write, awakened his paffion for
poetry,
( 3' )
poetry, which he had flattered himfelf was
wholly fubdued . He now began to feel, that by
the narrow and contracted fludyof the law, his
genius could never expand in his own original
ideas, but would be conftantly tied down to
thofe . of others. His reflections upon the
ibrdidnefs of facrincing his whole life to a
diftafteful bufinefs, for the mere hope of ac-
quiring wealth, (as he afterwards confeffed
to his confidential friends), joined to the
harm treatment of the old advocate, which
became more intolerable in proportion as the
affiduity of Metaftafio diminished, entirely
determined him to quit both him and his
profeflion.
His female friend perceived the conflict
and internal war ; and in order to ftimulate
his courage and refolution, me and her huf-
band invited him in the moft prefling man-
ner to reiide under the fame roof, and afTured
him that they would contribute every thing
in their power, to render his life as eafy and
comfortable as poffible. He remained feveral
months in a ftate of uncertainty -, but at
length, determined to accept their offer, to
return to poetry, and to enjoy the pleafures
of fociety in full liberty. Yet he did not
feem infenfible of the apparent indecorum
ariid
( 3i )
ant! want of fortitude which he manifefted
in quitting, with fuch feeming levity* the
purfuit of fludies which had been recom-
mended to him by his deceafed patron ; nor
was he quite at his eafe on the fide of deli-
cacy, as to appearances ; the obligations to
the Bulgarini, under which he was loading
himfelf, frequently opprefled his mind* And
yet fo limited is our power of penetrating into
future events, that themeafureswhichhenow
purfued, far from impeding either his fame
or fortune, were the foundations of all his
fubfequent celebrity. An Italian poet has
well defcribed the mortnefs of mental virion*
Sebbenfembra talor che torvo e iniqus
Jl.volto verfo noi volga la forte ;
Ellafegnendofuo cojlfimc antiquo.
A inafpettata gioja apre le porte :
E afconde fpejjo fotto calle obbliquo
Delia f elicit a le vie piu corte :
Onde non fappia in mezzo ai torti, e ai guat
ISuom che temer, ne che f per fir giammai,
< c Blind to the' future," while he fojourns here
Man knows not what to hope or what to fear |
Amidft misfortune, forrow, and difmay,
Fate oft, in frowns, points out the fhorteft way
To fortune, fame, and unexpected joy,
By means which prudence trembles to employ*
Sig. Saverio Mattei relates a curious
anecdote which he had from the princefs-
Belmonte,
( 33 )
Belmonte, concerning the power of our
young author's extemporaneous poetry,
during his refidence at Naples, after the
deceafe of Gravina. The poet having a
law-fuit on his hands, for part of the pof-
feffions bequeathed to him in that kingdom
by the Civilian, applied to this princefs for
her interefr. with the judge, (an iniquitous
practice in almofr. every country, but Eng~
land,) and me told him, if he would firft
make her miflrefs of the fubject, by pleading
his own caufe himfelf, all 'improvijla, and con-
vince her that juftiee was on his fide, me
would ufe her utmofl influence in his favour.
He at firfl excufed himfelf, on account of
want of practice, in a faculty which he had
difcontinued for many years. But the
princefs perfifting in her wifh, as the only
condition on which me mould interefl her-
felf in the bufinefs, he at length begun : and
pleaded his caufe in afong, with fuch lively
and infinuating expreffions, that he foon
drew tears from his patronefs. And while
he was in the act of incantation, other com-
pany came in, who were equally affected by
his enchantments. The next day, princefs
Belmonte applied to the judges, begged,
prayed, and related, not only the merits of
vol. i. d the
( 34 )
the caufe, but the extraordinary talents of
her client j intreating him to be prefent at a
fimilar exhibition. A day being fixed, and
Metaftafio defired to repeat his pleadings to a.
new audience in the princefs's palace, he
confented ; and without repeating a fingle
verfe of what he had rung before, iuch were
the fire, elegance, and touching enthufiafm
of his numbers, as left not a dry eye in the
room. The caufe was foon after juridically
determined in his favour.
We will fuppofe from the innate probity
and honour of Metaftafio, that he had juftice
as well as poetry on his fide ; but when elo-
quence, or a firen voice is employed to
confound right and wrong, facts, which
mould alone determine legal right, are fb
concealed, difguifed, and perverted, that
juftice, which mould be not only blind but
deaf to all but facls, is totally banifhed the.
court.
The Bidgarini was engaged to fing in the
theatre of Naples, during the carnival of
1724; and being very ambitious of appearing
to as much advantage in the next opera as
ihe had done in that for the birth-day of the
emprefs, me preffed the poet to write a
drama, in which, as firft woman, fuch a
character
( 35 )
character might fall to her mare, as would
give her an opportunity of difplaying all her
powers, both as an actrefs and finger. It
is eafy to imagine with what zeal the Abate
Went to work, in order to gratify her wiftu
After many heroines had palled in review,
Dido was at length chofen, and the drama
entitled Didone Abbandonata produced;
in which he chofe the period of the hero,
^-neas, quitting the Carthaginian queen: as
it furnifhed fcenes of the greater!: force and
paffion, as well as more expreflion for his
pen, and more abundant opportunities for
the difplay of the Romanina's abilities, than
any other. This was the firft perfect mufical
drama, perhaps, that ever graced the Italian
itage. The applaufe it obtained, was equal '
to that of the Orti EJperidi ; and though the
ftory was fo well known, that no effects could
be produced by furprife, yet the pleafure of
the audience was exceflive f/jj. The dif-
ferent editions circulated in a fhort time,
were innumerable ; and the Italians, proud
of the refurrection of their drama, began to
challenge all the reft of Europe, where their
theatrical productions were thought fuperior,
(h) This opera was fet by Sarro y and the partof JEneas
performed by Nicolini.
D 2 to
( 36 )
to mew any one, originally written for
mufic, equally perfect. The learned Saverio
Mattei, who is a very judicious muiical
critic, in his eulogium on lomelli, in which
he has inferted a fhort account of the pro-
grefs of theatrical poetry and mufic, fays,
that " the Romanina was a great aclrefs,
and that Metaftafio himfelf was obliged to
her for fiiggefting to him the fineft fitua-
tions in his Op. of Didone; fuch as the 14th
and 15th fcenes of the fecond a<5fc, which
were entirely of her invention, as the
princefs Belmonte had frequently told him."
Opera annals, perhaps, can furnifh no other
inftance of a female finger, qualified to in-
ftrucl: a poet, except the Mingotti ; who had
ftudied ftage effects as well as harmony,
fufficiently to enlighten the author of the
words fhe fung, as well as the compofer of
the mufic.
From the great and fudden celebrity of
Didone, which immediately after its firft
appearance at Naples, was fet by the heft
compoiers of the time for the other principal
theatres of Italy ; the Venetian minifter at
Rome, where it had been performed to
Sarro's mufic, was inftigatcd to apply to
Metaftafio to write the opera of Si roe,
which
( 37 )
which he fent to Venice, where it met with
a fuccefs equal to that of Dido, to the great
emolument of the author, who was magni-
ficiently rewarded for the fiiperior excellence
of his poetry. This drama was fet by
Vinci at Venice, and performed and
printed in 1726.
It appears from the original libretti, or
printed books of the words, all which I
have been fo lucky as to procure, that the
Romanina not only performed the principal
female part in Metaftafio's four firfl dramas
at Naples, but that me performed with the
celebrated Nicolini in Didone, and Sir oe, at
Venice, when they were firft reprefented
there in 1725, and 1726; and according to
Quadrio, (i) Metaftafio was himielf in that
city at this time ; as, prefixed to the Venetian
edition of Didone in 1725, there is a fonnet
figned by the poet, and addrefled to the
ladies of Venice. It was during this period,
that he altered, for the fame performers,
the old opera of Siface, at the requeft of
Porpora.
The Romanina, probably, was not very
young at this time, as in 1709, and 1712,
(1) Storia d'ogni poe/ia,
d 3 ihe
( 3« )
flie had arrived at the fummit of her. pro*
feihoti at Genoa, where, according to the
printed books of the words, me performed
the firft woman's part ; and it does not ap-
pear, that fhe ever fung on the flage after
fhe quitted Venice, in 1726.
Didone, which had produced our poet,
at Naples, another fum of two hundred
ducats, was thought a much lefs confiderable
advantage to him, than the conftant en-
creafe of the resrard and affection of the Ro-
manina : who is laid to have exulted ex-
tremely, as well as her hufband, in the
fagacity with which they had made choice
of fo dear and valuable a gueft.
In the carnival of 1 726, while MetaftauVs,
dramas received fuch unbounded applaufe at
Venice, Didone, as fet by Vinci, was re-
ceived at Rome with acclamation. The
famous ex-jefiiit Cordara, who was there at
that time, in his doge of Metaftafio, recited
at Alexandria in 1782, deicribes its recep-
tion in the following manner:
" Every fcene produced one continued
applaufe. But who can defcribe the rapture
of the pit, when the queen of Carthage dif-
dainfully riling from the throne, reprefTes
the infolent pretenfions of the king of Mau-
4 ritania
( 39 )
ritania, with the dignity of an independent
princefs, by the fpirited air, Son Regina, &c?
The noife feemed to make the theatre to its
foundation. I was not there myfelf, as my
habit did not allow me to be prefent at mch
fpectacles ; but I almoft. heard the rumour
in my cell, fo full was all Rome with the
fame of this production."
In 1727, the Romanina having fulfilled
all her theatrical engagements at Naples and
elfe where, prepared to return to Rome, yet
declared at the fame time, that me would
never fee her native city again, unlefs in
the company of her dear friend. He re-
mained for a while irrefolute ; but, at length,
the warm affection he retained for the place
of his nativity, in fpite of the neglect and
difappointment which had driven him thence,
heightened perhaps by his regard for the
Bulgarini, and fortified by the delire of fee-
ing his father, and the reft of his family,
determined him to quit Naples, in company
with his benefaclrice j but not before he had
obtained a promife from her, that, in return
for the hofpitality which he had received
under her roof at Naples, fhe and her family
mould become his guefts, at Rome. To this
proportion all parties having acceded, he
d 4 wrote
( 4° )
wrote to his agents, to provide a houfe fuf-
ficient for the two families of Trapaji and
Bulgarini* And from the time of his arrival
in that city, till Iris departure for Germany,
they all lived under the fame roof, and con-
touted one . family. The Romanina, as
more rich and accuflomed to the manage-
ment of a family, was inverted with the
fuperintendance of all houfehold concerns ;
the reft, had nothing to, do, but to attend their
own purfuits ; whild Metaftafiio received
vifits, wrote verfes, improved his circum-
ftances, and encreafed his celebrity.
The nrft drama which he produced, ex-
prefsly for Rome, was Catone in Utica,
which was fet by Vinci and performed in
that city, 1728, and in 1729, at Venice, to
the mufic ©£Leo. He chofe the Subject pur-
pofely to pleafe the Romans, fuppofing that
he mould gain both applaufe and gratitude,
by difplaying the virtue of one of their own
Heroes. But as it feldpm happens that a
prophet or a poet (which in ancient times
Were united in the fame perfon) receives due
honour in his own country, particularly at
Rome, which is proverbially called the re-
sidence of ftrangers; in fpite of the excel-
lence of this drama, which abounds with
2 fublime,
( 4i )
fublime, as well as tender fentiments and
delineations, of the pafhons of glory, ambi-
tion, anger, and love ; and in which the con-
duel was natural, and cataftrophe happy, it
was inftantly attacked by the fatirical genius
of the Romans, and the performance fuf-
pended. The frivolous fcenes, and feeble
poetry to which they had been long accuf-
tomed, had corrupted the tafte of the Roman
public in general ; and except a few learned
men, lefs invidious than the reft, who if
they knew of no modern Cato, had read, at
leaft, about the ancient, this piece was at
firft very coldly received; though after-
wards, when their minds and taftes were
enlightened and. refined by other original
and beautiful works of our author, this
drama was treated with more juftice.
The next opera which our author pro-
duced, was Ezio, fet by Porpora, in
1728, and Semiramide riconosciuta,
fet by the fame compofer, 1729 ; but though
both thefe dramas were received in the moft
favorable manner, and the praifes beftowed.
upon the poet were unbounded, his fortune
was not greatly improved by their fuccefs*
Poetry has more frequently enriched the
bookfeller, than the author, in every country ;
but
( 4* )
but at Rome, it is a drug of lefs value, even
to the bookfeller, than elfewhere; and Me-
taftafio's mufe, however chafte, was but lit-
tle better treated for not being meretricious.
If Metaftano had been a mere pfalmodift, or
hymnologift, his monkiih rhymes might
have obtained him fome ecclefiaftical pre-
ferment ; but the poetry which he produced
on pagan and fecular fubjects, precluded him
from every avenue to the church. He was,
however, far from neceflitous, and with the
affiftance of the Romanina, whofe purfe was
always at his fervice, his fortune and fitua-
tion were tolerably eafy. But the being
ibmetimes obliged to avail himfelf of the li-
berality of his generous friend, was a cir-
cumftancc which humbled and mortified him
beyond any other. He could not bear to
reflect on being a burthen to her for whom
chiefly he wifhed to be rich, not only to ex*
empt her from the expences which fhe in-
curred on his account, but to manifefr. his
gratitude for the benefits fhe had already
conferred on him.
His amiable friend tried every means in
her power, to (ei his mind at eafe, concerning
his obligations to her : afluring him that he
had contributed much more to her profeflion^
ai
( 43 )
al fame than it had been in her power to do
to his fortune ; that fhe was in fuch circum^
ftances as rendered the fmall friendly offices
which fhe had been able to perform, more a
pleaiure than an inconvenience ; and prened
him, in the moft urgent manner, to tranquil-
ize his mind on that account, and to believe
(which fhe affured him was the truth) that
he was doing her the greateffc favour, when
he afforded her an opportunity of dividing
with him her pofTeffions.
The afflicted poet drew fome comfort
from thefe declarations, but it was of fhort
duration. He was perpetually convinced of
the ingratitude of his pretended Roman
friends, and the duplicity of his protectors;
and having nourifhed in his foul an ardent
paifion for general efteem, refpe6t, and ad-
miration, his narrow circumftances threw
him into fo profound a fit of melancholy,
that he became incapable of receiving con-
folation.
Such was his ftate of defpondency, when,
to his great aftonifhment, he received the
following Letter from prince Pio of Savoy,
Infpedtor of the Imperial Theatre at Vi-
enna.
LETTER
( 44 )
LETTER I.
Your dramas and other poetical compo-
sitions, which have acquired you fuch uni-
verfal applaufe, have been fo far approved
by his Imperial Majeity, that he. is defirous
to engage ypu in his fervice, on fuch con-
ditions, as mall feem moft worthy of your
acceptance. It will be therefore neceffary
for you to mention, in your anfwer, fome
fpecinc annual appointment, wkich will be
fixed and invariable. Sig. Apoftolo Zeuo
delires no other colleague than yourfelf, not
knowing at prefent, any one fo fit to ferve
fuch an enlightened monarch. Upon your
anfwer and requifition, will depend the re-
jTiitting a fum of money neceffary to defray
the expeiiees of your journey. I am happy
in this opportunity of,mahifeffing, ( with how
much efteem and zeal, I am your fincere
and affectionate fervant,
Luigi Principe Pio di Savoja.
• Vienna, Aug. 31, 1729.
Metaftaiio was infinitely more furprifed
and flattered^ by this unfolicited and fplendid
offer, from finding himfelf recommended to
the Emperor's notice, by the celebrated and
learned
( 45 )
learned Apofiolo Zeno, who was himfelf at
this time laureate to the emperor Charles VL
a prince, who had long fupported his Lyric
Theatre with the greater]: magnificence.
Zeno had enjoyed his office in this court,
from the year 171 8, where his chief em-
ployment confuted in furnifhing dramas for
mufic, which had long been juftly thought,
the befl of which the Italian language could
boaft.
And yet the offer of this employment to
Metaftafio, however dazzling, was not long
productive of joy without deduction. The
quitting Rome, for which he had always a
filial fondnefs, as well as leaving his family,
friends, and, perhaps, more than all, the
Romanina, imprelTed his mind with a forrow-
ful allay to his happinefs. But he was too
well read in his friend Horace not to know
that,
Nihil eft ab omni
Parte beatum.
Upon confulting with his family, they
inftantly conceived fuch magnificent hopes
of his future aggrandizement, as contributed
much to their confolation at lofing him ; and
the Romanina was fo generous and diiinte-
refted, in fpite of fecret affliction, as to ufe
her
( 46 )
her utmoll eloquence in removing his doubts*
and diminishing the caufes of his repugnance >
at quitting Rome and his friends.
After many confultations, and diicuffions,
of the feveral arguments amical and inimi-
cal to the acceptance of the unexpected pro-*
poiition from Vienna, the following is the"
anfwer which he fent, and which contains
ib many chara&eriftic traits of modefty, pro-
priety, and delicacy, that it deferves to be
preferved, as a model of conduct under
fimilar circumftances.
LETTER II.
TO PRINCE PIO OF SAVOY.
The hafte with which I am obliged to
anfwer the letter, that Your Excellence has
deigned to write to me, will not allow time
fufficient for my recovery from the furprife
which the unexpected honour of his Imperial
Majefty's commands muftneceflarilyhave pro-
duced ; an honour to which I had never dared
alpire, even in my vaineft moments. The
doubt of my {lender abilities, would make me
accept with extreme timidity the glory of ferv-
ing his majefty, if his own moft animating and
auguft approbation, had not deprived me of
the
( 47 )
the liberty of felf-diffidence. I mall there-
fore only wait for Your Excellency's orders,
which will be executed as foon as received.
Your Excellence has repeatedly prefcribed
to me in your letter, to mention my wifh, as
to an annual appointment. This law weak-
ens my repugnance, and will be an excufe
for my prefumption. It is faid, that the ufual
allowance to the poets who have been in the
fervice of the court of Vienna, and that
which Sig. Apoft. Zeno receives at prefent,
is four thoufand florins per annum: fo that,
regulating my expectations by former ufage,
I mall confine them within the fame limits ;
humbly requefting it may be remembered,
that in quitting my country, I am obliged to
leave a iufhxiency, for the maintenance of
an aged and helplefs father, and for others
of my numerous relations, who have no fup-
port, but the fruits arifing, in Italy, from my
feeble talents ; I muft live in the moft fplen^
did court of Europe, in flich a manner, as
will not difgrace the monarch whom I fhall
have the honour to ferve ; and laftly, weighs
ing the poffibility, that my abilities may fall
fhort of expectation, and' be inferior to the
taflc with which I mail be honoured, I mall
live in perpetual terrors of impending pover-
ty
( 48 )
ty and paternal wants. I have thus ventured
to comply with Your Excellency's injunc-
tions ; but beg that * my franknefs may be
regarded as an aft of obedience; and what-
ever my circumftances may be, I mall, with
the utmoft alacrity, execute thofe orders
which it mail pleafe my auguft patron
to enjoin me. I am fully fenfible how much
is due to the incomparable fignor Ap. Zeno;
who, not content with having hitherto pro-
tecled my writings, thus generoufly honours
me with his beneficent recommendation, for
which I fhall retain the moil lively gratitude,
to the end of my exiftence.
I have the honour to be, &c. ,
Rome, Sept. ig r 1729,
The prince replied to this letter, October
28 th, of the fame year.
LETTER III.
PRINCE PIO OF SAVOY, TO METASTASIO.
It was not poffible to anfwer your fatis-
faclory letter fooner, as I was abfent from
Vienna, on a hunting party, with the Em-
peror; but upon communicating your fen-
timents to His Majefty, I have the pleafure to
aflure
( 49 )
allure you, that he was well pleafed with
the propriety, prudence, and good fenfe 5
manifested in your letter, concerning your
future eftablifhrnent. It is true fignor ApofL
Zeno had a penfion of four thoufand florins
per annum ; but this high falary was granted
to him ill confequence of his being Imperial
Hijioriographer^ as well as poet. But I have
no doubt that in procefs of time, you will
arrive at the fame appointment. I affure you
that the Abate Pariati had but two thoufand
florins per annum. However, in confequence
of your fiiperior merit, his Majefty has grant-
ed you three thoufand florins annually, and
one hundred ungheri to defray the expences
of your journey ; for which an order is fent
to the Imperial banker at Rome. I truft,
therefore, that you will not difappoint the
hopes I have conceived of feeing you foon
at Vienna, and of alfuring you in perfon, how
much my heart inclines me to ferve you
with zeal and affection.
LUIGI PRINCE OF SAVOY.
Metaftafio, his family, and friends, thought
it right, implicitly to fubmit to the terms
propofed in this letter, of which the only
part that occafioned them any uneafinefs,
vol. i. e was
( 5° )
was the folicitude expreffed by Prince Pio, for
his fpeedy arrival in Vienna -, which could
not take place without leaving his affairs in
great confufion, and failing in his engagement
to furnifh the Roman theatre with two new
dramas for the enfuins: carnival. He faw
o
no better means of folving thofe difficulties,
than by fpeaking the truth, and explaining
to his illuftrious correfpondent the real ftate
of his circumftances.
LETTER IV.
METASTASIO TO PRINCE PIO OF SAVOY.
The three thoufand florins, agreeable to
the oracular decree of my auguft patron,
need no reiterated acceptance, as I have
already had the honour to allure your Excel-
lence, that whatever fhould be the conditions
which I was to hope for from my liudies, I
mould not be fo much my own enemy as
not eagerly to embrace them. For however
difficult it is to acquire felf-knowledge, I am
not fo devoid of it as to be ignorant, that
what is now granted me, fprings from the
pure effecl: of Imperial munificence ; ac-
cuflomed to make its eftimates by its own
dignity
( 5' )
dignity more than by the merit of others.
I therefore already regard myfelf as the fer-
vant of His Majefty.
No time being fixed for my departure, I
likewife confider that omiffion as another
proof of Caefarian clemency and fore-fight,
in benignly confidering, that in confequence
of fuch a removal from my ufual aboda*
all my plans, engagements, and ichemes of
life, mult be changed, and it cannot there-
fore take place with a rapidity equal to
my zeal. Indeed my journey would ne-
cefifarily meet with fome delay in arranging
my family concerns, if I had no other to
tranfact ; as I have two fifters already grown
up, for whom an afTylum mult be found ;
and I have likewife to difpofe of fome Imall
places which have been beftowed on me,
one of which requires perfonal attendance.
I have alfo fome engagements to fulfill with
the managers of the Roman theatre, to whom
I had promifed two new dramas before I was
encouraged to hope for the honour of fuch
auguft commands. However, I flatter my-
felf, that all my arrangements will be com-
pleted before Lent ; but if my attendance
fhould be required fooner, there is no facri-
e 2 fice
( 52 )
flee which I would not make, to manifest
with how much zeal and duty I have the
honour to be, &c.
Nov. 3, 1729.
This letter had all the effect he wimed, and
obtained him permiffion to remain at Rome,
till he had finifhed the two dramas which
he had eno-acred to write. But neither the
mufe, nor the arrangement of his affairs,
baniihed from his thoughts the obligations
which he thought himfelf under to Apoftolo
Zeno, to whom he addrelfed the following
letter, two days after he had written to
Prince Pio.
LETTER V.
METASTASIO TO SIG. APOSTOLO ZENO.
I did not think it poffible that your name
mould be intitled to a greater degree of re-
flect and veneration, than that with which
I have been impreffed for it, in common
with all Italy, from the time of my earlieft
ftudies ; but at prefent, my peculiar obliga-
tions to you are of fuch a nature, as would
render
( 53 )
render filence unpardonable. Indeed it is
impoflible for me to conceal, without ingra-
titude, the owing to your generality my
whole fiiccefs in the world. The admiration
which you have excited in me, and my eager-
nefs for imitating your works, together with
the weight of your approbation, have elevat-
ed me to the honour of ferving his Imperial
Majefty : hence I have the premmption to
hope, that, regarding me as the work of your
own hands, you will continue to protect me,
as a kind of defence of your own judgment of
my feeble abilities, as well as to honour me
with your advice, how to avoid the rocks
which I may have to encounter, in entering
into the fervice of the greateft monarch in
the world. My obligations to you, as well as
the hopes of your wife and benevolent coun-
fel, I have declared aloud to my whole coun-
try, and mall continue to declare them as
long as I live ; being the only indications
which I am able to give, of my unprofitable
gratitude.
No particular time having been fixed for
my departure, I have ventured to fuppofe,
that it may be deferred till after Lent ; and
I have fully explained to his Excellence,
E 3 Prince
( 54 )
Prince Pio, my motives for fuch delay. I
mufl iikewife beg your concurrence and
fupport in this procraftination, to prevent any
unfavourable impreflions; and your heft en-
deavours, that all things may be fettled en-
tirely to the fatisfaction of my auguft Patron.
Rome, "5th Nov. 1729.
It may, perhaps, be neceffary here to give
fome account of our poet's worthy prede-
ceflor, the Imperial Laureate, to whom the
foregoing letter was addrefled, and of whom
but little is known in England.
The learned poet, critic, and antiquary,
Apostolo Zeno, born 1669, and defcend-
ed from an illuftrious Venetian family, which
had been long fettled in the ifland of Can-
dia, early applied himfelf to literature, and
the fhidy of Italian hiftory and antiquities.
In 1696, he inftituted at Venice, the acada-
my Degli Animoji, and was the editor of the
Giornale de Letterati d' Italia, of which he
published thirty volumes, between the year
1 7 10 and 1 71 9. His firft mufical drama, &
InganniFelici, was fet by Carlo Fran. Pola~
rolo, and performed at Venice, 1695. And
between that time and his quitting Vienna,
whither he was invited by |he Emperor
Charles,
( ss )
Charles VI. in 171 8, he produced forty-fix
Operas, and feventeen Oratorios, beiides
eighteen dramas, which he wrote jointly with
Pariati (k). His dramatic works were collect-
ed and published at Venice, 1744, in ten
volumes octavo, by Count Gozzi. And. in
1752, his letters were printed in three
volumes, by Forcellini, in which much
found learning and criticifm, are manifested
on various fubjedts. But one of the moll
ufeful of his critical labours feems to have
been, his commentary on the Bibl. dell' E/o-
quenza Italiana di Fontanini, which was
publifhed in 1753; with a preface by his
friend Forcellini, chiefly dictated, however,
by Zeno himfelf, juft before his death, 1750,
in the 8 2d year of his age.
After he was engaged as Imperial Laureate,
he fet out from Venice for Vienna, in July
171 8; but having been overturned in a
chaife, the fourth day of his journey, he
had the misfortune to break his leg, and
was confined at an inn in the little town of
Ponticaba, near Trevifa, till September.
He arrived at Vienna, the 14th of that
(£) See Hift. of Muf. vol. iv. p. in. 231. 298. 533.
e 4 month,
( 5« )
month, Ja/vo, he fays, if not fano e gne-
rito flj, after twelve days of exeeffive fuf-
fering on the road.
Moft of the dramas, facred and fecular,
which he wrote for the Imperial court, were
fet by Caldara, a grave compofer and found
harmonifl, to whofe ftyle Zeiio feems to
have been partial. But this excellent anti-
quary and critic, feems never to have been
fatisrled with his own poetical abilities. So
early as the year 1722, in writing to his
brother from Vienna, he fays : " I find more
and more every day, that I grow old, not
only in body, but in mind : and that the
bufinefs of writing verfes, is no longer a fit
employment for me (m)" And, afterwards,
modeftly fenfible of the fterility of his pof»
feffions in Parnaffus, which though they fur-
niihed ufeful productions, were not of a foil
fufficiently rich to generate fuch gay, de-
licate, and beautiful flowers, as are requifite
to embellifh the Lyric fcene, he expreffed a
wifh that he might be allowed a partner in
his labours; and was fo juft and liberal as to
mention the young Metaflafio, as a poet
(l) Safe, if not found and cured.
(m) Letter a 133. tomo ii. p. 263.
worthy
( 57 )
worthy to be honoured with the notice of
his Imperial Patron (n).
If the mufical dramas of Apoftolo Zeno
are compared with thofe of his predecelfors
and cotemporaries, they will be found in-
finitely fuperior to them in conduct, re-
gularity, character, fentiment, and force.
JBut Metaftafio's refined fentiments, felec-
tion of words, and varied and melifluous
meafures, fbon obfcured the theatric glory
of Zeno ; who, after the arrival of his young
colleague, feems to have attempted nothing
but oratorios. In 173 1, he returned to
(n) Saverio Mattei afcribes to the Princefs dt Bel-
monte, D. Anna Francefca Pinelli de Sangro, Metaftafio's
invitation to Vienna. This princefs, who had been the
patronefs of the young poet at the time he was fent into
Calabria, by Gravina, to purfue his ftudies, preferved
his life, by attentions to his health, which was then fo
delicate, that he was thought in a confumption; and
afcribing the diforder to his too frequently and violently
fatiguing his cheft, in the exercife of his talent as an lm-
provijatore, obliged him to difcontinue the practice. One
of his firfr. dramas, was written for the marriage of this
princefs at Naples. And her fifter, the countefs d'Althan,
in high favour at the court of the Emperor Charles VI.
at Vienna, at the inftigation of the princefs di Belmonte,
recommended him to that prince, as a fucceffor to Apoftolo
Zeno, and honoured him with her friendfhip to the end
of her life.
Venice,
( 58 )
Venice, where he ended his days, after pro-
ducing many learned and valuable works,
on fubje6ts of hiftory, antiquities, and cri-
ticifm.
Metaftafio completed his two dramas of
Artaferfe & Alejandro neW Indie, for the
carnival of 1730, which were "both fet by
Leonardo Vinci, and performed at Rome
before the poet's departure, with univerfal
applaufe. The firft of thefe dramas is de-
dicated by Cavanna, the manager of the
opera, to the perfonage then ftiled at Rome,
Giacomo III. Re della gran Brettagna, and
the fecond, to Clementina, his titular
queen. The principal fingers in both, were
Carefiini, and Fontana, detto Farfallino, or
the little Butterfly.
Upon quitting Rome, Metaftafio confign-
ed into the hands of his zealous and affec-
tionate friend, the Romanina, all his effects,
interefts, and concerns; together with the
management of his family affairs. She mofr.
willingly fubmitting to thefe feveral tafks,
as well as to the care of the produce of the
little places, and fums of money, which he
left behind him.
At length, he departed with a heavy heart,
and a moft fovereign contempt for the friend-
3 fliip
( 59 ) ■
fhip and flattering promifes of the great, by
whofe delufions he had fo long entertained
hopes of preferment in his native city;
whence, at iaft, he was driven into a kind of
fplendid baniihment, for the reft of his life.
Thefe early difappointments, from being ex-
tremely credulous, rendered him incurably
fceptical, as to all future prefages of good
fortune ; and the effects of hoping too much
in early life, and too little after, produced,
perhaps, the principal defects in his character.
END OF THE FIRST SECTION.
SECTION
( 6o )
SECTION II.
IVIetastasio arrived at Vienna, in July
1730. Of his reception there by Prince Pio,
and at court, by his Imperial "Patron, we
have a curious account, in a letter written
by himfelf, to a friend at Rome, the day
after he had been prefented.
LETTER I.
METASTASIO TO A FRIEND.
I returned on Tuefday, by my Imperial
mailer's commands to Laxemburg ; I faw
him at table, I dined with Prince Pio, and
afterwards, at half an hour pail: three in the
afternoon, I was admitted to an audience in
form. The mafter of the ceremonies, by
whom I was introduced, left me at the
door of the ftate room, in which his Majefty
was leaning againft a table, with his hat
on, and feemed to be very thoughtful and
ferious. I mull: confefs to you, that though
I was prepared for this ceremony, I loft my
courage, when I began to refiecl, that I was
in
( 6, )
in the prefence of the greater! perfbnage
upon earth, to whom it was my bulinefs to
fpeak firft : a circumftance which did not
augment my fortitude. I made the three
obeifances which had been previoufly pre-
fcribed to me: one in entering the room, one
in the middle, and the lair, near his Majefty.
After this, I knelt on one knee; but my gra-
cious mailer immediately ordered me to
ftand up, faying, rife, rife. Here I uttered
with a voice, I believe, not very firm, the
following fentiments : " I know not whether
my joy or confufion is the greater!:, in throw-
ing myfelf at the feet of your Imperial
Majefty. It is an honour for which I have
fighed from my earlieft youth ; and at pre-
fent, I not only find myfelf in fight of the
greateft monarch in the world, but inverted
with the honourable title of one of his aclual
fervants. I am fenfible of the duties of my
office, and know my own infufficiency to
fulfill them to my wifh ; but if, with the-
lofs of my eyes I could become a Homer, I
fhould not hefitate to fubmit to immediate
blindnefs. I mall indefatigably try every
means in my power to fupply natural de-
fects, by labour and ftudy. I know, that
however I may want abilities, your Majefty's
clemency
( «* )
clemency will operate in favour of one who
fo ardently wifhes himfelf more worthy a£
fuch patronage ; but I am not without hopes,
that there is a latent virtue in the title of
Poet to your Imperial Majefty, that will
have an influence upon my exertions."
In proportion as I advanced in my fpeech,
I perceived the countenance of my great pa-
tron brighten up ; and when I had -done, he
faid : " I was already well convinced of your
worth ; but now I am null better informed
of your good difpofition, and I doubt not but
you will acquit yourfelf in the office, to
which you are appointed, in fuch a manner
as mufc enfure my being pleafed with you."
Here he ftopt to hear whether I had any
other petition to make ; at which time, ac-
cording to the inftruclions I had received,
I entreated permimon to kifs his hand; he
held it out to me, fmiiiilg, and condefcend-
ingly preiTed mine. Encouraged by this
demonftration of kindnefs, I then feized his
Majefly's hand with both mine, andfqueez-
ing it, with tranfport, gave it fo hearty a
kifs, that my moll benign matter muft eafily
difcover that it came from the heart.
Vienna, July 25, 1730.
His
( 6 3 )
Metaftafio's firft letter to his friend the
Romanina, that has been preferved, was
written fome months after the above ; the
opening of the correfpondence feems to have
been loft or fuppreffed. This begins in a
formal manner, but is full of pleafantry, on
the humours of the Carnival at Rome.
LETTER II.
TO SIGNORA MARIANNA BENTI BULGARINI,
DETTA LA ROMANINA.
MADAM,
I received this morning, not only the
letters of the prefent week, but of the laft,
which have relieved my mind from the ap-
prehenfions and fears with which I- was af-
lailed, that fome pious foul had been before-
hand with me at the pott-office, in order to
fave me the trouble of reading them. I am
much obliged to you for the ample accounts
you have given me of the operas and plays,
and rejoice that our Ciutto (clown) has done
himfelf honour. I hope that the poll in
which his Holinefs has engaged him, will
not be unprofitable. Tell me what you think
of it, and give him my bell wilhes.
This
( 64 )
This is precifely the firft day of mafks
with you, while I am freezing here. But I
entertain myfelf in imagining how you are
employed and diverted. Ah ! this moment,
which, according to the Romans, will be the
2 1 ft hour, the h^rlyburly will begin in the
Corfo. See ! the Canon Magiflris opens his
ftreet-door. There goes the Abate Spinola,
and here Stanefa and Cavanna. See ! too,
the muficians of the Aliberti theatre. Who
is that mafk that looks fo hard at our win-
dow. See ! he is throwing about his fusrar
plumbs, and cannot ftand ftill. It is cer-
tainly the little Abate Bizzaccari. And he,
with the long cane, who can he be, exa-
mining all the coaches, but the dainty Pif-
citeili? Ay, ay, 'tis certainly he. Look
yonder ! there's Count Mazziotti {peaking
Latin. There go the Courtiers too, affect-
edly dreffed in coloured paper and cards.
But who, in the name of wonder, is that
ftransre woman ? Almoft all the coaches
turn towards San Carlo. What have we
here ? A fignal. Quick, quick ! here comes
Bargello and the Genoa refident. No mat-
ter ; only will there be room for us all ? Can
vou fee ? Extremely well. But you feem
crouded. I beg your pardon ; I am perfectly
at
( 65 )
at my eafe. Look at 'em ! Look at 'em !
What is their number ? Seven. Who goes
firfr. ? Gabrielli on his forrel horfe ; but Co-
lonna has got before him. For God's fake !
what have we here ? A ftrange creature on
a Barbary horfe. He'll be kill'd, certainly,
poor D — 1 ! are they driving him away ?
No, no, it was a dog, I was miftaken.
Well, you may fay what you will, but a
ftrong imagination is a fine thing. And thus
I have feen the Corfo at Rome, from the
Jefuits' Square in Vienna : and now, to have
done with the ridiculous and burlefque, I am
plagued, as ufiial, by my cough, without
the leaft hope of being free from it, till we
have fine weather. I have finiihed my Ora-
torio, which you will foon fee at Rome,
printed in fome way or other (o). I have
fpoken to the Venetian AmbalTador about a
certain Toilette, and he was much aftoniihed
that it had not been received, as he had had
advice of its being delivered. We mail fee
What effect this new requifition will have.
From the mow and cold at Rome you may
(o) This was Sant' Elena al Calvario, the firft
facred drama which he produced after his arrival at Vienna.
It was fet by Caldara, and performed in the Imperial Cha-
pel in Paffion week,. 1731.
VOL. I. F jU% e
( 66 )
judge what we fuffer here. Not a week
paffes that we do not hear of fome poor
countryman or other being frozen to death.
In the city, we walk upon ice nine inches
thick, bliftered harder than Hone. And the
friow which is continually falling, is fhivered
and powdered fo fine by the wind, that it
flies like the duft in Augufl ; and yet there
are ftupid people going about in Traineaux
all night. For my own fecurity in walking,
I have the foles of my fhoes covered with
felt, having already had a fall in the indif-
penfable pafTage from my door to the coach ;
but in this clumfy falutation of my parent
earth, the machine received no great mif-
chief. In mort, having been apprifed of
the lubricity of the ftreets, I was prepared
for it. You aik my opinion of a Sonnet
by Ignatius di Bonis , which I have never
feen, and of which I am ignorant of the
fubjecl, consequently, &c. Make my reve-
rences to the Genoa refident, with thanks
for his remembrance by the fecretary of Ins
republic. Addio, happinefs attend you. "- £
N. M.
Vienna, Jan. 27, 1731*
LET-
( 6; )
LETTER III.
TO THE ROMANINA.
MADAM,
You continue to doubt of my repofe* and
you would not doubt without reafon, if your
agreeable letters had not calmed my mind
fo much, that, at prefent, little of my agita-
tion remains % but my obligations to you ase
increafed, in proportion to the intereft which
I perceive you take in my happinefs. My
health, though not bad, is far from good ;
nor can it be otherwife ; for though we are
now in the middle of May, it is colder than
it was two months ago. But mind ! and
be well yourfelf. Monfignor ParTionei, the
Apoftolic Nunzio to this Court, arrived on
Tuefday evening, the 9th inflant. He was
met two miles from the city gates, by his
eminence Cardinal Grimani. He is much
refpe&epl here. Prince Eugene immediately
vifited him, and yefterday his Imperial Ma-
jefty gave him audience at Laxembourg.
The Abate Pierfanti, Auditor of the Nun-
ciate, a polite man, and of excellent morals,
whom I have met with much pleafure, came
f 2 with
( 68 )
with him ; we were fellow ftudents and cro-
nies, and attached to literature, at the fame
time.
I received, four days ago, by a courier
from Rome, called Dionifio, the executorial
letters againft Cardinal Cofcia, which you
fent. I am much obliged to you for them,
and beg of you to continue to avail yourfelf
of all fuch favourable opportunities, without
the fear of my having duplicates p£ what you
fend ; as couriers 'feldom come hither from
Rome. You will find, perhaps, by my let-
ter, which is now on the road, that we
think exactly alike, concerning the fate of
the unfortunate Romoni and Sardini, which
is a true applaufe to juftice, though I fhudder
for the tragedy. You will find our thoughts
ever the fame, according to our old cuftom.
I am extremely glad, that the poor Abate
Falconi. is acquitted of the falfe accufations
laid to his charge ; and fincerely hope that
the confequences of his innocence, will be as
favourable to his interefts as you have pre-
dicted. Embrace and falute for me Bulga,
Leopold, and all friends, and do me the
juftice to believe me, at all times, and on
all occafions, your faithful N.
Vienna, May 12, 173 1.
LET-
( <5 9 )
LETTER IV.
TO THE SAME.
MADAM,
You do me more honour than I deferve,
ill thinking my letters artfully obfcure.
However, your fufpicions have fet me upon
confldering what could poffibly give rife to
them, or be conftrued into myftery, in what
I have faid of the feftival for which I am com-
manded to prepare a drama. I have frequently
told you, that this time is appropriated to the
celebration of the birth- day of my Imperial
Miflrefs ; and even if I had never mentioned
it, there was no poflibility of preparing for
it in fecret, as you know this is the firffc
feilival in the year, or if you did not know
it, all Rome could inform you of the regu-
larity of this Court, fo that concealment
would be ufelefs and impoffible fpj. I did
(p) It feems as if the Romanina, wifhing to go to
Vienna as a finger at this feftival, had fufpected Metaf-
tafio of not fpeaking openly on the fubjecl: ; and perhaps
he was fearful of the effect which her arrival might have
had upon his own reputation: as the Emperor Charles VI.
was a religious prince, who greatly difcouraged every ap-
pearance of indecorum. *
f 3 not
(7o )
not therefore imagine, that the fubjec~t of the
piece, without the whole of the compofition,
could afford you any amufement. The title
is /Eneas in the TLlyJian Fields,, or The Temple
of Eternity. It was fet by Fouchs. The
principal action is, the accomplifhment of
the tender and pious wifh of the hero to fee
his father. The fpeeches of thofe perfon-
ages, whom ^Eneas met with in the Elyiian
Fields on this occafion, are applicable to the
praifes of Augufta, Cadar, and Germany.
The interlocutors are Mneas, Deiphobe, or
the Cumean Sybil, Eternity, Virtue, Glory s
Time, and the Shade of Anchifes. In the
chorufes are Linus and Orpheus, with their
followers. Such is the fummary of my
plan ; of the execution, you will be informed
by others hereafter. Is it poffible, that you
mould injure me fo far, as to think it necef-
fary to draw out a formal account of your
money tranfa£Hons ? I believe you have
fpent more of your own, than of mine ; and
it aflonifhes me, that you are not in want of
a fupply; bi}t it is a fure fign that your head
is at home ; and you want to convince me,
I fuppofe, that your judgment is now good
enough to make amends for former defects.
I mail fay no more on this, except, that
when
( 7i )
when there is any fault to find, I mall be at
your fervice, and you know I am not cere*
monious. I want to know whether the
room in the Corfo is furnifhed, and with
what materials, and of what colour. I am
fbrry for the failure of Cleomene y and hope
that Artaferfe will be more profitable to our
dear Cavanna ; but for the accomplishment
of this hope, I muft rely on the partiality of
my great country. N. M. addio (q).
Vienna, June 23, 1 731.
LETTER V.
TO THE SAME.
N. M.
The feal of a cover of a letter, which I
fent you fome time ago, is that of the Chan-
cellor of the ftate, the fanclion of which
was not ufed by chance. I am unable to
define what you thought of it ; but know
very well, that I have no reafon to repent
(q) N. M." are initials of fome cabaliftical words in the
Poet's correfpondence with his female friend: perhaps
Nojira Madona ; but he fometimes calls himfelf, il vof-
tro N.
f 4 the
( 7* )
the having ufed it. I was in the utmofl
anxiety for the fate of Artaferfe, not hav-
ing found a fyllable about it, in your let-
ter by the laft pott. But to-day I hear of
its fuccefs, not only from yourfelf, but
Bulga, Leopold, and Peroni. And am ex-
tremely happy, well knowing the pleafure
it will afford you all, on my account. You
-can anfwer for the patriotic gratitude which I
mull: feel to a city like Rome, when it thus
deigns to interefl itfelf in my labours. May
my productions, fome time or other, jufKfy*
in the opinion of the world, its partiality 1
I am allured from all quarters of the zeal
and accuracy of the performers. I beg you
will thank them in my name, particularly
the incomparable Sca/zz, and Farfa//mo 9
whom I falute and embrace fr). Poor
Vinci ! Now that merit will be known,
which during his life, was blafted by hi9
enemies (sj.
(j) This muft have been the revival of the opera of
Artaferfe at Rome, where it was firfl: performed in 1730,
as the date of the printed copy of the words, now before
me, teftifiesj unlefs it was printed previous to its per-
formance.
(s) This original and admirable compofer, the compe r
titor of Porpora and HafTe, feems to have died during the
long run of Artaferfe.
4 What
( 73 )
What a miferable being is man ! He thinks
fame the only good that can render him
happy; but alas! He muft die ere he is al-
lowed to enjoy it; and if he does not die ?
envy will make him wretched for attempt-
ing to acquire it *. But let us have done
with moralizing. I am doubly happy now,
in my own health, and in that which you
enjoy. Study to preferve it, as you value
mine.
I now difcover the worth of my dear
Marianne ; who in her letters, and her prudent
conduct, not only pleafes me at prefent, but
gives a different face to paft times. You
have furpafled all my expectations. It is
the fear of tripling the expence of portage,
that prevents my writing to Leopold (t)^
and my dear Bulgarini (uj. Thank the
latter heartily, in my name, and take that
care of him which he merits. Tell Leopold
that I mall always love him, if he acts in,
* For fuch the frailty is of human kind,
Men toil for fame, which no man lives to findj
Long ripening under ground this China lies :
Fame leaves no fruit, till the vain planter dies !
Earl of Mulgrave,
(tj Metaftafio's brother. (») The hufband of the Ro-
manina.
fuch
( 74 )
fuch a manner as to merit your efleem. To
the mon: polite auditor, Merenda, prefent
a thoufand compliments. I am not dif-
pleafed that he confides fome of his fecrets
to you, but I mould have wifhed him lefs
communicative to others. And now repeat-
ing the fame ardent wifhes which you have
made for me, I remain your N. Adieu.
Vienna, July 7, 1731.
The firfr. regular opera which Metaftafio
produced for the theatre of his Imperial
patron, .was Adrian o in Siria, fet by
Caldara.
Of its fuccefs, we have no account in his
letters ; but by the general favour of this
drama in the reft of Europe, immediately
after its performance at Vienna, there can
be no doubt of the applaufe it received on
its firft appearance, Nov. 4, 1731. It was
brought on the ilage at Naples 1732, and
performed at Venice 1 733, to the mufic of
Jacomelli. Metaftafio's friend, fignor Riva,
the mimfter from the duke of Modena to
the Imperial court, pointed out fome fmall
inaccuracies in this drama ; but the author
either corrected, or explained them off* in
anfwering his letter, Sept. 20, 1732*
Of
( 75 )
Of the reception of Demetrio, his
fccond opera for Vienna, we have an am-
ple account written by the author himfelf,
in the following letter to his friend, the Ro-
manina.
LETTER VI.
N. M. I did not think I mould have fuch
good tidings to fend you to-day as I am now
able to do ; indeed I was entirely prepared for
the contrary. Laft Sunday, my opera of De-
metrio was performed, for the nrft. time,
with fuch applaufe, that the oldefl people in
the country affure me, they never remember
approbation fo universal. The audience
wept at the parting fcene; to which my
moft auguft patron was not infenfible. And
notwithstanding the great reipecl: for the
Sovereign, in many of the recitatives, the
applauie of the theatre was not reftrained
by his prefence. Thofe who were before
my enemies, are now become my apoftles.
I am unable to exprefs to you my furprife at
this fuccefs, as it is a gentle and delicate
opera, without thofe bold ilrokes which pro-
duce great effects ; nor did I believe it
adapted
( 76 )
adapted to the national tafte. But I was
miftaken. Every thing demonstrated, that
it was well underftood by the audience, and
they repeat parts of it in converfation, as if
it were written in German. My mafter be-
gan to mew his fatisfaclion, from the end of
the firfl acl, and afterwards ipoke' it openly
to all around him. The mufic is of the mofl
modern kind that Caldara has compofed; but
all the difcontented world is not to be fatif-
fied. The fcenes were beautiful. Minelli
has both acled and fung better than ufual,
and pleafes almoft univerfally in the part of
Alcejle. Dominichino, acquitted himfelf in
the part of CleoJiice, with general approba-
tion. Cafati has exalted the part of Olinto,
as Borghi has that of Fenicio. The Olzau-
ferin fung, as fhe flill looks, beautifully.
Brown, the bafe, did not da half fo well in
the public performance, as at the rehearfals,
in which, however, he did but little. And
here is my whole hiftory, which I would not
have written to any one but you, as others
would pronounce me to be a vain coxcomb.
Vienna, Nov. 10, 1731^
This opera was brought out at Rome, the
beginning of the next year, under the di»
rection
( 77 )
.redtion of his female friend, to whom he.
fent inftructions for the performance; in
which^ though me was not allowed to ring
on the ftage, me aflumed the poet's part at
the rehearfal.
In a letter to the Romanina on the fub-
ject, he fays : " You are now in the middle*
of your theatrical diverfions, while I am at
the dry work of writing an Oratorio. Amufe
yourfelf for me, and be allured that your
pleafure contributes greatly to mine. It was,
my full intention to fend a meet of directions
for the performance of Demetrio ; but, in
examining the opera, I find fo little intricacy
in it, that it would be affronting both you
and myfelf, if I attempted to inflruct you,'*
— He however gives in this letter two pages
of directions for the reprefentation of the
opera of Demetrio, which would be very
ufeful to the compofer, performers, and di->
rector, in bringing that drama on the ftage.
When he has finiihed his inftructions, he
fays : " Thefe were the arrangements, and
I have feen the inhabitants of thefe northern
regions weep. Do you produce the fame
effects.
" His Eminence the archbifhop of Colonitz,
in order to afcertain my exigence, will fee
me
( 78 )
me himfelf, and I mall not be able to fend to
him till next week. There is nothing new
or unexpected in the illnefs of the Emprefs's
mother, fo that IJjipile will be performed.
There is a precious part in it of a pirate,
which runs through the whole opera; it will
be admirably performed by our dear Be-
renftadt, who together with our friend
Rondinella, ( plump friend ) I embrace moft
cordially. Say the fame to Bulga, to
Leopold, and to yourfelf. By recommend-
ing to you the care of your health, I mean
to recommend to you, your V. N. Adieu."
Vienna, Jan. 12, 1731.
LETTER VII.
TO THE ROMA NINA.
MADAM,
N. M. You reproach me, I know not
with what confcience, for the very fame
brevity which you yourfelf practice in your
letters. We are either both to blame, or
neither. But enough of this ; for I dare not
pretend that a month will pafs in which I
mall be exempt from reproof; I look on it
as a neceffary evil, like the return of a fever
-x to
( 79 )
to thofe who have a quartan ague. J am
extremely concerned for the ill fate of
Didone, as much on account of fignor Ca-
vanna, as on my own. Thefe are the
abomidable viciffitudes incident to theatres,
a trifle can fave, and a trifle can ruin
them fxj. I hope Demetrio will be more
fortunate. But to confefs the truth, it runs
a great rifk of a fimilar fate, as it depends
more on good performance, than decorations
or ftage effecl : and the prejudice of Rome
againfr. our lingers, is not a favourable cir-
cumftance. However, the fame fudden
turns which render theatrical fuccefs infe-
cure, are equal reafons for our not giving
way to defpair*
Vienna, Jan. 19, 1732.
His opera of Iffipile, was firft performed
in January 1732; and during its run, he
(x) This qpera, after its fuccefsful firft reprefentation
at Naples, in 1724, was performed at Venice, 1725, to
the mufic of Tommafo Albinoni. In 1726, at Crema, to
the fame mufic, and at Rome to the original mufic of
Sarro. It was like wife performed to this mufic at Turin,
1727, and at Venice, 1730. It is not recorded who was
the unfortunate compofer of the mufic, which was fo ill
received at Rome, in 1732, at the. time of which Metaftafio
fpeaks in this letter.
fent
( . 8o )
fent a copy of it to his friend, the Roma-
nina for the Roman theatre, with an account
of the fcenes, and inftruclions for the fcene-
ry fyj. He fays, this opera was rehearfed
in a great hurry. And adds, " I have be-
gun the Oratorio ; I correct the prefs ; affifr.
in bringing out a play at court ;„ curfe the
cold;, and iigh every quarter of an hour; I
am however very well."
In a fubfequent letter, we have a further
account of the fuccefs of IJJipik, and of the
theatrical tranfaclions at the Imperial court
i.
during this time.
LETTER VIIL
TO THE ROMANINA.
N. M.
On Tuesday evening, my opera of IssiPile
was performed at court, for the laft time, to
fuch a croud, as had not been feen there on
(y) It is probable, that Iffipile was performed at Rome
this year, to the original mufic, to which it had been fet
for Vienna, by Francefco Conti ; but it was new fet the
fame year, for Venice, by Giovanni Porta.
any
( 8i )
&ny former occafion. My moft clement:
patrons were unwilling to difpleafe a troop
of gentlemen, who are acting, very imper-
fectly, the difconfolate Cicifbeo of Fagioli ; a
comedy performed at Naples, and which we
ijfaw rehearfed at the houfe of the Abate Bel-
vedere. By having one performance lefs of
this piece, there might have been another of
IJfipile, as all the court, city, and they them-
felves, wifhed ; but flaves to their grandeur,
they thought that this would have been con-
strued into a clear difapprobation of the dilet-
tanti comedians •. and therefore have obliged
themfelves to hear it performed three times,
like the opera, and another comedy in profe,
acted by muficians*. Retaining the diftinc-
tion, of , four reprefentations, to that piece
alone, which was performed by the Arch-
ducheffes. When the laft reprefentation of
Iffipile was over, the Emperor, in defcend-
ing from his box, came up to me, and, in
the prefence of the whole court, had the
benevolence to exprefs the pleafure he had
received from my labours, and to tell me
that The Opera was very fine - y that it had
fucceeded wonderfully, and that he was per-
fieSily fatisfied with me. A diftinction the
vol. i* & more
( 8 2 )
more honourable, as it is difficult to obtain
any notice from our patron, who is fb re-
ferved in public, that when he deigns to
beftow itj, we are firre that it is not by ac-
cident, but defign. I tell you all this, be-
caufe in fpite of your affected indifference
for my perfbn, I hope, nay believe, that
you intereft yourfelf extremely in all that
concerns me.
There is an Abbey vacant in Sicily, called
St. Lucia, by the death of a certain Abate
Barbara : but my misfortune is, that' I know
not in what diocefe it is fituated, or whether
it is requiiite that the candidate mould be
a regular ecclefiaftic.
Vienna, Feb. 23, 1732.
Part of this letter is loft; but it appears
from other letters, that though he wifhed
for fecular preferment in the church, he had
no intention to be an ecclefiaftic mfacris.
L E T-
t 83 }
I LETTER IX.
to THE ROMANINA.
I am arrived at the middle of the third
&6t of my opera fzj, fo that next Sunday I
hope to be able to tell you that it is nnifhed;
But when fliall I cOme to the end of the next,
which is likewife in meditation ? It mm%
however, be ready by the end of Anguft.
Do you but wifh me health and patience*
and every thing will go well. With all my
intenfe application, and the unfavourable
feafon, I am almoft exhaufted. I fay almojfl:,
becaufe my head, from time to time, is
unequal to its labour ; probably from the
pores being too much clofed . by the long
continuance of the damp, and the chillnefs of
the air in this place ; fo that in proportion
as I -differed from the heat in Italy, I am
(%) He means the firid opera for the next Carnival,
Metaftafio, befides occafional operas, cantatas, &c. ufually
furnifhed one drama for the Carnival, one for the Emperor's
birth-day, and a third, or fome other poem for mufic, fcr
the Emprefs's birth-day. In the Carnival of 1731, after
three performances of ddriano, Jan. 4, 6, and 8th, his fe-
cond opera of Demetrio was brought on the ftage, the 10th
&>f the fame month.
g 2 tormented
( §4 )
tormented by the cold in Germany. S®
much does the variation of climate change
our nature* But I have not felt it in this
particular only; my abilities to combat its
effects, continually, are not natural. I know
that the fluggiflmefs of the air is communi-
cated to the fpiritSj and diminifhes their
promptitude at exertion.
I inclofe you a moral fbnnet, which t
eompofed in the midfr. of a pathetic fcene
that I was writing, and with v/hich I wa$
much affected ; fo that the laughing at myfelf,
on finding my eyes itreaming with tears for
a difrrefs of my own making, produced i«
my mind the thoughts which you will read
in my fonnet, and which j if it appears to-
lerable r let others read alfo.
SONETtO.
Sogni, efavole io fingc$ eppure in carte,
JMentre fai/ole, efogni or no, e difegno,
In lor {folk che Jon!) prendo tal parte,
Che del mal, che inventai,\piango, e mifdegnfa
JMaforfe allor che non niinganna Parte
Piufaggiofono, e V agitato ingegno
Fors* e allor piii tranquillo ? Oforfe parte
Da piu falda'cagion Pamor, lo Jdegno P
Ah che non fo I quelle, ctfio canto, o fcrivo
Favolefon ; ma quanto temo, o fpero
TutPe menfogna, e delirandoio vivo :
Scghf
( 8 5 )
Mogno della mia vita e il corfo intero*
Deh tu, Signor, quando a defiarmi arrivo 9
fa y ch'io trov'i rep of a in fen del vero (a).
SONNET,
The dreams and fables which I often feign,
Fool that I am! a real grief impart;
And evils, I myfelf have forg'd, give pain
Which gen'rates tears and penetrates my heart-
Perhaps the illufion is not all a dream,
perhaps while agitated thus, we find
Ourfelves more wife, and truth and reafon beam
Unufual radiance on the ardent mind.
Oh ! that not only what I fing and write
Were fabulous, but ev'ry hope and fear
Which occupies my mind from morn to nighr ?
Like phantoms of the brain, would difappear !
This life is nothing but a dream throughout,
Oh grant, great God ! whene'er it is refign'd,
That I may wake exempt from fear and doubt,
And in the arms of Truth, repofe may find.
fa) The eleventh yerfe, the author fays, may run
fhus.
Seguendo V ombre 7 in cm ravyolto io vivo-
It was in writing the ninth fcene of the fecond a& of
the Olimpiade, that Metaftafio found himfelf in tears, an
gfFe& which afterwards proved very contagious.
9 3 After
( 86 )
After I had written this fonnet, there
came into my head, as ufual, a fcruple 5
which is, that the nth verfe and the 10th
explain a proportion which may perhaps be
thought too genera], when I fay Ma quant o,
temo, fpero tut to e'menzogna: ". But what-
ever 1 fear or hope is falfe." I "would not
have any dry and fevere critic fay to me,
"What! don't you fear hell? don't you
hope in God ? " For, according to this, the
hope in God and fear of hell are falfe, It
is true, that in anfwer I might fay, rnoft. fa-
gacious Sir ! I have known from my infancy,
as well as you, that God and hell are indif-
putable truths ; and if this was not my be-
lief, I mould not have recommended niyfelf
to God, at the elofe, in the manner I have
done. The hopes and fears of which I {peak
in the fonnet, are thofe that proceed from
mere terreftial objects. You fee that the
defence is fufficiently folid, and the counter-
poifon is found in the fonnet itfelf. Read it,
and give me your opinion fincerely, without
concealing from me that of Monfignor Ni-
colini, which will have great weight with
me. I falute the whole houfe, and to your-
felf I heartily recommend your V. N. V. N.
]N. M. addio. ,Vienna, June 6, 1732.
let/
( 8 7 )
LETTER X.
TO THE SAME.
1 begin my letter with a dreadful piece
of news, juft arrived from Prague by the
poft, which has extremely afflicted me, as
well as all Vienna. The following is the
copy of a letter which I have juft received.
Prague, nth June.
** The Emperor being upon a ihooting-
*' party, in the wood of Branchais, and
" having fired at a flag, the ball, after paff-
*' ing through the animal, wounded his
" Highnefs, the Prince of Schwaifemberg,
" Mailer of the horfe, in the left fide, in
f* fo fatal a manner as was immediately
M pronounced to be mortal ; and this morn-
" ing, between three and four o'clock, he
" died. This dreadful calamity has thrown
*' the Emperor into the deepeft affliction.
" It was with the utmoft difficulty that he
' ' was prevented from going to fee the dying.
" Prince, in order to aik his pardon ; but
" he was at laft prevailed on to fend Count
" St. Julian to perform this melancholy
i* office."
G 4 This
( 88 )
This news has thrown the whole city
into the greater!: confternation, many for the
love they bore the Prince, and all for the.
fufFering of our moft augufr. Mailer, whofe
humanity and tendernefs are known to be
fuch, as muft have difordered his whole
frame, as well as wounded his mmd ; yet it
was impoflible to prevail on him to be
blooded, which was thought by the faculty
to be abfolutely necefTary to his fafety. And
the worft of all is, that the Emprefs, whofe
circumfpecl: and prudent advice would have
had moil weight, in prevailing on his Ma-
jefty to fubmit to his phyficians, was unfor-.
tunately not in Prague, having begun the
ufe of the waters at Carlefiad, In confe-;
quence of this accident, the feilival of Au-
gufl will not be celebrated in the city of
Cromau, as I Avrote you word ; for being a
place that belonged to the deceafed Prince,
it would be very ill calculated for joy and
feftivity. I mall wait for new orders ; but
the general opinion is, that the Emperor
will foon return to Vienna.
I have nothing to fay at prefent to Sig.
Ant. Tommafo Lazzaretti. The inform-
ation which you have procured, concerning
the vacancy in Sicily, arrives too late ; we
a - muft
( 8 9 )
purl now look forward to other things*
Your attention, however, convinces me of
your kind concern and zeal for my fervice ;
which I mall always try to preferve, and of
which I am both pleafed and proud.
You cannot imagine how much I am af-
flicted with the difgrace of the theatre dells
Dame. The w or ft p art of the ftory is, that
in whatever way the poor Oavanna may try
to recover the public favour, his lofs muft be
very great. My brother has written me the
news of the town. His information is now
a little ftale, but I am, nevertheless, obliged
to him. I embrace, thank, and beg of him
the continuance of his intelligence.
How can I fumciently thank you for the
affectionate anxiety you exprefs about my
health ; it is already mended by your letter ;
think then what it would be by yourfelf.
Many compliments to Bulga, and- other
friends ; and accept yourfelf of a thoufancj
protections of the immutability of your N.
Adieu, N. M.
Vienna, June 14, 1732,
LET-
( 9° )
LETTER XL
TO THE SAME.
Was there ever fuch a din vocation of the
things of this world, both fmall and great !
Can a more unhappy accident be imagined,
than that which I related in my laft letter?
And of another kind, can greater defolation
be reprefented to the mind, than that which
you have fo well defcribed in your letter
which I received this morning ? It is terri-
ble, that a great city mould be obliged to
fufFer for the caprice of an individual, and
that, for fuch frivolous motives, he mould
have no repugnance to injuring numberSj
and difpleafing all.
I pity thofe who feel the lols ; and even
without this motive, it is impoffible to be
indifferent.
The Emperor, after the unhappy accident,
returned to Prague, where, according to all
accounts, he fhut himfelf up in his room,
without feeing a human creature, during a
whole day and night. Prince Eugene was
the firlt, who, with refpectful violence,
forced himfelf into his prefence, and inter-
rupted
( 9< )
fopted the folitude and profound affliction in
which he was immerfed. It is univerfally
believed, to have been wholly from the care
and importunity of the Prince, that he al-
lowed himfelf, at length, to be blooded, and
qonveyed to Carle/had, where he frill re-
mains, and will try the effedt of the waters.
The younger! Archduchefs, Marianne,
Jbas been fix days ill with the fmall-pox;
news that will increafe the agitation of our
royal Matter, at being fo far from her.
There are, however, no dangerous fymp-
tons, and the phyficians prognofticate- a
a happy recovery. In the mean time, the
eldeft Archduchefs, Terefa, is feparated from
Jier fifter, to efcape infection. The Emprefs
dowager, Amelia, widow of Jofeph, has
quitted the convent, where me lived retired,
\n order to refi.de with the Archduchefs Te-
refa, in the Imperial palace, Favorita, till the
lifters can fafely be again united.
I am well in health, but ill in fpirits, All
thefe events make me miferable ; and the
public melancholy infenfibly communicates
itfelf, even to the indifferent. At prefent,
the return of their Imperial Majefties is not
known. The accident which happened,
and the illnefs of the Archduchefs, it is be-
lieved,
lieved, wilt haften them ; but all is conjecture.
In the mean time, I have nothing to cheer
me, but your good health ; preferve it care-
fully, and believe me your N.
Addio, N. M.
Vienna, June 21, 173^.,
UTTER XIL
TO THE SAME. '
I plainly perceive, that I am an animal
of a diftincl genus from the common race
of men. Nobody has the Influenza more
than once ; but I am honoured with it
twice. Though I fufFered, arid recovered,
like other people, laft week ; yet, this week,
comes the fecond volume, with a cough,
head-ach, and other complaints : however,
I am again perfectly well. I hear that you^
are attacked by this djforder in the fame
manner ; I am forry it has reached you ; I
hope it will not be very obftinate j indeed if
its quality is not more malignant at Rome,
than in Germany, you have no occafion to.
be greatly alarmed.
Jan*'
( 93 )
1 am glad that my Ajilo d'Amore* cuts g,
fio-ure in Italy, even with a composition of
Cardinal Polignac, though with fome -dif-
&dvantage. I perfectly agree with the pub-
lic, in their approbation of the latter ; and it
appears to me, that in this production of the
Cardinal, the human heart is laid open With
great fagacity, and the morality interfperfed s
does not favour of pedantry ; a common de^
feci: with all thofe who wifh to inftracl, but
difdain to pleafe. It is very true, that this
fpecies of poetry is much lefs difficult than
the other, . I mean than that in which any
one is highly, praifed. Praife offends the
felf-love of thofe who hear it, and our ma-
lignant nature makes us imagine, that what
is given to others, is taken from ourfelves.
So that panegyrics feldom pleafe, though
good; whereas fatire is welcome, however
coarfe. and Unjuft. This may account for
the difficulty of gilding the pill of praife, in
fuch a manner, as to make us forget our-
felves. But I fhall not mount the pulpit, or
affume the part of a Seneca ; and yet I know
* This was a little Feftal Drama of one aft, written
for the Emprefs's birth-day, and performed to the mufic of
Caldara, in the Imperial Palace at Lintz, in Upper Anuria,
Aaguft 1732.
not
( 94 )
not how it is, but whenever T write to y6u,j
I feel a difpofition to philofophife, and whaf
is more extraordinary, without the fear of
tiring you* Vienna, Dec. 6, 1732*
The following Letter, to the fame corref-
pondent, feems of the firft elafs in the col-
lection.
LETTER XIII.
Will you fuggeft to me a fubject for 1 art
opera, or no ? I am plunged into an abyfs
of doubt. Nay, don't laugh, and tell me I
am mad. The fubject. of an opera is of the
greateft. confequence. Luckily, it is my
good fortune to be abfolutely obliged to de-
cide immediately ; otherwife, I mould re-
main undetermined till the day of judgment,
and even then, Da Capo. Read the 3d
fcene, acl: iii. of my Adriano. Obferve the
character which the Emperor gives of him^
felf, and you will there fee that of your
friend. He knew his infirmity, and fo
do I mine, but without correcting it **
Ah ! tu nonfat
£>htal guerra di penjieri
* Though the Poet does not In his letter quote himfelf\
yet in order to fave the reader the trouble of turning to the
reflexion to which he alludes, we infert it, with a transla-
tion.
Ag'i'tcs, '
C 95 )
Agita I 'alma mla. Rcma 9 11 Senalo 9
Emlrena, Sablna,
La mla gloria, it mlo amor, tutto ho prefente :
'Tutto accordar vorrel : trovo per tutto
^ualche fcogllo a temer. Scelgo, ml pent® ;
Pol d'ejjerml pentlto
Ml rltorm a pentlr. Mlfianco Inianto
Nel lango dubitar, tal ch'e dal male
II ben plu non dl/linguo. Alfin ml vegglo
Streito dal tempo, e ml rifoho al pegglo.
Ah ! thou knoweft not
What warring fentiments difrracT: my foul,
Rome, the Senate, Emirena, Sabina,
My fame, my love, all are prefent ; and I
Would fain accord them all. Yet find, where'er
I turn my eyes, fome rock to fear. I chufe,
Repent, and then, afterwards, repenting of repentance, ,
Return again to the firft thought, and thus
Give birth to new contrition ; till at length,
Quite wearied and perplex'd with endlefs doubt,
I can no longer diftinguifh 'twixt right
And wrong. And laftly, having no more leifure
For felf-debate, I choofe the worft.
This obftinate vice of indecifion torments
me, without affording the fmalleft pleafure
in return ; I feel it without the leafr. power
of refiftanCe ; it is the tyranny of body over
jnind ; and I am convinced, that thefe ex-
cefTes of doubt and irrefolution, the great ene-
mies of action, are occasioned by the me-
chanifm of our foul's habitation, which makes
us
, . ( 9 6 )
lis fee things through a falfe medium : as the
rays of the fun are diverged, difcolouredj
and rendered yellow, green, or red, accord-
ing tri the body or medium through which
they mine. Hence it is, that man feems not
to aft by reafbn, but mechanical impulfej
Adapting reafon to his feelings, and not his
feelings to reafbn. If this were not the cafe>
all thofe who think well, would aft well;
but we fee the contrary* Who ever ex-
amined nature and virtue better than Arif*
totle ? And who has ever been more un-
grateful to both i Who has ever taught us'
better than Seneca, to defpife death* and who
ever feared it more than himfelf? Who
has ever uttered finer maxims of ceconomy
than our Paul Doria, and who ever fquan-
derecj his patrimony more miferably ? Ii>
Ihort, the doftrine is true, and radically
found $ but we do not examine it in all it$
ramifications^ becaufe that would carry us
too far.
You are not tired when I play the philo-
fopher with you. Indeed I do it with not
one elfe ; and I have not forgotten the vari-
ous conversions of this kind, which we en-
joyed when we happily paffed many hours of
each day together. But how materials for
fuch
( 97 )
fuch diicufiions are increafed fince, by ex-
perience ! We may (peak further on thefe
matters fometime or other, if the freaks of
ibrtune do not entangle the thread of my
honourable and fatiguing web. The
reft of this letter has beenfippreff'ed.
Vienna, July 4, 1733.
LETTER XIV.
TO THE SAME.
' May years unnumbered be added to the
life of my moft. auguft Patron ! who yefler-
day published in my favour, a truly Casfarean
decree, in the fupreme council of Spain, by
which I am inverted with the office of Traz-
furer to the province of Cofenza in the
kingdom of Naples : a pofl: for life, of ho-
nour, authority, and if I were to perform
the buflnefs myfelf in perfon, of considerable
profit ; but even after paying a deputy, the
clear falary will amount to 1500 florins a
year. You fee that the appointment is not
inconfiderable in point of pecuniary advan-
tage ; but be afTured, that the honour done
.me by the folicitude, afFe&iofl, and con-
vol, 1, h defcenfion
( 9* )
defcenfion, with which the Emperor has
deigned to confer this benefit upon me, in-
finitely furpaiTes all lucrative confederations.
It was publicly declared, at the Imperial
table, to one of the members of the council,
as a reward for my paft and prefent labours- ;
and his Imperial Majefty was pleafed to add,
that he had, unfolicited, mentioned this ap-
pointment in council, as my juft due. This
public partiality of His Majefty in my favour,
has made fuch an impreflion, that yefter-
day, contrary to cuftom, when the decree 1 '
was mentioned, there was no one of the
counfellors who ventured to utter a fyllablc
againft it ; but part of them faid coldly, that
the order mould be executed, while the reft
applauded the juftice and propriety of the
appointment. The befr. part of the ftory is,
that this favour has been granted without
the leaft. recommendation of any kind; fo
that I owe it entirely to the beneficent
heart of Caefar, to whom may God grant a
long, fortunate, and glorious life ! I mail
probably be put to fbme difficulty in paying
the fees of office, which I believe will be
confiderablej but I fhall be foon reim-
burfed.
Yefterday,
( 99 )
Yefterday, after dinner, to moderate my
joy for this my good fortune, I met with an
accident which might have been ferious,
but was of no great confequence. Iii mount-
ing the ftair-cafe of the theatre, at the
palace called the Favouriia, in order to re-
connoitre the ftage, one of the fleps gave
way under me, and I went head foremoil: to
the next ftairs, as if mot out of a cannon.
However, except two flight contufions, I
efcaped very well. This I may regard as a
fecond piece of good fortune, equal to the
frrft. I am now going to demand an audience,
in order to thank my Imperial Patron,
By the next poft, you fhall be informed of
all that he fays to me. Addio N. M.
Vienna, July 28, 17331.
This was the laft letter to the Romanina,
that has been preserved. That zealous
friend of his head, as well as heart, dying
about the middle of February 1734, ma-
nifested the iincerity of her attachment to
the poet, by bequeathing to him all her
pofleffiohs, after the deceafe of her hufband,
to the amount of twenty-five thoufand
crowns. But Metaftafio, always confident,
With his ufual rectitude and propriety, to-
h 2 tally
( ICO )
totally declined accepting of her intended
kindnefs, and transferred the whole bequeft
to her hufband, whofe real property, accord-
ing to our Englifh ideas of jurifprudence, it
feems legally to have been. The teflamen-
tary laws of Italy, may be different from
thofjs of our country. Some Italian writers
fay, that the Romanina left Metaftafio erede
di.tutto il fuo patrimonio. " Heir to all
her patrimony.' * If by patrimony was
meant an eflate pofTeffed by inheritance, and
independantly fettled upon her at the time
of her marriage* her teffcamentary difpofi-
tions are reconcileable to Englifh ideas of
law in fuch cafes ; though prefering the
friend to the hulband, deviates fbmewhat
from the general cuftom of our country..
That the bequeft. was legal, has never been
doubted by Metaflafio's biographers, who all
fpeak of his renunciation in the highefl terms.
of panegyric, as uncommonly difinterefted,
generous, and heroic. And the poet him-
ielf, as well as all Italy, regarded, it as a
noble facrifice.
Whether MetaftanVs- connection with, the
Romanina, was purely platonic, of of a lefs
ieraphic kind, I mall not pretend to deter-
mine. But the hufband refiding in the fame
rioufe.
( ioi )
houfe witfy them, both at Naples and Rome,
and the friendly manner in which the Poet
always mentioned him in his letters to the
wife, with the open manner in which he
exprefTed his affliction in writing to him
after her death, would, in England, be
thought indications favourable to conjugal
fidelity. But a chafte a&refs and opera
finger, is a flill more uncommon pheno-
menon in Italy, than in Great Britain.
Yet though it is not thought abfolutely
neceflary for the female lingers of Italy to
be veftals, while fingle, or Lucretia's when
married, they find it convenient to have a no-
minal hufband, who will fight their battles,
contend with the firft man, and Imprefario
of an opera ; and, occafionally, ftand in the
gap, as circumflances may require.
But whether the Poet's friendfhip for
Bulgarini, the hufband, was pure and undif-
fembled or not, his affliction for the death of
his wife, feems to have been unfeignedly
deep and fincere. The following pathetic
letter, written immediately after he had re-^
ceived the news of her deceafe, and of her
teftament in his favour, feems a faithful de-
lineation of the flate of his mind at this
time, and to correfpond with that goodnefs
h q of
( 102 )
of heart, as well as thofe tender feelings
and lofty ideas of rectitude, which appear in
all his other writings, and which have eno-
bled the general tenor of his life.
»— i —a— mil i
LETTER XV.
TO SIGNOR DOMENICO BULGARINI.
Oppressed by the afflicting; news of the
death of our poor Marianna, I know not how
to begin this letter. The tidings are into-
lerable to me on fo many accounts, that I
can devife no means to diminifh the accute-
nefs of my fufFerings; and therefore, I truft
you will not accufe me of want of feeling,
if I am unable to fuggeft to you any confo-
lation for your lofs, as I have hitherto been
"utterly unequal to finding any for myfelf.
The laft difpofition of the poor deceafed in
my favour,- aggravates the caufeof myforrow,
and obliges me to give a public andincon-
teftable proof of the difintereftednefs of that
friendihip, which I profeffed to herwhile living,
and which I mall preferve for her honoured
memory, to the laft. moment of my exig-
ence. Knowing therefore, how much af-
fection ? kindnefs, and zeal, for the welfare
4 Pf
( I0 3 )
of the poor Marianna, you have always rna-«
nifefled, I Shall beft Shew my gratitude to
her, by entirely renouncing, in your favour,
all claim to her effects ; not through pride,
God preferve me from fuch ingratitude ! but
becaufe it appears to be my duty, as an honeffc
man and a Christian. The advantage which
I mall Still derive from this inheritance, even
after renouncing it, will not be inconsidera-
ble : as the knowing what was intended for
me by the generous teftatrix, will be a lading
proof of her friendship ; and the relinquish-
ing it in your favour, will be a proof of my
difintereftednefs with reSpect to her, and of
my equity towards yourfelf. I am at pre-
fent, thank God, in no need of fuch aSliSl-
ance, as I am rewarded beyond my merit ;
fo that I mall not fufFer by the facrifice I
make to you. Though I entangle you with
no conditions in the renunciation which I
inclofe, yet I have fpme requefts to make,
and counfels to fuggeft to you.
My firft requeft is, that the relinquish-
ing this claim, may in no wife diSTolve
pur friendship; but that, according to
the wiSh of the poor Marianna, our cor-
respondence may continue as entire as if
fte were Still living; fubftituting you at
h 4 all
( l0 4 )
all times, and in all places, for her repre-
fentative.
My fecond requeffc is, that you will un-
dertake the trouble of receiving the falaries
of my three offices in Rome, and the trans-
acting of my Neapolitan concerns, exactly
in the fame manner as was done by our in-
comparable Marianne ; for which purpofe,
I fend you proper powers. I write like wife
to Sign or Tenerelli, at Naples, who will
treat you in the fame manner, as Signora
Marianne herfelf; remitting to you, from
_ time to time, whatever fums may be due to
me from that quarter, continuing to my
poor family, the.ufual alignments and pro-
virion, if you mall chufe it, jointly with my
brother.
The advice which feems neceffary for me
to give you, is, that you would affiil: the
poor family of Signor Francefco Lombardi,
by every means in your power ; and try by
acts of chanty to do every thing for them,
which, in a umilar fituation, you would ex-
pect from them to you. I have fpecified in my
renunciation, fome particulars in which you
fhould affift them ; but befides my unwilling-
nefs to involve you in trouble and difficulty,
I am fo certain of the goodnefs of your heart,
that
( *°5- )
that I have left all the merit of your bene-
volence towards them, to the liberality of
your own determination.
In all things elfe, you are at full liberty
to acT: as occafion, and your own prudente,
{hall iuggeft.
At prefent, my mind is in too great per-
turbation for me to attempt giving you a
plan for the regulation of your conduct. %
mall only fay, that it appears to me, as if
you mould difpofe of all the effects you can
fpare, in order to raife a capital, and that
you mould live in a fmaller houfe.
I can think of no other teftimony to offer
you, at prefent, of my friend fhip and con-
fidence. Be equally open in your corre-
spondence, and confider my interefts as your
own, and me as your brother. I am unable
now to write a longer letter; when my
mind is more tranquil, I mail communi-
cate to you fuch thoughts as may occur.
In the mean time, love me, and endeavour
to be comforted yourfelf. Be aflured^ if it
were in my power, that I would try to con-
tribute that to your confolation, which I am
unable to receive myfelf.
Vienna, March 13, 1734,
The
( i°6. )
The following letter to his brother, in apo-
logy for his renunciation of the Romanina's
intended kindnefs, will ferve as an illuftra-
tion Gf the principle upon which it was made,
as well as of his own rectitude of character.
LETTER XVI,
TO THE ADVOCATE LEOPOLD TRAPASSI.
In my prefent agitation for the unexpected
death of the poor generous Marianne, my
utmofi efforts will enable me to write but
little. I can only tell you, that both my
honour and confcience have obliged me to
relinquish, in favour of her hufband, Dome-
nico, that bequeft which fhe intended for
me. I owe to the world an indifputablc
proof, that my friend mip for her, was nei-
ther built upon avarice, nor felf-intereft.
I ought not to abufe the partiality of my poor
deceafed friend, at the expence of her huff-
band ; and God, I truft, will permit me to
prolper, by fome other means for my in-
tegrity. For myfelf, J am in want of no
more than my prefent income ; for my fa-
mily, I have iufricierit at Rome for their
comfortably
( io7 )
comfortable fupport. Indeed if it mall pleafe
God to continue to me my prefent Neapoli-
tan refources, I mall be able to give further
proofs of my affection for my relations, and
for yourfelf in particular. Communicate
thefe refolutions to our father, to whom I
am unable to write at prefent. AiTure him
of my fixt determination to affift. him always,
as I have hitherto done; or rather, to in-
creafe that affiftance, if things are profperous
at Naples. In flidrt, I beg you will "]fe your
utmoft endeavours to make him enter into
my reafons, that I may not be afflicted with
his difapprobation of my honeft and chriftian
procedure.
In the mean time, I beg you will unite
interefts with Sig. Domenico, from whom I
hope you will experience that friendfhip,
which may be expecled in return for the
confidence and confideration with, which I
have treated him. I have tranfmitted to
him proper powers for tranfacling my mo-
ney concerns, fo that all things will go on
as ufual. But the poor Marianne will never
return ! and I believe that the reft of my
life will be infipid and forrowful. Condemn
not, I entreat you, my refolution, and be^-
]ieve me ever yours. Vienna, March 13, 1734,
( io8. )
He expreffed his fenfibility fof the Iofs of
the Romanina, in the fame affectionate
manner, to another correfpondent.
LETTER XVII. -
TO A FRIEND AT ROME.
Was it neceiTary for fuch a calamity to
happenf in order to procure me the lon^
wiihed for pleafure of hearing from you ?
At leaft,. flnce the price is fo great, I beg it
may be continued, to mitigate, by the re-
novation of our intercourfe, the remem-.
brance of my misfortune ; a remembrance
which feems to have placed me in the world
as in a populous defert, and in that kind of
(deiolation in which a man, if he were tranf-
ported in his fleep to China or Tartary^
would find himfelf in waking, among peo-
ple of whofe language, inclinations, and
manners, he was quite ignorant. In the
rnidir. of thefe imaginations, reafon enough
is left to tell me who, and what I am ; but
that is not fufficient to free me from afflic-
tion. May God, in whofe hands are all
events, turn this affliction to my benefit,
and
( io9 )
and teach me by fuch a manifestation, what
a vain hope it is, to form fyftems of hap-
pinefs, without his amftance *• You adviie
me to go to Rome in order to fettle, in per-
fon, the affair of the teftament made in my
favour by the generous deceafed ; but if I
were not prevented by the duties of my Na-
tion, and the prefent tempefluous ftate of
Italy, you fee, that by renouncing all claims
to this inheritance, fuch a ftep becomes
wholly unneceflary. I know not whether
my renunciation will be approved by all;
but I know very well, that neither my ho-
nour nor conference would permit me to
abufe the exceffive partiality of a poor wo-
man, to the detriment of her relations, and
that even the want of neceffaries would ber
* Having communicated a few MS. fheets of thefe-
Memoirs to my old and much honoured friend Mr. Mafon,,
for whofe learning, judgment, and genius, I have always
had the higheft refpecl:; in perufing the prefent letter^
when he came to this part, he wrote with a pencil the fol-
lowing opinion, which* as it confirms my own,, I fhalf
take the liberty to infert :
" I think this paragraph a proof that there had been no-
« thing criminal between him and Marianne. Such a
«' man as M. writing to a friend,' would have expreffed \m
" this place fome compunction, at leaft he would not have
tt invoiced the Deity in fuch a folema manner," M.
1 . much
C ,*m )
much more tolerable to me, than the fhame
of flich an action.
Vienna, April 3, 1734*
He lays to the" fame friend, in another
letter, written May 22, of the fame year :
" If I mould affect the philofopher, and tell
you that I was forry to hear that my country
had been fo la vim of applaufe for the renun-
ciation I have lately made, I mould be very
iniincere. It pleafes me much, and will
fortify my opinion of the juftice of the act;
indeed, I regard thefe praifes as a furprifing
inftance of affection from fo great a mother,
even to the meaner! of her fons."
END OF THE SECOND SECTION.
SECTION
( lit
SECTION III.
Among the letters of Metaftafio that have
been publifhed, there are three to his father,
and many to his brother Leopold, at Rome.
Thefe laft, chiefly without date, are gene-
rally filled with family concerns, and kind
counfel. Among many excellent maxims
of prudence and good conduct, Metaftafio
chiefly recommends diligence to his brother,
who feems, through his means, to have been
invefted with an office under the Pontifical
government. " Never," fays he, " defer
till to-morrow what you can do to-day. A
weight divided into fmall portions, becomes
infupportable when united."
It is pleafmg to humanity to find what
refpecl and attention the Poet enjoins his
brother towards their aged parent, whom he
fupported in eafe and comfort, to the end of
a long life.
" Though I am certain," fays he to his
brother, " that you will not be deficient in
duty, yet fuffer me to recommend to you
not to fpare me, in any expence that can re-
move inconvenience or add to his comfort.
If he were not our father, his age and in-
flrmities.
( *u )
iirmities would demand our mofl tender
companion ; confider then what we owe
him, as fons."
But in the anecdotes, that have been lately
publifhed, concerning the private life of our
admirable Poet* ; among his peculiarities,
fome are related which feem too ferious for
ridicule, and from which I fhouldbe forry, for
his honour, and for the honour of human
nature, not to be able to defend him. What
s. difgrace to practical virtue and benevo-
lence would it be, to find a writer whofe
works breathe the pureft principles of virtue
and morality, and whofe life, during more
than fifty years refidence at Vienna, was un-
impeachably innocent, and exemplary in the
exercife of religious duties ; to want, not
only filial and fraternal affeclion, but even
thofe common and laudable partialities for
his kindred and countrymen, to which the
moft vulgar minds are naturally prone ! It
has been faid -f, with a degree of levity and
fport, perhaps more pour egaier les cbofes,
and enliven a period, than from conviction,
or a wifh to degrade the Poet's moral cha-
racter, that " he refufed to hear, and took
* Elogj Italiani dell Andrea Rubbi. Ven. 1782.
°\- lb. Annota%wii aW Elogio di Pietro Metqftajio,
Art. Prcgiudizj.
pains
|>ains not to know whether he had in his lat-
ter days* any one relation left in the world."
And on this uncharitable affertion, the world
is to make its bbf equations and reflexions?
For my own part, I mall make no reflections
injurious to the poet or his cenfurers, but
furnifh candid minds with the following
letters, and extracts from others, Written by
Metaftafio to his father and brother, as a
complete anfwer to hafty conclufions of his
want of affection for his family.
LETTER II
*T0 FELICE TRAPPASSI, THE FATHER OF
METASTASIO.
You tannot imagine with what joy I
learned from your mofl reflected letter, the
recovery of that health, for which I have
ever been fo anxious.
I return you my mofl humble thanks for the
Care which you have kindly taken to remove
from my mind fuch painful anxiety, and I
pray to God, that in lengthening your days,
he would deign to add to them a portion of
my own, provided I have time fufficient
vol. i» I allowed
( $* )
allowed me once more to embrace you, and
to render you, in perfon, frefh teftimonies of
my reipecl: and reverence.
I am unable, to-day, to write to our dear
Perroni. But fail not, I entreat you, to let
him know that I am well, and to embrace
and falute him moll: heartily. ' Humbly beg-
o-ino- you to be careful of your health, and to
grant me your benediction.
I remain, &c.
Vienna, Feb. 7, 1739.
LETTER II.
TO THE SAME.
I have juft received your moll: refpeeted
letter of the thirteenth of January, full of all
thofe expreffions of paternal affection, which
though familar to your partial love towards
me, if repeated a thoufand and a thoufand
times, would always imprefs my mind with
new delight, and exact, from me new grati-
tude.
I allure you that there is nothing I more
ardently wifh than the feeing, embracing,
and giving you new teftimonies of that filial
tendernefs and refpecl which are fo juftly
your
t "5 )
yotir due; though the narrow limits pre*
fcribed by fortune to my powers, have not
yet allowed me to convince you of them by
any other means*
Hitherto I have feen no likelihood of the
pontifical intentions of kindnefs towards
me, ending in any thing more than good
wimes, upon which it would be very unfafe
for hope to build. A thoufand embraces to
my brother, and to all our family*
Cza Katum, Feb. 9, 1743*
LETTER III.
TO THE SAME.
The duties of my employment, on occa-*
fion of the nuptials of thefe Princes (£) have
not permitted me fooner to anfwer your moft
refpecled letter of laft month. Though I
have no occalion for new proofs, to convince
me of your paternal tendernefs, I receive an
inexpreflible pleasure from the affectionate
expreffions which you have been pleafed to
(h) Prince Charles of Lorrain wkh Marianna, Arch-
dutchefs of Auftria, filler to Terefa, afterwards Emprefs-
queeru
I 2 bellow
( II<5 )
beftow upon me ; and be anured, that if I>
had leifure, my correfpondence would exceed
all bounds, if fo facred a duty could admit of
excefs.
The mofr. precious proof you can give me
of your afFeclion, is the, care of your health ;
and confirming me in the ardent hope which
I have long cherifhed of, fometime or other,
again embracing you, and receiving, in per-
fon, your paternal benediclion.
Vienna, Jan- 25, 1744,'
LETTER IV.
TO THE SAME.
Your affectionate letter of the 1 6th of lafl.
month, was mofl grateful tome ; as is every-
thing that comes from you, as well for the
happy news of your health,, as for the proofs
it contained of your afFeclion ; which, though
iinnecenary perfuafives, are always welcome,
confolations. It is molt certain, that the,
turbulent fituation in which I find myfelf,
renders the flruclure of happinefs, which I
have been fb many years forming, lefs and
!efs folid. This makes me more melancholy
than
( »7 )
than I ufed naturally to be ; but at prefent,
thank God, in fpite of the terrible afpedt of
public affairs, by cfofe application to my
books, which keeps off painful reflections, I
am infenfibly become more tranquil. I
imitate you in wifhing the profperity which
you prefage, but not in expecting it. I have
been fo long deluded by hope, that, at pre-
fent, the more (he appears to fmile, the lefs
confidence I place in her; and this incredu-
lity, renders the ftrokes of ill fortune lefs
afflicting. You do extremely well to con-
tinue to cherifh hope for yourfelf ; by that
means, you have the enviable faculty of
anticipating expecled bleffings, and enjoy-
ing them as much at a diftance, as if they
were in your pofleflion ; and no fooner does
one fet of imaginary bleflings vanifh, than
another arifes, to conlble the time prefent,
for the difappointment of the paft. For my
misfortune, I am very barren of all fuch delu-
iive hopes, which indeed affeft me fo dif-
ferently, that what is balm to your mind,
becomes poifon to mine.
Would to heaven you were a prophet,
and that I could give you lefs limitted figns
of my love and refpeel.
Vienna, June 13, 1744.
-i 3 At
( "8 )
At this time, his father cherifhed the moft
brilliant expectations from his fon's exalted
lituation at Vienna, and the late profeffions
of kindnefs towards him from the Pope.
In anfwer to a letter from his , brother,
about collecting and printing his works, in
which he feems to have entertained fplendid
hopes from the effects of a dedication to the
Elector Palatine, he fays, " Whatever you
do with thofe trifles, I advife you not to be
too fanguine in your expectations from that
quarter. Neither princes nor their fatellites,
have the will or the power to reward talents
in the manner good people are apt to imagine.
Indeed, I know not what their definition
of merit may be, and have too profound a
refpect for it, to attempt its investigation ; I
mall leave it, therefore, among thofe myjieries
which (though not contrary) are fuperior
to reafbn."
Though thefe fraternal letters are written
on fubjects little interefling to the public,
there are frequent traits in them, which if
not to be rigidly fly led wit, or humour*,
amount to fomething between both : a half-
and-half pleafantry, peculiar to our author,
and perhaps to his language. 1 mall ven-
ture to inftance a few of thefe, without much
confidence
( "9 )
confidence in my abilities of transfusing their
fpirit into Englifh.
In a very fhort letter to his brother, of
only one page, he fays : " When you fee our
dear and rnoft placid yomel/i, pray fpur him
up to finifh the work he has undertaken for
the court of Spain. I have a commiffion to
give him a jog, no eafy talk, at this di-
ftance fcj. Now the d — 1 would have me
turn over, but non concur rimus"
The poft days being changed at Vienna,
he tells his brother, that having forgotten the
alteration, he had been an unpundtual cor-
respondent without defign, or convenience
to himfelf from the delay ! It is hard, fays
he, " to get rid of old habits, — Nor is it lefs
difficult to change Monday to Saturday, than
to live in an oblate fpheroid, in a world flat-
tened at the poles by new aftronomers, after
fo long imagining that I lived in one that
was rounjd."
Having written a Cant at a, for the birth
of an Arch-dutchefs, he defires his brother
not to mention it ; for if the mere title is
(c) Jomelli, who compofed fo much, and fo ad-
mirably, when he fet about it, was naturally indolent, and
unwilling to work ; though equally unwilling to difoblige
his friends by a refufal, when they intreated him to exercife
his talents.
I 4 known.
( ^0 )
known, it will foon be thought an old pro^
duclion. It is named, fays he, " La Gara,
pray acknowledge it for your nephew."
He tells his brother, who confulted him
about publishing a treatife, which he had
ready for the prels, that " the height of
folly in an author, is the printing his works
at his own expence. He mufl be initiated
in the myfteries of mercenary afTociates, ere
he can get ou% of fuch traffic with whole
bones."
During thelaft. war between the Emprefs-
queen, and the late King of Pruffia, Metak
tafio, who was very much attached to his
Imperial Patronefsj frequently fends his-,
brother the political news of the times,.
^ At prefent fays he, we have more troops
in Bohemia, than the King of Pruffia ex-
peels; and as he is now marched into that
kingdom, if he chufes to dance, there will
be no want of mufic : and the country-
dances will be very lively."- — -" The war
will become more and more violent everyday,
unlefs the Englim change their imperious
tone, adifficult metamorphofe."-r-"The King
of Pruffia has made feveral movements,
which have called upon our generals for all
their attention; but, however, they feem
only
( m )
only to arife from that kind of reflleilhefs,
which makes {ick and infirm people, always
hope to acquire eafe by a change of po*
fition."
" I am tired of a little journey into Par-
pa flus which I made in a great hurry, by
prder of our Court. And yet, I write to you,
the inftant I return, with my boots Hill on,
Pray be thankful that you have not been
neglected in the midft of fuch fufferings.'*
" Artaferfe is the moft fortunate of aU
my children. The reft have experienced
various viciffitudes ; but this, through th$
obftinacy of fate, has always been in the
ftirrups (d). So that dramas have their
gonftellations/' v *
The correspondence with his brother
Leopold, continued till December 17th, 1762,
about which time he probably died. In
letters to his banker and friend, Signor Ar-
genvilliers, at Rome, which began in 1750,
after his father's deceafe, he conftantly
mentions his brother, and gives inftruclions
for the payment of fums allotted for his ufe.
In 1 759, Leopold had a very dangerous fever,
which greatly alarmed Metaftalio, who,. 'in
{4) Always fuccefsful, never difmounted.
Writing
( 122 )
writing to Signer Argenvilliers, exprefTes his
anxiety in a manner too affectionate for a
man who " refilled to hear, and took pains
not to know, whether he had any one rela-
tion in the world,"
LETTER V.
TO SIGNOR FRANCESCO ARGENVILLIERS,
BANKER, AT ROME-
You have furnimed me with a new proof,
my dear-friend, of the goodnefs of your heart,
in the affectionate care you have taken of
my ; brother, the Advocate, and of my tran-
quillity, by vifiting him yourfelf, and faith-
fully informing me of the flate in which you
found him, during the violent fever with
which he was attacked. He has written me
a fhort letter, which has given me a heart-
ake, by its brevity. I entreat you to fpare
me in nothing that can contribute in the leaft
to his affiftance; I cannot explain to you
what will be my anxiety, till the next pott.
Though your kind letter gives greathopes, yet
you know, by experience, what are the emo-
tions of the heart, for the danger of a brother.
Vienna, Sept. io, 1759.
LET-
( J 23 )
LETTER VI.
TO THE SAME.
I want expreffions to defcribe to you,
my dear and worthy friend, the tendernefs
and gratitude with which I feel myfelf aN
tached to you. The care which you take,
not only of my brother's health, but of my
eafe of mind, furpaffes all bounds; and that,
not merely in the nrft letter concerning the
dreadful malady, but the fecond, written by
another hand. God preferve you for the
confolation of your friends, and the honour
of humanity, which has not many fuch to
boaft. You have encouraged me to hope
the ben:, and it is from your kindnefs that I
can expect tranquillity. Pray thank my fif-
iter, who, according to your account, has
diftinguifhed herfelf by the exercife of her
duty upon this occafion. Oh, my dear
friend, if I could but exprefs what my heart
feels for you ! But do you, who are capa-r
ble of liich a£tions, judge of their effects,
and believe me, while I have exigence, &c.
P. S. Pray give me credit for whatever
may be wanting on account of my brother's
, illnefsL
( !2 4 )
illnefs, in cafe the expence fhould exceed the
effects which I had in your hands.
Vienna, Sep. 13, 1 759*
LETTER VII.
Ty THE SAMEv
All my expectations of letters from Rome
have failed me to-day ; imagine therefore,
my dear friend, what agitation my mind
muft. fufFer, already trembling with doubt
for my brother's fafety. I know the excel-
lency of my dear Sig. Argenvilliers' heart,
by a thoufand proofs ^ fo that I cannot ima-
gine it poffible for you to neglect me at fuch
a critical moment. But affection, always
timid and fufpicious, fuggefts to me that you
have perhaps been filent through prudence ;
or, through delicacy, have inclofed your letter
to fbme other perfon, who may prepare me
for the event. Forgive, my moil excellent
friend, thefe human doubts. I do not try
to fupprefs humanity, and confefs, that I
have at prefent no power over my affliction.
But here comes another fervant, who fays,
that the Roman letters are not yet arrived,
4 fo
( >*5 )
fo that I return to the hope, with which
^our laft kind letter infpired me, of better
tidings. I mall leave this open as long as
poflible, and, in the mean time, embrace you
with that refpectful efteem, which fo dear
and worthy a friend merits. Addio.
P. S. The letters from Rome of the 5th
inftant, are at laft arrived, as I have feea,
Several in the hands of friends to whom they
were addreffed ; but there are none for me !
I know not what to think, and therefore.
*elapfe into my former agitation.'*
Vienna, Sep. 17, 1759.
His brother, however, recovered of this
Indiipontion, as we find by a letter to the
iame correfpondent, written three days after
the above*
*' I beg your pardon, my moil admirable
friend, for the inquietude which my pre^
ceding letter muft have occaiioned. This
inftant two of your letters are brought to me,
one written on the 5 th, and another on the
Sth of the prefent month, I know not by
what accident the firft was delayed, which,
by not being delivered on Sunday, fet me
upon making cruel almanacs. Thank God
for deigning to extend his mercy to us all ;
and
C i*6-)
and thank you for the numerous demoriftra*
tions you have given, of the temper of your
own mind."
After fifty-two years abfence from Rome*
Metaftafio feems to have furvived all his re-
lations and juvenile friends, and to have
made a jurl and equitable will in favour of
the Martinetz family, with whom having
conftantly refided in tranquillity and com-
fort, to make them his heirs was a laudable
manifeftation of his friendfhip and gratitude.
His benevolence and fenfibility have never
been called in queftion by his countrymen,
who, on the contrary, have extolled thefe
qualities in him, even more than his genius
for poetry.
And now having fpoken of his birth,
adoption, education, firfl poetical produc-
tions, attachment to a female friend, afflic-
tion for her lofs, and affection for his family,
we ihall proceed in the next fection to his
writings, in chronological order, and con-
fider him more particularly as a Lyric Poet
and a Critic.
END OF THE THIRD SECTION.
SECTION
( I2 7 )
SECTION IV.
A he year 1733 feems to have been ex-
tremely fertile in the Parnaffian territories
of our bard. Not only the opera of Olim-
pzade,'a.nd. Demofoonte, with the oratorio of
Giufeppe riconofciuto, but his charming can-
zonet, La Liberia, were productions of
this year. This celebrated canzonet;
Grazie agVinganni tuoi, was fet by the bard
himfelf, to an air of which Coccbi, when he
was in England thirty years ago, furnifhed
me with a copy. And as Metaftafio con-
ferred to me at Vienna, that he was the au-
thor of this air, I mall prefent it to my
mulical readers, as a curioiity. For though,
it has been fet as a Venetian Ballad, a Can-
zonet, a Duo, and a Cantata, by fb many
great compofers, to much more elaborate
and fanciful mufic than this ; yet Metaftafio's
melody, which has been compofed more
than fifty \ years, has ftill its merit ; and,
compared with airs of the fame period and
kind, will be found fuperior to mofl: of them
in elegant limplicity.
La
( W* )
u
La Liberta, a Nice. Canzonetta*
Parole € Mujica di Metaftafio.
gss&p
t*
Grazia agl'in-gan-ni tuo'i, al fin re-fpi'-ro
: fffjjj ^^n^i£^m
Grazie agl'in-gan-ni tuoi } al fin re-fpi-ro
!§§=£
— ^—
s
P=p:
U.U.
a^ ,
r±%=£
g-^^p^g^fefefej
Nice y al fin d'wi' in -fe - - It • ce, eb - ber gli
EEES
£
■Mo-,
al fin dun in -fe - ■• li - ce, eb - ber gli
ESS&feE
wm^
£==£:
m
Dei pi - e - td, el -ber gli Lei pie - ta*
Dei pi - e - td\ eb ber gli Dei pie - id.
as
-* — p-
\y ■> . . 8S " H W
g
jfea=f;
-F-P
I
Sent*
( 129 )
fiSseiiiiii
3EE
Sen-io da lac-ci fuoi, fen-to che I ' almae fciolta ;
-rp* 2 ^-
' - - i T~p
■ -J - : * " w .
—
a 5s ~~n r
- t !v- b-.-g. -4 H 14
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t
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/o <2<z'
/#c - cz
fnoi,
fen-to
(.-£<? V almae
fciolta ;
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■■>■■■ .
.^ififfifc.::
UJZSffiMHE J
^ S" 1
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i—
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\_ ....■■
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LeeleefJ
<-- - -'^^ — — — — — — -j — T ■ — ' ■
Bon fog-no quef-ta vol-ta, quef-ta <vol-tu, non Jog-no
\
ilipyiiieEgfiEiiii
iV(?K fog- no quef-ta molt a, quef-ta %'ol-ta, non fog-no
li^pHipiil
Pf f~^-
rflfeSeni^ii
£ - - ber - ta, Nonjbg-no It - - bey - ta,
! 3^yy=± — ~t —
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// - - ber - ta, Non fog -no U - - ber - ta.
INDIFFERENCE.
TO METASTASIO 5 OWN MUSIC.
Nifa, thy pow'r is flown,
I thank thee for my cure ;
The gods have mercy fhewn,
Thy tricks no more allure.
VOL. I,
From all thy chains I feel
My foul, at length, is free;
No dream I now reveal,
I wake to liberty.
K Manet
( *3° )
II.
Mancb fantico ardore,
E fan t ran qui llo afegno,
Che in me non trova fdegno
Per mafcherarji amor.
Non cangio piii colore,
Quando il tuo nome afcolio ;
§>uando ti mh'o in spolio,
Pw non mi hatte il cor.
All former ardor's fled,
Which petulance could move y
And that difdain is dead',
Which mafks itfelf in love.
Nor does my colour change,
Whoe'er thy name repeats ;
When o'er thy face I range,-
My heart no longer beats.
III.
Sogno, ma te non mlro
Sempre ne'fogni mici 5
Mi dejh, e iu nonjei
II primo mio penfier.
Lungi da te m'aggiro,
Senza bramarti mai ;
Son tech, e non mi fai,
Ne pena, tie piacer.
Di tua belta ragiono,
Ne intenerir mi Jento j
I torti miei ramento,
E non mifojdegnar.
Confufo piu non Jon 0,
Quando mi vieni apprejjb ,
Col mio rivals ifitfpr.
Pojfo di tsparlar.
In dreams thou'rt now forgot.
And call on Lethe's brink;
And when I wake, thou'rt not
The firft on whom I think.
To diftant climes I fleer,
Nor mifs thee day or night ;
Nor doft thou, when thou'rt near,
Or pain, or joy excite.
IV.
Of all thy charms I now
Can calmly think and fpeak,
Can trace each broken vow,
Nor means of vengeance feeki
'Confus'd no more I feem
Whene'er I fee thee near ;
And fhouldft thou be the theme
Can rivals patient hear.
Folgimi il guardo altero,
Parlami in <volto umano ;
II tuo d/Jprezzo e vans, c
E K vano il tuo favor i
Cbe piii i'ufatq imptro
<j$uei labbri in me non banno ;
Quegli occbi piu nonfanno,
La via di quejlo cot.
ft
Now if thou angry look,
Or love and kindnefs feign j
Frowns undifturb'd I brook,
And feel thy favour vain,
Thofc lips, however kind,
Have loft their magic art ;
Nor can thine eyes now find
The paffage to my heart.
$ue%
( *p
▼I.
Quel, che or malletta, ojpiace,
Se lieto, o meflo orfono t
Gia non e piii tuo dono y
Gia colpa tua non e ;
Chefenza te mi piace
Lafefoa, ilcolle, ilprato\
Ognifoggiorno ingrato
M'annqja ancor con te.
What pain or pleafure gVes*
What joy or forrow brings*
From thee no good receives,
From thee no evil fprings.
Without thee, I delight
In woods and flow'ry meads ;
And with thee, hate the fight
Of barren fields and weeds,
VII.
Odi fiofonjlncero ;
Ancor mifembra Sella,
Ma non mi Jembri quella,
Che paragon non ha.
E (non foffenda il vera)
Net tuo leggiadro a/petto
Or vedo alcun difetto,
Che mi pare a belt a.
Nor does thy face, though fair,
At prefent fo excel,
That I could fafely fwear
It has no parallel.
And let not truth offend,
Should I to think incline
Some features I could mend,
Which once I thought divine.
VIII.
§uando lojiralfpezzai,
(ConfeJ/b il mio rojfore)
Spezzar m inteji il core,
Mi parve di morir.
Ma per ufcir di guai,
Per non vederji oppreffb,
Per racquijlar fe Jlejfo
Tutlojz pubfoffrir.
Nel vifcoy in cut s'awenne
Quell' augellin talora,
Lafcia le penne ancora,
Ma torna in liberta.
Poi le perdute penne
Ilpochi d\ rinnova,
Canto d'rvien per prova t
Ni piii tradjr/ifa.
IX.
When firft I drew the dart
(With fhame my cheek's on fioe}
Such torture tore my heart,
I thought I fhould expire.
But to relieve fuch pain,
To fly opprefiion's fphert,
And fvvay o'er felf to gain,
What fuffering's too fevere ?
When caught in vifcous fnare
A bird, himfelf to free,
Will fome few feathers fpar«,
To gain his liberty.
But plumage will return ;
Again he'll mount the flues ;
Nor prudence has to learn,
By fad experience wife.
K » S*
( m* )
X*
■So she Hon credi efiinto
In me I'bxendio antrco,
perche Jz fpejjb il dice,
Perche tacer non.Jo.
3>uel naiurcde ijlinto,
Nice, a parlar mi fprona»
Per cui ciafcun ragiona
Ve' rijchj cbe pajsb.
Dopo il crudel umento,
Nana i pajfati fdegni ;
Di fueferite ifegni,
Mojlra ilgitcrrier cosw
Moftra coii contento,
Schiavo che ujci di pena,
La barbara cate7ia,
Cbejlrafcinava itn d).
farlo, mafolparlando,
Mefoddisfar proatrQ ;
Parhy ma n:dla io euro
Che lu mi prejlife.
Parlo, ma non dimaudo
Se approvi i detti mici :
Ne fe tranr^uillajei
Net ragionar, di me.
But ftill I know thou'k fay,
My cure is not complete:
As, though 'tis told each day f
The tale I flill repeat.
My inftinft is the fame
As that of men who roam,
And with delight proclaim
The dangers they've o'ercorne.
XL
Thus foldiers when return'd ■
Victorious from a war,
Tell how they laurels earn'd,
And proudly ihew each fear.
And thus the galley-fjave
Relea^'d from cruel chains, '
On fhackles ftill will rave
And Ihew their deep remains.
XII.
Of liberty I fpeak
To pleafe myfelf alone,
But not thy peace to break
Or to difplay my own.
I fpeak, nor aik if now
My reas'ning pleafes thee ;
Nor care if calmly thou
Canft bear to fpeak of me.
XIII.
h laj'cio it n incor.ftante :
'Tupa'di un corjincero,:
Non Jo di noi priviiero,
Cbi s'abbJa a conjolar.
So che unjifido amante
Non trover a p'm Nice ;
Cbe rm ahra mgannairke
E s facile a trovar.
1 quit a fickle fair,
Thou'lt Jofe a heart that's true j
Nor do I know or care
Who moft has caufe to rue.
But this I know, a fwain
So true will ne'er be found j
But females falfe and vain
Throughout the world abound.
Therq
( *33 )
There are two tranflations of this cele-
brated canzonet in Dodfley's ColleBion of
Poems ; feveral in French ; and among the
reft, one by Roufleau, which he fet himfelf,
three feveral times, to airs which are en-
graved in the pofthumous collection of his
longs. But among all the verfions that I
have fecn, no one feems to have been at-
tempted in the fame meafure as the original,
or that can be applied to the mufic of any
one of the compofers by whom it has been fet*
For the fake therefore of Metaftaiio's me-
lody, this Englifh translation, totidem 'verbis,
has been attempted. Indeed the double
Rhymes are ftill wanting for the Mufic, and
the exa& fimilitude of the numbers ; but it
feems hardly poflible to find fo many tolerable
double Rhymes in our language as would be
neceilary, without degrading the verfe into
doggerel: as fix out of eight lines in every ftan-
za of the original, end with a diflyllabic word.
The Imperial Laureate's works were now
fufficiently confiderable to interefr. the book-
fellers throughout Italy ; they had already
been collected and published at Rome and
Naples, but in an incorrect, and inelegant
manner. Bettinelli, an eminent printer at
, k 3 Venice,
( '34 )
Venice, opened a correspondence with Me-*.
taftafio upon this fubject, in 1732, foliciting
his advice and affiftance in preparing a new
impreffion. Bendes fmaller pieces, and three
oratorios, his great operas amounted now to
twelve. Metaftaiio's anfwers to the letters,
of Bettinelli have been preferved and inferted
in the late collection, though mofl readers
will, perhaps, think that they might have
been fupprefled without injury to the public
interefl, or the 1 author's fame. And yet,
the profe of Metaflafio is fo pure, clear,
eafy, and elegant, that the mofl fhort and
unimportant of his letters are precious for
the flyle, however uninterefling may be the
lubjecls which produced them.
Dr. Johnfon ufed to fay, that the book-
fellers Were an author's, befl patrons ; and
Metaflafio, though he had an Emperor for
his protector, feems to have treated Bettinelli
with that consideration which he thought-
due to a benefactor. And, perhaps, no book-
feller was addreffed with more politenefs by
an author fo high in flation and public fa-
vour, fince the invention of the prefs.
If, therefore, thefe letters to Betinelli had
no other merit than their urbanity, they may
have their ufe, as models of good breeding
between
( I» )
between perfons, who, regarding each other
with mutual jealoufy, are fufceptible of all
the irritability which that paffion is apt to
excite, in what ever form it aliumes.
LETTER I.
TO SIG. JOSEPH BETINELLI.
SIR,
After returning you due thanks for the
undeferved confidence which you are pleafed
to manifeft in the merit of my works, as well
as for your obliging attention in communi-
cating to me your plan, previous to its exe-
cution, I am bound in gratitude to dhTuade
you from the projected enterprife. My rea-
fons are, that being at prefent in want of
lufficient leifure to arrange and revife pro-
ductions, which formerly with much impe-
tuosity rather flew than came from my
hands, they could make but an inconlider-
able mifcellany of things dilapproved by
myfelf, and to which, for the moft part, the
laft polifh is wanting. And if fuch an
edition would fuffice, you have been antici-
pated by Sig. Pietro Leoni, the bookfeller at
Rome, who has already printed a collection
pf all my poetry, to my own great forrow,
k 4 without
( «3* )
without confidering the objections juft men-
tioned. If, however, you have no repug-
nance to fufpend the execution of your plan
for a fhort time, I mould wifh to collect,
revife, and arrange all my poetical compe-
titions; to write a treatife on the Italian
drama, for which I have all the materials
ready, and then publifh a neat edition, in
which we might mutually afTift each other.
But for fuch an undertaking, leifure (a fcarce
commodity with me at prefent) will be ne-
ceflary.
However, by working a little at a time,
during the intervals of my ufual employment,
I mould not defpair of accomplishing fuch a
defign. Allure yourfelf that I mall be much
at your fervice, and that I am, with a due
fenfe of my obligations to you, &c.
Vienna, June 14, 1732.
LETTER II.
TO THE SAME.
It mortifies me extremely, not to be able
to anfwer your moll: obliging felicitations,
with that promptitude which they, deferve.
But my occupations at this court are fo in-
eefTant, that I can procure no leifure for
finifhing
( *37 )
finishing what I plannedlin Italy : hence, the
treatife I mentioned to you before, ftill re-
mains in the fame ftate ; and what is yet
lefs promiiing, I fee no likelihood of enjoy-
ing the neceffary tranquillity for making it
fit for the public eye.
But this does not appear to me an objec-
tion fufficient to prevent your preparing the
imprefiion of my dramatic works, which
you had in meditation. I am however fo
little perfuaded of their merit, that I fhould
never have dared to advife fuch an under-
taking; and indeed you may remember that
I took fome pains to difcourage it, by fug-
gefting to you the difficulties which, in my
opinion, you would have to encounter, and
particularly thofe ariiing from the Roman
edition. But if you perfifr. in your refolu-
tion, and will relinquifh the idea of waiting
for the treatife, I can offer you no better
fervice, than that of furniihing you with co-
pies of thofe impreffions of my dramas
which were printed under my own eye, and
correcting fuch errors as had efcaped me and
others before.
For this purpofe, I have already given
com miffion in Italy for collecting the opera
books, which fhall be fent to you as foon as
poflible.
( *3* )
poffible. In the mean time, I mould be
glad to be informed of the fize, paper, and
character, in which this new edition is to be
executed ; the beauty and correclnefs of
which,, and a moderate number of copies,
are all the rewards I propofe to myfelf, for
the trouble and inconvenience which I am
wiping to undertake,
Vienna, Feb. 28, 1733,
LETTER III.
TQ THE SAME. '
As foon as I had anfwered your laft letter,
I wrote to my brother Leopoldo Metafiafio, at
Rome, to ufe his utmoft endeavours to find,
for your ufe, all my poetical compofitions ;
tranfmitting to him, at the fame time, a
paper of inftru&ions for their arrangement,
to be conveyed to you by any perfon whom
you mould appoint to receive them. But
this is not the greater!: difficulty. It is ne-
cefTary for you to be informed, that the fuc-
ceffors of Baglioni and Carlo Buon-arrigo,
propofe a fimilar plan. And without con-
fulting me, have procured at Rome, copies
of all my writings that have been hitherto
publifhed.
( J 39 )
pufyliihed. Now as I have no inedited work
ready for publication, I cannot intimidate
them by promifing a more ample edition.
You will make fome ufe of this intelligence,
I hope, which I communicate to you in ho-
nour, that you may avoid an expence, which,
in all probability, will not turn out to your
advantage. If, however, you ftill perfift'in
your plan, you may depend on every affift-
ance in my power to render it perfect ; and,
when completed, if you honour me with a
few copies, I fhall regard them as a free gift,
and a teftimony of your generofity and re-
gard. Vienna, April 18, 1733.
As this is the firft edition of the works of
Metaflafio, in which the poet interefted
himfelf, we fhall not wholly quit his cor-
refpondence with Betinelli, till. its publica-
tion. After two other letters onthefiibjecl:,
he fays in a third ;
LETTER IV.
TO THE SAME.
I have this morning received informa-
tion from Naples, thatRiccardi, the printer,
has.
( *4° )
has either nnifhed, or will nnifh in a fhort
time, a new impreffion of all my works that
have been hitherto publifhed ; but in fo con-
fufed, carelefs, and miferable a manner, that
my friends at Naples, who are numerous,
are extremely offended. I mall immediately
write to different perfons there, and defire
them to inform the public of the neat edition
which you are now printing, and of which
you would do well to tranfmit thither a
fpecimen. The inedited opera, at leaft,
cannot be in the other edition, and there
are many circumftances which will render
yours infinitely fuperior.
Vienna, July ii, 1733.
LETTER V.
TO THE SAME.
I have received a copy of the addrefs to
the public, in the propofals for a fubferip-
tion, and mail make life of it. It is very
well written, though with great partiality
for me. It would give me pleafure to be
informed who drew it up. I now fend you
Ezzo, . corrected by a friend, and next week,
fhall forward to you a new opera. You
myfl
( 141 )
muft not forget to fend copies of your pro-
pofals to Rome and Naples, before the Nea-
politan edition is further difperfed.
Auguft 22, 1733,
Betinelli, about this time, feems to have
loft a little ground in the favour of Metafta-
fio, by haftily and carelefsly printing Didone
from an incorrect copy ; and by the impe-
tuofity with which the fheets of the new
edition of his entire works, were work-
ing off.
" Your fcrupulous punctuality with the
public," fays he, " like other exceffes, coun-
teracts itfelf : for by too much hallie, you will
do the public little good, and me lefs.
In your hurry, you have already forgot a
correction which J fent you long fince, with,
carneft entreaties that it might be attended to,
and with which you promifed to comply. .
You know that all the world is in the prac-
tice of commerce, and mutually exchanging
what they can fpare, for what they want.
You are bound to have the fame regard for
my honour, as I am bound to have for your
intereft. But I hope you will- forgive my
fincerity, if I fay that, hitherto, it feems as
4 . if
C 142 )
if you. had neglecled this rule in our corres-
pondence, though the disinterested manner
with which I treated you, certainly merited
fome return of attention.
u Notwithstanding this caufe of com-
plaint, on Saturday I fhall fend you Catone^
corrected, with an almofl total change of the
third act, which you will print both ways,
to diftinguifh your edition from all others.
From this time, I fhall every week fend you
fomething ready for the compofitor, if yoii
will but have patience ; which, however,
I little expec~L
" I beg you to let me have as foon as pof-
iible, two copies of the firft volume, with a
print on good paper, to prefent to my Auguft
Patrons.
" Excufe the poetical franknefs with which
I have written, and believe me equally
Sincere in offering you my beSt fervices."
In November, he fays 1 " I now fend you
another opera, which will be the laft ; as,
with this, we fhall conclude the collection
of operas, and begin to print the other
pieces. It does not feem to me, as if there
would be materials fufficient for another
volume, unlefs, contrary to my inclination,
you print the compofitions of my early and
inexpe-;
( '43 )
inexperienced youth, which I have long dis-
approved. You mull explain yourfelf clear-*
ly on this fubje6t, that I may take my mea-
fures accordingly.
" I thank you for the copies which you
have fent me bound, for their Imperial Ma-
jesties, and I hope, when I have time to
examine them, that I mall Hill find new
caufe for thanks."
In the next letter, he tells Betinelli, that
he had read the proof-meets of thefe dra-
matic pieces, and 'found fo little to correct ,
that it feemed a ufelefs expence of portage,
to fend them back. Of three of thefe dra-
mas, he gives the following account.
La Contefa de' Numi,
" The contention of the Gods,"
Was fet by Vinci, and performed at
Rome, in the Palace of Cardinal Polioriac,
the French Ambaflador, on the birth of the
Dauphin, 1729.
Enea nelP E/i/t,
" ^Eneas in the Elyfian Fields, or
The Temple of Eternity," '
Set by Fouchs, was fung in the Garden of
the Imperial Palace, called the Favourite,
in celebration of the Emperor's birth-day,
( H4 )
V Afilo d' Amore
K The Afylum of Love.*'
This dramatic entertainment, fet by Cal-
dara, was reprefented at Lintz, Auguft 28th,
1732, in celebration of the birth-day of the
Emprefs, who was prefent at the perform-
ance. '
For the orthography, he advifes the cor-
rector of the prefs, to follow that of Faccio-
lati, printed for the ufe of the Seminary, at
Padua, which he likes better than any other.
All Metaftafio's opinions in literature, feem
worth recording.
o
ff Next -week, (he fays,) I mall fend you
my Oratorios, which now amount to five.
Thefe have been collected into a volume at
Vienna ; but are fo ill-printed, that I am
amamed to prefent them to -my Augufl:
Patron."
This edition was not finifhed till 1,734.
It was terminated by the following pieces,
which made a feventh volume,
Angelica, a Serenata, written at Naples,.
1722. La Morte di. C atone, a Poem in
Terza Rima, not intended for mufic.
L' Origine delle Legge ; the fame.
** Thefe compofitions, fays Metaftafio,
are, in my opinion, fo feeble, that J have
not
( m )
not had courage to re-perufe them, through
the dread of the pain it would give me to
recollect that they were going to be laid be-
fore the public, who, in reading them, will
not always remember,, in my excufe, the
4ime of life in which they were written*"
He conftantly recommended to every fub-
fequent Editor of his works, to place thefe
Poems, in a feparate, and laft volume.
The Poet feems to have been much
pleafed, in general, with Betinelli's atten-
tion, while this edition was printing; and
fays in a letter to him, dated April ioth, 1734.
" I have received the laft fhcet of the third
volume, and return you due thanks, not
only for that, but for the grateful and oblig-
ing fentiments, which, by magnifying the
little that I have contributed towards the
new impreffion, you have been pleafed to
exprefs.
" Indeed you have now made me fo much
wifh to merit the praifes which you beftow,
that I beg you will afford me fome further
opportunity of obeying your commands.
" I fend you the laft Oratorio, which I have
written fej. This, of all my facred dramas,
(<?) This muft have been Betulia liberate which was
fet by Reutter, for the Imperial Chapel, in 1734.
VOL. I. L is
( 146 )
is that with which I am the leaft difpleafecL
I tranfmit a copy of it to you, that you may
difpofe of it in fuch a manner as mall be
moil ufeful to you."
This impremon mufr. have had a very
rapid fale, as we find Metaftafio in correfpon-*-
dence with the fame publifher, in July of the
fame year, on the fubjeel: of another edition.
" I return you my fincere thanks, for the
obliging attention with which you are
pleafed to treat me, in advertifing me of
your intended new edition of my works;
and I wifh it the fame fate with the preced-
ing, as a reward for your folicitude and care.
I cannot but approve of your intention,
having already had fuch proofs of your
prudence, as incline me to think that you
have well weighed all circumftances previous
to the undertaking."
A few days after this Was writteii, Me-
taftafio fent Betirielli the following letter
of thanks, for a pamphlet which he had
tranfmitted to him, in which his Opera of
Demofoonte, was very feverely treated.
L E T-
( 147 )
LETTER VL
TO SIGNOR BETINELLI.
tlow much am I obliged to yon, for
the care which you have kindly taken in
tranfmitting to me the learned reflections on
my Demofoontei If I had leifure to reply,
the chief part of my anfwer would confift
of fentiments of gratitude to the writer : fo
much higher does he think of my labours
than I do myfelf*
I have run it through haftily, between
the time of receiving and anfvvering it ; but
I mall frequently repeat the perufal, no lefs
for the difcovery of my faults, than the im-
provement of my ftyle. Oh, what inftruc-
tion mould I not receive, if the author would
publifh the Tragedy which he promifes !
From the fludy of its perfections, I might
more clearly fee my own errors, even thofe
which he has neglected to fpecify ; thinking
it fufficient to inform his readers, that mch
exifted, and contenting, himfelf with exam-
plary charity, to allow, that I had purpofely
admitted many of the irregularities with
which the piec^ abounds.
l z The
( 148 )
The parts of the pamphlet that you
have fent me, in which the author defcends
to particulars, contain reflections on the in-
confiftency of the characters of Timanthes, and
Creufa, and a parallel between Signor Apof-
tolo Zeno and myfelf. As to the firft, per-
haps he is right ; though I believe, that a
perfon may acl: differently in different fitua-
tions, without incohfiftency of character.
^Tima?ttbes, is a valiant young man, iubjecT:
to the emotions of youth, though naturally
reafonable, and furnifhed by education with
maxims fuitable to perfons of his rank.
When afTaulted by pamon, he is impetuous,
violent, and inconliderate. But when he
has time to reflect, or any object prefent, re-
minds him of his duty, he is Juft, moderate,
and rational. And in the whole courfe of
the drama, that contrafl always appears,
which arifes either from the conflicting ope-
rations of the mind and heart, or of impe-
tuofity and reafon. Thus Talfo has drawn
Rinaldo. When pamon tranfports him, he
fays of Godfrey :
Venga egli y o mandl : io terra fer mo ilplede :
Giudicejian tra noi la forte , e Par me :
Fera tragedia ei vuol, che s'apprefenti,
Per lor dipsrto, alls nemiche genti, ■
Thea
( H9 )
Then let him come, 1 here {hall firm abide,
And arms and fate between us (hall decide :
Soon mall our ftrife in fanguine torrents flow,
A profpect grateful to the gazing foe !
i Hook's TranJI. of Taffa:
But when he has time to reflect, in cool
blood, he fays to the fame Godfrey :
E s'io fHojj-efi te, ben difconforto
Ne fent'u pofcia, e penltenza al cuore ;
Or vengo c? tuo't ricbiami, ed ogni emenda
Son pronto afar, che grato a te mi renda*
Too late convine'd, the ram offence I own ;
And deep contrition fince my foul has known.
By thee recall 'd, I feek the camp again ;
And may my future deeds thy grace obtain.
Hoole.
The fame rule, in different proportion, has
been obferved in the character of Creufa ;
a Princefs wholly governed by the vanity of
high rank and beauty. Offended by Timan-
thes, unexpectedly, in both, without a mo-
ment's time for reflection, fhe breaks out into
a defire of vengeance 5 but after the firft
emotion, me not only gives it up, but dis-
covers it to be ill-founded, and is impelled
t>y her reafon, as in juftice me ought to be,
to pity the very perfon, whom her revenge
was purfuing.
i, 3 This
( m )
This does not appear to me, inconfiftency
of character, but diverfity of fituation, with-
out which, every character would be infipid
and improbable. What man is always calm
and jeafonable, or agitated, and violent?
The firfl would be a divinity, the fecond a
wild beaft. From the contraft of thefe two
tmiverfal principles, reafon and paffion, arife§
the diverfity in the characters of men, a§
each of thefe, or both prevail.
And this concurrence of different prin-i
ciples in the fame perfbn, reconciles the
valour of JEneas with the tears he fo fre-
quently fheds i the tranfports of Dido, with
the good fenfe of a foundrefs of an Empire \
and juflify Orlando,
Che per amor venne in fur ore, e matto^
]y utnty ehejifaggio erajlimato prima,
«? Who once the flower of arms, and wifdom's bpafrj
By fataUove his manly fenfes loft."
Hoole '^ jfrio/ia.
But mall I communicate to you an idea
that has {truck me ? I believe the very learned
author of the reflections, does not think pre-
cifely as he writes. I fuppofe him to be
rather a man of pleafantry, who, in order to
amufe himfelf, tries to foment a poetical
quarrel between Signor Zeno and me, for
4 the
( t# )
the diverfion of being himfelf a fpec"tator of
our comedy. The parallel, which is the
fecond, but principal part of his letter, is
manifestly written with that intention.
But in this particular, I do not find my-
felf at all difpofed to gratify him. I feel the
greater! efteem and refpecl for the worthy
Signor Zeno ; and I know that he returns
my regard with equal friendfhip. Therefore
afiiire every one who Ipeaks to you on the
fubjec"t, that I fay no lefs myfelf of our dear
Apoflolo, than the author of thefe conlide-
rations has written of him ; and that, proud
of having been thought a fit fubjec~t of fuch
a parallel, I moll readily join on his fide.
I know not whence the report that my
Oratorio of Gioas, was in imminent danger
of fuppreffion, could have arifen. It was
re-printed at Rome, and no one ever wrote
me word, that -there was any thing in it
that gave offence; nor can I conceive what
it could be, unlefs fome paffage had been tor-
tured with malignity, into a fenfe that was
never intended by the writer :, and in that
cafe the Evangelifts themfelves are not fafe
from hereiy. I fee not the leafl foundation
for this report ; and therefore cannot dif-
cover why you mould hefitate inferting in
l 4 your
( >5* )
your edition of my works, one of the leafr,
imperfect of my labours.
I never wrote a fatire in my life, nor
ever will write one. I deteft this kind of
compofition, and am fo ill furnifhed with
the requifite bile and malice for fuch pro-
ductions, that if I attempted them, they
would never be read. You may therefore
fafely fay, that whoever afcribes any fuch
writings to me, is guilty of an atrocious
falfehood.
In other refpects, my ftyle has its peculiar
character, and intelligent readers will not
be ealiJy deceived.
If you have a mind to give my opinion of
the reflections on Demofoonte, which you
have fent me, you may do it freely; but
there will be an end of our friendihip, if
this letter, or a copy of it, mould ever be
published in any manner whatever.
I know not what I have written in this
hafty manner ; and I have other cogent rea-
fons for not wiming to know.
I beg to have the original, or a copy, of
this letter returned, as I have no time for
tranfcription,
yienna, July 23, 1734.
pur
( *53 )
Our Laureat's employments at the Imperial
Court, for the Carnival of 1734, are record-
ed in his familiar letters to an intimate friend
at Rome, who had fent him an account of
the theatrical preparations in that city, for
the fame Carnival.
LETTER VII.
TO SIGNOR GIUSEPPE PERONI.
In fpite of the very moderate preparations
for the performance of my two Operas at
Rome, the mere mention of our theatres,
brings inftantly to view our wafpifh and
bufy little Abate, the contention of fingers,
the ardor of faction, the variety of opinions,
and the univerfal buftle of the feafon. It
makes me as reftlefs as a Barbary-horfe, jufr.
going to flart, And if public circumftances
could give way to private, I mould certainly
have obtained permiiuon this year to have
breathed for a mort time paternal air, and
to wafh off in the Tyber, the ruft and im-
purities with which I am infenfibly covered
by the conflant fmoke of thefe ftoves ; but
as that happinefs is at prefent impoffible, I
3 muft
( 154 )
muft accommodate myfelf to the world, fince
the world will not accommodate itfelf to me,
You are fufficiently ufed to theatrical con-*
fliels to remain a quiet Ipeclator on fuch oc-
' canons. But I fhould wim that Bulgarini,
would keep away, left his zeal mould in-
volve him in fbrne difagreeable fituation, in
cafe my Operas mould be unfortunate. But
apropos to Roman news, I have received^
none by the lafl port, either from him or my
brother ; and am unable to account for the
failure. It certainly is not the fault of the
poll, as I have had other letters from Rome.
Knowing how constantly I inform them by
every poll of the flate of my health, their
want of punctuality is the more ftrange, as
their trouble, by my own confent, is alter-
nate, and confequently lefs than mine, who
am alone. Remember, when you meet, to
give them a fraternal remonftrance in my
^ame.
yienna, Jan. 8, 1734;
LET.
( *5$ )
UTTER VIIL
TO THE SAME,
Notwithstanding the extreme late ar^
rival of the poft, which allows me no time
for anfwering, I fhall, at leafl, by its return,
acknowledge the receipt of your letter.
You have made me laugh at the minute de-
fcription of our Brunette, and I fancied my*
felf prefent.
I thank you for the circumftantial account
which you have fent me, of the rehearfal of
the Olimpiade, and you will afford me equa^
pleafure by informing me truly of its recep-
tion, what ever it may be.
Yefterday, I faw the Nina Caldara, fair
as a jonquille, but not quite fo frefh. She,
as well as her moil corpulent fpoufe, fend
you falutation for falutation.
Vienna, Jan. 22, 17 34-
LETTER IX,
TO THE SAME.
At length I have time to write you a few
lines. 1 have been fo buiy, during the Car-
nival, as not to have a moment which I
could call my own. Befides my ufual oc-
cupations, I have been obliged, in the great-
eft
( 156 )
eft hafte, to write an entertainment, which
their Mori Serene HighnefTes the Arch-
dutchefTes have performed in mufic ; and to
inftrucT:, direct, and affift them, which has
iblely abibrbed all my time. '
But in truth, it is a pleafure which no
other can equal, to have fuch an opportu-,
nity of feeing and admiring the excellent
qualities of thefe auguft Princeffes. I mould
not elfe have believed it pomble to meet with
inch attention, docility, patience, and gra-
titude. Oh, , how many people, of the fix-
teenth rank, have I known, who were not
poffeiTed of the thoufandth part of the cour-
tefy of thefe incomparable perfonages ! They
have acled and fung like angels, and it was
truly facrilege, that the whole world was not
permitted to admire them ; for the fefHval
was extremely private, as none but the Vi-
enna ladies of the highefr. rank, were able
to obtain admiflion, and even thefe were in
mafks. As a return for inftrucling their
Serene HighnefTes, I was prefented with a
gold fnufF-box, of about fourfcore Hungheri
(near 40I.) in weight, but the workmanfhip
is of much more value (f). j 1
(f) This little dramatic poem was called Le Grazzc
VendicatCy fet by Caldara, and performed by the two Arch-
dutchefles,
( 157 )
I have given you this account, from well
knowing how much you intereft yourfelf in
what ever concerns me.
My pleafure in the fuccefs of Demofoonte
at Rome, would have been more perfect, if
it had not been imbittered by the difgrace
of poor Ciampi (g), who, however, counter-
ing how much fentences of this kind depend
upon fortune, mould be no more afflicted at
the ill fuccefs of his mufic, than I ought to
be vain of the favourable reception 'of my
poem. Theatrical matters are fubjecl: to ib
many accidents, that it would be an un-
pardonable temerity to pretend to guard
againft them all.
Vienna, Feb. 26, 1734*
LETTER X.
, TO THE SAME.
The pleafure which you manifeil at the
great fuccefs of my Demofoonte, pleafes
me no lefs than the circumftance itfelf. I
fee clearly that you exult as fincerely as if
dutche'ffes, Maria Terefa, afterwards Emprefs Queen, and
her fifter Marianna, with another Lady of the Court.
(g) This was not the Ciampi who came to England in
1748, but a more correcl and mailerly compofer. See
Hiji, Muf, vol. W. p. 538,
it
( *5» )
k were a production of yoiir own ; and thS
intereft you take in my affairs is no lefs a
proof of the fmcerity of your friendfhip*
than the goodnefs of your heart. I return
you my beif thanks, and affure you of a re-
ciprocal regard.
I am obliged to be fhort, as well as your^
felf; not in revenge, but in imitation of
your prudence, and for want of the too
common abilities of knowing how to fill a
letter with nothing.
Vienna, March 5, 1734*
The grand opera for the Emperor's birth-
day, this year, was La Ckmenza di Tito,
fet by Caklara. This, as well as every
preceding drama, written by Metaftalio, was
ibon brought on the ftage in the ' principal
cities of Italy ; and was let by Leo, for Ve*
nice, in 1735.
It feems as if the character and court of
the Emperor Charles VI. had directed the-
mufe of Metaftafio, to chufe a virtuous prince-
for the principal hero of moil of the mufical
dramas that were reprefented in the Imperial
Theatre. The Emperor was a religious
Prince, and a rigid obferver of decorum
htmfelf, which confequently kept licentiouf-
nefs
( J 59 )
liefs at a diftance from his court. And the
Poet, naturally a friend to virtue and mo-
rality, feems to have gratified his own feel-
ings, by conforming to the ferious fentiments
of his Imperial Patron. t
In 1735, he produced the little opera
called, Le Cinefi, for three characters only,
by command of the Emprefs Elizabeth, as
an introduction to a Chinefe Balet : it was
afterwards performed, during the Carnival,
in the apartments of the Imperial palace, to
mufic by Reutter, by the two ArchdutcherTes,
Maria-Terefa, and Marianna, with a lad/
of the court (/6).
II Palladio confervato was fet by Reutter,
for the Emprefs Elizabeth's birth-day, and
performed by the two ArchdutchefTes.
i7 Sogno di Scipione, written for the fortu-
nate campaign of the Auftrians in Italy, was
fet by Prediere, and performed in the Im-
perial palace, for the birth-day of the Em-
peror Charles VI. by order of the Emprefs
Elizabeth.
(h) This little Drama was revived in 1753, at the
caftle of the Prince of Saxen Hilburghausen, by
. profefTed muficians, for the entertainment of the Emperor
Francis I. and the Emprefs Maria-Teresa, with
an additional character.
The
( ifo )
The pieces written for the celebration of
the birth-days of the Emperor and Emprefs,
were a fpecies of birth-day odes, but always
in a dramatic form, in. which the praife was
delicately difguifed, in a fable or allegory.
Our author was ftill in correfpondence
with the printer Betinelli, who had been fo 1
fuccefsful in publifhing his works, that he
became importunate in his folicitations for
every new production that came from his
pen. And hearing of a new opera for the
Emperor's birth-day this year, he prefTed
him for a copy, to add to his other works
that were printed at Venice. To this laft
requefl Metaftafio wrote the following an-
fwer.
LETTER XI.
TO SIGNOR RETINILLI.
Though I am convinced that you do rrie
great honour, whenever you are pleafed to
alk for any of my compofitions, yet fb nu-
merous are the folicitations which I receive,
on every occafion of a new production, that
being wholly unable to fatisfy them all, I
find it moft expedient to comply with none.
As it is lefs inconvenient to be at my eafe
and
( i*«S )
and gain no friends, than to make enemies
by trouble and fatigue. My dear Betinelli
is fo reafonable, that he will not, I hope,
difpute the rectitude, or at leaft, the conve-
nience, of my fentence ; and, confequently,
will not think I act injudiciouuy, if I do not
furnifh him with the drama he defires.
Of the pieces which I have written this
year, none will be published fo foon as we
thought. That which I have juft rimmed,
will not be acted before St. Charles's day
(the 4th of Nov.) as the court is lately gone
into mourning for the Prince of Bevern,
couiin to the prefent Emprefs ; fo that I
can fay nothing pofitive on the fubject.
Vienna, 061. 1, 1735.
The opera to which he ajludes, was Tbe~
mijiocles, which, though fet by Caldara, and
ready for reprefentation, was not exhibited
till the Carnival of 1736. But while this
was performing, Metaftafio had another talk
arligned him, the difficulties of which he
frequently related to his friends, many years
after.
In writing to Betinelli during this time, he
fays : " I fend to you, my ever obliging
friend, a copy of the opera (Achille in Sciro)
, vol. i, m which
( i6 2 )
which I have been obliged to write for the
nuptials of her moft ferene Highnefs, the
Archdutchefs Terefa, in eighteen days and a
half. Three months, which I ufed to allow
myfelf for writing an opera, were ~ never
fufficient to finim it to my mind ; imagine
whether it was pofiible to fatisfy. myfelf
with this."
To his "friend Perroni, he fends a more
minute account of this precipitate drama.
" I (hall not give you a detail of the ce-
lebration of the auguft nuptials here, lately,
as they are defcribed in all the letters and
news-papers of the time. I mall only fay,
that I never was lb embarraffed in my life,
as on this occafion. I was commanded to
write an opera in eighteen days and a half:
a fhort (pace of time indeed ; for I never al-
lowed myfelf lefs than three months for the
fame kind of work; and I frill tremble at
the talk, even though it is performed ; how-
ever, it has anfwered the purpofe ; and my
moft auguft Mailer, as well as the new mar-
ried couple, and all the court, allowing perhaps
for the riik I ran by fuch precipitation, have
(hewn as much favour to this fpecies of
abortion, as if it had been a regular birth*
His Serene Highnefs the Duke of Lorrain,
in
( # )
in teftimony of approbation, has prefented
me with a ring, formed of one brilliant,
worth four or five hundred Ungheri, accord-
ing to the opinion of the learned in fuch
matters. This is a great mark of diflinc-
tion, not only as it exceeds my merit, but
becaufe none of my prefdeceflbrs ever re-
ceived any particular gratification on fimilar
occafions (J).
The admirable opera of Ciro Rkonofcouto,
was a production of this period, and likewile
fet by Caldara.
It feems as if 1737 had been a fabatical
year, for our author and his mufe; for none
of his poetical works bear that date, nor do
any of his letters, of that period, appear in
the collection.
In 1738 he produced La pace fr a la Virtu,
e la Bellezza, a theatrical piece of one act,
fet by Predtere, for the name-day of the
Archdutchefs Maria Terefa, afterwards Em-
prefs Queen ; and II Parnafo accufato, e di-
Jefo, which was fet by Reutter, and per-
formed by the two Archdutchefles. Thefe
(i) The Poet related to the author of thefe memoirs,
at Vienna, in 1772, his diftrefs, and the manner in which
he extricated himfelf on this occafion. See Prefent State
of Mujlc in Germany ) &'c. vol. i. Art. Vienna.
M 2 * and
( i«4 )
and many other occafional dramas, though
elegantly written, have not been of that ge-
neral ufe in other parts of Europe, which
fell to the lot of mod: of his operas, for want
of more length and characters. The fame
of our author having, however, by this
time, been extended to every part of the
globe, where the Italian language and poetry
were underftood,- could not fail penetrating
to the city of AJJifi ; the birth-place of his
father. And we find among the letters of
Metaftafio, written this year, the two fol-
lowing,' which will explain themfelves.
L E T T E R XII.
TO THE MAGISTRATES OF ASSIS1.
I shall not undertake to exprefs to yon,
my illuftrious countrymen (/£,), the effect
which your mod flattering letter has had on
my heart, in which you have been pleafed
to inform me that I have been admitted to the
(k) Metaftafio, though born at Rome, calls the inha-
bitants ofAffifi his countrymen; not only, perhaps, from
its being the birth-place of his anceftors, but likewife, a
city belonging to the Roman State.
rank
( i6$ )
rank of nobility among your citizens. The
intrinuc value of fo precious a gift, the un-
folicited liberality with which it has been
beftowed, the public attention in notifying
it, the aflurance of my being unanimoufly
honoured with your approbation, are« fuch
motives of fatisfaclion, gratitude, fenfibility,
and, let me add, of, fhame for my unwor-r
thinefs, as have impreffed me with emotions
that are utterly out of my power to defcribe.
Would to heaven my merit may ever be
fuch as mail fufficiently apologife to pofte-
rity for your partiality ! It will, at leaf!:,
be an honourable and powerful ftimulus to
that defire of fame, which I have hitherto
cherifhed ; and render me doubly ambitious,
that the memory of my gratitude may not
be extinguifhed, even with my life.
Vienna, Nov, 22 } 1738.
LETTER XIII.
TO SIG. ANGELINI DI ASSISI.
The aggregation among the noble citi-
zens of Affifi, which was conferred on me
the 15th of Oclober laft, has overpowed me
with confufion, at fo unexpected and im-
m 3 portant
( i66 )
portant an honour ; to which my ambition,
having no foundation in hope, had never
fuffered me to afpire. The obliging ea-
gernefs and zeal with which you have been
pleafed to congratulate me on this occafion,
fufficiently manifefr. the active part you have
had in procuring me this moll: valuable ac-
quifition. I beg you will explain \o all
thofe moft worthy counfellors, beginning
with yourfelf, and to all who have approved
of the meafure, what a high fenfe I have of
the honour that has been done me. Defcribe
to them, in the moft refpeclful expreffions,
my grateful fenfe of their condefcenfion,
and afTure. them, feverally, that no lefs jea-
lous than proud of fo great a diftinction, it
will always be my ambition not to difgraoe
fo illuftrious a body, to whom I have al-
ready forwarded my public acknowledg-
ments. I entreat you, Sir, to continue td
me your moft valued friendship and patron-
age, and to afford me frequent occalions of
manifesting with what regard and ejfteem I
have the honour to £>e, &c.
Vienna, Nov. 28, 1738.
It does not appear that our author pro-
duced any other drama in 1739, than Af-
trea
( i6 7 )
trea Placata, of one a£t only, fet by Prediere,
for the Emprefs Elizabeth's birth-day. He
did not, however, fuffer his m'ufe to re-
main idle : as it appears by his pofthumous
works, that he tranflated the III. fatire of
Juvenal. Boileau did the fame in 1660,
and Dr. Johnfon in 1738.
" Three Poets in three diftant regions born,
" France, Italy, and England did adorn."
Metaftafio, like our Dryden, tranflated
clofely ; pointing, like the original author,
all the fatire againft the city of Rome ; but
Boileau applied it to Paris ; and Johnfon to
London. Metaftaiio, the fame year, tranf-
lated the VI. fatire of Horace; not in verfi
fcioltty or blank verfe, which he had made
ufe of for Juvenal ; but in Terza Rima, the
meafure of Dante.
Few of his letters of this year are pre-
ferved, except- that to his father, which has
been already inferted, and one to Betinelli,
of no great confequence.
In 1740, however, he was lefs in-
active, or his dramatic mufe more propi-
tious. For beiides the opera of Zeaofa'a,
which was fet by Caldara 5 and the oratorio
of IfaccQ^ by Prediere, he wrote 77 natal di
m 4 Giove s
( i68 )
Giove, a drama of one act, fet by Bonno (/),
and a canzonet for a dance of Rustics,
which was performed in the Imperial court,
to mulic of Bonno, the lafr. Sunday in the
Carnival of this year, by their Royal High-
neifes the two Archdutcheffes of Auftria,
Mary Terefa, and Marianne, and the la-
dies of their court. He likewife wrote, this
year, the opera of Attilio Regolo for the birth-
day of the Emperor Charles VI.; but that
Prince dying before it had been reprefented,
it was laid afide, and not performed, till
1750,, when it was fet by Haffe, for the
court of Drefden.
Our author laments the the death of his
Imperial Patron, with great fenfibility, in
LETTER XIV,
TO A FRIEND.
Yesterday, at half an hour pari: one
o'clock, my moft Augufl Mailer, Charles
VI. breathed his laft. I need fay no more,,
to convince you of my extreme affliction.
(/J Of this compofer we fhall have further occafion to
fpeak hereafter.
The
(, i6 9 )
The lad days of his precious life have made
us know the weight of our misfortune, as
there was not a moment in which he did
not give teftimonies of his piety, fortitude,
and affection, for his people. He fulfilled
to the laft moment, the part of a Prince and
a Hero. My tears, which have never been
more juftly fried, prevent me from length-
ening this letter. I am fo oppreffed with
the view of this public calamity, that, as
yet, I am unable to examine the circum-
1 fiances of my own. His illnefs, which was
an inflamation in his ftomach, but ill un-
derftood by his phyficians, lafled feven days
and fome hours. I beg of you to implore
the Supreme Being to grant me that firm-
nefs, which, at prefent, I fo deplorably
want (m).
Before this event happened, Metaftafio
wrote to Betinelli in a more gay humour.
(w) There is no date to this letter: it may therefore be
neceflary to remind the reader, that the Emperor Charles
VI. father of the late Emprefs Queen, was born in 1685,
declared King of Spain by his father in 1703, crowned
Emperor of Germany j 71 1, and died in October, 1740.
LET-
( *7° )
L E T T E R XV.
Yoi; forget me, my dear Bettinelli; and
I, in revenge, am determined to remember
yon. In my laft letter, I lent yon a fmall
bill of exchange, defiring you to give me
advice of its fafe arrival, and to tell me
whether the printing the works of Guarini
goes on, as I am a fubfcriber. But you
have done neither one nor the other ; and
yet I fend you my Ifaac, which was fung
laft Tuefday in the Imperial, Chapel. I
hope to difturb your fleep, and to deferve to
be favoured, in return, with your com-
mands. Vienna, April 15, 1740.
But in the beginning of the next year, he
wrote to him in a very different difpofition.
LETTER XVI.
Your pathetic and obliging letter, my
dear Betinelli, is an ingenious reproach for
my iilence. I confefs to you, that unlefs
driven to it by neceffity, it is with great
difficulty that I can bring myfelf to ufe the
pen. An employment which, though ufeful
in
( '7' )
in civil life, I can follow at prefent to little
purpofe. There was no myftery in my fi-
lence. My melancholy inaction has de-
prived me of the means of fending you, as
uiiial, my new productions. The lofs of
my Patron has made me almofr. forget my-
felf, as well as others. The completion of
the new edition of Greek and Roman dai-
lies, has broke the onlv thread bv which our
correfpondence was held together ; and yet
you wonder that I have ceafed to write ?
However, I thank you for complaining,
which I regard as a teftimony of your
friendfhip ; and I allure you, that I am not
in the lean: changed with refpecl to my
efteem for you ; and I prOmife to give you
proofs of it, whenever opportunity offers. In
order that this letter may not be wholly
without fome little matter of bufmefs, I bee
that you will fend me, by the firn: opportu-
nity, a copy of the additions to my works
which you have printed ; in which are con-
tained AJlrea Placata, and 11 Sogno di Scipi-
cne. At the fame time, inform me of the
price, and believe me to be invariably
jours. Vienna, March 18, 17 41.
END OF* THE FOURTH SECTION.
( J 72 )
SECTION V.
JL he deceafe of Metaftafio's Imperial Pa-
tron Charles VI. which was occasioned by
the poifbn, or indigeftion, of mufhrooms, at
the age of fifty-five, proved a calamity to all
Europe, by the general war which imme-
diately followed. This Prince, the fifth fon
of the Emperor Leopold, had Succeeded his
brother,, the Emperor Jofeph, in 1 71 1 ; and
dying without male iilue, his eldeft daughter,
Maria Terefa, fucceeded him, as Queen of
Hungary and Bohemia -, butlier confort, the
Duke of Lorraih, and afterwards, Grand
Duke of Tufcany, was at this time an un-
fuccefsful candidate for the Empire, which
was obtained by the French arms and in-
trigues, for the Duke of Bavaria, by the
name of Charles VII. His predecefTor had
not been dead two months, before the King
of Pruflia invaded Silefia. In January 1741,
Charles VII. was elected Emperor. At
the fame time, the Queen of Hungary was
obliged to quit Vienna, which was threat-
ened with a fiege, and throw herfelf into the
arms
( l 13 )
arms of her hereditary fubjec~ts at Prefburg.
This war continuing in Germany, and the
reft of Europe, with various fuccefs, till the
peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, afforded the Royal
Miftrefs of Metaftafio and her court, little
opportunity, or appetite, for being amufed by
the peaceful arts of poetry and mufic.
Upon the death of the Emperor Charles
VII. after a mo ft turbulent and unhappy
reis;n of four vears, her Confbrt the Grand
Duke of Tufcany, was elected Emperor,
in 1745, by the title of Francis the Firft ;
but the war Hill continuing, the Imperial
Laureate was feldom called upon to exercife
his talents.
The only proof remaining of his com-
merce with the Mufes in 1741, is & Amor
Prigioniero, a little drama fet by Reutter, for
a private performance at court, confiding
only of two characters, and One fcene. For
the year 1 742, there is a total blank. And
in 1 743, he feems only to have produced II
vero omaggio, a fhort poetical dialogue fet to
mufic by Bonno, and fung on the birth-day
of the Arch-duke Tofeph, the late Em-
peror.
However, fortune became now fomewhat
lefs adverfe to the Auftrians, than the two
3 preceding
( m )
ceding years, and according to Metaftafio's
Vienna was not without its amufements
during the Carnival.
LETTER I.
TO THE MARQUIS CHARLES CAVALLI,
di RAVENNA.
How can I fufficiently thank you, my
dear Marquis, for the matchlefs kindnefs
with which you have been pleafed to honour
me, in a teflimony of your remembrance,
fo unexpected, yet ardently defired ? Indeed
there was occafion for a medicine no lefs
efficacious, to alleviate my affliction at the
diitance between us. I am extremely pleafed
to hear that you have found in Ravenna fuch
a considerable number of true lovers of lite-
rature. The commerce with fuch people,
inufl furnifh you with agreeable amufe-
ment ; and your cultivated and happy talents
will be in no want of a ftimuius or a
theatre.
Here every one is immerfed in the plea-
fures of the Carnival. The Plays, Games,
Balls, Ridottos, and Maquerades, are innu-
merable ; and though, from my natural dif-
pofition,
( '75 )
pofition, fituation, and circumfliances, I am
unable to partake of them, I neverthelefs
rejoice in the joy of others. Divert yonrfelf
in our charming: Italv, and in fome intervals
of your happinefs, remember that I am with
the moft iincere and refpeclfcl efteem, &c.
Vienna, Jan. 5, 1743.
In 1744, we find two Operas, and one
little Drama of his writing, but very few
letters. The Operas were Ipermes.tra,
written by command, and Jet by Hafle, for
Vienna («), and Antigono, written for the
Court of Drefden, and likewife fet by Hafle.
It is the only drama which he feems to have
produced for any other theatre than that of
Vienna, fince his appointment to the Im-
perial Laureatfhip. Ipermejlra was fet the
fame year by Bertoni for Venice, at a very
early period of his life. The beautiful little
Drama, entitled La Danza, confifting only
of one fcene, fet by Bonno, was performed
(«) The Poet himfelf told me, that Ipermestra was
written upon very fhort notice, to be performed, at firft,
in private, at Court, by great PerfonageS ; but, it was foon
after publicly reprefented by profeffed Muficians, in cele-
bration of the Nuptials of an Archdutchefs, with Prince
Charles of Lorrain. See above, p. 115. and Germ* Tour.
Art. Vienna.
1 by
( i7« )
by a gentleman and lady, of the Court of
Vienna. Two letters to his father, and one
to the Abate Pafqujni, at that time the
Italian dramatic Poet in the fervice of the
Court of Drefden, are all the letters of this
year that have been preferved.
The Abate Pafquini, had been recom-
mended to the Court of Drefden, by Meta-
ftafio ; who appears, by the letters, which he
addrefled to this Poet, to have interefted
himfelf mUch in his fuccefs. The cor-
refpondence continued to the time of Paf-
quini's death, in 1763. The following is
the firil letter to him, that' has been pre-
ferved.
LETTER II.
TO THE ABATE PASQUINI, in DRESDEN.
And is the tender confcience of my dear
Abate Pafquini, at length touched ! If this
had happened towards Eafler, I mould have
had a penitential fermon, to have thanked
you for ; but arriving in all the fervor and
gaiety of the Carnival, it is truly an exquifite
morfel, fo much the more delicious, as it
was wholly unexpecled. But to have done
with
( *77 )
with my fooleries, I beg of you, ferioufly,
not to imagine that I was fb unreafonable, as
to think our friendfhip affected, in the leaft,
by your long and obftinate filence. I know
your hurry and impetuofity, and have a
thoufand times forgot the tempeft of my
own affairs, in thinking of thofe in which my
friend was involved. But your prefent tran-
quillity may compenfate for all your former
agitation. It affords me the moil heart-felt
pleafure, and I fincerely allure you, that
few events could happen which could give
me equal delight. Your zealous affiflance
to my poor Antigone, has infinitely more
obliged than furprifed me. I expected no
lefs from the goodnefs of your heart, the
probity of which I am proud of having al-
ways had difcernment fufficient to diftin-
guifh, through thofe little vapours from the
trembling fountain, which have fometimes
made you doubt of my friendfhip. When
you begin again to touch the Lyre, I beg
you will not forget me. But you muft not
think me fuch a precious coxcomb, as to ac-
cept the poetical fupremacy to which your
friendfhip would wifh to elect me.
It is your generofity that has made me
the hero of one of your difcourfes, of which
vol, i. n the
{ *7« )
the fruit is common to both ; and I know-
better than you, that your happy talents are
equal to any flight, if not reprefTed from
time to time, by the little confidence you
have in your own powers: 'an infirmity,,
however, for which I vainly feek a remedy
myfelf.
Oh, how much I envy you the company
of Signor HafTe, and Signora Fauftina, his
confort ! they are truly an exquifite couple;
embrace them both for me, and allure them,
-that they cannot beftow on me a more ten-
der affection, than that which I have con-*
ceived ffor them. But in executing this
commiffion, do not forget how much I love,
eileem, and fincerely wifh to ferve you.
Vienna, Feb. 15, 1744.
Our author's poetical productions in 1 746,
eonfift only of his two beautiful Canz.onette y
LA PARTENZA, and LA PALINODIA A NICE,
thirteen years after he had fo pioufly and
elegantly thanked the gods for difcovering
to him her infidelities, in his Grazie agP
tnganni tuoi.
No letter of 1 745, or of 1 746, feems to
have been preferved, except the following.
LET-
( *79 )
LETTER III. ,
TO SIGNOR FILIPPONI, SECRETARY OF
THE UNIVESITY OF TURIN.
Nothing lefs than the powerful efficacy
of my mofl: refpecled friend, the Marquis of
Ormea, was neceflary to obtain for me an
excellent and long wifhed-for letter from the
ungrateful, forgetful, inhuman, and yet,
notwithftanding all that, the moft amiable
Signor Filipponi. I have neglected no occa-
fion of reminding him of our friendmip ;
I even had recourfe to the friars, in order
to procure a reciprocal return ; but all in
vain. I muft confefs, that, fometimes,
tranlported by mingled anger and affection,
I have hardly been able to refrain from
breaking with him, and calling him by the
injurious names of Anthropophagus, Tro-
glodite, Leftrigon, and Pandour. Nor do
I know to what excefs I mould at length
have been tranfported, if your letter had not
opportunely arrived, to appeafe my irrafci-
bility.
But it has not only appeafed, it has awaken-
ed iii my mind, a croud of delightful me-
N 2 »•'.'■, mentos
( i8o )
mentos of laughable adventures, at fchool,
in our walks, chats, difputes, and feftivities ;
the Fomero, chiaja, Giulia Street, Porto del
fopolo, and innumerable other places. It
has penetrated the moll hidden, and feeling
parts of my heart, and rekindled the very
ancient flame of tender friendlhip. But as
there is no fweet, in this life, unmixed with
bitter, fo the unfamiliar and formal ftyle
with which you addrefs me, in the third per-
son, as if the dignity of fecretary of a royal
univerfity, or of Imperial Laureate, could
prevail over that of friendship, has deprived
me of no fmall portion of the pleafure which
your letter would otherwife have given me.
I hope you fincerely repent of this at your
heart, and have made a vow never again to
be guilty of fuch facrilege ; and taking this
for granted, for this once I forgive you.
I have no doubt of the intereft which you
take in the honourable circumftances of for-
tune, to which, according to my moderate
expectations, I have found no difficulty in
limiting my defires ; and am grateful for it,
as well as for the reputation to which the
number of my friends has more contributed,
- than the weight of my merit. And allure
vourfelf, that I am equally delighted with
ths
( iSi )
the juftice that has been rendered to you*
by fo enlightened, glorious, and univerfally
admired a Prince, as the fovereign into
whofe fervice you have been received. A fate
the more enviable, as every day convinces
us more and more, that Prophets are feldom
honoured in their own country,
It is moft certain, that I ardently wifh to
make an excurnon to Turin, when the
public tranquillity for which we fo much
ligh, and my moft atiguft Princes, will per-
mit ; chiefly to have it to boaft, that I have
feen and venerated a Monarch, who by the
unanimous confent of all Europe, has com-
bined the qualities of King, Soldier, Citizen,
and Father ; and I mail certainly do it
fometime or other, and avail myfelf of your
moft obliging offers, of which I have a due
fenfe, a; well as of thofe of our moft worthy
Marquis of Ormea, to whom I hold myfelf
previoufly engaged. Befides the qualities of
heart and mind, in which nature has been
prodigal to this noble friend, an4 the many
others for which he is indebted to education
and experience, there are public titles which
have no lefs claims to my refpecl: and affec-
tion, than to the univerfal efteem and love
which he has acquired in this Court. It is
n 3 impoflihle
( i8* )
impoflible for me to explain all the private
obligations for which he is intitled to my
reverence and gratitude. Hence I hope,
you will not exacl: from me a compliance,
which would render me lefs worthy of your
friendmip.
But my letter is already of a length fuffi-
cient to punifli you for your long {ilence : I
begin to have compaffion upon you ; and fb,
not to wear you out entirely, as, on account
of your being a married man it might preju-
dice a third perfon, I embrace you tenderly ;
and beg of you to preferve your health for
my fake, and to believe me invariably
yours.
Vienna, March 5, 1746.
This correfpondence continued, with great
{ affection till 1775.
In 1 747, were written the three follow-
ing letters.
LETTER IV.
TO SIGNOR FILIPPONI.
It is fometime fince I began to make ufe
of the recipe which you were fo kind as ta
commu-*
( m )
communicate to me in your letter of the
2 1 it of January; though, hitherto, with
little fuccefs. I have therefore difconti-
nued taking it for a fhort time, to avoid be-
ino- thought capricious, obftinate, and a dif-
o-race to the whole venerable faculty of rae-
dicine, as well as to myfelf. Hence the
prefcription furnifhes me with more grati-
tude than hope. If you ihould have a fmall
portion of patience to fpare, pray communi-
cate it to me, as that is the fole pharmacy I
want to enable me to fupport expectation
from time, which is fo alert an enemy, and
fo flow a benefactor.
You exult at our fituation in Italy, and
I perhaps from an hypocondriac habit, can
neither think of it with joy nor tranquillity.
I fee no caufe for triumph at Genoa nor on
the Var. Neither am I convinced that we
have nothing to fear in Provence and Na-
ples ; I know not what we can hope from
maritime affiftance ; nor do I know what
to wi(h,as tothe limitations orextenfionof our
eiiterprife. In fhort, 1 know fo little, that
in this abyfs of ignorance, I have reiolved
to be carried down into the hold of this mod:
agitated bark, of which I am on board ; and
when the ftorm is over, if it mould pleafe
N 4 God
( 184 )
God to put an end to it during my life, I mall
raife my head, and cry out, w/oere are we f
1 thank you for the partial judgment ,
which you have pafTed on my Antigono^ and
Ipermejira. I was obliged to write the latter
in eighteen days, by a royal command ; ib
that I had hardly time fufficient allowed me
for tranfcribing it. As to the cantata, which
begins with GiuJiiDei Che far a, it has no other
meaning, than the words naturally imply, on
firft reading : which fay ; that the praifes of
our Augufi: Princefs are too great a iubjedt
for me ; that having been too daring in at-
tempting it, heaven has punifhed my pre-
fumption, by rendering my lyre difobedient
to my will, and that I fee my error and fue
for pardon. I mould be glad to know what
thefe words could poffibly mean, if not this.
But what a difficult talk it is to compofe
verfes many times every year on a Princefs,
who, though me merits fuch high praife,
-will not hear it ?
I fhall receive, with the utmofr. pleafure,
at your convenience, the two tragedies which
you fay you have written $ and have no
doubt of their merit, from the long com-
merce which you have constantly had with
the mufes and their favourites.
I beg
( *8 5 )
I beg my refpee"ts to your forfeited priefiefs,
to whom I fend my wiihes in blank, fince
my former were fo unfuccefsful. Your
moll worthy count Canale thanks and fa-
lutes you ; and, embracing you tenderly, I
am as ufual.
Vienna, Feb. 18, 1747*
LETTER V.
TO THE SAME.
I congratulate you, in the firft place,
on the magnificent and couragious fenti-
ments, with which your mod agreeable
letter of the 1 8th of March is filled. I ad-
mire your fovereign contempt of the enemy;
your paternal confidence in our allies enchants
me j your high refpect for our forces and coun-
cils gives me confolation ; and, in fhort, I
envy and admire that firm and intrepid tran-
quillity of mind* which I did not think fub-
iifted on earth ; but which I find refides thus
undiflurbed in the ferene breaft of my dear
Filipponi. May God increafe and fortify
thefe gifts, and grant fome little portion of
their influence to my feeble and diminutive
foul,
(, 186 )
foul, which,, remembering the part, and di£
fatisfied with the prefent, is unable to ima-
gine any thing good for the future. To our"
Marquis Ormea, bold and animated thoughts
of right belong ; they are the patrimony of
his military profeffion, which he exercifes
with fo much honour ; but to me, born and
bred, in a manner under the petticoats of
the poor puftlanimous mufes, who are in-
deed no better than little weak women,
doubts are more natural; and fome, who
only examine the outride pf things, call this
prudence, while others term it timidity.
The Marquis of Ormea and Count Brown,
as well as yourfelf, do the author of the lit-
tle fable of the Ballerina too much honour,
by your contempt. How is it poffible to
efcape the foolifh loquacity of impertinent
people ? Perhaps fome equivoque has given
birth to this nonfenfe, without any evil in-
tention ; and to the ufual credulity and rage
for exaggeration and the wonderful, all the
attention which the public has- beftowed upon
it maybe imputed. But whatever opinion
the world may have of it, pray let it circulate
in peace and quiet ; for when we arrive at a
certain age, the wild flories of our youthful
vigour do not difpleafe us, though apocryphal.
I have
( x«7 )
I have jufl received letters from Rome
and Naples, with interrogations concerning
the romance of La Ballerina. And I begin
myfelf to be curious to know whence this
fable, without head or tail, or even the
leaft foundation, could poffibly have its
origin.
Vienna, April 22, I.747*
LETTER VI.
U
TO THE SAME.
As it is impomble to reconcile your cou-
rage with my cowardice, concerning political
prefages, I mall follow the advice given in
your laft, and freight my letters with other
merchandize. Not, however, without fbme
inward malignity of felf-complacence, for
having communicated to you a little of my
own vice of defpondency, inftead of con-
tracting, myfelf, fome tincture of your forti-
tude. At leaft (but I do not expect you to
confefs it) your being the nrfr. to relinquifh
your opinion, does not flatter my vanity a
little. But let us not triumph in matters
concerning which we mould be glad to be
4 vanquished.
( IS8 )
variquifhed. — My Attilio Regolo deeps ; and
I cannot prevail on myfelf, in the prefent
languid frate of my health, to fet about
making the fmall additions to the lad fcene,
which are ftill wanting, without being forced
to it. If my health is better next year, I
mall think of it.
Vienna, June 14, 1747.
-
L E T T E R- VII.
TO. THE ABATE PASQUINI.
If yotir letter of the 4th inftant had been
delivered to me without date, without fig-
nature, and written in a ftrange hand, I
fhould ftill inftantly have recognized in it
my dear Pafquini. That impetuofity, in*
dignation, force of expreffion, and con-
tempt, are unequivocal traits of character.
And is it poffible, after fo many years of
public concubinage with the mufes, you
fhould be furprifed to find, that it is the fate
of all works of genius, to be expofed to ca-
pricious cenfure, without examination ? Do
you not know, that every one is proud of his
own fagacity, though obliged to confefs that
he has no fcience :
Can,
( m )
Can you forget what has been faid of
Homer and Virgil ? Are the Pamphili and
Mzevii of Horace out of your memory ? Does
not what happened in the Roman theatre,
to Laelius and Scipio, confole you? Does
the abufe of TafTo, by the barbers of Flo-
rence, appear trifling to you ? Have not you
afTerted to me a thoufand times, notwith-
ftanding all I could fay to you, that on cer-
tain occafions you have exhaufted all your
impatient friendfhip, in tranfports of true
Pafquinian paffion in my defence ? What
new ideas then have entered your head ?
Would you be the only one of all the poeti-
cal family in whom there mould be no caufe
for ridicule ? That would be too proud.
Do you wifh never to be the fubjedt of con.-
verfation ? That would be too modeft, and
but ill underltanding your own interefl. The
correfpondence between authors and the pub-
lic, is like that of lovers, among whom the
moll: fatal lymptom is not anger, but neglecl.
For my own part, after long experience, I
have found no better method of treating
critics, than to profit by their remarks, if good,
and laugh at them, if bad : and always afpiring
at perfection, to let the reft rail till they are
tired*
1 do
( 19° )
I do not mean to propofe myfelf as a mo-
del, but the recipe has been fuccefsfully
tried. Appeafe therefore thefe tumults, I
entreat you : let the mind recover its true
tone, and let us fpeak of the Generofa Spar-
tana, I am proud of the gift, no lefs for its
own merit, than as a teftimony of your re-
membrance. I have already twice perufed
it with attention. And now, with your
good leave, I mall give you my fmcere opi-
nion of it.
I find the verfe round and flowing ; the
ffcyle as ornate, and poetical, as belongs to
dramatic compofition ; and the places very
few in which the fyow feems fomewhat re-
laxed, and where I mould have wimed for
more ftrength. But for this we have a paf-
fage in Horace, verum opere longofas eji obre-
pere fomnum. There is a fufficient number
of fine thoughts, and folid fentiments, with-
out pedantry, no lefs acutely conceived, than
luminoufly produced. The airs are all har-
monious and happy. In fhort, repeating
what I have told you a thoufand times, I do
not find many at, prefent, who, in this poeti-
cal faculty, pleafe me more than yourfelf.
But, after long ufe, you are certainly not
ignorant how faflidious and difficult I am,
become j
( i9« )
become ; hence it will not appear ftrange,
if I preferve my character with a friend who
wifhes me to be lincere.
I therefore confefs to you, freely, that I
mould have wifhed more deiign throughout
your opera. Or, to explain myfelf more
clearly, that the principles and paffions you
propofed to introduce, were better eftablifhed.
The audience cannot intereft themfelves, as
you would wifn, in the agitations of your
perfonages, becaufe there is not fufficient
time allowed to render them either hateful
or amiable. If the mind of a fpeclator is
removed from its ufual temperament and
tranquillity, the intereft does not continue
Ions: enough to be remembered in the next
fcene : fo that it becomes torpid and unwill-
ing to be pleafed,even to thatdegereof naufea
which foon comes on for thofe very beauties,
which, otherwife, might fuccefsfully have
folicited and feduced. And thofe who are
not initiated in the myfteries of poetry, feel-
ing themfelves tired, without knowing the
caufe, frequently lay the blame on what is
worthy of praife ; exactly as a fick child un-
able to point out the luffering part whence
its pain had its beginning, either miftakes one
place for another, or complains of all alike.
( m )
This is my opinion, yet not given as a
law — but who will dare decide positively in
theSe matters ?
Defire the critics themfelves to name you
a perfect Archetype. I know not how to
fuggefi: any one to you, except that of my
friendship, of which I have given you no
{light Specimen, in the dangerous Sincerity
with which I have now ventured to write
you my fentiments.
Receive it kindly ; return it : love me,
&nd believe that I am, &c.
Vienna, July 22, 1747.
This letter may ferve as a ipecimen of the
urbanity, yet franknefs, with which he played
the critic, in examining the works of his moll
intimate friends. This correspondence with
Pafquini, the Drefden Laureate, will be re-
lumed, occasionally, jn chronological order.
END OF THE FIFTH SECTION.
SECTION
C m )
SECTION VL
W E are now arrived at a very interefting
period in the correfpondence of Metaftafio,
to the lovers of poetry and mufic, when a
conftant literary intercourfe With the cele-
brated Farinelli began, which continued
to the end of both their lives. Farinelli's
Wonderful profeffional' abilities have been fb
amply celebrated lately, that nothing need
be faid in addition to former accounts (<?).
But the permanence of friendihip between
him and Metaftafio, which continued fifty
years after they were feparated, and efta-
bliihed in the fervice of different" Monarchs,
in the two mofl remote capitals of Europe,
deferves fome record.
It has already been mentioned in thefe
Memoirs, that the poet and muficlan were
nearly of the fame age, and began their
public career in the city of Naples, at the
(0) Itah four, and Hift. Muf. vol. iv.
vol*.. 1. o fame
i *94 )
fame period of time : Farinelli having per-
formed there in the Serenata of Angelica ,
written by Metaftafio in 1723, and in his
opera of Didone, in 1724.
The fuccefs with which their feveral ta- ,
lents were crowned in thefe early efforts, and
a happy coincidence of temper and difpofi-
tion, which each found in the other, of thofe
virtues and qualities which he moft loved,
admired, and practifed, through life, cement-
ed affection and rivetted their hearts, beyond
the power of time or accident to fever.
It will appear through the whole corres-
pondence which has been preferved, that
they regarded each other as Twins of public
favour, brought to light at the fame birth 9
and united in one common intereft. Metaf-
tafio never envied the applaufe of the ringer,
nor imagined his poetry injured by his too
florid ftyle of finging, though the fame of Fa*
rinellifeems to have been built more upon the
extraordinary compafs of his voice, and pow-
ers of execution, than upon his fine acting or
tender expreffion. And fiich was his frater-
nal affection and partiality for his Caro Ge-
mel/o, that he afterwards appears fo entirely to
have overlooked or forgotten the want of
fimplicity, action, and pathos in his finging,
as
( l 95 )
as feverely to cenfure younger performers,
for thefe defects, in his letters to Farinelli
himfelf.
Mulical readers need not be reminded, that
Farinelli, after ringing with ■unrivalled ap-
plaufe in the principal lyric theatres of Eu-
rope, came into England in the year 1733;
and after performing there fourmccefiive fea-
fons, and engaging' for a fifth, was invited to
Spain in 1737* when his voice having been
found to have the fame effect on the diforder
of the Spaniih Monarch, Philip V., as the
harp of David upon the evil fpirit of King
Saul, he was retained in the fervice of that
court, and a peniion fettled on him for life,
of £.3000 fterling a year, upon condition
that he never fung again on a public ftagc.
And in order to elevate him to a rank wor-
thy of attending a fovereign in his private
hours, he was honoured with the orders of
St. Jago and Calatrava. In 1 746 his royal
patron Philip V» died; but his court favour
continued under that monarch's fucceffor
with equal fplendor. The firft letter to Fa-
rinelli which has been inferted in the literary
correlpondence of Metafrafio, is in anfwer to
one from that celebrated finger, of July 2d,
o 2 1747,
( »9« )
1747, about a year after the new monarch
of Spain had afcended the throne.
LETTER I.
TO THE CAVALIERE CARLO BROSCHI DETTO
FARINELLI.
Your moil agreeable, but fliort, letter, con-
cerning my infatiable thirft for talking with
you in the beft manner which fuch an enor-
mous diftance will admit, was long enough
to convince me of the place I hold in your
heart: for without that circumitance, you
certainly would not have facrifked even fb
much time and labour. The convenience,
civility, politenefs, and the other common
ties of fociety, are not ufed to infpire fuch
patience. This proof therefore of tender
friendship,, added to ancient teftimonies and
new protestations, render me fb fecure of it,
that I fhould have doubted of any thing
fooner than of your afreclion. This alone
would have been Sufficient to make me love
you, in return; you know by long experience,
che amore a nutlo amor per dona (p ) . Now your
(p) That love allows nothing beloved to love another.
merit*
C l 97 )
merit, which has rendered you as amiable as
lingular, is an accumulation of powerful effects.
The confidence with which you fpeak to
me of your affairs; the cordiality of your of-
fer to redrefs mine ; the tender anxiety which
you manifeft. for my health ; the inftruc-
tion and expedients which you fuggefr.; the
defcriptions of my misfortunes, and the pro-
tection which you procure me from thole il-
luffrious nymphs * : — in fhort, your generous
idea is fo much to my palate, as greatly en-
courages hope':, unite then all thefe circum-
flances, and tell me who is the arithmetician
that is able to enumerate the product.- I
can exprefs myfelf no better than by telling
you, that I love you as Farinelli deferves to
be loved, ,
It is impoffible for the defcription which
you have font me of your malady, and being
let blood, ,as well as of the French furgeon,
and Lombardo the phyfician, to be more
lively, and full of wit. 1 have often laughed
at the humour with which you have feafoned
a narration, tragic in itfelf : Would to hea-
ven the ardent willies of all perfons of tafte
* Ladies at the court of Madrid, whofe influence was
promifed in favour of Metaftafio's Sicilian claims; but
W^ofe names have been concealed,
q 3 and
( 198 ) '•
and delicacy in Europe were gratified; and
that all your hypochondriac complaints were
entirely lubdued ! lhew me a good example,
as you have already a bad one, and I , will
try to follow it.
Your mufic to my Nice is worthy of you.
Its merit begins by the touching tones of the
Jlute, and encreafes to the noble fimplicity
which belongs to fuch compofitions. I rea-
dily give way to you, or rather am proud of
being vanquimed by you : and who would
be amamed of being furpaffed in mufic by
my incomparable Farinelli ? I have been no
lefs enchanted with the letting of the. little
dedication: fe mi dai* . But in this laft you
have a little forgotten that nature is not la-
vifh of Farineili's, and that the execution of
this mufic, in order -to have all its effect, re-
quires the excellence of itscompofer. Though
I am no mulician, further than is necefTary
to a Poet, I comprehend your intention, and
try hard to fecond it. But fpiritus prompt us
eft, caro autem infirma. Let us underftand
one another: I ipeak of my voice; let no
* To what this alludes does not appear, it is not the in-
, itial verfe of any fong In Metaftafio's works that I haye
been able to find.
v ' i '•'.■■■; r '
equivoque
( *99 )
equivoque enter your head injurious to my
faith.
Oh my dear Farinelli, what agitation,
tumult, and ftorms have you awakened in my
mind, by confiding to me the great, though
unmerited fortune of my Nice! You, who
know the vanity of poets, conceal no circum-
fl.ance from me which can exalt it to its
highefr. elevation. In lliort, I perceive very
plainly the malignant pleafure you take in
turning my head, and feeing how I am agi-
tated between pride and confufion; felf com-
placence and envy. Oh happy Nice! who
could have imagined that I mould ever have
envied thy fate ? with what veneration ought
I not to regard thee in future.
You believe me in great danger here from
the charms of fome tranquil Teutonic Beau-
ty. Oh how miftaken you are! Here love
and hatred never diflurb the fleep of any
mortal: here the body cares very little for
the affairs of the mind : at night you may
be a favourite, and in the morning unknown.
Eagernefs, agitation, folicitude, little quar-
rels, reconciliations, gratitude, vengeance,
the language of the eyes, the eloquence of
filence, in ihort whatever can give pleafure
or pain in the delicate commerce of fouls,
0,4 is
( 200 )
is terra incognita, or thought ridiculous and
fit only for the ernbellifhment of romances.
It is incredible to what a pitch of indolence
the placid nymphs of this place are arrived.
I mould defpair of finding one that would re-*
linquifh a game at Piquet for the lofs or
death of her dearefl lover. There are ma-
ny who would think the turning afide from
their fampler among the moil myilerious ex^-
celles of genius. And you fearjbr my tran-
quillity ? Make yourfelf ealy. I run no rilk.
Allure the moft benign lady, who, without
my having deferved her companion, gene-
roufly interefls herfelf in my fuppofed danger j
that I am fafe. Exprefs to her likewife my
moil humble and grateful fentiments for the
patronage with which me honours my writ-
ings. Tell her that the noble picture which
you have been pleafed to draw of her, has
rendered me more feniible to the cold of the
north, where no fuch plants ever bloflbm.
You, in fhort, were born when the moon
was increafmg, all thrives to your wiih. It
is neceflary to be a Farinelli, a friend, and a
twin brother, not to be envied by me.
From this franknefs, which I mould not
have ufed to any but ypurfelf, it is eafy for
you to imagine whether I could poffibly have
regarded
( 201 )
regarded you as my voluntary rival, in the
office of treasurer of Cofenza. The notice
which your brother had obtained of it, was
neither from me, nor exact in itfelf : and if
it had, I mould never have attributed the
fault to my dear Farinelli, who loves me too
well, and who thinks too nobly. I have men-
tioned it, becaufe . we are eager to fpeak of
what gives us pain. And how can I refrain
from vexation, my dear friend, to fee myfelf
ftript in this manner, without any crime, of
all the fruits of my poor labours ; of all my
hopes, and of all fupport for my old age!
Do you wifh to know the extent of my mis-
fortunes ? Hear, and pity me.
Charles VI. as a reward for my long
fervices, and to fupply my unpaid f alary ^
granted me a thoufand crowns in Sicily,
on. a bifhoprick or benefice in that king-
dom. But all the Bifhops, Abbots, an4.
beneficial Clergy, became, from that time,
immortal: and the kingdom was loft before
I had received a penny. The treafurerihip
of Cofenza in Calabria becoming vacant,
and my auguft patron remembering my ar-
rears, deltmed it for me: I took poffeffion,
ipent more than 8co ducats of my own mo-
my] in fees and other expences ; but before \
had
( 202 )
had begun to reap the firft crop, the armed Spa-
niards entered the kingdom, and I remained
with my patent in my hand, ready for curling
my hair, or folding up fugar-plumbs. My
prefent moil: clement fovereign (^), is-obliged,
by the circumftances of the times, to diminiiTi
the falaries of her fervants ; but in order to
compenfate this diminution, as well as to con-
fole me for my former loifes, fhe has affigned
me 1 500 florins, and not a Canonicate, in Mi-
lan. Five years have elapfed fince this favour
was promifed, but a thoufand impediments
have intervened, which I have not under-
ilood, even while I have experienced their ef-
fects. Now what do you think of all this?
Is not mine an afflicting; cafe ? Yet I exao-sre-
O CO
rate nothing. After fifteen years fervice,
not indeed from the fault of my patrons, but,
of my enemy Fortune, I am in a worfe ftate,
than when I left my country.
From this faithful narrative, you may
eaiily imagine what confidence I } place in
you: a confidence which I owe in re-
turn for yours. How can I ever fufficiently
thank you for the affectionate and zea-
lous manner with which you have offered
(q) The Emprefs Queen, impo verified by a feven
years' War.
to
( 2 °3 )
to put me in a way to bring this unfortu-
nate bufinefs to a happy determination? I re-
cognife in thefe uncommon tefrimonies of
friendfhip, the heart of my Farinelli: and I
am proud of my fagacity for having faid a
thoufand times, that in you, all was harmo-
ny, all of the fame degree of excellence. I
am already as much your debtor, from the
eagernefs which you have manifefted to
ferve me, as if you had been fucceisful: be-
caufe the reafons for being obliged, depend
more upon the exertions than the event.
To furniih you with fome authentic docu-
ments, I enclofe afolemn certificate from the
Jecretary of the fupreme counfel for Italy, alio
the concejjionof the treafurerjhip\ as well as
the difpatches by which the appointment was
then notified at Naples. My poiTefiion in
Naples will be proved the inftant you re-
quire it. I will appoint a perfon in the beau-
tiful Parthenope (r) who mall aflift, when
and where you pleafe, in this enquiry. "Oh
if you could but relate this melancholy tale
to your augufr. fovereign! For full of cle-
mency, generofity, andjuftice, as the world
pronounces and you defcribe her, it is im-
i
(r) Naples.
pofiible
( 20 4 )
poffible but that her foul mufl incline to grant
me fome redrefs. Indeed I fhould now re-
gard the favour as wholly new, from the
hands of fo great a benefaftrefs. Her bounty,
though beflowed on a perfon who may want
merit, would yet fall on one that is known
to you, and therefore the beneficent aft of a
royal patronefs would certainly not remain a
fecret; but ,be held out as an example to her
equals, and a confolation to the oppreffed.
And if the voice of a poor Grafs-hopper of
Parnaifus, like myfelf, could poffibly reach
the ears of pofterity ; they, and their children's,
children, mould know the pious and pow-
erful hand which deisrned to fuftain and
proteft me, in defpight of the utmoft efforts
of cruel and capricious Fortune (/)."
And are not the innumerable testimonies
which my dear Gemello has given me of his
love fufficient, but they rauft be ratified by
gifts ! Vanilla, chocolate y bark, extract of am-
(s) Princes are, in general, ignorant of an effential rule
m commerce, which enjoins its votaries to huy cheap, and
fell dear. If her Catholic Majefty had wifhed to make a
good bargain in the purchafe of fame, ftie might have had a
great penny-worth, in ferving a Poet gifted with fo good and,
grateful a heart, as MetaflaGo; who, for inconfiderable tem-
porary advantage, would ha-ve rendered his royal benefac-r
trefs immortal.
4 6V0Mtk%
( 2 °5 )
aranth, jars of fnuff. But this is over-
powering me in fuch a manner, as to deprive
me of all hope of ever making any return.
All lean do, at prefent, is to begin to be grate-
ful, by confeffing the debt, and wilhing for
powers to pay it.
The Court is at an imperial cattle in
Hungiry, where, confequently, is Madame
Fouchs ; fo that I am not likely to fee her foon,
as I am already booted to go to Moravia,
where I mall remain till Oclober, with
our mod worthy Countefs of Althan, partly
by the advice of the Phyficians, and partly
for the enjoyment of her noble feat. So
that your commiffion to Madame Fouchs
cannot be executed till my return. I had
already delivered, your meffage to the
Countefs of Althan, in the Favorka Gar-
dens, and in the midft of a numerous alfem-
bly : mewing, with great oftentation, your
very port letter. I am unable to tell you
how pleafed this lady was with your courte-
ous remembrance, how curious to know the
particular phrafe with which you had order-
ed me to exprefs it, and with what eagernefs
me wilhed to be minutely and repeatedly in-
formed of your health and prefent fituation^
interefting herfelfin the one, and exulting in
the
( 2o6 )
the other. I had then the whole company
upon me, to whom I was obliged to iing over
and over again the lame Canzone, as well as
thofe airs which you had conftantlyfung dur-
ing fo many years in the royal apartments [t).
It would have delighted you, as it did me, to
a very great degree, to fee how Frefh you
were ftill in memory, after fo long an abfence,
in a climate governed by oblivion, (u)
And are y'ou then determined to have my
picture ? Oh how vexatious ! The patience
necelfary to ferve as a model to the indif-
cretion of a painter, is to me the moft dif-
ficult of all virtues to attain. Hitherto there
are no other pictures of me than thofe fpu-
rious fatyrs which the printers have placed
at the head of my works; and they move my
bile every time I chance to fee them. But
who can refiffc the folicitations of a beloved
twin brother ? At my return from the coun-
try, I mail undertake this btiunefs, as a peni-
tence for my fins, and try to indulge your
longing in fuch a manner as may prevent a
' (t) Thefe were Pallldo ilfole ; Per quejlo dolce ampleffo',
& Ah non lafciarmi, no, all fet by Haffe.
[u) Farinelli had been three times at Vienna, before he
went to Spain, in 1737. His firft engagement at the Im* '
penal court was, in 1727.
mifcarriage.
C 20 7 )
mifcarriage. But you muft not be furprifed
if you fee an hypochondriac countenance on
the canvas, becaufe I mall find it very diffi-
cult to fmile in the painter's face, unlefs I
can perfuade fome Faun or Dryad to affift at
the operation, and help to fweeten the bitter
tafk.
With all the diligence I could ufe, even
to the confines of impertinence, I have not
been able to procure the authentic certificate,
: *and that other paper mentioned above, time
enough to accompany this letter. I mail
therefore leave orders, before my departure
for the country, for them to be fent by the
fame conveyance.
I have had two little Cantatas tranfcribed,
which I wrote fometime fince for this court,
but which are not yet very common. I mail
inclofe thefe, but not for you. I mean them
as a tribute to that illuflrious protectrefs of
the Italian Mufes, the Countefs of Bellalca-
zar. If, however, you would illuftrate them
with your notes and majeftic voice, I mould
be certain that the tribute would be highly
approved, by a lady of fuch delicate tafte.
I finiih becaufe I am on the point of let-
ting off, and the exacl moment of my depart-
ure does not depend on myfelf. Love me
as
( 208 )
as much as I do you, and you will gratify the
infinite avidity which I feel for your affec-
tion, and do juftice to the tender folicitude
with which I am, and ever mall be, &c.
Vienna, Auguft 26th. 1747*
LETTER II.
TO THE SAME.
You*i dear letter of Ocl. 29th, as ufiial, wa§
replete with the balm of that affection, of
which I am fo extremely folicitous and vain.
The grotefque defcription of the magnificent
habitation whence you wrote, has frequently
made me laugh, and long to embrace my
pleafant Nennillo (#).
******
I have laughed quite as muchj though in
my fleeve, at your lively picture of Armida.
Oh poor Nennillo !
You will foon have Armida placata. I
hope you will find in it much to approve,
(a-) The reft of the period is in the Neapolitan Patois>
which I am unable to decipher. All I can difcover is, that
the corpulency, as well as abfurdity, of the firft female finger
(perhaps the Tefi) had been thefubjecl ofFarinelli's plea-
fantry.
particularly
( 2°9 )
particularly in the part of the firfl woman,
and firif. man, for whom I have taken the
moft pains. And you would have found in
it much lefs to blame, if that great booby,
Migliavacca, after I had corrected with great
labour, the whole opera, had not taken the
liberty in tranfcribing it, to alter, add, and
retrench at his pleafure. This put me into
a violent rage, When he told it me at my re-
turn from the country. His excufe was,
the impoffibility of communicating to me
his doubts foon enough for the time which
you had prefcribed for finifhing it. With
all this, the fubjecl is gay, and cannot have
been fo injured, as not to leave room to hope
for its meeting with fuccefs*
From what has happened, you may judge,
that our Migliavacca is capable of writing a
good fong, cantata, fonnet> and fuch things as,
in fhort, require no great art in the conduct
and management of the paffions, or fupport of
characters. But for theatrical acfion and
efFecl, I have found his judgment lefs ma-
tured than his age, which is about thirty,
promifed ; or his other little and pleating
compositions, made me expecl. I tell you
this, that you may know pre rifely what to
hope, if you mould think of employing him.
vol. i. , p I wimed
( 210 ) I
I wifhed to render fervice to all, and to
recommend engaging the Ten* ; but now it
is brought to a crifis, I cannot deceive you.
Find out her abilities, and then do her good,
if you can. It is certain that experience, of
which, at prefent, fhe is in want, might
render her much better ; but you wilh me to
{peak of the prefent, and not prophefy con-
cerning the future. It is not necefTary to
communicate my fincerity to Madame, who
would perhaps not be pleafed with it. Let
it be a hint to you, but not attended with
ill v^ill to me. It will therefore be more
prudent to fend your letters by the Venetian
AmbaiTador's bag, in which I inclofe my
own. And when you defire to remit to
Migliavacca fome compenfation for his trou-
ble, I beg of you to do it by means of the
Tefi, who interefts herfelf in his affairs. I
did nothing more than try that you mould
be as well ferved as poffible ; and this I have
done, and ever fhall do, for my valued
Gemello.
My picture for you, fet off from Vienna
with Prince Trivulfi, the beginning of Octo-
ber. This Prince entreated to have the
care of it, and carried it with him to Ve-
nice, that it might afterwards travel with
more
( a." )
more fecurity. I know not how it is to go
on, but we may depend on his diligence,
and true eagernefs to favour me, and to
pleafe you. Who knows whether, by the
time this letter arrives, I fhall not be already
in your hands, and perhaps prefent at the
rehearfal of the charming Armida, where
the original would efteem himfelf moft
happy to be alfo.
I mould wrong the good heart of my dear
Gemello by reiterating my entreaties about
the Percettorial bunnefs ; I feel with what
affection you wifh to forward it, and know
that your foul is incapable of affuming the
Ihameful character of a dealer in that kind
of fmoke which abounds in courts. I reflect
on what I would do for you, if I were able ;
and have not the leaft doubt of your doing
every thing for me, which circumftances will
admit. The excufe of example, which has
been urged from Naples, is eafily refuted ;
there are three very juft ways of preventing
my cafe from ever becoming a precedent to
any other. In the firft place, the difpatches
might fay, that the receherjhip was rejtored to
me for the fame reafon as offices are rejiored to
others, who pofTerTed them by a weighty title ;
that Is, by having purchafed them. And this
p 2 will
( 2I2 )
will be no lie : the Percettoria was not ob»-
tained by me as a free gift, but in recom-
pence for a promfed falary which had not been
payed. And if the reward agreed upon for
labours of the brain are not paid in money,
what mufr. be the capital of we poor crickets
of ParnafTus ? Should this expedient be dis-
approved, here is another which equally pre-
cludes precedent : the place of Percettoria
may be reftored to me, not as the rejloration
of an ancient pojfejjion, but as a new favour
which has not the leaji relation to the old
grant. ' Where would be the extravagance
of a generous Prince, proteclor of the, fine
arts, fpontaneoufly exercifmg his munifi-
cence on a man who,, by chance, if not
merit, is efteemed in Europe not the meanefl
of his proferlion ? If this fecond road mould
be thought impaflable, though it appears to
me the mofl worthy of the royal grandeur
of fuch a Sovereign, here is, laflly, a third i.
which is, the caufing it to be bought as a new
purcbafe, which will equally preclude all
precedent of reftitution. Do not forget, my
dear friend, to fuggeft thefe expedients, that
the fear of precedent may not check the ge-
nerous propennty of the Sovereign. I mould
not have wearied you So long on this Subject,
had
( 213 >
had it not feemed abfolutely neceflkry to Fur-
nifh you with arms to combat in my favour.
I thank you for the recipe, which I mall
have made up exactly, and try its efficacy
with the greater hope of fuccefs, as every
thing is more dear that comes from my
beloved Gemello, than from any other
quarter.
Your idea of providing for the expence of
my journey, is extremely grateful to me, as
a proof of your affection ; but think how
great would be the difficulties of other kinds ;
and how little occafion there is for this proof,
to convince me that our friendfhip is reci-
procal.
Our worthy Countefs of Althan has re-
ceived news of you, and of being remem-
bered by you, with her ufual kindnefs and
pleafure. With refpecl to mufic., whatever
fhe hears, Farinelli continues to be her
hero : and as a proof of this, fhe has freighted
a bark with falutations for you, which I mall
difpatch, on condition that you, in ,return,
will prefent my conftant refpecls to the
Duchefs of Bejar, whofe picture in your
letter has haunted me ever fmce I law it.
Addio, dear Gemello., be careful of your
. p 3 health,
( 2I 4 )
health, and . fometimes think of your Me-
taflafio.
Vienna, Dec. 7, 1747.
As no letters to Farinelli have been pre-
ferved, that were written in 1748, we fhall
return to his correfpondents, Filipponi, and
Pafquini, to whom he feems to have written
with great opennefs of heart.
LETTER III.
TO SIG. FILIPPONI.'
Your moil: welcome letter of the 2d in-,
il:ant, found me in the pleafant country of
Moravia, where I have been many months*
far from the.noife of the city, in purfuit of
that health, which always feems near, yet
when I try to catch it, the phantom gives
me the flip. I wander through two vail
domains belonging to the incomparable
Cpuntefs Althan, where the generofity of
the magnificent lady of the manfion, the
noble variety of the company, the abund-
ance of whatever can contribute to delight,
as well as comfort, the princely apartments,
the
( Hi )
the fituation, air, walks, converfation, and,
in fhort, the whole tenor of a life fufficiently
ruftic for the enjoyment of all the beauties
of nature, without being deprived of the
conveniences of art ; and above all, the ad-
vantages which I feel in this tranquil retire-
ment, from the care that is taken of my
difordered machine ; thefe make me forget
the complaints I brought With me, which,
'either from the chearfulnefs the mind ac-
quires here, "or the circumftances juft men-
tioned, appear, or are, in reality, nearly
fubdued. This is the news which you de-
fired,
Soflowitz, Sept. 29, 1747*
LETTER IV.
TO THE SAME.
General Stampa quitted this place, on his
return to Milan, the end of laft week. Con-
figned to his care, and directed to you, are
the MSS. for our Padre Paoli, which Count'
Canale had fo repeatedly promifed him.
And now I am liberated from a cornmiffioiv
which has long lain heavy on my confcience.
p 4 They
( # )
They would have been fent much fooner, if
any fafe conveyance could have been found ;
but MSS. of which there are no duplicates,
are of fuch confequence, that it feemed ne-
ceflary to meafure my fcruples by the tender
regard which an author has for his own pro-
ductions ; fo that I hope to be thanked for
the delay.
Muft I fend you the ufual compliments of
the feafon ? It is the exact period for this
ceremony ; as, by the time this letter ar-
rives, it will be in general performance
throughout Chriflendom. But let us not
contaminate our friendfhip by fuch vulgar,
worn-out, and infipid forms, which now are
become a burthen to fociety, and a difgrace
for real friends to ufe ; they neither excite
benevolence, nor prevent the coldnefs of
neglect. I know that you have no doubt of
my affection and good wimes, and that I am
fure of yours : fo that without new protec-
tions, the whole year is Chriftmas with us,
reciprocally.
My annual retreat into the country for
near two months, had turned out fo profit-
able, that I flattered myfelf with the hopes
of having wholly fubdued my nervous com-
plaints, and all the other barbarous enemies
united
( 2I 7" )
united to annoy me ; but the nrft cold pre-
curfors of winter have ao-ain driven me near
o
the enemy, from whom, however, I cou-
rageoufly defend myfelf, hoping at length to
tire them out. And indeed their alTaults
are lefs frequent and lefs furious than for-
merly : if I can frill diminim their forces a
little, I mall, in this particular, be content
with my fate : never expecting a profound
peace, but a lefs unequal war.
LETTER V.
TO THE ABATE PASQUINI.
I have attentively read your new paftoral
fable, and without entering upon a minute
examination of it, I allure you, with that can-
dour to which we are mutually accufromed,
that, it has pleafed me much more than the
Generous Spartan, in all its parts, except the
ftyle ; as in that, to own the truth, you ap-
pear to me fometimes too neorlieent. You
will fay, and with great truth, that the in- •
terlocutors mould fpeak a language fuitable
to their ftation. But I believe, that be-
tween the language of real and theatrical
lhepherds,
( * 218 }
ihepherds, there mould be the fame propor-
tion of difference, as the beft writers ufually
obferve between real and theatrical princes.
Human nature is vain, and never pleafed
with thofe portraits which lower the advan-
tageous opinions which it forms of itfelf j
like thofe beauties, who are unwilling to fit*
nnlefs to fuch dextrous painters as can draw
their likenefs, more from the good than bad
features of their faces ; diminifhing in fome
with modefl adulation wherever there is
excefs, and adding to others, with the fame
caution, whatever is wanting to perfection.
Guarini was too fenfible of this weaknefs,
and meant to flatter it in his celebrated
PajlorfidO) by the happy pretext of his per-
fonages being of divine origin, attributing
to fhepherds the language of philofophers,
and heroes : and by artfully mixing what-
ever was moil pleafing in the country, mofl
grand in courts, and moft ingenious in the
fchools, has formed fuch a magic compofi-
tion, as, in lpite of the many poetical canons
which he dared to violate, has extorted ad-
miration, not only from his own country-
men, but the mofl: polifhed people in every
other part of Europe. Indeed he has often
had the addreis to -ioften the rigrour even of
inexorable
( 2i 9 )
inexorable critics themfelves, who only read
his work in order to condemn it.
But fuch feem to me the laws to which it
is neceffary to fubmit, in order to pleafe by
imitating nature. How much it may be
neceffary to change the materials, in order
to excite wonder and delight ; and what is
the difference between imitating nature, and
nature herfelf, are not fubjecfs to be dil-
cuffed in a fhort letter. Perhaps, fome time
or other, I may explain myfelf more fully,
if it mould pleafe providence to grant me a
few quiet days among thofe that are yet in
ftore (j).
And now I congratulate myfelf as well as
you, on your laft production, not only in
compliment to my own judgment, but for
that which experience has here pronounced
concerning your abilities ; indeed I plainly
perceive that more curiofity is excited in
your readers by this compofition, than by
any other of your dramatic writings.
I am much obliged to your Meffrs. Wal-
ther for the favourable opinion they enter?
(y) He here, doubtlefs, alludes to his notes on an ex-
trait from Ariftotle's Poetics, which were not publiflied
till after his deceafe. See Zatta's Edit. Venice, 1783.
Tom. xvi. And that of Nice, 1786..
tain
( 220 )
tain of my works ; but it is not for me to
pronounce upon the expediency of the enter-
prife ; it is their bufinefs to examine how
the expence of a new impreffion of my
writings will be repaid by the public. There
are already nine editions at Venice ; there
are others at Rome, Milan, Naples, and
Lucca ; and perhaps, {till more of which I
am ignorant. Hence, if this edition is not
fuperior in paper, type, correclnefs, and or-
naments, it will be confounded in the croud
of others, which are either Yery bad, or not
above mediocrity.
I have not vet {een the Drefden Boileau :
pray fend it by the nrft fafe and Ipeedy con-
veyance ; do the fame by Voltaire. But
what can I fay to fecond your eagernefs
about this new impreffion ? I have but
few inedited pieces in my pofTeflion, and of
thefe few, fome I cannot, and others I ought
not, to make public* However, I have not
the heart to refufe granting any requeft of
yours. I mall therefore collecl:, on your ac-
count, a fmall number of cantatas of my
writing, which are limping about in a mi-
ferable flate, that has not been bettered by
the hands of the lovers of poetry who have
given them houfe room ; but thefe will not
i amount
( 221 )
amount to above twelve or fourteen. Be-*
fides this, I fhall take ? copy of fome edi-
tions of Venice, and fheet by meet, correct
the errors with which they abound, that
they may ferve as originals for the new edi-
tion. But flay ! — This is not all. There
is an opera intituled Siface, which I wrote
many years ago, againft. my will. I muft
explain myfelf. Obliged to accommodate a
very old and imperfect drama, I began by
new verifying, and arranging its fcenes ;
but by changing and changing, there did
not remain a fingle verfe of the original, and
very little in the difpolition of the fcenes.
I never would confent to legitimate this
offspring, and yet it has always paffed in
Italy for mine. If I can find a copy not
much disfigured, I mail correct this drama,
and with a fhort hijftorical information to
the public, add it to the new edition. In
eonfideration of the pains I mall take, I muft
impofe on you, fome conditions. The 'firft
is, that you will undertake to correct the
prefs yourfelf, and in a fhort advertifement
inform the public of the enormous defects of
former editions, and of the advantages of
the new, without entering at all into th«
ufual panegyrics on 1 the author, for this
plain
( 222 )
plain reafon, that you are too friendly and
partial a judge for fiich an undertaking.
In the fecond place, MefTrs. Walther muft
convince me of the elegance of their typo-
graphy, by fending me a proof-meet, as a
fpecimen, and folemnly agree to an exact
performance of their promife to the public.
I rejoice that my Demofoonte is in fuch
mafterly and friendly hands ; make what
ufe of it you pleafe, as I am certain it will
receive no injury (z). Oh how I envy your
vicinity to that moft worthy Count Arr
chinto ! . I have long refpecled his merit.
But during his refidence at this court, he
infinitely intreafed my reverence. Return
him, I entreat you, my moft humble thanks
for the benignant remembrance of me which
he has deigned to preferve; alluring him of
my moft grateful fentiments and wifhes for
his health, concerning which I daily fabri-
cate in my mind a thoufand fmiling and
happy ideas of the time to come.
(2) Haffe was at this time new fetting the opera of
Demofoonte for the court of Drefden : many of the airs
were afterwards performed in England by Mingotti, about
the year 1755, when the admirable Cantahile : Se tutti i
malimiei, was conftantly encored during the run of the
opera.
I have
( 22 3 )
s
I have dried up your brain fufficiently for
to-day ; I will not deprive it of all moiflure
at once. It is well if any thing more re-
mains for me to do. Take care of your
health for your own fake and for that of
your friends, among whom I claim a dif-
tincT: places as the efteem and friendihip is
difrincl:, of yours, &c.
Vienna, Jan. 27, 1748.
LETTER VI.
TO SIG. FILIPPONI.
When you have a favourable oppor-
tunity, I entreat you to falute, in my name,
the worthy Count de Richecourt. Though
I was not able to enjoy his company and
converfation at Count Canale's fo often as I
wimed, yet I faw enough of him to con-
vince me how much he is indebted to nature
and to himfelf, for his uncommon fhare of
merit. I am infinitely obliged to Him for
allowing me a place in his remembrance,
and mail be extremely indebted to you, if you
will try, from time to time, to mingle me
among the crowd of his other more grave,
4 ufeful,
( ?24 }
ufeful, or pleafant ideas. I bear the excels
of your efteem for me, as it arifes from the
excels of your friendship, of which I am fo.
anxious, that it fubdues my fhame for owing
it to a miftake. Continue to love me, but
without examining the motives. I tremble
left, at a future time, you mould meet with
lome pious foul or other who, in chriftian
charity, mould ftrive to undeceive you. As
to the Ifate of my health, I muft confefs, that
my patience is not in perfect equilibrium.
The journey is long, and philofophy lame.
I neither know what influence the foul has
over our machine, nor how it is communi-
cated, being fubftances of fuch a different na-
ture ; but I feel in a more lively manner than
I wifh, that my own poor little foul pays
dearly for the decays of its manfion.
After you have confeffed yourfelf to be
jealous of me, I know not how to compof-t
myfelf with your prieftefs. I muft recom-
mend myfelf to Plato, an excellent com-
forter of hufbands. Pray prefent my com-
pliments to her platonically. Do not in-
jure me in her opinion, and allow me, with
all due reftrictions, to allure her of my being
no lefs hers than yours.
Vienna, Feb. 3, 1748.
The
( 225 )
The two following letters would not have
been inferted, had it not been imagined, that
fuch readers as intereft. themfelves in the dra-
matic works of Metaftatio, would be curious
to know his own ideas concerning their
performance. — Thefe letters, at leaft, may be
of ufe, not only to the directors and perform-
ers of the individual drama of Demofoonte^
but of operas in general.
LETTER VIL
TO THE ABATE PASQUINI.
Oh great Pafquini ! Great Pafquini ! Shew
me my plan however* that I may not cenfure
you for my own blunders. If you afk me
how I intended the fituations of my Demo-
foonte to be difpofed in the theatre, and how
I mould have arranged them if I had direct-
ed the whole myfelf, it was proper that I
fhould write to you what you mention. If
you alk me who fhould be placed on the
right hand, and who on the left, I muft tell
you I never meant to regulate that by the
dignity of the perfonages, but by the conve-
nience and neceffity of the a6tior*. And if,
vol. i. q, in
( 226 )
in favour of. fuch convenience and necefllty,
the fuperior perfonages chance to be on the
left of the inferior, they may be refpecled and
diftinguifhed in various ways ; for example :
by being a little forwarder on the ftage than
the reft, or being fituated in the middle of
the ftage and facing the audience, while the
fubaltern characters are further on the ftage,
with their fides to the audience and faces to-
wards the principal perfonages* And in-
deed by a thouiand other expedients they
may be diftinguifhed, without having the
right fide of- the ftage affigned to therm If
further, in purfuing this fubject, you mould
afk what characters have a right to exact re-
lpecl, whether Dircea from Creufa, or Creufa
from Dircea, I fhould tell you Dircea, as an
undifcovered Princefs, owes to Creufa all
thofe manifeftations of refpect which are due
from private individuals to perfons of royal
condition* I But for heaven's fake explain to
me, if you can, why you think relpect is
fhewn to the principal perfonages by their
always occupying the right fide of the ftage?
I could give more reafons againft it than
thofe already mentioned, if I had time to
write them. I have explained myfelf on
this fubje<5t to Baron Diefcau, and to Signor
Hade,
( m )
Hafife, though more concifely, as he is a pro-
feffional man. You are right, however, in
fuppofing that Dircea mould take place, upon
the ftage, of Creufa. Yet, in my opinion,
wholly wrong in imagining that the right
(ide is always the poft of honour.
But before the arrival of this letter, I hope
you will be convinced by what I have writ-
ten to Baron Diefcau.
Vienna, Feb. 16th. 1748.
LETTER VIII.
TO BARON DIESCAU, AT DRESDEN.
It is a great miftake, in my opinion, to
imagine that the right or left fide of the
ftage determines the pre-eminence of theatri-
cal characters. Thefe places ought to be oc-
cupied according to the neceffity of the ac-
tors. It is neceflary, for example, that the
aclor mould be near the perfon to whom he
would fpeak, or whom he would detain, af-
fault, defend, or tranfact any kind of bufmefs
with, that would be difficult or ridiculous to
perform in any other fituation. Wherever
a great perfonage happens to be, will become
the principal place ; he may, however, indi-
ces cats
( 228 )
Cate his fuperiority by being a little forward-
er on the ftage than his inferiors, which will
be a lefs equivocal diftinc~tion than the right
hand, which has varied and changes its fig-
nification, according to the caprice of differ-
ent ages and nations. Upon thefe princi-
ples, in fpite of the old praclife of our thea-
tres, I have always regulated the performance
of my dramas, efpecially Demofoonte ; which
may be feen in a regular plan laid down and
tranfmitted to the abate Pafquini, at his re-
quell:, but a few days ago.
I hope, Sir, that the readinels of my peri-
lous obedience, will at lean: iecure me the
honour of your patronage* for which I moll
humbly fupplicate (a). . .
Vienna, Feb. 21, 1748.
LETTER IX.
TO SIG. FILIPPONI, AT TURIN.
To day, in contention with this letter, the
Marquis della Rofea fet off for Turin; we
mall fee who will arrive firft. I would not
confide it to him, that you might have two
(a) Baron Diefcau was long fuperintendant of the lyric
theatre of the electoral king of Poland, Auguftus III.
3 mementos
( 22 9 )
mementos of me, inflead of one. He will
tell how much I love and efteem you ; and
do you afTure him, of the indelible traces of
veneration and affection which he has left
impreffed in my mind, and try to preferve
him in that benevolent and partial difpofition
towards me, which he manifefted at his de-
parture.
I wifhed very much to fecond your hint
concerning the fubject of a fonnet, but my
mufes at prefent are troubled with hyfteric
affections; however, we will think of it
when they become more tractable.
Vienna, April 28th. 174?.
LETTER X.
TO THE ABATE PASQUINI.
I have here the fpecimens which M. Wal-
ther the printer has communicated ; and
mould do well to fay no more f But if you
wifh to fatten him, you may fay, that I am
extremely occupied, and cannot poj/ibly difpofe of
myfelf-, nor indeed dare I hope for leifure Juffici*
ent to fecond the generous partiality of Signor
Walt her, to whom I beg you to make due ac*
kwwledgements on my behalf
0^3 Know*
( 2 3° )
Know, that Semir amide is exalted to the
itars, thanks to the ^excellence of the per-
formers, and the magnificence of the decora-
tions, in fpite of anarefcvanda/ian mafic, which
is infupportable. The Tefi has acted in a
manner that has furprifed me and every hu-
man creature in Vienna. Venturini and
Amorevoli have pleafed extremely. Monti-
celli has been much admired. Lenzi and the
Favaglini have done wonders. In fhort, it is
one of the moil: magnificent ipeclacles which
can be prefented by a fovereign. The moil
rigid matrons, the moil: ancient and virtuous
minifters, and prelates, compofe the moil
numerous and partial part of the audience.
June 29th. 1748.
This opera, the firil which had been per-
formed at the imperial court, iince the death
of the emperor Charles VI. was reprefented
in celebration of the peace, concluded at Aix
la Chapelle. Monticelli and Amorevoli, who
were in England from 1741, to 1746, after
going thence to Venice, went from that city
to Vienna, in order to perform on this occa-
fion. The opera of Semir amide, which had
been originally fet by Vinci for Rome, in
j 729, and afterwards by Porpora for Venice,
l 735>
( *9i )
1735, was now new fet by the celebrated Bo-
■noncini, who at near ninety years of age, was
invited from Paris on the occanon.
No poem feems to have been produced by
our author this year, except a very iTiort
compliment, by order of the emprefs queen,
on the birth-day of the emperor Francis the
nril, which was pronounced with muiic, at
feven years old, by the arch- duke Jofeph, af-
terwards emperor. It was fet by Reutter,
at that time the imperial Maeflro di capella.
COMPLIMENT O.
Di quanta a si gran gkrno
Son debitor e, Augujlo Padre, intendo :
Ma nonfo dirk. Ah voglia il Ciel che in breve
Lo dican Vopre : * che ritrovi il mondo
In quel che far desio
Ilfuo ben, la tua gloria, e il dover mio.
S.u la mia front e intanto
FiJJa il pater no ciglio:
E leggi il cor d'unfigligy
Che nonjifafpiegar.
Ma, che per or ha il&ants-
Di rifpettarti a I meno:
Ma, che comprende apieno
Quanto ti deve amar.
The fentiniehts of this little poem bear all
the marks of delicacy and' propriety, which
CL4 f»
C 232 )
fo eminently characterize the encomiaftic
productions of our aulic bard. They breathe
no adulation that could fhame the parent, or
degrade the fom
How much I owe to this great day,
Oh Parent moft auguft, I underftand,
Though utt'rance to my thoughts I cannot give.
May heav'n ere long, let actions for me fpeak,
And all mankind difcover how I wifh
Their good, the glory of my fire, and well
To practice ev'ry duty of my ftate.
Till when, let fond paternal eyes
With fix'd regard my face behold,
And read my heart, which vainly tries
Its tender feelings to unfold.
Happy, this day, refpect to fhew
To him whofe looks fuch love infpire;
Till time more ample means beftow
Of rev'rence to fo great a, fire.
LETTER XL
TO THE ABATE PASQUINI.
While I was preparing to anfwer your let-
ter of the 1 3th iuft. a parcel arrives from the
fecretary of legation at this court, with an-
other letter from you, dated the 1 7th, and with
it two pleafing cantatas : Lavinia & JOidone-i
a very
( z 33 )
a very ingenious and beautiful anfwer to my
Palinodia to Nice ; and two ferenatas. I am
glad that an equivoque has produced me the
pleafure of your two competitions, with
which you know I cannot but be pleafed.
At the fame time, however, I muft confefs
that I feel mortified. Vanity is the natural
defect of us poor poets. And mine became
exceffive, in reflecting that a perfon of fuch
high rank (^), able to write verfes in fuch a
manner as to make us all afhamed, had not
difdained to number me in the croud of her
juft admirers. But it does not become me-
to enquire into this myftery. I venerate her,
clip the wings of my vain glory, and haften
to fpeak my fentiments. You have known
me long, and know that the court in which
I was born, and this in which I have refided
twenty years, have not taught me the lan-
guage of adulation. So that what I write,
are not unmeaning words of courfe.
Know then, that without your folemrt
protections, and coincident aflertions of
(h) The daughter of the Emperor Charles VII. after-
wards Ele&rice of Saxony, who, at the deceafe of her con-
fort, quitting politics, attached herfelf to mufic and poetry ;
wrote operas in Italian, fet them to mufxc, and performed in
them herfelf, in perfon. See Germ, Tour, and Htft* of
Mujtc, vol. iv. p. 580,
otlrer
( 234 )
other people to whom I cannot refufe giving
credit, I mould never have been able to im-
agine that a young princefs mould be able to
write, and in a foreign language, fuch excel-
lent poetry. In the two cantatas, not only
the delicate arrangement of the thoughts,
the connexion of ideas, the fele6tion of words,
the harmony of the verle, and the tender-
nefs of expreflion, are admirable; but what
fnrprifes me frill more, is a certain artful fa-
cility, which mere natural talents never fur-
nifh; for here a firmnefs of pulfe appears,
which is only to be acquired by long and la-
borious application. Now how is it poffible
to imagine, that fuch painful means mould
ever have been put in practice, by a perfon,
who, from the eminence of her ilation, can
have fo few moments to herfelf ?
I am impatient to receive the other com-
pofitions which you promife me ; and hence-
forth you may be certain of having an im-
portunate folicitor on your back; for I mall
never let you reft in peace till I obtain from
your friendship every thing of this kind that
you can lay your hands on, unlels prevented
by an abfolute prohibition.
I congratulate you on your two ferenatas,
hut on the Orfeo more than the Fiorina. In
the
( Z3S )
the flrit, the fubject being more poetical, has
more inflamed your imagination than the
other.
Vienna, Jan. 25, 1749.
LETTER XII.
TO THE SAME.
Will my dear x^bate never become an.
ceconomift? With the precious merchan-
dize with which you all at once opprefTed
me in your letter of the 3d inftant, you migh^
have been able to feed my poetical vanity
for whole years, however infatiable it may
be. That a princefs placed by providence
fo much above the generality of mortals,
mould deign to fuffer the productions of her
admirable talents to be feen by me; that with
a fovereign and precious command me mould
put it out of all doubt, from what lublime
fource my enviable fortune came; and that
fuch a glorious motive for me mould be af-
iigned for fuch condefcenfion ; are all fuper-
abundant temptations, fufficient to render
cynic indifference ambitious, and to difturb
iioic infenhbility. But that me mould pufh
her
( *3<5 )
her generofity fo far as to affign to me her
own happy gifts, is a cjrcumftance which
juitifies what I have formerly written :
Che unafpecie di tormento
E Veccejfo del placer (cj.
J have read, and mall often read again, the
iirft acl of Deme trio, nnd am unable to defcribe
to yon the pleafiire I have had in feeing one
of my own children corrected of all natural
defects, and ornamented with fuch qualities
as the poverty of the parent could never be-
f£ow. I mould be proud of its prefent mag-
nificent appearance, if I did not recollect
how many rivers, in their courfe, are increas-
ed by confluent waters, and enriched by gold,
which they never derive from their niggard
fource. Do you my dear Pafquini, who have
not fo many motives of confufion as I, iuf-
tain your friend in this dilemma ; take his
place, and reprefent for me to this beneficent
and royal prpte&refs, the fentiments of vene-
ration, gratitude and wonder, which I feel
too forcibly for expreflion;; and if you believe
that my Supplications can be of any efficacy,
unite them with your own, and with thole
(c) One ijpecies of torment is the excefs of pleafure,
«f
( *37 )
&f the whole poetic family, that the terrible
threat may never be put in practice, of de-
priving Parnaflus of fo illuftrious a votary.
Reprefent like wife, I entreat you, with
the moil: profound refpect, how much I feel
myfelf honoured by the clemency of the
royal electoral prince, and recommend me as
much as pomble to his patronage* Tell him
that in obedience to his commands, which
are fo glorious for me, I have already begun
the revifal of my Attilio Rego/o (*/), and as
loon as finimed, it mail be configned to the
care of the Saxon minifter at this court, for
its greater fecurity and difpatch. Happy
will it be for me, if this my offspring is al-
lowed, in my ftead, to pay its court to a prince
fo worthy of univerfal admiration ! And do
you intercede, that my Attilio may never
again return to Vienna, as it cannot obtain,
in other hands, greater glory or protection.
I am very lenlible that you are the favour-
able wind, which colle6b on my head this
Ihower of royal favour; think then how
grateful this mult be to my heart, and how
much it muft encreafe in me that fincere and
(d) This opera, written in 1740, was prevented from,
being performed, by the death of the emperor Charles VI.
tender
( * 3 8 )
tender regard which I fhall never ceafe td
feel for you.
P. S. In fending my letters to the poft,
I have been put in poiTeffion of another par-
cel from you, containing the fecond acl of
Demetrio, and a cantata. In fpite of hurry,
I have twice run through this laft. Oh poor
Pafquini ! and poor me ! If fbvereigns write
fuch excellent poetry, what is to become of
us wretched plebeian bards !
Vienna, Feb. 5th, 1749.
LETTER XIII.
TO THE SAME.
Loaded with the applaufe and ejjeem of
the whole city and court, our moft amiable
Venturini fets off on his return to Drefden;
and carries with him my Attilio Rego/o, in
order to be prefented to his royal highnels
the electoral prince of Saxony.
Since my laft letter, having fpoken to my
moft auguft patronefs, I have obtained pater-
nal and defpotic power over my Attilio; fo
that I now completely enjoy the enviable
felicity of being able to offer this fmall tri-
bute to fuch a great and enlightened prince,
who deigns to be fo unlimitedly my protec-
1 tor.
( 2 39 )
tor. Let him lock it up in the fecret recef-
fes of his cabinet; expofe it to viciffitudes of
the ftage ; or gratify the curiofity of the pub-
lic, by printing it, I mail always regard its
fate as happy to what ever ufe it mall be
deitined by the arbitration of fiich a prince.
Certain that my name and writings have
fometimes the fupreme glory to occupy his
thoughts, I eagerly feize this opportunity of
laying at his feet this fmall teftimony of my
mbmimon and impatient gratitude. The
gift is unworthy of him,
Ne che poco 10 vl dla da imputar Jim
Se qutxnto pojjo dar tutto vl dono.
*' If all I can beftow I freely give,
w No blame is due for gift diminutive.
Though deceived by friendfhip yourfelf,
you did wrong to deceive his highnefs with
refpecl to the merit of Attilio-, take care
however to continue the deceit. The un-
deceiving would now coil too much to him
who is ever yours.
Vienna, Feb. 26th. 1749.
L E T-
( 240 }
LETTER XIV.
TO THE SAME.
Your letter of the 17th of laft month,
has really comforted me, with the certainty
that you did not take amifs the liberty with
which I treated your Canzone. But I was
to blame for doubting it. You know me
lufficiently to be certain, that criticifm from
me can flow from nothing but true friend -
fhip. I know too that you afk my opinion,
not as is generally done, to procure praife,
but to be more certain, by the vote of one in
the trade. And I mould feel guilty of treach-
ery, if I did not wholly open my heart, even
at the rifk of difpleaiing you. So that I
place among your mofl conliderable merits*
that exemplary docility which you poffefs,
and which is fo uncommon to poets.
And, in return, you mould not forget to
number among mine, the heroifm with
which I undertake to obey you, when in ex-
amining your, works, I rifk the cruel alter-
native, either of deceiving, or offending you.
But I fee how you think on thefe fubjecls, fo
that
( 2 4 l )
that I may venture to ufe that freedom with
you which I could not do with others.
Vienna, Marqh I, 1749.
LETTER XV.
TO THE SAME.
•
I am enchanted with the 3d act of De-
metrio, which arrived with your laft letter.
It feems to me as if the beneficent hand
which has undertaken to enrich me, has
been frill more prodigal in this gift, than in
either of the former. My dear Abate, if I
was lefs fearful of being fufpedted of adula-
tion, I mould enlarge more on this fubjecl:.
But the enormous diflance between the
writer and the encomiaft., will but too much
authorize fufpicion. However, T cannot
contain myfelf fo entirely, as not to confefs,
candidly, that I had never believed it pof-
fible, to meet with fo formidable a rival in
the fplendid buttle of a court. But this is
all entre nous. In the fortunate moments
that you will be allowed to fpeak to this in-
comparable Princefs, forget not to make
known what I think of her talents ; you
. vol. 1. r cannot
( 242 )
cannot fay half (o much as I think, nor fb
little, perhaps, as not to offend. As my im-
mediate plenipotentiary, your commiffion
extends no further than to implore her royal
patronage, and to reprefent, in every point
of view, my profound veneration.
Would to heaven my Attilio, with all his
father's defects on his head, may afford his
Electoral Highnefs a moment's amufement,
in return for the many favours with which
his clemency has deigned to honour me. I
recommend the poor pilgrim to your care :
mew him the road, inftruct, recommend,
conduct, and let him, through your means,
enjoy all the rights of hofpitality. I know
not whether he has more claims to favour
than his brothers ; but he has certainly coil
me the moft pains in educating ; and is lefs
deficient in that fblidity, which, though they
never arrived at it, I endeavoured to pro-
cure for them all.
I congratulate you on your beautiful ode
on Count Bruhl. It has really furprifed
me, as I was ignorant of your powers in the
Pindaric flyle. It is majeftic, fpirited, rich
in thoughts and images, and full of the fire
and fancy which characterize that fpecies of
compofition. In fhort, it feerns to me, as if
your
( 243 )
your Mecamus ought to be pleafed with his
Horace. I am much obliged by your com-
munication of it, and wifh you a long en-
joyment of that juvenile vigour which fuch
enterprifes require.
It is very true that I have not only once,
but many times, entreated various perfons
to remind the worthy Count Vacherbart of
my ancient reverence and attachment to
his perfon. I learned to refpect him from
the firft moment of my arrival at this court,
where he then refided ; and the univerfal
opinion of his lingular merit, which has
lince increafed, makes me proud of my
fagacity.
I wim you much better health than you
enjoyed when you wrote your laft letter.
Africa weeps, my dear Pafquini (e), and
Italy does not fmile : let us enjoy the few
tranquil days which are frill allowed us by
providence, and tolerating the prefent evils,
hope for future good.
Vienna, March 8, 1749.
(e) This feems to allude to the infults which the Italian
States had received, at this time, from the Algerines; who,
with a fleet of eleven fhips, had alarmed the coaft of Naples,
intending to feize the King in the ifle of Forc'ida, where
he was hunting.
52 L E T-
( 244 }
LETTER XVL
TO THE SAME.
*
I have great occafion for your affirmance,
but much more for your counfel. And as I
have no reafbn to think that you will deny
me either, I mail proceed to bufinefs with-
out preface.
You will remember, or if you fhould not,
the annexed memorial will remind you, that
I loft an office -in the kingdom of Naples,
to which I had been appointed by the Em-
peror Charles VI. All others under the
fame circumftances, at, the peace, fet about
recovering their rights ; I. only remained
tranquil, not being animated to any fuch
hope by the general tenor of my perverfe
fortune. But all my friends, from w T hom
my vanity could not conceal the innumerable
favours with which I had been honoured by
the clemency of your princes, have loudly
and unanimoufly cenfured my indolence, in
not applying to fuch powerful patrons, who
might, with fo much probability of fuccefs,
favour my petition to the Queen of the two
Sicilies. Not being able to refift thefe re-
monftrances,
( 245 )
monftrances, I have drawn up the inclofed
memorial. Now begins your miniftry, as
counfellor and commiffary. .
As counfellor therefore, read, and confi-
der both the letter and memorial ; examine
impartially, whether the juftice of my caufe
deferves pity and protection. Tell me if it
appears to you that I may fafely implore the
affiftance of thefe royal perfonages, without
appearing what I am not, a mercenary
man ; but in this fecond difcuffion, it is
neceffary I mould affure you, that when I
thought of doing myfelf the honour of lay-
ing my Attilio at the feet of the Electoral
Prince, I never dreamed of my loft place in
the kingdom of Naples. You know me
well enough to believe this ; but that is not
fufficient. My protectors mull: likewife be-
lieve it ; for I prize their good opinion much
more than all the wealth of Crcefus. Exa-
mine, laftly, whether, without repugnance,
your court would undertake to fupport my
claims on that of Naples. If, on inquiry,
you think the attempt improper, be filent,
never mention the bunnefs, and I mall be
indebted to you for your advice. If, how-'
ever, you are of a different opinion, you
then become my commilTary.
R I - In
( Z46 )
In that cafe, throw yourfelf at the feet of
their Royal HighnefTes, explain the affair,
and my want of protection ; implore their af-
firmance; procure melikewife, by their means,
that of the King and Queen; requeftthe coun-
fel and affiftance of his excellence Count Vach-
erbart ; folicit recommendations, which will
be more efficacious, the fooner they are pro-
cured. Vifit, ipeak, write, and, in fhort,
do every thing for me that I mould do for
you, in limilar circumftances. I received no
letter from you to-day, but flatter myfelf
that want , of health has not occafioned your
filence. Continue to love me, however;
troublefome I may be.
Vienna, March 15, 1749.
LETTER XVII.
TO THE SAME.
By your moft welcome letter of the 10th
inftant, as well as by one from our dear
Venturini, I am affured of the gracious re-
ception of my pilgrim, Attilio, by his Elec-
toral highnefs. I did not doubt of his cle-
mency ; but confefs, that I was very anxious
for
( 247 )
for letters to confirm it ; as, betides the re-
verence due to a perfonage who unites to
his eminent ftation fo many virtues and
accomplifhments, I had conceived for him,
after being prefented to him at Vienna, a
certain affeclion, which I fhould call love,
if I knew how to reconcile that word with
refpecl as well in my letter as in my heart.
You, by long habit, will underftand me ;
therefore try, in proper time and place, to
explain my meaning.
The thought of my laft tirefome packet
arriving in an evil hour, juft when you were
on the point of holding a ferious conference
with the good fon of Maja, vexes me ex-
tremely. If I was as much a prophet as a
poet, I fhould not have been guilty of fb
great a blunder. Pardon, and pity me, for
weakly giving way to the cries of my friends,
fo far as to undertake an application, to
which I felt a prefaging repugnance. At
prefent, I muft write to our dear Venturini,
which will be fome relief to you. Commu-
nicate to him my letters, and the whole
bufinefs. Decide together on the propriety
of the application, and if it is agreed on,
beg him to do every thing for me, that you
would wifh him to do for yourfelf. Adding
R 4 - to
( 2 4 * )
to the information, that the Marquis Malaf-
pina, the prime minifter at Naples, has al-
ways manifested a partiality for me ; if,
therefore, he mould be deemed a fit inftru-
ment to fecond the principal impulfe, forget
not to make ufe of him.
I doubt not, but that powerful divinity,
whofe votary you are, will take as much
care of your frame, as he has hitherto done
of your genius. However, I am impatient
to know from yourfelf the effects of his pa.-
tronage. Gratify my affectionate folicitude,
and fail riot to let me know the progrefs of
our fuit.
Vienna, March 22, 1749,
LETTER XVIII,
TO THE SAME.
Last Saturday evening, after I had
written and fent my letter to the poit,
your's of the 1 7th inftant was brought to
me, and with it the copy of his excellency
Count Vachebart's note. I could not then,
to my great affliction, acknowledge the re-
ceipt of them, for want of time ; but tor
day ?
( 249 )
day, having more leifure, I perceive myfelf
in a worfe condition, for want of an honeit
excufe for my filence. Indeed this new and
authentic teftimony, of the extraordinary
o;oodnefs with which the Electoral Prince
and Princefs honour me and my works, has
fo agitated my mind, that I am totally
unable to write. I have no power to ex-
prefs the extraordinary emotions of vain-
glory, confulion, gratitude, reverence, and-
many other effects, which 1 feel on this oc-
cafion. They are fuch temptations, my
dear Abate, as would difcurb the modera-
tion of the moft tranquil Lyceum, as well
as the flormy Parnaffus. Think of my
honour ; reprefent me fuch as I ought to be,
for it may not be to my advantage were you
to defcribe me fuch as I am. However, in
the midH: of this delight, I am fufficientlv
reafonable to perceive, from the ftyle, the
part which the moit. worthy writer has had
in procuring me royal favour, and with how
much pleafure he communicates it. Ex^
plain to him, in my name, the ferifibility
with which I perceive the obligations I have
to his zeal.
Vienna, March 26, 1749*
LET-
( 2 5° )
LETTER XIX.
TO THE SAME.
I have not leifure for a long anfwer to
your letter of the 24th; but I ihall haften
to fatisfy your doubts : for the office required,
will become more difficult to obtain, as the
prefent circumftances of the peace become
more diitant. The following, therefore, are
the particulars you wifli to know previous
to- your application to Count Vacherbart.
The place then, of which I demand the
restitution, was not conferred on any other
perfon, to my knowledge, at Vienna. This
charge was eftimated at a thoufand Neapo-
litan ducats per annum ; but I am unable to
inform you whether it itill retains its value.
The King of Naples has reftored all the
conflfcated places to fuch as have proved a
valid title ; and fuch is furely mine, having
received it in lieu of a falary agreed on, but
not paid. Whether any have been reftored,
that were free- gifts at Vienna, I know not.
Remember that the Marquis Malaipina, will
fbpply information and fecond endeavours,
but will not be the firft mover. The chief
force
( *S* )
force mufr. have come from higher powers.
And an office de communlbus is not fufficient.
If you difcover rocks, {top immediately.
A zephyr will not fuffice for our navigation,
we rauft have a brifk gale. I rejoice moll
heartily at your recovery.
Vienna, March 29, 1749.
LETTER XX.
TO THE SAME.
I acknowledge, in great hafte, the re-
ceipt of your letter of the 7th inftant, and
beg that the reafons may ceafe which pre-
vented your anfwering mine. The Marquis
Malafpina has not told you a fingle circum-
ftance of which I had not previously apprifed
you. If my affair could have been adjudged
in a court of juftice, I mould not have ap-
plied to fuch great proteclors. My receiver-
flip was not granted as a co?npenfation for
merit ; it was an equivalent for a portion of
promifed f alary ^ not ajjigned. I a Iked four
thoufand florins, the mm allowed Apoftolo
Zeno ; three only were granted, and, for
excufe, it was faid that the exchequer could
be charged with no more ; but it was pro-
mifed to be made up to me by fome other
1 means.
( 252 )
•means. Hence the protection refted on the
proverb : that unpaid merit may pais for
ready money. Nor do I well know how a
court of juftice could be called on to. enforce
•filch promifes of reward ; though, in equity,
the refufal would have a bad appearance.
Butthefe are all reveries, to which your letter
led me ; they mail be written however,
'Unce you wim it, to Count Richecourt,
though I muil: confefs that I do not approve
your plan. We daily advance into the
croud of human wants, and yet you would
renounce, in a great meafure, the means of
fupplying them. But enough of this. If
the thing is refolved, all counfel is vain.
Addio, dear Pafquini,
Vienna, April 12, 1749-
LETT ER XXL
TO THE SAME.
By your kind letter of the 24th inftant,
I perceive with what zeal the Electoral
Prince Royal has undertaken to patronize
my pretentions. Upon fo folid a foundation,
I feem authorized to build great hopes ; and
if thefe mould fail, there will always remain
the glorious remembrance of a patronage,
which
( *53 )
which does me fo much honour. I entreat
you, my dear Abate, in fome dextrous mo-
ment,, to reprefent to this royal protector,
how much my relpeft is increafed by his be-
nevolence. Nor forget to atteft to his ex-
cellence Count Vacherbart, how fincerely I
acknowledge myfelf indebted to him, for the
royal propennty towards me, which his ex-
ample has procured. I have no doubt, but
that the fear of precedent will be pleaded
againft me. But againft this objeclion, fe-
veral expedients are fuggefled in my memo-
rial.
Vienna, April a6, 1749.
LETTER XXII.
TO SIG. FILIPPONI.
Your very kind letter of the 2d of May
deferved no cenfure, I know how affection-
ately you wifhed to keep the correfpondence
alive, without writing merely for the fake
of writing, contrary to ftipulation. Nor is
your letter fo empty as you pretend. The
aflurances of your having difcovered how
fincerely the Marquis della Rocca, and Count
Ormea loved me ; and your interpretations.
•f
( 2 54 )
of the molt amiable Madame del Bene, are
very plaufable materials aiid occaflons for a
letter, without any other legal pretext. Re-
turn aloud, in my name, to the two nrit, the
moll: tender and refpectful acknowledg-
ments ; proteft to the third, in a more mo-
del!: tone, but not lefs expreiiive, how fenli-
ble I am of the honour which me is pleafed
to confer on me.
You are much miftaken if you fuppofe
me to be an enthuuaitic collector of Antiques.
I have none in my poffeflion, except a few
for common ufe. My purfe and patience
are engaged in more neceflary works. It
would be infupportable to me, if I were
conftantly in the hands of impoftors. I
would give the whole mufeum Florentinum,
for fome little piece of excellent modern
workmanmip, which has neither undergone
the examination of that nor any other aca-
demy. You fee how capricious my poetics
are, by this confeffion. Count Canale falutes
you cordially. I beg you will not forget to
recommend me to the orifons of your
prieltefs, and believe me molt, conftantly
yours.
Vienna, May 28, 1749*
END OF THE FIFTH SECTION*
( *55 )
SECTION VI.
LETTER. I.
TO FARINELLI.
A thousand bleffings light on, my admi-
rable Gemello I Your letter of the 28 th of
January has generoufly aftonifhed our poor
Migliavacca, wit-h the gift of 300 UngherL
It was with the greater!: difficuly that he
could believe it real. He knew he did not
merit any fuch fum, though he was in fuch ex-
treme want of it, that he abfolutely thought
it to have been miraculoufly fent, by the holy
King David, the protector of poets. It has
given me infinite pleafure to think myfelf, in
fome meafiire, the inftrument which provi-
dence has ufed in fuccouring this poor man ;
andflill more, that the rumour of fuch uncom-
mon generofity does fo much honour to my
dear twin brother. Migliavacca will not be
lilent ; and I have filled both the city and
court with the ftory. I have every day the
fatisfaction
( *$ .)
fatisfadion of being called upon by perfo.tis
of the highefr. difHnclion, to confirm the
fact, and confequently<of being required to
repeat the narration, and of obferving what
univerfal juilice is done you. How happy it
makes me to perceive that we think alike-
There are thoufands and thoufands of old
and new reafons to prove that you have
done right. The world will not foon forget
to fpeak of you.
I am glad the Armida placata pleafes you >
and I believe, under your direction, that it
cannot fail of fuccefs. To fatisfy you with
refpecl: to the embelliihments at the end,
which you feem to wifh, Ihave two expe-
dients ; thefe I have pointed put to Miglia-
vacca, and when he has executed them in
the manner agreed on, I will, as ufiial, lend
a hand, in order that you may be ferved as
you ought. In one of thefe expedients, it
is prppofed, by the power of enchantment,
to introduce into the texture of the drama,
the court of Apollo or the Sun, according
to your wifh. But as the denruction of the
enchantment is neceUary to the cataftrophe
of the opera, the laft eight or ten verfes
muft be recited in the natural grove which
was feen at the beginning of the piece.
3 And
( *S7 )
And with this I know not whether you will
be fatisfied. A fimilar expedient was, how-
ever, received with applaufe in my Sogno di
Scipione. Another method of introducing a
magnificent fcene with whatever machinery
you may wifh, is to have a Licenza, or
compliment at the end, wholly detached
from the texture of the drama $ appro-
priating the whole feftival to a name-day,
or birth-day, of fome royal perfonage. In
this cafe, the aclion may be terminated without
being maimed : and the fcene changed to
the Palace of the Sun, with as much fplendor
and magnificence, as you pleafe. Here our
mafter Apollo, angry with the Mufes, and the
Genii their followers, with which the ma-
chine will be filled, in a pompous recitative
and air, will tell them, he wonders ex-
tremely that being engaged to fing the
praifes of the Gods of Manfanare *, they
mould lofe their time in reprefenting the
madnefs,of Rma/do and Armida. And com-
manding them all, upon pain of excommu-
nication, to follow him inftantly and begin
the work : the Mufes and Genii, imme-
diately ruing from their feats on the ilage,
in order to obey him, form a magnificent
* The river, on the banks of which Madrid is built.
vol. i s dance
( *5* )
dance to the harmony of a full chorus,
wifhinsr the audience a good night. In this
expedient it is neither neceffary that the
performance mould be on a name or birth-
pay. The Licenza, or farewel, may be
contrived to ferve for any other common
day, as every day is proper to pay relpect to
the fovcreign of a court. For my own part,
I mould not hefitate a moment, my dear
Farinelli, to adopt this fecond method : as
the firft, to my conception, would always
appear like a wen, or tail added to the fes-
tival, which does not fit, and fpoils the
cataftrophe ; and at 3 aft, to thefe difadvan-
tages, muft be added that of returning air
orrido Bofco % for the final verfes. Oh, but
fay you, if the -firft manner is fo bad, why
propofe, write, and correcl it ? Softly, ioftly,
my mailer. In the firft place, if you will
abfolutely adopt it, there would be no herefy
in it worthy of the inquifition. And, Se-
condly, I muft have convinced you, that if,
unluckily, every thing is not arranged to
your mind, it is not for want of pains, but
literally from the impoffibility of the enter-
priie, Migliavacca will fend you, by the
* To the horrid wood. -The final chorus of the opera.
next
( 2 59 )
tiext poft, what has been doing; and, fi-
nally, I return to the charge of recom-
mending to you the choice of. the fecond ex-
pedient for a Licenza.
When, in the name of wonder, will my
bleffed picture arrive; Prince Trivulzi every
pofl aflures me, that you ought to have re-
ceived it by this time. We mall fee whe-
ther my evil genius [will not purfue, even my
portrait. r
1 do not remind you of the Neapolitan af-
fair, as it would be an injury to your friend-
ihip to imagine it wanted a fHmulus. If
ever it mould fucceed, I mail make fuch a
noife about it, that, for your fovereign ? s glory
and your own, it mail extend to China.
You flatter my vanity too much in mak-
ing me hope that my writings fometimes
obtain the approbation of fo enlightened a
princefs, as your royal miftrefs. Such
temptations as thefe would vanquifh the
moderation of the moft humble and refigned
philofopher. Think then what a tumult
they muft raife in the bread of a poet ! Do
you, my dear Gemello, who thanks to the
fingular talents with which providence has
furnifhe'd you, have the fupreme happinefs
of approaching her throne, implore . for me
s 2 lb
( 26o )
fo great a patronage ; and in letting her know
that I am not a ftranger to the praifes of her
numerous royal qualities, try to obtain for
me the fovereign influence of her favour.
My nofe and my health are extremely
thankful to you for having thought of them.
They ought in gratitude to be both em-
ployed in your fervice ; yet I own myfelf at
a lofs how to ufe the firil with any hope of
giving you pleafure. — But ftay — I will fad-
die it with a huge pair of fpeclacles every
time I write to you, though hitherto I have
had no occafion for them.
All the ladies whom you falute, return
yourfalutations, but particularly the countefs
of Althan. The poor countefs of Fouchs is
ftill ftruggling with a terrible cough, which
had reduced her to a IkeJeton. At prefent
her life is not in immediate danger, but her
recovery will, inevitably, be very flow. By
this time you mult be fufriciently tired.
Pray love me in exchange for the frie.ndfhip,
efteem, and affection, which I mail ever re-
tain for you.
Vienna, March 8, 1749.
LET-
( a6i )
LETTER III.
TO THE SAME.
And fo your hand writing is fo precious,
that there is no afpiring at the poffeflion of
fuch a bleffing, without having firlt fighed
for it many Olympiads ! Ah barbarous ! Un-
grateful man ! Hyrcanian tiger ! Deaf ad-
der ! Mountain cat ! Tarantula of i^pulia !
In fo many months could it never enter your
head, to let me know that you were alive !
I believe that the ftreams of Manfanare are
the waters of Lethe, and that you fwim in
them like a trout. I believe that you have
entirely forgot my name, and if any one
mould mention it, you would afk, who is this
Metaftafio ? I made Migliavacca correct the
Armida Placata, and it was fpeedily trans-
mitted to you. I wrote to you about this
and my own affairs. I hoped that my pic-
ture muft be arrived by ' this time, and the
delicate commhTion I gave you, executed ; but
with all thefe Jiimuli, not one lign of life is
given. I would have you take care of your
felf. Either contrive to difarm my poetical
fury, or I mail transfix you with a fatire in
s 3 your
( 262 )
your praife, fufficient to make the beard of
the Farnefe Hercules tremble, though made
offtone. And here I begin. A beautiful
lady whofe nods are laws, knowing that we
are friends, will have me write to you in
order to propofe for your theatre, a firen of
ours, whom me protects. The firen recom*
mended is called Colombo. Mattei; me is a Ro-
man, and feems about two or three and
twenty, at molt. Her voice is a foprano,
clear in tone, without defects ; has great
agility, and extends, with eafe, to two octaves,
from B to b, Sings in good tafte, and has
a good portamento. She has a well propor-
tioned figure, fine eyes, is not ugly, acts
well, and is very ambitious of diftinguiihing
herfelf by her performance. Here me has
acquired univerfal applaufe, as well for her
finging, as action ; though on the fame ftage
with our African, the Tefi, the capricious
CafFariello, and a tenor in the fervice of the
Elector of Cologn, called RaafF, who lings
like a feraph. I, who am the father of all
doubters, hear her with pleafure, and mould
not know what more to wifh in her, if her
{tature, which is fo genteel and well propor-
tioned, had a little more height, and her
voice, with all its fweetnefs and agility, had
£very
( *i )
a very little more fullnefs. She has per-
formed three years at Palermo, as fird wo-
mon ; at Naples, as fecond, with the Aftrua ;
as firft at the court of Bareith, in the nomi-
nal fervice of which me is at prefent ; and
now me is fecond to the Teii ; but will ling
no more as fecond, unlefs with a few of the
moil celebrated profeffors on the (lage; as (lie
knows that the reft are not better than her-
ielf. The gentlemen who direcl the opera,
have already requefled her to remain here
another feafon ; but me keeps them in fuf-
penfe, having heard from fome Maeftro di
Capella or other, before me quitted Naples,
that fhe would have an application from Ma*
drid ; and it appears to me, that fhe is more
partial to the Doubloons of Spain, than the
Ungheri of Germany. I am not anxious
that you mould engage her ; but I very much
wiih that the lady who patronifes her, mould
.be convinced how implicitly (he has been
obeyed. So that if you do not want her, at
leaft write me a letter that may preferve
my credit; But if you mould wifh to enter
into a treaty with her, in order to fave time,
at fo enormous a diftance, you might include
in your letter to me, a (ketch of an article,
fpecifying the falary and the conditions by
S 4 which
( *6 4 )
which it is to be obtained ; and by this fketch,
I mall regulate my conduct, always ftudying
your intereft moil allured ly more than that
that of any other. I mufl tell you, that I
make a great facrifice, by entering into this
theatrical negotiation. Though if you were
to fee from what beautiful lips the com-
mands I execute came, you would approve
my condefcenhon. But let us have done
with firens *.
How am I to account for your profound
filence about my loft place, which has fo
* By this account of the opera fingers at Vienna, in
1749, we may judge of Metaftafio's opinions, candour,
and good tafte, in fpeaking of vocal talents. Cafftrelli
came young into England, to great disadvantage, as the
immediate fucceffor of Farinelli; but afterwards mounted
to the fummit of his art, not only in talents, but caprice.
The Teji never was in England, nor a favourite of Metaf-
tafio ; but as an a&refs, as well as finger, in a grand, more
than an amiable ftyle, fhe acquired great reputation, par-
ticularly in the German courts. His character of the
Mattel is exact to the niceft degree of difcrimi nation, as
many perfons ftill living, who faw and heard her after-
wards in England, as fecond woman with Mihgotti> and
firft with Potenza and Elizi, will allow. And the high
praife he has beftowed on the celebrated Tenor, Raaf, was
that of every feeling judge of vocal abilities who heard
him. See characters of all thefe opera fingers : Mujical
Teurs, zndHift. of Afujic, vol. iv.
long
( *6 S )
long aiuicled me ? You have perhaps loft
all courage at the firft repulfe ? Has a flight
contrary wind then made you run into port?
No, my dear Gemello : fuch little fortitude
would never characterize you. With a fair
wind, no one would ever have recourfe to
the powers of Farinelli. It is from the dif-
ficulties of the enterprife, that it becomes
worthy of his care. If the doors are not
opened at the firft attempt, they may per-
haps at the fecond. And it happens fre-
quently, that Jhe who refifts the firft affault,
at the lecond, is vanquished. Remember
that you are combatting for your fellow twin,
in a moft juft caufe. And if it lhould be
gained, it would be no dilgrace in the eyes
of Europe, either to s thofe who granted, or
thofe who folicited, the favour.
You will, perhaps, be curious to know how
Caffariello has been received ; and here fol-
lows the true hiftory. The wonders related
of him by his adherents, had excited expec-
tations of fomething above humanity ; but
the firft night, he abfolutely diipleafed every
body, and was moft clearly and univerfally
difapproyed. He faid that he was fo op-
preffed and difconcerted by the prefence of
their Imperial Majefties, that he could not
recover
( 266 )
recover himfelf; and indeed, in the fubfe-
quent reprefentations, he regained his credit
fo much, that fome of the nobility and gen-
try now exalt him to the firmament, and
even go fo far as to make heretical com-
parifons. There are, however, innumerable
critics, who find his voice ftrong, but falfe,
fcreaming, and diibbedient ; fo that he can
do nothing considerable without forcing it,
and when forced, it becomes harm and dif-
agreeable. They fay that he has no judg-
ment, and by frequently attempting what he
is unable to execute, leaves it half fmimed ;
that he has an old faihioned and bad tafte,
and pretend, that they can difcover in his
graces, the antique, and {rale flourishes of
Niccolini and Mateuccio. They cry out, that
no one ever trod the ftage worfe ; that in
the recitatives he is an old nun ; and in all
he tings, there conflantly reigns a whim-
pering tone of lamentation, fufflcient to four
the gaiefT. allegro*. They allow that he
can fometimes pleafe, even to excefs; but
fay, that thefe happy moments are uncertain,
and depend on the caprice of his voice and
* This, with refpe& to the tone of his voice, is ex-
actly the effect which Marchefi's firft performance on the
Englifh ftage, had on the writer of thefe memoirs.
difpofition s
( *6 7 )
difpofttion, and do not make amends for
what his imperfections oblige them to fufFer.
You will be pleafed to obferve, that I only
cite, but do not decide : on the contrary, I
proteft to you, that I have all the efleem for
this performer, which he merits.
The difgrace of the firft night, the diver-
fity of opinions, and the little appearance
there is of his having acquired the favour of
our molt auguft patronefs, a princefs whom
you know to be an exquifite judge of mufic,
have humbled him fo extremely, that from
his prefent modefty and refignation, you
would not know him. If he continues m
this difpofition, I hope he will acquire many
of thofe fuffrages which were at firft refufed
to him.
Our Countefs of Althan, who during thefe
occurrences, has a moft lively remembrance
of you, fends you a thoufand falutations.
And I, fufpending my choler, embrace you
with my ufual, but ill returned affection.
Vienna, May 28, 1749.
Metaftafio more frequently complains of
the tention of his nerves, and of hypochon-
driac affe&ions, this year (1749) than at any
other
( 268 )
other period of his life ; and yet, in his let-
ters, he has given frequent proofs of hilarity,
particularly in writing to his nrft and con-
stant patronefs, the Princefs di Belmonte.
Two of thefe letters, not in the collection
published at Nice, have been inferted in Sig.
Saverio Mattei's Memoirs of the poet.
The firft contains an account of an earth-
quake that happened in Germany, in June
1749, which he defcribes in the following
manner.
" On Monday was fevennight, at 3 o'clock
in the afternoon, we were favoured with
the unexpected vifit of an earthquake, an
animal hardly known in thefe regions. The
effects of this vifit were certainly not flight,
as there is fcarcely a fingle perfon here who
did not perceive it; and if the city has
efcaped from damage, the environs and the
country have fuffered confiderably, by the
appearance of great bodies of water, without
knowing whence they came, and which
have inundated considerable tracts of land.
The motion was not, as ufual, undulatory,
from fide to fide, but upwards and down-
wards, which will perhaps account for
the little damage which the buildings fuf-
tained. The principal mock was preceded
and
( 269 )
and followed by others, but much lefs Vio-
lent. Your excellency will eafily believe,
that we are full of terrors ; as indeed we
well may, as this is one of the leaft amuf-
ing of all nature's fports ; and as it has hap-
pened in a country not at all ufed to com-
pliments of this kind, it is natural that, befides
the umal fear on fuch occafions, it mould
have produced all the fymptoms of a terrible
furprife. You will take it for granted, that
our churches are full, and our theatres
empty ; our. muficians idle, and our preach-
ers fatigued ; that we are covered with fack-
cloth and afhes, and, in fhort, that Vienna
refembles Nineveh in penitence. But your
excellence will now be pleafed to obferve,
how poffible it is, from good reafoning, to
draw falfeconclufions. Nothing of all this
has happened. The theatres were never
more frequented ; the inhabitants more fe-
rene ; or aflemblies more chearful. We did
indeed, for about two days, talk of this un-
expected gueft ; but not more than we mould
have done of a Rhinoceros, an Elephant, or
any other ftrange animal. iU the time I
am writing this letter, it is no longer fpoken
of: and the journey of Madamoifelle Taglia-
%iniy the dancer, through this city, , from
i Italy
( 2 7 )
Italy to Drefden, has inftantly fuperfeded
all kind of mention of the earthquake in our
converfation. Your Excellence will con-
clude, from this moil faithful account, how
much more quiet our conferences are here,
than elfewhere : and that nature has benign-
ly furnifhed us with that fortitude and equa-
nimity, without trouble, which, in other
countries, is only to be acquired by a long
and painful fhidy of philofophy. Nor is your
Excellency to believe, that this heroifm is
granted here to none but the Germans : this
hofpitab.le climate communicates its privi-
leges, even to foreigners : for I have obfer-
ved the fame firmnefs in all the Italians refi-
dent in this city. So true it is, that coward-
ife is a diforder which is caught by the mind,
as the fmall-pox or meazles by th« body."
In a fecond letter to the fame princefs,
dated July the 5th, we have a very pleafant
and lively relation of a Tweedle-dum and
Tweedle-dee quarrel, which had juft hap-
pened in the Opera-houfe at Vienna.
" In exchange for the mufical news with
which your Excellence has honoured me,
concerning our amiable friend, Monticelli> I
(hall give you fome military tidings of our
valiant Cajfarelli, who a few days ago, gave
public
( 2 7 I )
public proofs of his being no lefs a votary of
Mars, than of Apollo, For my misfortune,
I was not prefent at thefe military feats :
but the following is a moft faithful narrative.
The Poet of this theatre, is a Milanefe
young man, defcended from very worthy
parents ; but inconfiderate, a great admirer
of the fair fex, defpifing money, and not
more rich in abilities, than deficient in judg-
ment. To this young author, the mana-'
gers of this theatre have confided, not only
the fettling the books of the words, but all
the arrangements of the ftage. I know not
whether it proceeded from rivalry of talents,
or perfonal beauty, but the poet and the
finger, from the beginning, have been upon
the qui vive, and treated each other with
fneers and farcafms. At length, Mwliavacca
(the poet) ifTued out orders for a rehearial
of the opera that was preparing. All the
performers obeyed the fummons, except
Caffarelli; whofe abfence was occasioned,
either by a mutinous fpirit, or an innate
averfion to every fpecies of obedience.
However, at the end of the rehearfal, he
appeared ; and to the falutations of the
company, in a very contemptuous and dif-
dainful manner, alked, What was the ufe of
4 thefe
( 2 7 2 )
thefe rchearfah ? The Coryphaeus anfwered,
in a voice of authority, that " No one was
obliged to be accountable to him for what
was doing ; that he ought to be glad that
his own failure of attendance had been fuf-
fered : that his prefence or his abfence Would
be of little utility to the fuccefs of the opera ;
and though he did what he pleafed himfelf,
he ought, at leaft, to let others do their
-duty." Caffarelli violently irritated at the
air of authority which Migliavacca had af-
fumed, politely interrupted him by faying,
that "he who had ordered fuch a rehearfal
was a folemn coxcomb."^— Here all the pa-
tience and dignity of the director left him ;
and fufFering himfelf to be blindly trans-
ported from a poetical fury, to a more igno-
ble rage, he honoured the chanter with all
thofe glorious titles which Caffarelli had
merited in different parts of Europe ; and
flightly touched, but " in very lively colours,
fome of the raoft memorable tranfactions of
his life ; nor was he likely fbon to come to
a clofe ; but the hero of his panegyric, cut-
ting the thread of his own praife, boldly
cried out to the panegyrift ; " follow me, if
thou haft courage, to a place where there is.
no one to affift. thee :" then moving towards
the:
( 273 )
the door, beckoned him to come out. The
perplexed and threatened poet remained a
moment in doubt : then fmiling, he fays ;
" truly fuch a rival as thee makes me blufh :
but come along ! fince the chaftifing mad-
men and fools is always a chrifUan work."
And then advanced in order to take the
field. But Caffarelli having either thought
that the Mufes would not be fb valiant, or
that, according to the rules of the criminal
law, a delinquent ought to be punifhed in
loco patrati delifti, changed his firft refolu-
tion of feeking another field of battle, and
intrenching himfelf behind the door, drew
his bright blade, and prefented the point to
the enemy. Nor did the other refufe the
contefl: :
Ma fiero anch^egll il rllucente acclato
Libera d&lla placida guarlna*
But freeing from its peaceful fcabbard, he
Fiercely the fhining fteel difplays.
The fpeclators tremble : each calling on
his titular faint ; expecting every moment to
fee poetical and vocal blood fmoke upon
the harpfichords and double-bafes. Till, at
length, the Signora Te/i, rifing from under
her canopy, where, till now, (he had re-
vol. i, t mained
( m J
mained a; mod tranquil fpedtator, walked
gently, and in a {lately ftep, towards the
combatants. When (Oh ! fovereign power
of beauty ! ) the mad Cqffarelli, in the moft
violent ebullition of his wrath, captivated
and appeafed, by this unexpected tendernefs,
meets her with rapture;, throws away his
fword, or rather lays it at her feet ; begs
pardon for his error, generoufly facrificing
to her his vengeance, and fealing repeated
protections of obedience, refpecl, and hu-
miliation, with a thoufand kiffes impreffed
on the hand of the arbitrefs of his fury. The
nymph fignified forgivenefs by a nod; the
poet fheathed his fword ; the fpeclators be-
gan to breathe ; and to the joyous found of
horfe-laughs, the tumultuous afTembly was
diffolved. In collecting the numbers of the
wounded and the flain, none was found but
the poor copyift, who contracted, in trying
to feparate the combatants, a fmall contu-
iion in the clavicula of the foot, from an
involuntary kick of Migliavaccds Pegafus.
The next day the battle was recorded in an
anonymous fonnet ; and foon after, an an-
fvver was produced by the belligerant poet.
I hope to procure a copy of both, to indole
in this letter. To. day the German com-
i medians
( *75 )
medians will reprefent this extraordinary-
event on the ltage. They fay, that already
not a place is to be had for love or money,
and it is not yet twelve o'clock. I {hould be
very glad to be one of the audience, if I
were polferTed of an invinble ring.
LETTER III.
TO THE CAVALIER FARINELLI.
I was meditating a fatire in your praife,
to revenge my furFerings from your barba-
rous iilence, when the Venetian ambaflador
fent me your moft affectionate letter of the
6th of May, written at Aranjues. I ought
to conceal from you the afcendant you have
over my foul, and the rapidity with which
your hand writing not only appeafed my
wrath, but reprefented to my mind the moft
minute circumftances of your merit, againft
which I have no defence. Pray make no
bad ufe of this confeffion ; be more humane
in future ; and do not rely too much on the
fweetnefs of my temper. There is no bitter
fo infupportable, as that which arifes from
corrupted fweetnefs. You remember the
Neapolitan pumpkins, called winter melons :
t 2 while
( *7« )
while they are found, how neclareous ! ButT
the inftant they begin to decay, how poi-
fonous ! Suppofe your Metaftafio to be one
of them, take care that he is not ipoiled, if
you wifli not to be poifoned. Thank hea-
ven ! my. picture has at length reached you.
Oh how I envy its good fortune to be al-
ways in the company of my dear Gemello,
while I am feparated from him by half
Europe ! I confefs great obligations to the'
portrait, as it has procured to the original
the approbation of thofe mofr. clement mo-
narchs.. The account you have given me, is
fufficient to turn the heads of all the hermits
of the Thebaid ; confider then what effecl
it rnurr. have had upon the mind of a poor
grafshopper of ParnarTus, naturally vain, like
the reft of the poetical tribe. I never ceafe,
from morning to night, repeating to myfelf
Se le conofce en la cara> &c. (f). What a pro-
digious fatigue is it not to believe all this,
and tell it to the whole world ! This glory
I owe to you, confider therefore how much
I think myfelf obliged to you.
I am certain that Migliavacca is perfectly
contented with the magnificent prefent
(f) A Neapolitan old ballad.
which
( *77 )
which you procured him, and believe he
will never have fuch another as long as he
lives, nor one acquired with lefs fatigue.
Indeed he only fpoiled what I had iketched
out'; and obliged me, for the credit of my
interpofition, and for your fake, to new
write the principal fcenes ; to help the feet
of the limping fongs, and, in fhort, to give
myfelf more trouble than if he had not
written a fingle verfe. It is, however, fuf-
ficient, that, by dint of fcolding and fretting,
the piece is likely to have a good effect, if
the perfon who performs the part of Armlda
is a good Affrice. I am unacquainted with
the firfl woman, and therefore can form no
progiioftics. All I am certain of is, that
the fuperb prefent made to Migliavacca has
afforded me much more pleafure than I
mould have experienced if you had procured
me a Cardinal's cap. It afforded me a fine
text to preach on through the court and
city; and an opportunity of acquainting
every body with the noble and generous way
of thinking of my dear Farinelli, for which
I love him ftill more than for that excel-
lence which fets him at the head of all the
tuneful hierarchy.
t 3 Would
( V* )
Would to. heaven I could boafl, my dear
friend, that the nerves of my poor head
correfponded with the placid countenance
which the painter has been pleafed to give
to my portrait. This letter was begun the
1 9th, will be finimed, God willing, to-day, the
25th. When I apply with a little attention,
the nerves of my fenfbrium are put into a
violent tumult. I grow as red as a drunk-
ard ; and am obliged to quit my work, or
heaven knows what might be the' confe-
quence. Moft people are deceived by ap-
pearances, which they do not believe; and
my Imperial Miftrefs has been, and perhaps
is now, in the fame error as yourfelf. How-
ever, in revenge for my not having written
any thing during the lafr. five years, though
it was very much wifhed, me has increafed
my falary, a few weeks ago, 500 florins, an-
nually, for which I never had the leaft idea
of foliciting. Think how much I muil
bluih at finding myfelf fo unable to manifest
my gratitude for this Imperial bounty, which
being; fpontaneous during fuch an adverfe
or o
period as the prefent, is of infinitely more
value, than much greater gifts, granted to
folicitation in prosperous times. I have
therefore determined to try the ftrength
of
( 279 >
of my head this fummer (if we are to have
any, for we ftill wear cloth clothes), and
give a teflimony to my fbvereign of my in-
clination, at leaft, by fome production, long,
fhort, good or bad, as it may happen.
Fjrom this too faithful account, my dear
Gen4ello may judge what promife I am able
to make, to furnifh the opera you wifti for
your court. If there is an individual in the
world whom I wifh to pleafe, be aflured
that it is yourfelf. But how can I attempt
it, while I am fo deep in my fovereign's
<lebt for paft indolence ? If my complaints
ihould abate fufficiently to enable me to write
the compofition I meditate, after duty is
fulfilled, you will be my firft thought. I
fwear it to you on the altar of friendfhip :
a divinity invoked by all, though very little
refpecled ; yet I hope to convince you that
my devotion is free from hypocrify.
What a magnificent air is that which
you have fent me ! If you had not confided
to me, who was the author of it, I mould
have difcovered him by thofe Portamenti di
voce, which at prefent are no longer in
fafhion among the bunglers of modern
times. We have enjoyed this air many times,,
reafonably well executed, in Althan Houfe ;
T 4 but
( 28o )
but this balm is poifoned, by reflecting upon
the almoft utter impoffibility of our ever
hearing it in its perfection, from the mouth
of the mafter of matters. Oh how much
have the Countels Althan and all the com-
pany talked of you ! And with how many
commiffions am I charged ! Imagine to
yourfelf expreffions worthy of your merit ;
as the writing them would require a volume
inftead of a letter.
I perceive by your laft, that you have not
forgotten my Neapolitan affair ; I am grate-
ful to you for it. But our operations go on
fo flowly, that I cannot prefage much good.
I forefaw the difficulties we were likely to
encounter, through all the juftice of my
caufe ; and if you were not the pilot of my
veuel, I mould give her over for loft. But
of this, enough at prefentj be not difcou^
raged by the difficulties, and remember that
you toil for your moft faithful friend.
Vienna, June 19, 1749.
LET-
( 28l )
LETTER IV.
TO THE SAME.
Though I wrote you a long letter but a
few days ago, I cannot refrain from em-
bracing you again, in confequence of letters
which I have juft received from Naples.
Thefe letters inform me, that the difficulties
concerning the restitution of my place are
^very great, on account of its having been
fold; but at the fame time affure me, that
the applications in my favour come from
crowned heads. Hence I difcover with what
integrity of heart, and ardour of true friend-
ship, you have worked for me. So that
though no advantage mould ever be derived
from it, I mail remember it during my whole
life ; and you will always remain the deareft
object of my reflections. In fhort, my dear
and admirable Charles, is not only the pa-
triarch of the whole tuneful hierarchy, but
the king of honeft men, and model of true
friends. God preferve you, for the Confola-
tion of thofe who love you, and the confu-
sion of all thofe who want the goodnefs of
|}eart to imitate you !
That
( 282 )
That the court of Naples fhould difburfe
the money to indemnify the purchafer of
the PrecettGria, is a difficulty firil coulin to
impoffibility ; but in order to fecond the be-
nevolent zeal of your court, a compenfation
might eanly be found for the purchafer, or
for me. To me, for example, why, in a
defperate cafe, could not an ecclefiajlical be-
nefice be given, which cofts nothing ? And
if any one fliould be vacant, and you think
this expedient feafible, pray make ufe of it
according to your own difcretion. If I fhould
again recommend this affair to you, I fhould
be the moft ungrateful of mortals. You
not only are no dealer in fmoke, but work
for me, even without taking to yourfelf the
merit of informing me of it ; and I hear
from every one of your activity, except
from yourfelf. Thofe great perfonages who
favour you, and think you fo worthy of their
affection, have good reafon for what they do.
Adieu, dear Gemello. If you were near
me, you would read better in my face, than
in my letter, the tranfport of affection and
gratitude which this new testimony of your
kindnefs has impreffed on my mind ; a tranf-
port, however, which does not depend :>n,the
fuccefs
( **3 )
fuccefs of the enterprife, but on your fincere,
friendly, and generous activity.
Vienna, June 27> 1749-
LETTER V.
TO THE SAME.
The rapturous gratitude and affection
which overflowed in my laft letter, con-
cerning the news which I had received from
Naples, did not allow me tranquillity to tran-
fcribe the Cantata which I now inclofe.
Your manner of acting appeared to me fo
generous and uncommon, that I could think
of nothing elfe. The general practice is to
promife much, and do very little ; but you
do a great deal, and fay nothing. So that
my intelligence of the kind offices which
you perform for me in Spain, comes from
Naples. In fhort, there is but one Farinelli,
I am proud to find that the irrififlible in-
clination which I always felt to attach my-
felf to you, is fo reafonable, I wifh you to
believe, that whatever may be the termina-
tion of this bufinefs, my gratitude will ever
remain the fame : for you have convinced
me, that if it were in your power to elect
me Pope, I might already begin to grant
Indigencies :
( a«4 )
Indigencies ; and this is fufficient to bind
the heart and affection of aii honeft man.
Succefs does not depend on ourfelves.
I inclofe two Cantatas : the firft for two
voices, confuting of recitative, with two
airs for graceful mulic, and a very tender
duet. The interlocutors' are an affectionate
nymph, and a lhepherd naturally jealous ;
and I lhould hope, that feafoned by your
notes, and executed to your fatisfacfion, it
might have an efFect. The other is a Can-
tata for a fingle voice, in a more chearful
ftyle. An ingenuous man fpeaks in it to a
little nymph of the bird kind, who willies
to entangle him ; which he does not per-
ceive. If you knew the original, the copy
would not dilpleafe you. But fuch originals
abound every where ; and you will find fome
of them at Madrid. The recitative is very
long ; but the force of the cantata lies only
in the recitative. If it will ferve you for
no other purpofe, divert yourfelf with read-
ing it. As neither this nor the other has
yet been publifhed, that circumftance will,
perhaps, give them fome value, if they can
boafl of no other.
I muff, inform you, that. I fing your air
like a feraph : Count Anthony of Althan
plays
( s8 5 )
plays the- firft 'violin; the other performers
are unknown to you. But, my good matter,
you muft not laugh at us, as, by the con-
feflion of many, we do you very great ho-
nour : fo fpare your ridicule, I entreat you.
But a propos to ridicule, I believe I com-
mitted a great blunder in my laft letter. It
feems as if I faid, that in a defperate cafe,
if the place could not be reilored, an equi-
valent might be folicited in an ecclejiajlical
benefice, which would coft the royal treafury
nothing: now I ought to have faid, an
ecclejiajlical penfion, and not a benefice. As,
I believe, to be qualified for a benefice, the
candidate mould be a native, though not for
a penfion. But thefe are only hints for a
defperate cafe, to which, with your fupport,
I hope we mall never be driven. For by
accounts from Naples, as I find the tree was
/hook by the nrfr. blow it received from you,
it is to be hoped that, by another little
itroke, it will fall. But I have already
teazed you too much on this fubjec~r. Adieu.
Vienna, Julf 9, 1749.
The next letter to Farinelli dwells on a
long, and now unintereiting difcuffion of
his
( 286 )
his Neapolitan claims, and is ended in tho
following manner.
LETTER VI.
TO THE SAME.
I began a little drama, to pleafe my au*
guft Miftrefs, but have been obliged to dis-
continue it. My head fuffers cruelly from
the (lighter!: exercife of intellect. It is a
barbarous thing, my dear friend, and frill
more barbarous, as it is difficult to be be-
lieved. However, I mail try again, as I am
afhamed of my inactivity, though involun-
tary. I beg you to believe firmly that, next
to my patronefs, to whom my firlt duty is
due, I (hall place my dear Gemello before
all the monarchs upon earth. From the
courts of Turin and Drefden, befides many
other places of lefs confequence, I have been
aflailed with offers innumerable ; but life is
a far -die \ number one. And we muft preferve
it as long as God pleafes. The dim total of
all this is, that if I am able to work for any
one except my patronefs, it will be for you.
Though you have not promifed to take care
of my Neapolitan bufinefs, I know it will
not
( *» 7 )
not be forgotten, and I am already as much
indebted to you as if it was happily fmiihed.
I know that twins only labour with fuch
zeal and efficacy as you have done.
I mould not difcontinue writing, but it is
late, and I am tired. All falutations are
returned to you, and I embrace you with my
accuftomed affection.
Vienna, Augufl: 16, 1749.
LETTER VII.
TO THE SAME.
I was juft in the acf of pulling on my
boots for my ufual journey into Moravia, at
this time of the year, when your mofl de-
lightful letter from Madrid, of the 29th of
July, was brought to me ; but the poftilion
waits, and I cannot let him depart with-
out an anfwer for my deareft Charles.
I mould feem to travel with a fting in my
confeience, which would let me have no
peace during the whole journey ; and with
fuch a fin on my back, God knows how
many fpokes may be broken, how often I
may be overturned, how many horfes may
become reftirF, or how many drunken pof-
tilions
( 288 )
till oas may rob me of all patience. No, no,
let us avoid all danger.
I feel at this very time, that a chert, of
Vanilla chocolate, muff, and bark, tributes
which India furnifhes to Spain, and your
great heart to me, are under fail. By the
gift I judge of the donor. My palate flat-
tered with fiich delicious beverage, my nofe
fo delightfully tickled, my veins furnifhed
with fuch guards againfl all irregular effer-
vefcence of the blood, and every other mem-
ber of my very frail little frame, through
envy or pleafure, are all in fuch a tumult of
gratitude, as to protert. that all their motions
ihall be regulated in future by the nod of
their generous benefactor. You who are a
great algebraift, calculate yourfelf, in the
firfr. place, how much I love and efleem
you ; then how dear every thing is that
comes from you, though in itfelf indifferent ;
afterwards, find out how much I am de-
lighted with every new teffcimony of your
affection ; and, finally, the intrinfic value of
the gift ; fum up all, thefe together, and
then, if arithmetic can go fo far, give me
the producl.
But alas! my very fhort acknowledge-
ments appear already, too prolix to your vir-
4 g' 1 "
( *% )
gin modefty ; you already bluih, grow im-
patient and angry, but I laugh at all this ;
and fee you are already appeafed.
What is the beautiful Caftellini doing; and
is it true that, fhe is fo pleafed with myfalu-
tations ? that fhe means to honour me with
her correfpondence ? Ah ! if you love me,
let not my friendship be put to fo great a
trial. After the alluring defcription which
you have given of this amiable perfon, the
violent temptation of a letter would precipi-
tate me into the commiffion of fome mental
infidelity, for which I mould be inconfolable.
Tell her, however, that, as a twin, I can only
receive the emotions of your heart at the
rebound ; that when I hear your name, I
feel a certain tingling fenfation which in-
commodes me, and yet I have no wifh that
it fhould be difcontinued ; that if the Man-
zanare was not fo diflant from the Danube,
I Should have come to try whether fhe would
receive me with open arms, as fhe does my
falutations ; and tell her No Sir, tell
her nothing. The road is too frippery, and
it is eafier to keep out of it, than, when en-
tered, to avoid falling.
I would not have you imagine, that my
journey into the country will occafion the
vol. i. u leafl
( 2 9° )
Xeaffc prejudice to the affairs of Sig. Rodolfo,
I leave them in the hands of a zealous agent,
and moft amiable friend, who is on the
watch, and ready to write to me, if any ma-
terial occurrence mould happen. It is un->
lucky that the Emperor, is continually mov-
ing about from place to place : now in
Hungary, now in Moravia, now in the
chace, now encamped, or at the Baths,
During thefe laft two- months, he has not
been four days in his palace in this neigh-
bourhood. When he is ilationary there, at
this time of the year, he is three miles dif-
tantfrom the city, and the poor agents are
forced to run many times after him, before
they can catch him flying.
I thank you for your categorical anfwer
to Mademoifelle Mattei, I have had it read
to the perfon who gave me the commiffion,
and that's all I wanted.
The poftilion founds his horn, and I muft
conclude. All who know that I am writing
to you, beg to be remembered ; but I am
not in a humour to write all their names.
Our dear Countefs of Althan muft, how-
ever, not be omitted, who is as partial to
you as ever.
Vienna, September 6 ? 1749.
4. I" ? X*
( 2 9* )
LETTER VIII.
TO THE SAME.
Behold me again at Vienna; where I
have to anfwer your two letters of the 23d,
and 30th of September. But the chapters
are different, and muft be feparated ; let us
begin with the moft. eafy.
I ordered, even from the country, Mig-
Jiavacca to have the Licenza ready for you,
whenever it might be wanted. On my re-
turn, hither, I immediately fent for him,
and on Saturday morning made him read,
correct what he had done, and inclofe the
Licenza you requefled in a letter, with my
affectionate falutations, and an afTu ranee
that I only poftponed writing myfelf, till
Wednefday, when I hoped to foave it
in my power to fay fomething pofitive
to you concerning Cavalli. Yeflerday I
was informed that Migliavacca, in com-
ing from the opera, was fuddenly attack-
ed in his way home ; received two vio-
lent wounds in his head, by perfons ui>
known, and that, as yet, there was no de-
termining what would be the coiifecruence,
V 3 Not
( 2 9 2 )
Not being the moft exact commhTary in tfie
world, God knows whether he had written
the letter and fent away the Licenza, as I
had defired him, previous to this event. In
his preient ftate, it would feem devoid of all
chriftian charity to difturb him about this
bufinefs : I have therefore tried to recollect
the Licenza, have read it over and over
again, chewed it, and really believe that I
have recovered every line. I have tran-
fcribed and enclofed it, that it may arrive in
time. — But behold ! Here comes a perfon
who informs me, that laft night Migliavacca
was at the theatre ! A proof that the
wounds were not very ferious ; they will I
hope however ferve as correctives.
Now I have room, and have written fb
little, I mail add a few words, as an adver-
tifement, not a recommendation. Know
then, that a Neapolitan Maeftro di Capella
of the name of Jomelli, has fet two of my
operas here. He is about thirty-five years
of age, of a ipherical figure (g), pacific dif-
poiition, with an engaging countenance,
moft pleafing manners, and excellent mo-
rals. He has furprifed me. I have found in
him all the harmony of HafTe, with all the
(gj Jomelli was remarkably corpulent.
grace,
( *93 )
grace, cxprefllon, and invention of Vinci.
At prefent he is gone to Venice, to bring on
the ftage my Ciro y and returns immediately
to Vienna, to do the fame piece of fervice
to Didone. Befides this, he is engaged to
compofe two operas for our theatre, next
year. You will certainly hear of him from
other quarters ; but I wifh you to know my
opinion of him. It appears to me, as if be
wifhed to be heard in Spain ; if that mould
ever happen, I am certain he would do you
honour. You will confider whether it will
be expedient to engage him for one year or
two. Befides the operas which he entirely
new fets, he will make no difficulty of ac-
commodating whatever old operas youpleafe;
and if you thought it more convenient that
he mould compofe at home, and fend you his
productions, as was done by Leo, he will be
equally ready to join iflue with you. In fhort,
he is made of a pafte to which you rnay give
whatever form you pleafe. Make ufe of this
information, which, however, is no recom-
mendation, and requires no oftenfible anfwer.
Adieu my dear Gemello ; I can write no
more to day. Love me, and believe me
obflinately yours.
Vienna, November 12, 1749.
u 3 The
( 2 9 4 )
The Licenza mentioned by Metaftaiio in
this letter, is printed at the end of it, though
not in his works. It is a kind of compli-
mentary Epilogue to the Opera of Armida,
performed before the king and queen of
Spain, at the court of _ Madrid. The inter-
locutors are, Apollo, and the Mufes. The
God chides his daughters for trifling away
their time in talking about Armida, while
the virtues of their beft friends, the Sove*
reigns of Manzanare, remain unfung.
LETTER IX.
TO FARINELLI.
You were fb angry with the monaftic re-
fidenCe, called a country feat, where you
had caught your fore throat, wken you
wrote your laft. letter to me, that you neither
named tjbte year, day, nor place, in which it
was written. God fend the fame thing may
not happen in directing your next letter to
me ; as I may then expect it till the day of
judgment, without its ever coming to my
hands.
I am extremely impatient to hear, that
your throat is in prtftinum\ and hope you will
not
(295 )
not retard the news, but relieve my mind
from its fblicitude on that account, as foon
as poffible. But my dear Gemello, though
I own it to be a very troublefome com-
plaint, and pity you fincerely ; yet, to con- ,
fefs the truth, (under favour) it is but fair
that per quee quis peccat, per hcec & puniatur^
that the peccant part mould fufFer. God
knows how many fins the witchcraft of your
throat has occafioned ; therefore a little caf-
tigation of that part may not be amifs.
. By to day's pofl, I have advice, that the
cheft of muff is arrived at Triejie. My nofe
is in the greateft impatience.
The wax-faced Ten wimes to have a
certain Ranieri Collin fecretary to the Abate
Vernaccini, recommended to you, and
wants me to do the bufmefs. It is fufficient
that you acknowledge I have written to you
about him ; however, I am very little ac-
quainted with him.
Count Nicolas Efterhafi, who will be our
Ambaffador at your court, calls himfelf your
friend, and wimes me to fend compliments
to you in his name ; and to fay, among other
things, that he is very impatient to embrace
you,
u_ 4 If
( 2 9 6 )
If I had more room, I would fend you a
long Litany of falutations, but that not
being the cafe, content yourfelf with thofe
of the Countefs d'Althan.
Vienna, December 3, 1749*
LETTER X.
TO THE SAME.
By working for you in verfe, I mall have^
no time to-day, fqr writing to you in profe.
Here is the poem you wifhed, with the fup-
plement. I mould have attempted this for
none but my dear Gemello. The thing is
not fo eafy as you imagine. It is not fuf-
ficient that an additional part mould be good
in itfelf, it mould be fb adapted as to fit the
place, otherwife it is a wen upon a produc-
tion that was conceived without it. Be that
as it may, the bufmefs is done, and i£ well
reprefented, may have an effect. I have not
had time even to tranfcribe it. God knows
whether you will be able to decipher my
original {ketch. With more leifure it might
perhaps have been better ; but, at prefent,
you muft content yourfelf, howefer deficient
you may find it*
The
( 2 97 )
The pleafure I felt at your recovering
from the terrible fore throat with which you
were afflicted, made me fwallow the pill
without making faces. It is a great confo-
lation to me to perceive, by your letter, the
tranquil ftate of your mind ; a proof that
the machine is in order, which I wifh indii-
fbluble. I have made a good ufe of the in-
formation you gave me, concerning the flat-
tering remembrance of your moil: gracious
fbvereign. I have fpread it about the court,
and it is talked of every where ! Good God !
why has not it been always the fame !
The muff is not yet arrived ; but accord-
ing to the advice I have received, it cannot
be far from Vienna. You mall be informed
the inftant I get fcent of it.
I wifh you joy of the mufic of Buranello,
who, according to what I have heard, will
be a"good compofer for violins, violoncellos,
and for lingers ; but a very bad workman
for poets. He thinks as much about the
words when he is fetting them, as you of
being elected Pope ; and if he did think of
them, I am not fure he would do better.
He abounds in ideas, though not always his
own, nor well connected together. In fhort,
he is not . my Apoftle. I fpeak with fin-
cerity
( 2 9 8 )
Cerity to my dear Gemello, but in public, I
leave him in that ftate of credit in which he
is held by thofe who judge with the ear, and
not the underftanding.
Vienna, December 27, 1749-
This is a very fevere cenfure of that fpi-
rited and fanciful compofer, Galuppi detto
Buranello. But though Buranello's Pegafiis,
in the year 1 749, was wild and ungoverna-
ble, he lived long enough to break and bring
him into order. This compofer, in his
younger days, wrote with a rapidity which
allowed him little leifure for attending to
words, or indee'd to the ftricT: rules of coun-
terpoint ; but continuing to compofe up-
wards of thirty years after this period, he
produced works both for the church and
flage, which, in fpite of the tranfient flate of
mufical fame, will long- be admired by true
judges of the art. Galuppi died at Venice,
1782, at 85. See Hiji. Mujic, vol iv.
END OF THE SIXTH SECTION.
( 2 99 )
SECTION VII.
.Having prefented the reader with all the
letters which the poet wrote to his friend
Farinelli during the year 1749, a retrospect
mufr. be taken of thofe to his other corres-
pondents .during the fame year. And the
firft which has been hitherto unnoticed, is
addreffed to an author of an oratorio, to
which a Bolognefe printer had affixed the
name of Metaftafio.
LETTER I.
TO SIG. D. LUIGI LOCATELLI, AT GENOA.
There is no refentment, Sir, more jufl,
than that which you feem to feel at finding
yourfelf defrauded of the glory juftly due to
your own labours, nor undertaking more
laudable, than that of reclaiming it. It is
not only mine, but the common interefr. of
every writer, to take an a&ive part in your
. - / favour.
( 3°° )
favour. I therefore am mofr. 'ready to pub-
lim as often as you pleafe, that I had no
kind of mare in the writing, or conception
of the drama called La Via della croce, to
which as you have been pleafed to inform
me, my name has been fet by the Bolognefe
printer. 1 am fb little to blame for this
robbery, that having been totally ignorant
of it till now, I am wholly exempt even
from the complacence into which the mis-
take that does me honour, might have fedu-
ced me. I am, however, obliged to him
who has thus procured me your friendfhip,
though by an oblique road. And beg of you
to furnifli me with frequent occafions of
meriting that honour, and to believe me to
be, &c.
Vienna, March 20, 1749.
Metaftafio, in foiling his papers many years
after, found a copy of this letter; and in
order to authenticate it, gave teftimony on
the back with his own hand, that it was
genuine, figning it Pietro Metastasio.
Vienna, June 26, 1755.
The next letters, written in 1749, of'
which the notice has been hitherto poft-
poned,
( 3°i )
poned, in order to avoid breaking the chain
of his correfpondence with Farinelli, are the
following.
LETTER II.
TO THE PRINCESS DI BELMONTE, AT
NAPLES.
I perceive, by your monV refpected letter
of the 14th of July, that you regard the
flow arrival at ratiocination among the peo-
ple who refide within the Arctic Circle, as
a difadvantage. But I, (begging your par-
don) regard it as one of the greateir. bleffings
which providence can grant to us poor mor-
tals, and am unable to fay what I would
not give to be poffened of a fiiperior degree
of ftupidity. Of what ufe is this perfpica-
cious celerity of combination ? Perhaps to
forefee the future ? Oh what vanity ! In
fo many years painful experience, I have
difcovered, to my fhame, that in reafoning
upon the events of this world in the moft
accurate manner I was able, I have deduced
the moit. falfe confequences. For fo nu-
merous and uncertain are the poffible con-
tingences, that it is utterly impoffible for the
human
( 3 02 )
human mind to fee them all : and one finorlc
circum fiance omitted, in laying the foun-
dation of our reafoning, ruins the whole
edifice. You know that if a line deviates
one fingle point from its parallel, it be-
comes more diftant the further it is extended.
Hence I feem much more inclined to laugh
at the predictions deduced from the reafon-
ing of our modern Ariftotles, than at the
dreams of the Abate Joachim (h) or the
vifions of Noftradamus (/).
A mort apologue of a Greek poet, feem-
ingly puerile, but of very ferious ufe in
reality, exhibits clearly to our view, both the
fallacy and mifchief of our reafoning faculty.
And being very mort 9 it may help to fill
up the vacuity of this letter.
He fays, that human fouls, when con-
demned to animate our bodies, come forth
from their tranquil habitation at a door
which has a vafe on each fide ; in the one is
(b) A vifionary Theologian of the twelfth century,
whofe reveries were condemned by fubfequent councils.
(7 ) A celebrated Aftrologer and Fortune-teller of the
fixteentrk century, whofe wild predictions were not only
believed by the credulous multitude, but fought and ref-
pected by moft of the princes of his time. It was the
younger brother of this Charlatan who wrote the lives of
the ancient Provencal bards, publilhed at Lyons, 1575.
continue^
( 3°3 )
contained the fweet, and in the other the
bitter, which renders life happy or miferable.
The new traveller is obliged, by the laws of
fate, to flop at going out, and tafte of both
thefe vafes, without knowing their contents;
but may drink much or little, juft as he
pleafes. Now as all are poffeffed with a pes-
tilent rage for divining by the force of rea-
fon, fee what are the confequences.
The foul which flops firfr. to tafte of the
fweet vafe, conjectures that the contents of
the other muft be the fame, and eager to
double his pleafure, takes a greater gulp of
the bitter, but finds himfelf deceived. The
foul that flops firft at the bitter vafe, by the
fame falfe reafoning, fuppoiing he fhall di-
minifh difguft, takes the fmalleft quantity
poffible of the fweet, and is equally deceived.
Hence it is, fays the poet, that in the whole
courfe of our lives, the fweet is fo much
lefs than the bitter (/£).
But mould the reafoning faculty be grant-
ed to human pride, if the power of directing
the courfe of events is not likewife granted,
it would be of no other ufe than to make us
Wretched. No axiom is more demonftrable
(}) Seq Homer's Iliad, Book xxiv.
than
( 3°4 )
than that in this valley of tears our pains are
far more numerous than our pleafures. And
that our imaginary evils are infinitely more
terrible than the real. A poet with whom
I have fome flight acquaintance, among his
papers, not yet publifhed, illuflrates the truth
of this fentiment, in the following manner.
Sempre e maggior del vera
IS Idea del/a /ventura,
jil credulo penjiero
Depinta dal timor ,
Chijlolta 11 mal figura
Affretta 11 propria affanno,
Ed ajjtcura un danno.
£htando e dubbiofo ancor (/),
Ideal evil, when defign'd,
And colour'd by the artift fear,
Can more than real, rack mankind,
And gen'rate Offerings more fevere.
Mortals who fancied woes explore
Misfortune but anticipate,
And render certain, what before
Was doubtful and unfixt by fate.
And if your" excellence tells me, that by
forefeeing misfortunes, and making a good
ufe of free-will, we may avoid them ; I fhall
anfwer, that this power is limited to our own
(I)' Jtlilio Regolo, attq iom". fc. u. not publifhed
when this letter was written. .
i kittle
(305)
little frames, and does not extend beyond
them. Whatever free-agency I may boaft,
it is not in my power to prev6nt the ruin of
a kingdom which I may wilh profperous,
the difgrace of a friend whom I may wifh
happy, or the infidelity of a nymph whom I
mould wifh to be conftant. So that after
the mofr. fubtle arguments, reafoning, com-
binations, and lyftems ; after having ex-
tracted from the brain, the memdry of things
part ; after totally forgetting* the prefent in
purfiiing the future, we at length, in fpite
of the ridiculous privilege of tormenting our-
felves, find that we are plunged into the
fame inconvenience in which we mould have
been, if we had remained quiet, and let
things take their courfe. What then re-
mains for uSj but to have recourfe to that
enviable indolence which is produced by
ftoical arrogance ? And what, except the
Syllogifms of Seneca and Epicletus, have
thefe fortunate, people to fupport them in
their placid apathy ?— Softly, foftly, good
Sig. .Abate, you gallop without a bridle ;
your argument proves too much, and preci-
pitates you into abfurdity without your per-
ceiving it. For, according to you, the life
of an oyfter or a tortoife would be infinitely
vol. I. x preferable
( 3°<S )
preferable to ours. — I beg my life at yoxxf
Excellency's fair hands. You deitroy my
arguments without mercy. If I mould for
a moment, lofe my hold, you would draw
me into herefy whether I would or no. Let
us go on fair and foftly. In the firft place,
I wifh you to be convinced, that I have
never forgot the difadva-ntage the tortoife
and oyfter lie under, from not having been
baptized, and that this misfortune alone
renders all thefb advantages unworthy of the
leaft coniideration. In the next place, I
muft beg of you to remember, that our dif-
pute is not whether brutes are more happy
than reafonable creatures, but whether thofe
of the laft mentioned clafs are moft happy
who think but little, or thofe who think to&
much. Therefore I muft beg of your Ex-
cellency not to turn the tables upon me, un-
fairly ; and I fhall own that this abfurdity
has not appeared equally ftrong hi all, par-
ticularly among thofe who had the difgrace
to be born before the Temple of Janus was
ihut by Oclavius Auguftus ; for then it
would not have been difficult to prove, that
the tranquil ftupidity of an oyfter or tortoife
would be preferable to the tormenting viva-
city of Pvthaeoras or Plato. But I mail not
3 peremptorily
( 3°7 )
peremptorily affert this from my own imagi-
nation, but give you chapter and verfe.
A celebrated Florentine writer, called
Giovanni Battifla Gelli, who did great
honour to his country two centuries ago,
printed annals of the court of Circe, which
are very much to our purpofe. This illuf-
trious invefligator of remote antiquity, re-
lates, that Ulyfles, after the deftruclion of
Troy, having remained fometime at the court
of Circe, both as her lover and her prifon-
er ; in fpite of all the allurements of that
enchanting abode, could not refrain from
perpetually meditating his efcape to his little
kingdom of Ithaca, in a miferable Ifland of
the Ionia Sea, but to which he was extreme-
ly partial from its being his native country;
and finding from the caution and vigilance
of his jealous guardian, that all his wilesand
ftratagems were vainly praclifed in trying to
procure his liberty, he determined to van-
quish her by open force. But while he was
waiting for a favourable opportunity to put
this defign in execution, L know not in
what circumflances it happened, but he
one day fo well availed himfelf of moments
of excemve tendernefs, that the fond en-
chantrefs unable to refifl; him, promifed by
x 2 one
' ( 3°8 )
one of thofe oaths lb terrible to the gods of
Homer, to grant him leave of abfence for a
limited time ; and the artful Ulyfles taking
advantage of her weaknefs, while off her
guard, pumed his victory fo far as to aik
perrriiffion to take with him into Greece at
leaft two of his numerous companions, who
being transformed into brutes of various
kinds wandered about the country ; and not
only two were conceded to him, but all
thofe who were willing to follow, him and
refume the human form. The fubtle Greek
certain that nothing would be denied to him,
went on requeuing that the loft faculty of
fpeech mould be reftored to his companions,
that he might explain to them her pro-
portion, and obtained it. Oh how fertile,
for our difgrace, did that fcandalous exam-
ple become of allowing brutes to fpeak I
But we mail not interrupt our narrative
with reflections. Ulyfles continues the Au-
thor, proud of his triumph, and more than
certain of not leaving one of his companions
with the enchantrefs, impatient to perfect
his great work, tore himfelf as fbon as poflt-
ble from her arms. The firft he happened
to meet with, in quitting the enchanted
palace, was one of thofe elegant animals ib
4 unjuftly
( 309 )
imjuftly abhorred by the elecl people, whofe
chief delight was to wallow in the mire,
neither afleep nor awake.
UlyfTes in fpying him at a diftance, called
out to him, and enquired whether he was
one of his companions. He flowly lifted up
his fnout, but not at the firft found of the
voice, and as if impatient to get rid of im-
portunity, in a moft dry Spartan ftyle, ar-
ticulated, or rather grunted, in no very dif-
tindr. manner, his name and country.
Oh my dear friend, exclaimed UlyfTes, in
difcovering who he was, return thanks to
the Gods : thy miferies are at an end, to
day we mall both fet fail together for Greece.
What ! why muft we fet fail ? cries the
frightened brute ; to whom UlyiFes briefly
difcovered the favour he had obtained from
Circe for himfelf and for fome of his com-
panions who were willing to follow him f
The transformed Greek, comforted to hear
that the going or ftaying depended upon his
own choice, civilly wifhed his leader a good
voyage. But he, not believing that his
countryman was in earneft, aiked him if he
joked ? I mould joke indeed, cries the other,
if I faid that I confented to return with thee;
and can ft thou believe UlyfTes, that I would
x 3 voluntarily
( m )
voluntarily, abandon fo fvveet and tranquil
an abode, and the peaceful company of my
innocent peers, to plunge myfelf a-new into
the wretchednefs of humanity, in order tq
live constantly in fear of fuch cunning and
mifchievous fceings as thyfelf ? Try to de T
ceive fomebody elfe, I am not fuch a fooh
Then rolling on the other fide, politely
turned his back on the deitroyer of Troy,
and without honouring him with any other
anfwer, left him to prate at his leifure.
Figure to yourfelf the furprife and fury of
Ulyffes ; he poured on him a torrent of the
moll: eloquent abufe, not omitting one of
Ariftophanes's licentious expreffions, nor did
he difcontinue railing, but to propofe the
voyage in vain to a bear, whofe curiofity
was excited by the noife of the debate. Not
difcouraged by this fecond failure, his third
trial was upon a horfe, and his fourth upon
a flag, but. with no better fuccefs. In mort,
to abridge our legend, after having in vain
traverfed over and over again the whole
neighbourhood ; after having finiihed his
ipeech with more art and vigour than that
which he made when he had clandestinely
polTefTed himfelf of the arms of Achilles,
hoarfe, breathlefs, fatigued, and enraged,
he
( 3" )
lie at length returned to Circe, without
having prevailed on any among all his com-
panions to return with him, except one,
and that was an elephant.
Now what will your Excellency fay to
this fine fragment of hiftory ? It is no
poetical fiction, as you may perhaps fuppofe.
The proofs of ancient ^monuments are in-
difpu table. It is an authentic volume of
the Memoirs of Circe, excavated in digging
at the foot of the Circean mountain ; and,
v befides the medals and citations which the
Marquis MafFei will foon publifh, we mail
ere long have the fact amply detailed and
communicated in Tufcan characters. Hence
the narrative is moft certain.
What feems to me ftill more certain, my
dear Abate, you will fay, is, that you are a
mofl tirefome creature, and fit only to prate
with filly women. Oh that is but too true,
and I plead guilty. The worft is, that this
new inclination for gofiipping is one of the
many painful fymptoms, which convince
me that I grow old. I ought certainly to
correct myfelf to-day, and throw this letter
into the fire inftead of fending it to the poft.
But jon reflection, it appears to me, that if
I am culpable, your Excellency is not quite
x 4 innocent.
( 3 12 )
innocent. The exceffive praifes beftowed
by you upon my former letters, have not a
little contributed to the length of this;
therefore receive it as a flight, but' juft
punifhment, for the little charity with
which you have inflamed the vanity of a
poor poet. To-night will be reprefented, in
this theatre, for the firft time, Achilles in
Sciros. The mufic of Jomelli, at the re-
hearfal, has far exceeded the great expecta-.
tions that were formed of it.
Vienna, Auguft 30, 1749.
LETTER III.
TO THE SAME PRINCESS.
Your mofl refpecled letter of Sept. 2 2d,
found me in Moravia, where, with a mili-
tary air, I ramble about, exercifing the pa-
tience of the hares and pheafants, of which
the abundance will not indeed be much di-
minimed by my dexterity ; they being mucli
more frightened than hurt by me (m). We
(m) A noble Peer, who is ftill living, after firing at a
Norfolk covey of eight or ten brace of partridges, on
feeing none fall, ufed to cry out: " yes, you may go, but
you have it."
have
( 3^3 )
have hitherto had the moft. fmiling feafon,
both here and in the reft of Germany, that
can be imagined ; but within thefe four
days, the Teutonic winter has unexpectedly
appeared with all his magnificent train, and
without the leafh precurfor to announce his
arrival. All is covered with mow. The
rivers as well as lakes were inftantly frozen
in a mofl; folid manner ; and the cold blown
from the feven neighbouring hills, is fo fubtil
and penetrating, that we cannot exclude it
from our warmed apartments. But notwith-
standing all this unforefeen and violent change
of nature, I ftill find much amufement here ?
having been more formed for Arcadian tran-
quillity than the buftle and magnificence of
courts. I am pleafed with the lilent concord
of all exiftence ; the roving about in fearch
of well-known paths, fields, buihes, paftoral
bowers, and every known objecr. of which,
though the fall of fnow has changed the co-
louring, yet the defign is ftill refpeelfully pre-
served. I reflect, with fentiments of grati-
tude, that the friendly foreft which, by its
iliade, but lately defended me from the burn-
ing rays of the fun, now affords me materials
for combating trfe extreme fury of the fea-
fon, I laugh at winter with all its horrors,
whicli
( 3H )
which I fee without feeling ; having it in*
our power to compofe an artificial fpring in
pur apartments at pleafure ; but by an im-
pulfe of felf-love, what pleafes me moft, is
the finding out that, compared with other
feafons, winter has flill its conveniences,
beauties, and advantages.
In returning to Vienna, which will be
very foon, I lhall take by the hand my
poetics, in order to fee whether I had left
them in a ftate fit to be feen, or whether I
mull: have recourfe to new careifes.
Joflowitz, 06J:. 23, 1749.
In the fummer of this year, before he
quitted Vienna in order to vifit the Countefs
D'Akhan, at her country feat in Moravia,
Metaftafio received a letter from the ad-
mirable Hafle, the compofer, requeuing his
inftru&ions in fetting to mufic his opera of
Atplio Rego/o, for the court of Drefden («).
And his Anfwer may ferve as a ufeful leifon
to future compofers of this fhama, and in-
[n) This was the opera that was written in 1740, for
the Emperor Charles VI's. birth-day; but that Prince
dying before it was brought on the flfege, no ufe was made
fi it ? till the period mer^ioned in the following letter.
dee4
( 3'5 )
deed furnifh many valuable hints to compo?
fers of operas in general.
LETTER IV.
To Sig. Adolfo Hasse, the celebrated Pro-
feflbr of Mufic, detto il Saffbne (called the
Saxon), concerning the Opera of Attilio
Regolo.
My dear Monfieur HalTe has never been
abfent from my heart fince I quitted Vienna;
but, hitherto, I have not been able to de-
vote myfelf to your fervice, becaufe in this
moft idle buttle I am hardly my own matter
when I fleep. So fully am I engaged In
walking, ihooting, mufic, cards, and con-
verfation, that not a moment remains for
private meditation, without defrauding fo-
ciety. Yet, in fpite of all thefe impedi-
ments, I am penetrated witty fuch remorfe
for. having fo long neglected you, that I am
riow determined to obey your commands.
But what can I poffibly fuggeft to you,
which has not already occurred to your own
mind ? After lb many illuttriqus proofs of
knowledge, judgment, grace, expreflion, in-
vention,
( 3*6 )
vention, and ingenuity, with which you
only have been able to difpute the palm of
harmonic primacy with our nation: after
having breathed with your feducing notes
into fo many poetical compohtions that life
and foul which the authors themfelves were
unable to furniih or imagine, what light,
advertifement, or inftruclion, can you ex-
pect me to furniih ? If I were only to
mention things with which you are not ac-
quainted, my letter would already be fl-
niihed ; but if you wifh me to converfe
with you, God knows when I mould have
done.
And now, as Attilio Regolo is to be the
fubjecfc of my letter, I mail begin by de-
veloping the characters, which, perhaps, are
not expreifed in fo lively a manner in the
piece, as I had conceived them in my mind.
In Regulus, it has been my intention to
delineate the character of a Roman hero of
confummate virtue; according to the Pagan
idea, not only in principle, but practice ;
whole fortitude has been long tried, and is
proof againft every caprice of fortune. A
ri'^id and fcrupvtlous obferver, as well of
juftice and probity, as of the laws and cuf-
toms which time and the great authority of
his
( m )
his anceftors have rendered facred to his
country. Senfible to all the gentler paffions
of humanity, but fuperior to each. A great
commander, good citizen, and an affec-
tionate father ; but never confidering thefe
characters as diftinct from his country, or
otfcerwife among the bleffings or evils of
life, than as they eventually contribute to
the welfare or injury to that whole of which
he confidered himfelf as a part. A great
friend to glory, but regarding it merely as a
reward to which individuals mould afpire, by
Sacrificing their own ihtereft and happinefs
to public utility.
With thefe internal qualities, I attribute
to my prototype a mageftic exterior, with-
out pomp ; reflecting, but ferene ; authorita-
tive, but humane ; equal, confederate, and.
compofed. I mould not like that his voice
or geftures mould be violent, except in two
or three fituations of the opera, in which a
fenfible deviation from the conitant tenor of
his fubfequent conduct, would exalt his ruling
palhons, which are patriotifm and glory.
You muft not be alarmed, my dear Sir, I
ihall be much Shorter in the defcription of
the other characters.
In
( 3iS )
In. the perfonage of the Coniul, Maniiiis$
I have tried to reprefent one of thofe great
men, who* in the midfr. of every civil and
military virtue, fuffer themfelves to be car-
ried away by the rage of emulation, beyond
all warrantable bounds. I wifh this rivality
to be strongly marked, as well as his hostile
disposition of mind towards Regulus. Thefe
will appear in the firft fcene with Attilia, ag
well as in the beginning of the next, in
which the Senate hears Regulus, and the
Carthaginian Ambaffadors. His fubfequent
change of fentiment into respect and tender-
nefs for Regulus, will render his character
more admirable, and more pleating $ it will
exalt the virtue of Regulus* by demon-
strating its efficacy in producing fuch stu-
pendous effects, and will add to the fecond
fcene of the fecond act, which is that for
which I feel the greatest partiality. The
characteristic of Manlius is a natural pro-
pensity to emulation, which when he difco-
vers, he corrects, but does not relinquish.
Pnhlw is the young lion that promifes
all the force of the fire, but is not yet fur-
mihed with tufks and claws ; and it may
eafily be conjectured through his impetuosity,
paffion,
( 3^9 )
pamon, and the inexperience of youth, what
he will be, when arrived at maturity.
Lycinius is a pleaiing young man, valiant
and refolute, but extremely impaffioned.
Hence it is very difficult to convince him of
the neceffity of facrificing the genius of
his wife, and even the life of his benefactor
to glory, and the fervice of his country.
Amilcar is an African, not accuftomed to
the maxims of probity and juftice, which
the Romans, at this time, profefTed, and
much lefs to their practice : hence, from the
beginning, he remains in aftonimment, be-
ing unable to comprehend a way of think-
ing fo diametrically oppofite to that of his
country. He is, however, ambitious of
imitating what he fees ; but, for want of
moderation, goes awkwardly to work. How-
ever, during his fhort relidence at Rome,
if he did not acquire the Roman virtue, he
at leaft. learned to envy thofe who pof-
feflfed it.
The ruling paffion of Attilia is tendernefs
and veneration for her father, whom me not
only prefers to Rome itfelf, but to her
lover. Convinced by authority and ex-
ample,, me, , at length, adopts her father's
fentiments, but in the trial of that fortitude,
which
( 3 2Q )
which fhe wifhed to imitate, fhe manifeftly
finks under the weaknefs of her fex. In
Barces, I figured to myfelf a pleafing, beau-
tiful and lively African. Her temperament,
like that of her nation, is amourous, and
her tendernefs for Amilcar extreme. In
him, all her hopes, her fears, thoughts and
cares, are centered. She is even more at-
tached to her lover than the manners of her
country ; and is not only more indifferent
than him about the Roman paflion for glory,
but thanks the Gods for having preferved
her from its contagion.
Thefe are the general outlines of the
portraits I meant tp draw ; but you know
that the pencil is not always faithful to the
traces of the mind. It therefore depends
\ipon you* who are not only an excellent
artift,, but a perfect friend to clothe my per-
fonages in fo mafterly a manner, that if
their features mould not ftrike, they may be
recognized, at leaf!, by their drefs and or-
naments.
And now, to come to particulars, accord-
ing to your defire, I mall ipeak of the Reci-
tatives, fome of w}iich I mould wifh to be
animated by Instruments ; but in pointing
them out I do not pretend to limit your
ideas :
( 32 1 )
ideas : where mine meet your willies, adopt
them ; but where we difagree, I beg of you
not to change your opinion, in mere com-
placency*
In the firft ac*t, I find two fituations in
which inftruments may affiftme. The firfl
is the whole harangue of Attilio to Manlius*
,in the fecond fcene, beginning
«
A che vengo ! Ah fino a quando.
Wherefore do I come ! When, ah tell me when.
After the words A che vengo, the inftruments
mould begin to be heard; and, afterwards,
fometimes filent, fometimes accompanying
the voice, and fometimes by reinforcing, to
give energy and fire to an oration in itfelf
violent ; and I mould like this accompani-
ment to continue to the end of the verfe
La barbara or qual e, Cartago, o Roma ?
Now which is the barbarian, Carthage, or Rome ?
But I believe that it will be necefTary,
particularly in this fcene, to avoid the in-
convenience of making the finger wait for
the chord ; otherwife all the heat and ener-
gy of the fpeech would be chilled, and the
inftruments, inflead of animating, would
vol i, y enervate
( 32* )
enervate the recitative, and render the pie^
ture disjointed, obfcure, and fuffbcated in
the frame. So that it feems here, as if all
rhornelli, or interstitial fymphonies, mould
be avoided.
The other fituation is in the feventh fcene
of the fame acl ; and is precifely one of thofe
little places in which I mould wifh Regulus
to quit his moderation, and think more of
himfelf than ufuaL There are only twelve
verfes that I mould wifh to have accompa-
nied ; which begin at :
It vemjji a tradirvi - - - -
Through fear I fhould betray you - - -
and end with :
Come a! mme dl Rtma Africa tremi.
How Africa trembles at the name of Rome,-
If you mould think accompaniment necef--
fary here* I recommend th6 fame oeconomy
of time as before ; that the actor may not
be embarraffed or obliged to wait, by which
that fire would be diminimed, which I wifh
to have enereafed.
And now we are fpeaking of the feventh
fcene of the firft act, if you have no objec-
tion, I fhould wifh to have a very fhort
fymphony
( 3 2 3 )
fymphony after this verfe of Manlius,
Tacheta ; ei viene *, to give time for the
Conful and Senators to take their places,
and to allow Regulus reifure for advancing
(lowly, and in a penfive manner. The cha-
racter of the fymphony fhould be majeftic,
flow, and fome times interrupted ; expreffing
as it were the ftate of Regulus' s mind, in
reflecting upon his now entering that place «
as a (lave, in which he formerly prefided as
conful. I mould like, that during one of
thefe breaks in the lymphony, Amilcar
fhould come in to fpeak ; when, during the
filence of the inftruments, he fhould pro-
nounce thefe verfes :
Rtgoh a che farrejii ? E forfe tiutrvo
Per te quefto Soggiorno P
Why doft thou ftop, O Regulus? Is it from thy
being unaccuftomed to this affembly ?
And the fymphony fhould not be concluded,
till after Reo-ulus's anfwer :
o
Penfo qua! ne partii, qual vl rltorno,
1 think of what I was, and what I return.
But after thefe words, I fhould not wifh
the inftruments to perform any thing more
than a mere clofe.
* Silence : He comes.
Y 2 In
( 3 2 4 )
In the fecond act, there feems to me no
other recitative which requires accompani-
ment, than the foliloquy of Regulus, which
begins thus, fc. 7th*
tTu pdlpiti-, mio Cor !- - —
Thou trembleft, O my heart ! - ' - —
This ought to be recited fitting, till after
the following words :
r*r; Ah no. De vile
£)ueJlo e II linguaggio.
Ah no ! this is the language of flaves.
The reft to be performed ftanding ; for as
the exit of Regulus happens at the change
of fcene, it would be difficult if he were
iittino-. But in order that he may have time
and fpace to move about flowly, ftopping
from time to time, and manifeiting himfelf
to be immerfed in thought, it is neceflary
that the inftruments fhould introduce, affift,
and fecond, his reflections. While the
actor is fittingj as his reflections conlift of
doubts and fufpenfions, they will afford an
opportunity for extraneous modulation, and
fhort ritornelli for the inftruments ; but the
inftant he rifes, the reft of the fcene requires
4 refolution
( 325 )
resolution and energy : fo that I recur to
my former wifh, for oeconomy of time.
And now we are fpeaking of this fcene,
I muft beg of you to correct the original,
which I transmitted in the following man-
ner. There is a meaning implied, which
upon reflection feems to want clearnefs in
the expreffion.
Ab no ! De vlli
S^ueflo e il llnguaggio. Inutilmente nacque
Chlfol vive a feJlef]o : e fol da quejio
Noblli affetto ad obbliar simpara
Se per attruu ^uanto a di ben la terra,
Alia gloria Jl dee.
Ah no ! this is the language of the worthlefs. He is
born to no purpofe who lives but for himfelf. It is only
from this noble affection of forgetting ourfelves, that we
learn to be ufeful to others. Whatever the world can
beftow that is moft valuable, is due to glory.
Though there are places in the third act,
as well as in the other two, which I may
have neglected to mention, where violins
may be opportunely employed; yet I muft
obferve, that this ornament mould not be
rendered too familiar ; and I mould be glad,
\{ in this third act, particularly, no accom-
Y 3 panied
( 3& )
panied recitative occurred, till the laftj'cene*
This is prevented by the noife and tumult of
the people, who cry out, Regolo rejii, " ftay
with us Regulus. " The noife of thefe cries
ought to be great, to imitate reality, and to
manifeft what a refpeclful filence the mere
prefence of Regulus could obtain, from a
whole tumultuous people. The inftruments
mould be filent when the other perfonages
fpeak ; and, if you approve of it, may be
employed whenever the Prototype fpeaks in
the lajifcene ; varying, however, the move-
ment and modulation, not merely to exprefs
and enforce the words or fentiments, as is
thought a great merit by other compofers,
but to paint alfo the fituation of mind of him
who pronounces thefe words and fentiments,
at which fuch mailers as you always afpire.
For you know, as well as I, that the fame
words arid fentiments may be uttered, accord-
ing to the diverfity of fituation, in fuch a
manner as to exprefs either joy, forrow,
anger, or pity. I Ihould hope from fuch,
hands as yours, that a recitative always ac^
companied by inftruments, would not be
fuch a tirefome thing as it ufually is, from
others. In the firft place, becaufe you will
preferye that oeconomy of time which I
have
< 3*7 )
liave lb much recommended i particularly,
as you likewife fo well know how to perfect
the art, by the judicious and alternate ufe of
pianos and for Us, by rinf or zan4os, by fiaccatos,
fairs, accelerating and retarding the mea-
fure, arpeggios, fhakes, fojlenutos, and above
all, by new modulation, of which you alone
feem to know the whole arcana (0). But
if, in defpight of fo many fubfidiaries, you
fhould be of a different opinion, I mall
readily give way to your experience, and be
perfectly contented, if the following verfes
are accompanied by violins ; that is, the firft
ten, from :
Regolo rejli ! Ed ho P afeolto ! £d to
Stay Regulus ! And do I hear this ! Can I - - -
To the verfe :
Mental Pedis vojlro P
How have I deferved your hatred ?
Then from the verfe :
No ! poflibil non e, De 1 mm Rotnani
No; 'tis impoffibte. Of my Romans
To:
Bforto cittadln ; Padre commando,
I exhort you as a citizen: as a Father, I command.
{0) Thefe technical terms, and the refinements they ex-
prefs, were but little known, at leaft in England, forty
years ago.
v 4 and
( 3*8 )
and laftly from
Romam, addio, Siano i conge di ejlremi
to the end (/>).
(p) This being the celebrated piece of Recitative, whiehj
as fet by Jomelli, was conftantly encored when performed,
in England, by Serafini, in 1754, I ihall give it here en-
tire, with a literal tranflation.
Romani, addio. Siano i congedi Romans, adieu. L,ct this our
ejlremi laft farewel
Degni di noi. Lode agli Dei, Vf Be worthy of us all. Thank
lafcio, heaven I leave you,
Evi la/do Romani. Ah conjervate And leave you Romans. Ahftrive
to keep
Illibato il gran nome : e <voi fareie Unfullied that ( great name; and
you will be
Gli arbhn dilla terra; e ilmondo The Earth's fole arbiters, A1J
intero human kind
Roman diiientera. Numi cujlodi Will Roman foon become. Ye
guardian pow'rs
Di queji'almo terren; Dee protettrici Of this bleft land ! Divinities who
watch
Delia Jiirped'Enea, cosjzdoawoi Oe'r great iEneas' fons ! to you J
truft -
Quejlo popol d'Eroi : fian vojka This race of heros ; O' proteft
cura with care
QueJloJuol,queJletelti,equeftemura. This foftering foil, thefe man-
fions, and thefe walls.
Fate chefempre in ejfe May conftancy, and fortitude,
La cojlanza, la /<?, la gloria al- With valour, juftice, glory, and
berghi, good faith,
La giujiizia, ilvalore. E,fe giam- Fix here their facred dwelling,
mai and if
Minaccia il Campidoglio Some evil and malignant ftar
Alcurf ajlro maligna, tnfiuffi. m, With influence dire the Capitol
fliould threat,
Ecco Regolo, O Dei : Regolofolo Behold eternal Gods, your Re.,
gulus :
Sia la 'vittima vojlra ; efi confumi Let him your victim be, and, on
his head
futta fira del del Jul capo mio : Let all the wrath of heav'n be
fpent. But ah !
MaRomai/kJa - - - - Ahquifi Let Rome unhurt, remain - - -
piange! • Addio. here— here
I feel myfelf unman'd ! - - ■ -
Adieu !
You.
( 3 2 9 )
You imagine now, I fuppofe, that this
tirefome difcuffion is over. No, Sir, we
have ftill a fhort addendum to tack to it.
I mould wifh that the laft chorus were one
of that kind, with which you have excited
in the audience a denre of hearing it, uih
known before ; and that there mould be
fuch a ftamp fet on the addio> with which
the Romans take a final leave of Regulus,
as mail demonftrate, that this Chorus is not
like moft others, a fuperfluity, but a moft
effential part of the cataftrophe.
I here quit the fubjeft, not indeed, for
want of materials, or will to converfe with
you longer; but becaufe I am really tired
myfelf, and fearful of tiring you,
Signor Annibali, is defirous that I mould
write fomething to him, concerning his
part (a). But I muft entreat you to read
to him fuch pafTages of this letter, as you
may think likely to afford him any fatisfacr
tion. I have not time to perufe what I have
written; think then, whether it is poffible
for me to tranfcribe any part of it.
(a) Annibali, whofe voice was a contralto^ and who
performed the part of Attilio, was in England, and fung
in Handel's Operas, at Covent Garden, in 1736-& 7.
See his Character, Hijiory of Muftc^ vol, iv, p, 398. 402.
Prefeuf
( 33* )
Prefent a thoufand affectionate compli-
ments in my name, to the incomparable
Signpra Fauftina, and believe me, upon all
©ccafions, yours moil truly (b).
Vienna, 1749,
LETTER V,
TO THE ABATE PASOUINI,
I should rejoice* without bounds, at your
happy arrival in your native country, if in
the letter which you have bqeil pleafed to
write' to me on the fubjecl, there tranfpired
the leaft fign that you would rejoice your-
felf. I wifh I may be mifiakeri in my con->
jedures ; but it is certain, that in your
J^aconic epiftle, there does not appear the
(J>) Regarding thefe memoirs £s a lcind of fuppliment to
my General Htjiory af Mujic, I have inferted a traftfla*
tion of this letter, at full length, however long and tech*
nical it may appear to fome of my readers : as I cannot
help regarding the inftru£Hons pf fuch a Poet, to fuch a
^/tufician, as precious relics, not only worthy of prefer-
yation, but of being contemplated with reverence, by
young Opera compofers, ambitious not only to embellifh,
but enforce the imagery and ientiments of the Poetry
which they have (0 cloath with melody and harmony.
froaUeft
-'( 33 l )
|malle# fpark of that content which ufaally
inflames a mind, njoti compos. I wifh you
may enjoy that tranquility which you pro-
pofe to yourfelf, and wiih it from my heart;
would to God you may difcover the un-
known fource of happinefs.
My Attilio Regolo is preparing for the
Theatre Royal at Drefden, with all con-
venient difpatch, Annibali writes me
word, that the mufic of the two firH: acts,
has already been rehearfed before their
MajefUes, and is moil: excellent. I wifh,
as you may imagine, that its fuccefs may
anfwet- expectation ; but of this, you will
certainly have a more fincere account than
myfelf ; however, if it mould fail, there is
no likelihpod that rumour will be filent. It
js long fince my tranquility was at the
mercy of popular breath. The public may
determine how they pleafe on the prefent
occafion; neither the excefs nor want of
approbation, will furprife me. I am too well
convinced, that thefe rather depend on the
fortuitous concourfe of a thoufand fecret and
minute accidents, than on the apparent mo»
tives tp which they are afcribed.
Vienna ppc, 517th, 1749,
LET,
( 33* )
L E TTER VI.
TO THE SAME, AT SIENNA.
Your letter of the 19th of January,
changed the pleafure which I conftantly
ufed to receive from your correfpondence,
into bittemefs, at your complaints' of the ac-
eomplimment of my prediction concerning
your migration into Tufcany. Good God !
have you then read, thought, and perhaps''
written, fo much in vain about happinefs
being the more difficult to attain, in propor-
tion to the eagernefs with which it is pur->
fued ! and have you then fuffered your ima-
gination to run away with you,' fo far as
to think you mail come to beggary ? Oh,
but fay you, I was not in earneft, and our
old matters tell you that turpe eft dicere non
putabam : and, particularly, when before you
took this ftep, your friends with zeal haf-
tened to your amftance, as you well know,
upon the' firft rumour, and did every thing
in their power to enlighten you; they tried
to hold you by the fleeve, but you tore your-
felf from their hold. So true it is, that wife
maxims
( 333 )
maxims can never enable the mind to refirl
the emotions of the heart, when, thanks to
daily practice, they are mechanically con-
verted into habits. For our difgrace, the
trade of a poet coniifts more in ikying what
is right, than of practifing it. But all this
fine homily is already out of feafon : confider
it merely as a tranfport of grief, I mould
pleafe you more, if I were lefs inter efted in
your welfare. You regard me as Moliere's
old man, who difturbed at the news of his
fon's captivity, cries out every moment, but
what the devil had he to do on Jhip-board?
You afk my help ; but when you have ob
tained all that I can give, it will amount to
but little. Yet, however convinced I may be
of my debility, I fhall not remain with my
hands in my bofom, but mall try, at leaft, to
ftimulate thofe who have more ftrensfth to
help you on. I muff, confefs, however, that
I mould have had much more courage, if I
were able to draw water from the fource :
there it is limpid and open, qualities which it
does not preferve in its canals.
That the Princefs Royal occupies herfelf
in translating my Attiiio, is Hill a feoret to
me. She has, however, communicated to me
many of her poetical productions, and with-
out
( 334 >
Gut adulation, I declare, that I am always
more and more (urprifed to find, that in fpite
of the delicacy of fex, and the weighty af-
fairs incident to her rank, !he has been able
to mount fo high on Parnaflus.
All the letters .from Drefden confirm the
fortune of Attilio. But the moft flattering
of all proofs, is the approbation of the King,
who knows a great part of it by heart ; a
circumftance of which he did not wiih me to
remain ignorant. He has deigned to have
it infinuated to me, that- he mould have
been highly pleafed, if I could have been
prefent at any one of the reprefentarjons ;
and in fpite of the impertinence of my nerves,
and of the uncommonly horrid winter which
this perverfe year has produced, 1 mould
have given way to fuch an excufable vanky,
if the whole medical faculty, and the outcries
of my friends, had not prevented me. This,
my dear Abate, is the moft illuftrious pre-
mium that I can propofe to my labours, the
reft is more an affair of others, than my
own.
The Neapolitan Envoy at Drefden, loads
me with a mercantile care, little adapted to
my proferlion. He never had written to me
before ; but now writes only on this fubject,
and
" v 33$ )
and is determined that I mall have enough
of it, for he fpeaks of nothing elfe. This
confidence does not more furprife, than hon-
our me. You, according to him, are to
fpeak to me on the fame chapter. Oh poor
humanity ! Adieu, believe me without ex-
aggeration, yours moft fincerely.
Vienna, February 7, 1750.
LETTER VII.
TO SIGNpR FILIPPONI.
j^feel more pain than remorfe at not hav-
ing been able to anfwer your letter of the
25 th of ApriJ, fooner. My health, fome
domeftic affairs, a world of com millions for
other people, and different maledidlions, have
phyfically prevented me from being with
you, but not at all from thinking of you. I
have frequently ipoken of your affairs to
Count Lofi, and have always found him
full of benevolence towards you. It would
not be amifs, if you were to join in teazing
him, by thanking him for the partiality
towards you which he has repeatedly men-
tioned to me ; defcribing to him in the fhort-
efl manner poffible, the true jftate of your
3 affairs ;
( 33* ) •
affairs ; and magnifying the hope you place
in his kind offices.
I read with pleafure the Canzonetta of
Signora Livia Accarigi. It is poetical, happy,
graceful, and harmonious : and coming from
a lady, is, in fhort, more than fufficient to
difgrace our whole fex. You may fafely
and confcientioufly congratulate her upon it
in my name. I know not whether our au-
gufr. patron has yet feen it; but I know that
I have laid fuch a train, that he certainly
will fee it.
Vienna, June 6, 1750.
END OF THE SEVENTH SECTION.
SEC
( 337 )
SECTION VIII.
W
e fhall now refume the correfpondenc^
of our poet with his friend Farinelli, which
feems to have been the moil cordial and
cbnftant literary intercourfe he fuftained after
the death of the Romanini. In a former letter
to him that has been inferted in thelp me-
moirs (<:), Metaftafio fpeaks of his nafal impa-
tience for the arrival of a prelent of muff,
which had beenfent to him from Spain by the
vocal favourite of that court ; and now he
gives an account of its being in his poffeffion.
LETTER I.
tO THE CAVALIER FARINELLI.
Notwithstanding a croud of letters
that lie before me, and which will remain
(c) See above, p. 295.
vol. i. % in
( 338 )
in peace, till the tortured nerves of my poor
head will allow me to anfwer them, I can-
not poftpone embracing you, and giving you
an account of the muff being arrived, and -in
my pofTefiion, together with the vanilla,
and bark. I received the cheft two days
ago, proud of ever having had a fhare in
the Spanifh Flota. It is impoflible to thank
you in a more exprerlive formula, than in
faying aloud, that the gift is worthy of your
heart. The whole city and court are al-
ready informed of it ; and I take efpecial
care, that juftice is done to my moft beloved
twin. The bark and muff, are arrived in the
higheft prefervation. The vanilla is a little
dry, and, infome of the extremities, it has Con-
tracted a kind of ruff, or mouldinefs, which
made me fear it was fpoiled. But the learn-
ed in fuch matters have cleaned it, and fay
that it will be ftill ufeful. I mould enter
upon a long and formal acknowledgement,
but we know one another too well : you
would fkip like a grafshopper ; and I mould
not fay half what 1 feel. You who are in
my heart, or rather who have it with you,
afk it how it feels.
Laft week I fent you the drama of the
Cinefi, with the additional part you defired.
i If
( 339 )
If the pafTage which you propofed by a
merchant fhip, is as fhort as it ought to be,
you will have it twenty-three, or twenty-four
days, before Eafter., But if not, the fault
will be your correspondent's, not mine. The
prefent letter will go through Paris directly
to Madrid. Obferve, when you receive it,
the difference of time that it has been on
the road, from that of former letters.
Marefchal Count Pinos has been here, to
thank me for the partiality which you have
fhewn to his nephew. He is impatient to
obey your commands in fomething or other,
and extremely forry that the bunnefs of Sig.
Rodolfo is abfolutely impracticable. He
entreats you to put him to fome other trial ;
and, in the mean time, if it mould be con-
venient and defirable for his fon to try his
fortune, and enter into his fervice, he will
give him a company in his own regiment.
Our Countefs d'Althan thanks you for
the favourable notice you have taken of her
nephew ; is much pleafed with your remem-
brance; and having divided with her my
fnurF, it will conftantly ftimulate gratitude,
at leaft in the nafal fenfe.
By your filence concerning feveral of my
letters, I begin to apprehend that they are
£ 2 loft.
( 34o )
loft. • Your laft is dated the 28th of No-
vember.
Whenever an opportunity offers, I beg
you will never fail to lay at the feet of your
Deity, the moft humble tributes of my pro-
found refpecT: and fay, that authorifed by
fuch an oracle, my vanity begins to become
a virtue. Adieu my dear Gemello. Thanks'
again, and — No, no ; you begin to bounce.
Love me as I do you, and I defire no
"more.
Vienna, 3d of 1750 (d).
In the next letter to his old and zealous
friend, he refumes the unfortunate fubjecl
of his Neapolitan place ; and fpeaks of the
profecutions of fortune, in ipite of all the
favour and partiality of the four principal
fovereigns in Europe, with equal energy
and indignation. And it does feem, as if
princes were more negligent, or lefs able
than is generally imagined, to reward fuch
captivating talents as Metaftafio's, even at
the time when they Were moft enchanted
by them, and when they moft openly con-
(fl) In none of Metaftafio's Letters, written during the
fir ft month of the year, is January mentioned.
fefTe4
( 341 )
fefled their obligations. That no one of
thefe princes would encourage the feizure of
a purchafed place, in order to reward his
inerit at another's expence, was a virtuous
forbearance ; but that no one of them, or
that all together, would not indemnify the
poet's lofs by an adequate pennon, is a moft
marvellous inflance of the inefficacy of royal
favour !
LETTER II,
TO FARINELLI,
All the newfpapers are full of the royal
magnificence with which you have brought
out my Demofoo?ite. In Ihort Madrid,
thanks to your care, occupies the firft place
among all the theatres in Europe. And
this will always happen, where princes have
good nofes, and can diftinguifh a melon
from a pumpkin ; in fhort, when they do
not order the fhoe-maker to do the bufinefs
of a barber; or the barber to make boots.
All this theatrical primacy on the banks of
the Manzanare, except the fovereign ,fup-
port, is your work : and whatever does you
honour, fweetly excites my twin tendernefs.
z 3 You
( 342 )
You may. eafily imagine whether I am flat-
tered or not, by the generous nation in which
you refide, honouring me with the title of
the great Spanifh poet : I mould be pleafed
if I were a hermit in a defert, or a mummy
baked into a monk of La Trappe; confider
then to what degree I mufl be intoxicated,
being a poet, and living in a court. But the
venerated oracle pronounced in my favour,
by the firft. ftar of this firmament, is fo great
and fo enviable a premium for my poor
labours, that I forget, their inefficacy in pro-
curing me fome little favour from my ene-
my fortune. I begin to wifh that fome.
author would take it into his head to write
my life, and without the leaft. deviation
from trtuh, would begin thus: In the eigh-
teenth century, lived a certain Abate Metajla-
fo, a) tolerable poet among bad ones : neither
handfome nor <ugly ; more full of wants than
avarice ; with the fair -f ex tender, but refpeSl-
ful ; faithful to his friends, though ufelefs; en-
dowed with a dejire to do good, but devoid of k
the means. He laboured during his whole life,
at once to inftrutl and delight mankind ; but
fortune was always fo much his foe, that in
fpite of the reSlitude, pity, and grandeur, of
the mojl jujl foverngns in Europe, he had been
deprived,
( 343 )
deprived, without a crime, of the miferable re**
ward of his innumerable labours, and the means
of fe curing the leaf provifion for old age ; but
notwithstanding fo many misfortunes, he died
proud, and contented ; in remembring that one
of the greateft, mofi enlightened, and mofl
amiable princejfes upon earth, had preferred
kirn to all the poets who flour ijloed during the
age in which he lived.
Jomelli is the befr. compofer, of whom
I have any knowledge, for words. Be af-
fured that I have no partiality for him. It
is true, that he repeats too much ; but it is
the preferit epidemical vice of Italy, of
which he will foon be corrected. He has
lometimes reftrained the caprice and am-
bition of fingers. But there are no Fari-
nellis, to whofe tafte and judgment a poet
may fafely relign hirhfelf.
A company of ladies, enlifted under the
banner of the Countefs "d'Althan, will have
me fpeak of them, and tell you how much
they love you, in fpite of the mifchief which
you have done them, in rendering your imi-
tators intolerable. But this would be a
long buiinefs ; and I have hardly time to
mention the affection with which I am, &c.
z 4 To
( 344 )
To relieve you from the tirefomenefs of
of this letter, I fend you a Canzonetta on the
departure of Nifa. You will find it very
tender, but do not wrong me fo far as" to
fuppofe me in love. You know whether I
am capable of fuch imbecility. The mufic
is common, and my own; but whoever
fings it with a little expreffion, will find it
fufficient to vanquish a Nifa. A better
compofition would acquire more applaufe to
the muiician, but fewer advantages to the
lover.
Vienna, January 28, ijS ^
A letter which he wrote to the Princefs
of Belmonte, with his beautiful Canzonet,
La Partenza, dated Feb. 21, 1750, has been
preferved in the family, and the following
tranfcript of it has beeninferted in the me-
moirs of the poet, by Sig. Mattel.
" I am fo pleafed and flattered by the
correlpondence with which your excellency
deigns to continue to honour me, that the
{lighter! pretext for keeping it alive , feems
to me a moil weighty reafon for writing.
The excufe for the prefent letter* will be
the inclofed canzonet,, which makes me
begin
( 345 )
begin to fancy it good for fomething* I
wrote it more than a year ago, through
mere complaifance, and thought it fo little
worthy of appearing in public , that I fup-
pofedit would either die almoft as foon as
born, or lead a folitary and obfcure life in
fbme forgotton defk of the perfon for whom
it was unwillingly produced. But I per-
ceive, that I was miftaken : it was not born
for a monaftic life : it has begun to fufFer it-.
{elf to be feen by ftealth : difficulty enhances
the price of every thing. It has acquired
fame (as often happens) by exaggerate4
accounts of its beaut v. This fame has
created an eager deiire of poffeffion, in many
who have been but too eaiily gratified by the
firil ravimer. And fearing, that my ftroll-
ing Helen, paffing from one of her pretended
admirers to another, might poffibly be heard
of by your Excellence, before her exiftencc
was announced by myfelf, I now fend her ;
not from thinking her worthy of favour,
but to preclude the accufation of negligence.
Here llie is. Sulpend in oft venerated prin-
cefs, your natural gentlenefs and candour:- 1
treat her with feverity ; make her do penance,
and regard her as a difobedient daughter,
who has had the affrontery to elope from
. her
( 346 )
her father. Your Excellence has long known,
that I am unable to write any thing that is
to be fung, without imagining fome fort of
muflc. What I now fend, was written to
the mujic which accompanies it (<?). It is in-
deed a very fimple melody ; yet, if fung with
that tender exprefhon which I fuppofe, it
will be fufficient to fecond the force of the
words : and whatever mufic of a more re-
fined and fludied fpecies mail be applied to
them, may produce greater applaufe to the
mufician, but will certainly be lefs advanta-
gious to the poet. "
As no doubt remains that the Canzonetta,
La Partenza, was written to the fame air
which the poet had fet to La Liberia, I
mall here prefent my mufical readers with
another copy of that air, with which I have
been favoured by Doctor Haydn, who well
remembers the having heard Metaftafio fing
it. * There is fome little difference between
this copy and that with which I was fur-
nifhed by Cocchi ; and in order to enable the
(e) This is almoft a proof that the air which Metaftafio
himfelf had fet to his Liberta, had ferved during the time
of infpiration, to regulate the metre of La Partenza, and
probably of his Palinodia, as the verification of all thefe
three poems, is the fame.
Engliftv,
( 347 )
Englim reader to form fome faint idea of the
beautiful fentiments of the original poem,
and to furnim him with a fecond excufe for
finging Metaftafio's own melody, a verfiod
in the fame fhort metre is attempted ; in
which, the difficulty will but too plainly ap-
pear, of compreffing into our language, all
the ideas of the original, in the fame num-
ber of words.
There was a ftory current in Vienna, in
1772, concerning the occafion of the fol~
lowing Canzonet. The Nice, who had
been the heroine of La Liberia, was not the
heroine of La Partenza, nor was the diftrefs
which the poet defcribes, his own ; but that
of a young nobleman of very high rank,
who having been fo deeply enamoured of a
beautiful young opera dancer, as to make
his friends fear he would elope with her, and
make her his wife, they entreated Metafta-
lio to reafon with the~ young lover, and try
to prevail on him to let her be fent away to
fome remote country, in order to facilitate
his cure. The poet tells the Princefs di
Belmonte, in the preceding letter, that he
wrote the Canzonet unwillingly and through
mere complaifance ; and in a letter to Fari-
nelli, written about the fame time, different
from
( 348 )
from that in which the little poem was fent*
We ha,ve the ftory, though confiderably dif*
guifed. In fpeaking of fuch performers of
all kinds as were then employed in the Im-
perial theatre, and who when their engage-
ments were out, might be of ufe in that of
Madrid, he fays : " By the inclofed memo-
rial, you will perceive, that I reccommend
to you a female dancer, who is much ap-
plauded here. But you mure, not judge of
her haftily. I am not acquainted with her,
nor have I ever fpoken to her in my life.
But every one knows how much t am yours,
and all apply to me. I am, however, not
exempt from intereft in this bufinefs, as I
now perform an office which may be of
fome utility in its confequences ; for by ferv-
ing this lady, a very delirable work will be
performed, which I mall explain to you
in two words.
A young gentleman of my • acquaintance,
though married to a moft beautiful lady, is
over head and ears in love with this nymph.
By dint of preaching, I have prevailed
on him to part from her; but he pro-
tefts, that he is unable to refill her at-
tractions, if fhe remains here. If you could
poffibly employ her, I really believe fhe
would'
( 349 )
would be approved. But at all events, let
me have fuch a letter from you, as when
mewn, mail convince my friend that I did
not deceive him, when I promifed to write
to you."
Late editors tells us, that the canzonet in
queition, was written in 1746 ; but it ap-
pears from the author's own account, that it
was written in 1749 : we find, however, no
mention made of it to his moft confidential
correfpondents, till the year 1750.
The haplefs lover feems to have impofed
on the poet, the defcription of his flifFerings,
as a penance for the facrifice which he had
made to his eloquence ; and few, perhaps,
who can afTume the defperate circumifances
of a lover, relinquifhing the object of his
paffion for ever, yet retaining his afFeclion
without the moil diftant hope of its gratifi-
cation, will think that the bard was no
fuperflcial judge of the mental difeafe of his
patient. '
La
( 35° )
La Partenza, or the Separation.
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( 3H )
illlliililililiiiii
bene, E tu, ■ cbi fa fe mat Ti ^fov - Kits -
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fczsfcr
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me !
I
II.
Soffr'i cbe in traccia almeno
Del mio perduta pace
Vehga il penfier Jeguace
SuVerme deltuopie.
Sempre neltuo camlno,
Sempre vidvrai vicino ;
E tu, chifafe mat
Tifowerrai di me !
Let me in volant thought
Ideal blifs renew,
By reminifcence taught
I'll ftill thy fteps purfue.
Full in my fight as now
Thy image e'er will be :
Yet, who can tell if thou
Wilt ever think of me !
Io
( 35* >
7(5 fra remote fponde
Msfto volgendoipajfi,
Andrb chiedendo a ifaffi,
La ninfa mia dov' & !
D alt una alValtra aurora,
Te andro chiamando ognora
, E tu, chifafe mai ] .
Yijovvcrrai di me I
Io rivedrofo'vente
Le amene piagge, o Nice,
Dove •vivea felice
Quando <vivea con te,
A vie far an tormcnto
Centomemorie e cento :
E tu, chifaje tnai
c ti]bwerrai di me !
Ecco (dirb) quelfonte,
Dove awampo difdegno,
Ma poi di pace infegno
La bella man mi die.
£>uiji <v'vvea difpeme ;
L&Ji languiva injieme ;
E tu, chifafe mai
Tifovilerrai di me!
'guantivedrai giungendo
Al nuovo tuo Joggiorno,
Quanti vernirti intorno,
A uffxirti amore efe.
Ob dio ! Chi fa fra tanti
T'eneri omaggi, e pianti,
Oh Dio ! Chifafe mai
1i [owerrai di me !
Fenfa qual dole e fir ale,
Car a mi lafci in fen« :
III.
In folitary ways,
While forrowing I zp,
To rocks I'll fang thy praife,
To echo tell my woe.
The woods fhall hear my vow,
And Zephyr bring it thee :
Yet, who can tell if thou
Wilt ever think of me !
IV.
To fce«es my reftlefs mind
Will ever have the clue,
When time and fate were kind,
And Nifa was in view.
And thefe regretting, how
From pain can I be free : —
Yet, who can tell if thou
Wilt evef think of me !
V.
Sometimes the fountain viewing,
Where Nifa once look'd grave ;
Then kindnefs fweet renewing,
Her beauteous hand fhe gave.
Here hope fate on thy brow,
There fear no hope could fee ;
Yet, who can tell if thou
Wilt ever think of me I
VI.
What votaries foon will croud
Thy fhrine both day and night,
Declare their fuit aloud,
When I am out of fight ?
Oh heav'n ! while thefe all bow
And bend the fupple knee,
Who, Nifa, knows if thou
Wilt e'er remember me !
VII.
Think of the fatal dart,
I evermore fhall guard,
Penfet
( 353 )
■fenja. cbt txnio Fileno Deep rankling in my heart,
Senza sperar merce : Remote from all reward !
Pen/a, mia <vifa, a quefto Think from my mifery now,
Barbaro addio funejlo ; How wretched I thall be—
Penfa——Ab ) chi fa ft mat But dare I hope that thou
2* fovverwi di me ! Wilt ever think of meJl
LETTER III.
TO THE SAME.
By the beginning of yours, dated the
13th of the prefent year, I perceive that,
deceived by the chearfulnefs of the ftyle of
my letters, you think me in perfect health.
But do not truft to that, my dear Gemello;
you mould remember, that fiction is the ca-
pital of us Poets ; befides, you infpire me
with good humour, whenever I take up the
pen to write to you : for I find you the moft
efficacious antidote to the acidities and fla-
tulencies with which my poor ftomach and
head are afflicted, and againft all the other
moft genteel maledictions, that are lodged in
my little mattered machine ; which, how-
ever, manifefts no outward fign of internal
perfecution. My circumference is not di-
minished ; or my countenance fallen ; and
tol. 1. A a very
( 354 )
very often, when I am engaged in the moft
violent conflict with my fufferings, I am
obliged to thank my friends for their con-
gratulations upon my apparent enviable
ftate of health, This would wear out my
patience, did I not reflect, that the fame
mockery happens to moft of thofe, whom
the world from external appearances, thinks
arrived at the fummit of human felicity,
amidft the rank, riches, and honours, with
which they are furrounded. How ofteir
would thefe illuftrious wretches, gladly
change their condition with the moft refera-
ble of their adorers ! Your Gemello has at-
tempted to defcribe this in his Giufeppe
rtconofciuto.
Se a ciafcum V inter no ajfanW)
Si legejje infrontefcrhto ;
Shianti mat che invidiafanno
Cifarebbero pleta !
If mental fufferings we could read
Infcribed with truth upon each brow.
With pity then our hearts would bleed^
For thofe whom moft we envy now 1
But v^hat hypochondraic daemon has dip-
ped me into morality ! What a peftiferous
drug for low fpirits ! If we wiflv for relief,
let us have recourfe to other means, as thefe
have been long tried in vain.
You
t 355 )
You would have me pais for fuch a
fbrcerer in Poetry, as you are in Mufic ;
but, my dear Gemello, you will never have
an accomplice in your crimes. If even my
verfes mould have the magical power which
you afcribe to them, I am always infinitely
lefs dangerous than you. Among all the in-
habitants of the globe, the number of thofe
who understand the Italian language is very
lmall ; and among thofe, few have a tafte
for Poetry, and frill fewer a critical know-
ledge of it$ beauties and defects. But every
living creature has ears, and all feel them-
felves highly delighted by thofe fubtjl and
infidious harmonical proportions, unknown
to your predeceffors, with which you only
have had the power to render practicable,
the fecret road by which the ear carries
on an jntercourfe with the heart. There-
fore repent, my dear Wizard, repent of your
.crimes.
Where is the wonder that there mould
be difputes concerning the length or mort-
nefs of the Princefs of Phrygia ? Taftes have
always differed. Some will have it long,
and fome fhort ; and in my opinion both
are right ; becanfe, according to the hack-
rued axiom, de gujiibus non efi difputandum,
A a % I am
( 35* )
I am for the medium : and between the two
extremes, for the fliort : yet, as a Poet, I
muft adopt the long, whether I will or no ;
for the following reafon: That whimperer,
JEneas, before he went to Carthage, to lead
affray the poor widow of your acquaintance,
had a wife in Troy ; and the D — 1 would
have it, that me was called Creufa, like our
Princefs. Virgil, in his JEnM, repeats
the name of this good lady, at leaft ten
times, and always places it at the end of a
verfe, making it conftantly confift of three
fyllables, of which the penultima is always
long. Now, if I had the temerity to oppofe
the authority of Virgil, I mould run the
rifk of excommunication from the whole poe-
tical hierarchy ; nor would a pilgrimage to
Delphos or Helicon, be fufficient to reconcile
me with ParnafTus. So that I muft, whe-
ther I will or not, accommodate my felf to
the long name. But you, who for your
comfort are not dipped in poetry, are under
no neceffity to attend to thefe circumftances.
I admire your temporifing, like Fabius
Maximus, and contenting both parties. You
could not have done better, than by ordering,
as you have wifely done, that one half of
the fingers fhould contract the name, and
the
( 357 )
the other lengthen it. The expedient pleafes
me fo much, that I (hall make ufe of. it in
Mufic ; and when there is any doubt, whe-
ther a third mould be flat or fharp, I fhall
play it flat with one hand, and fharp with
the other: thus the ears of every one will
be gratified.
The Countefs d'Althan, Marechal Vaf-
quez, and Count Efterhafi, falute you cor-
dially. I have already mentioned in my
preceding letter, the inundation of muff;
I therefore fhall not fatigue you with re-
fuming the fubje6t, but merely tell you, that
every pinch I take, is a memento of the
amiable donor.
Let us now make peace about dates, be-
caufe by the reply to my laft letter, you haVe
well paid me for that which was forgotten ;
but we fhall ftill difpute afFe&ion, as I fuf-
tain that I love you more than I have a right
to expecl: you to love me.
Vienna, Feb. n, 1750.
Aaj LET-
35*
LETTER IV.
TO .THE SAME.
What kind of cruelty is this, my moil
inhuman, moft ungrateful, and, in ipite of
all this, molt, beloved Gemello ! Here, in
order to obey your commands, am I up to
the chin in mud : I have thirty horfes to
guide, and ten beafls who govern them :
from morning to night am I befet with
horfe-fhoes, faddles, harnefs, cloth-bags,
coachmen, poftilions, farriers, and fadlerSj,
who fpin my head like a top. I expect
every pofl-day to be comforted with a letter
from you, but none arrives. You have
fbmething elfe to do: I know it, and pity
you ; but could not you, at leafr, order
fomebody elfe, merely to write me word
how you do ? You have no conception, at flich
a diftance, how many melancholy thoughts
your filence generates. I love you as much
as you merit, that is without end ; and it is
impoffible for any one to love at that rate,
and not be afraid. I never doubt of your
heart, knowing it as I do. It is too great,
and
( 359 )
and too worthy, not to coincide with one that
is fo much yours as I am ; but the not hear-
ing from you for fuch a length of time, is a
fafr. too lono; and rigorous, for the Meta-ftauan 1
ftomach. Adieu ; I have no time to-day for
a longer letter, having beeh occupied in your
fervice another way. If I do not put the
caravan in motion, I know not what would
foon happen : I have no- time to breathe.
I fent you a canzonetta. Have you re-
ceived it ? Adieu once more.
P. S. The letter already written is long
enough ; and yet I cannot help making a little
addition to it, in favour of the agreeable Mada-
moifelle Caftellina ; to whom I advifed the fa-
lubrious air of Aranjuez in company with her
phyfician. 1 have always in my former let-
ters begged of you to fay and do a thoufand
kind things in my name ; but you have never
given me the leaft affurance of having exe-
cuted my commiflion. Can you be jealous ?
Oh what a vile infirmity ! I pity you ex-
tremely, my dear Gemello, particularly, when
I reflect, that no one is cured of this malady
in Spain. We good people of Germany
know nothing of fuch 'a diforder, except in
a molt moderate degree ; juft as a mere
fauce to love. You fouthera folks, devoid
a a 4 of
( 36o )
of all charity for your neighbours, want t&
keep the paflion of love wholly to your-
felves, without affording the flighted portion
of its fweets to any one elfe. But enough
of this ; you mould thank heaven, that we
are fo far afunder ; other wife, in fpite of
your numerous merits, and the paucity of
mine, I mould give way to all the rage I
could mutter againft you ; but thefe are
caftles in the air. ; I threaten you with war
from the Danube, and you laugh defiance
on the Manzanare. E ncefacicefafpotazelle*
At ragiGne e no poco de cchiu.
I wrote to you a few weeks ago, concern-
ing a young perfon, called Signora Colomba
Mattel-, and I wrote you the truth, though I
was commanded to make her panegyric.
I hear that Madame Ten" has written to you
about her likewife. Without the lead myf-
tery, me is a good moveable, and pleafes
here very much. I beg you will write to
me in fiich a manner that I may mew my
principal how obedient I have been. A6t,
however, in fuch a manner as mail fiiit you
beft. There is no harm in your being in-
formed of the merchandife of this place, as
you may probably have occalion for it in
your future theatrical direction.
V My
( 3«i )
My dear Gemello, your love is every
thing to me, and wants to be fweetened by
no prefents : muff, however, excepted, which
cannot be refufed. There is fiich a mifera r
ble fcarcity here at prefent of this drug, that
the worfi: quality is fold by the dealers at an
enormous price ; while the beft, which can
only be brought in with the greater!: diffi-
culty, is but ordinary, and my nofe is an
impertinent member, which will not be con-
tent with every fort. If you will take pity on
it, know thatitdiflikes dry muff, and has pofi-
tively an infuperable averfion for that of a
reddifh colour. Its favourite tint, is a pale
yellow. I have already fpoken to the dealer,
who, in confidertion of my poetical faculty,
will make me pay only three florins a pound,
and will give me the earlier! intelligence of
the arrival of the cheft. that is directed to
me. I beg you will not think me trouble-
fbme, becaufe, on the fubjec~t of fnuff, it is
impoflible to be modeft.
Vienna, May 2, 1750.
MetaitafioY correspondence with Sig.
Fran. d'Argenvilliers, the banker, at Rome,
began this year; and though thefe letters
) chiefly
( 3 6 * )
chiefly tura on his money concern?* in that'
city, and at Naples, yet there are in them
frequent traits of friend/hip, gratitude, and
genius, which in the Italian language are
interefting and beautiful.
After acknowledging the kind manner in
which he had honoured the draughts which
his brother had prefented to him, he fays,
** I mall not enter on the panegyrics due to
your attentive, diligent, and friendly ex-
actitude. I feel, that the occalion which
I have for it, far furpaffes my power of
praife. I hope you think my heart well
organised ; and that taken for granted, my
mere acknowledgment is worth a hundred
orations of Demofthenes. Continue to ho-
nour me with the place which you have
afligned me in your good heart, which I
mail always moil: anxiouily endeavour to
defer ve."
In the next letter he fays : " The eager-
nefs which you manifefl for my coming to
Rome, I can allure you, without poetical
fiction, adds many Jiimull to my own paffion
for fuch a viiit. But how many curfed flutes
mould I have to tune, before that could
happen ! Yet who knows ? I have not re-
linquiilied hope. In the meantime, I beg to
be
C 363 )
be honoured with your afFeclion, in fpite of
my involuntary Laconifm ; but pray believe
me orientally, and with the moft fincere,
grateful, and tender efteem, &c."
In another letter of the fame year, after
thanking Sig. Argenvilliers for his kind of-
fices, he adds : " I am proud of your friend-
fhip, and correlpondence ; but I mould be
more fecure and tranquil, if you could fuggeit.
to me fome expedient in my power, of
which I am ignorant, to be ' of a little ufe
to you in return, that I might flatter myfelf
with not always fpungirig upon you for my
own advantage. Pray analyfe my abilities.
It is true, for my mortification, that the-
herbs in my garden are ufelefs ; and yet, in
the hands of an excellent botanift, who
knows what virtues may be found in '
them ? "
In anfwer to this letter, his friend feems /
to have kept up the botanical metaphor, to
which Metaftafio, on the point of fetting
out for his annual excurfion into Moravia,
replies :
" You fend me a botanical challenge ;
but, thank heaven, my departure furnifhes
me with a plaufible pretext for fhunning
fuch a trial. I hardly know a nettle from a
thiitle
( 364 )
thiftle, and* you (peak to me of dittany and
wound- wort. But the poftilion is impa-
tient. Adieu."
We mall return, chronologically, to this
correfpondence ; but, at prefent, it is ne-
cefTary to refume that with Farinelli.
By the irregularity of the poll:, Metaftafio
had been deprived of letters from his friend
at Madrid a conliderable time ; and when
they arrived, after a long interval, he ad-
dreffed him in the following manner.
LETTER V.
TO THE CAVALIER FARINELLI.
At length you have given way to re-
morfe, and your long, afFe&ionate, and cor-
dial letter, has made me ample amends for
all my cruel fufferings, on account of your
filence. I thank you heartily, and fend you
a legion of embraces. I (hall not exaggerate
the pleafure which you have given me, as
you, who have my heart in your pofleffion,
may underftand me befl when I am lilent.
Now I mail reply to your letter, para-
graph by paragraph ; but if it were poffible
for
( 365 )
for me ever to be fhort in writing to yon, I
fhould be brief now ; as I am preffed for
time. I hear, from the venerated Marquis
Enfenada, the affectionate manner in which
you fpeak of me, from the extreme goodnefs
of your heart. But you were born to tafte
the'bleffings of fweetening humanity. The
poifeffion of a friend of fuch a caliber, is
not a fmall melioration of exiftence.
■ Your mufic to my canzonet is expreffive,
graceful, and the legitimate offspring of one
arrived at fupremacy in the art. I thank
you for communicating it to me, particu-
larly as a teft. imony of your love ; but if it
was malicioufly fent, as a critique on mine,
I mall take care to revenge myfelf on the
firfl: poetry that you mail fend to the prefs.
Yet, if the devil mould tempt you to become
a poet, who knows but you may unmeath
fome other latent talent ? Oh nothing elfe
is wanting to complete my ruin, but to have
you for a rival. Sia ditto nfunno a lo
maro (f). And fo my canzonet has ob-
tained the approbation of the Peity of the
Manzanare ? And the name of the Poet
(/) This fentence is Neapolitan, and implies : may the
idea go to the bottom of the fea.
Metaftafio
( 366 )
Metaftafio-has had the glory of being pro-
nounced by royalty ? My beloved Gemello,
you who have procured me an honour which
confoles me for all the labours of my life,
fupport me in this elevation : and if you
cannot in jufti.ce exaggerate my merit, make
known at leaft my humble joy and gra-
titude.
I hope the duet which I inclofe will ma-
nifeft my eagernefs to be of fome ufe ; it
certainly is not the worft of my productions.
Read it with attention, and you will find,
excluflve of the tendernefs and character of
the two interlocutors, an imitation of an
anfwer made to Louis XIV, by the neice
of Cardinal Mazarin, who feeing him fried
tears at her being feparated from him cries
out: Are you a King, yet weep, andfuffer me
to depart? This correfponds very well
with the incidents of the Opera, % Believe
me, my dear friend, that ever defirous of
Seconding your wifhes to the utmoft of my
power, I would on all accounts do it in the
Opera you defire, and what I will do for
you, I will do for no other living creature \
but this is not invention, but a long mental
fatigue, and violent application which I
have never yet undergone without danger,
Iti
C 3 6 7 )
It is true that life is fhort, and for this very
reafon, I know that you would not wifh me
to make it ftill fhorter. If I find myfelf able
to oblige you, moft certainly I mall want
no (pur, I am fo much yours, that I feem
to partake of the favours and honours heap-
ed on you with fo liberal a hand, by your
moft clement fbver^gn ; fo, that it almoft
feems necefTary for me to thank them not
only in your name, but my own. And on
account of this merit, I forgive fortune all
the cruelty with which file has treated me
in my own particular. You may judge
whether fhe is my enemy or no, by reflect-
ing, that with fuch a twin-brother as your-
felf, with the protectors whom you procure
me, the divinities whom you render bene-
volent, and fuch numberlefs reafons of
equity operating in my favour, I have been
fo long unable, with fuch pains, recommen-
dations, and humble prayers, to obtain any
thing either from favour or juftice, I con-
fole myfelf, that , life, as you pbferve, is
fhort, and that Madame Fortune, will not
long divert herfelf in perfecuting me. In-
deed, my experience is fuch, as renders mc
Jefs vulnerable, and lefs fenfible to the
2 ftrokcs
( 368 )
ftrokes of this capricious enemy than for-
merly.
If you mould employ Jomelli, I truft you
will thank me for it ; and if ever you
mould fee him, you will be attached to him,
as he is certainly the moft amiable gourmand
that ever exifted. At prefent, he is Maeftro
di Capella of St. Peters at Rome, and is
the darling of that city ; not only for his
profeffional abilities, but complacence, do-
cility, graceful deportment, and good morals.
And all that are not prejudiced, fpeak of
him in this manner.
Oh, how delighted has the Countefs
d'Althan been with the chapter which you
fent me for her ! She, and all the ladies of
her acquaintance, to whom I have read a
part of your letter in the garden which you
know of, have cried out, in chorus, what I
fhould tell you, what I mould do for you,
and the Lord knows what. A quire of
paper would not contain all the congratula-
tions, falutations, remembrances, and pa-
negyrics, with which I am charged. And
now I think it high time to finim, that
the Poftman might have this letter in time.
Adieu, my moft beloved twin. Preferve
yourfelf
( 3*9 )
yourfelf carefully, for your own fake, for
that of your friends, and, particularly, for
him who is moil conftantly and affection-
ately yours.
* Vienna, June 13th, I75°»
LETTER VI.
TO THE SAME.
Two of your mod dear letters, though
of different dates, are arrived together : the
one of the 1 8th of May, and the other of
June 9th. They have travelled extremely
ilow ; but old as they are, coming from you,
they have all the charms of youth. Let us
anfwer them chronologically. You have
celebrated St. Peter's day, without knowing
it. But let me thank you, and explain the
myftery. Not being able to have your
March executed in my own houfe, with a
fufficient number of inftruments, I gave it
to the obliging Count d'Althan, and he
propofed having it performed in the great
Garden-hall.
vol. i, b b On
( 37° )
i
On the evening of St. Peter, whofe name
I bear, while the company was playing at
cards, and thinking as little of Mufic as of a
pilgrimage to Mecca ; they were all put
into the utmoft aftonimment, by a terrible
clangor of inftmments, which threw both
the card-players and by-ftanders, into atti-
tudes ridiculous enough for a picture. The'
iiirprife foon degenerated into tumult : they
threw down their cards, overfet the tables,
and ran againfl each other to the field of
battle. Here the foiiorous March, and
alternate graceful Minuet, tranquillized thefe
feditious people, who were wholly filent, till
the inftruments ceafed to play, and then
burft into a general applaufe. I then, with
a modefl air, returned thanks to the gentle-
men and ladies for the honour they had done
this bagatelle. What! they all cried out, is'
it your Mufic ? No, faid I, but it is the fame
as if it was mine, being compofed by my
twin-brother. Here I was' obliged to give
a hiftory of our twin-fhip, and it was de-
cided by acclamation, that there was but one
Farinelli. Many fymphonies were played,
but nobody would go home till the March
had been again performed. Now, my dear
Gemello,
( m )
Gemello, I was delighted to be in your
company, even during this applaufe. But
as to the thoughts, converfations, and dreams
which this night may have occafioned, I
warn my hands of them 5 and leave them to
your conference.
I am proud to find, that my letter had the
power to move two Afters of fuch differ*
ent characters. I beg you will reverence
in my name, not only the gentle, but the
fcornful Lady. Taftes are various : hence
each may have her merit, in a different
way ; but, mixed together, they would con-
flitute a dolce x piccante, of the moll pro-
voking kind. , Tell them, that they mould
not defpife the fondnefs of friends. Their
fondnefs is different from that which we
have for the fair fex : the nrft is encreafed
by abfence, the fecond by proximity. The
firft occupies the mind; the fecond agitates
the blood; but that which does not difturb.
the mind, can turn the brain. If all this is
ineffectual, tell them, at leaft, for our
credit, that whoever can be an affectionate
friend, would not make a contemptible
Jover.,
Our incomparable Countefs d'Althan fa-
lutes you without end, and is much pleafed
s b 2 by
( 37* )
by your favourable opinions of D. Gactano.
I have made her laugh with the Macherone
Pafticcio, and have no doubt but that it
will be mentioned in her letters to Paris,
where her nephew at prefent refides.
The generous partiality with which, ac-
cording to your letter, I am honoured by
the moil worthy Marquis Enfenada, is
merely in confequence of our near relation-
ship. But now you have feduced him in
my favour, I beg you will not undeceive
him. Impofe upon him ftill further about
my tranfcendent merit ; but, whenever you
would ipeak to him, free from all danger of
exaggeration, pray tell him of my venera-
tion and gratitude : for I defy you to furpafs
the truth on thofe rubjecls.
I am glad to find that you remember our
banker, who has treated us with fuch great
courtefy, that gratitude is due to him. But
you are miftaken in the perfcn. I never
ipoke to you concerning Rezzani of Ham-
bro, whom I do not know ; but of Meflrs.
Scbmitmer of Vienna,, with whom I have had
dealings. Whenever you have an opportu-
nity of ferving them, I beg you will not
confound names.
i Signer
( 373 )
Sig. Amorevoli, who now fings on the
Vienna ftage for the fecond time, fays, that
you formerly invited him to Madrid, but
that he could not then leave his court : you
however wrote, or employed fomebody elfe
to write, to defire him to acquaint you
when he would be at liberty ; with which
requefl he complied, but has received no
anfwer. He knows not whether his letter
has mifcarried, or whether fome good friend
has not given an unfavourable account of
him. He has beo-p-ed of me to inclofe a let-
ter addrefTed to you* that he may be fure of
its being fafely tranfmitted to you, and duly
anfwered. He would willingly prefer Ma-
drid to London, but mould be forry to lofe
both *. So that he entreats you to favour
him with a categorical anfwer. This per-
former is fo well known, particularly by
yourfelf, that I fhould do him an injury, in
attempting to defcribe his merit. I mail
only fay, that I always hear him with the
fame pleafure, and that no Tenor, not ex-
* Amorevoli had been in England before: he arrived
here in 1741, with Monticelli, and the Vifconti^ and re-
mained in this kingdom, till the year 1744. His know-
ledge, tafte, and expreffion, well merited the praiies be-
llowed on him by Metaftafio.
B b 3 cepting
( 374 )
cepting even Paita, has fuch an efFecl on
my feelings : fo that if this man were heard
in Spain, particularly being new to that
country, my opinion is, that he would do
you great honour. It appears to me by the
account he gives of his engagements, which
I do not very well underfland, that he be-
lieves himfelf at liberty from the Carnival
of 1752, to that of 1753.
Well, for the prefent, I think you have
had a good dofe ; another day I mail be ftill
more dry and prolix. Continue to love me,
if you would not be thought ungrateful :
for I believe it would be difficult to find a
fingle perfbn from Madagafcar to Nova
Zembla, who does not know with what
efleem, {incerity, and affection, I am yours,
Vienna, July iS, 1750.
LETTER VII.
TO. THE SAME.
To-day, it certainly is not any bufinefs that
we have to tranfact which exacts from me
thefe few lines, but mere impatience to em-
brace you ; my hypochondriac affections are
infrequent want of a cordial draught of Fari-
4 nelli,
( 375 )
nelli, otherwife my humours would become
infupportable. I know not whether this de-
claration will pleafe the two filters who
are fuch enemies to friendmip ; but, at all
events, fbme narcotic will be found in your
difpenfary to appeafe them.
Now I have the pen in my hand, I muft
tell you that, according to advices which I
received from the Duke di Salas, your full
cheft ought now to be floating in the gulph
of Lyons ; and that our cavalry being in the
bell: ftate, from the tenth of laft month,
ought to be at this inftant in which I am
writing, advanced far into France. So that
our fleet and our caravan muft needs be
approaching happily to their defoliation. I
I wim to both, not mine, but your luck,
and am extremely impatient to fee which
will get the better.
Our good and admirable Jomelli, is out
of his wits to execute your commiffion well.
He has written me a very long letter, in
which he fpeaks of nothing elfe. I am very
anxious that he mould pleafe the public of
Spain. For your part, who judicioufly love
harmony and exprejfion, I have no doubt of
your approbation : but in Italy, at prefent,
there is a tafte for nothing but extrava-
B b 4 gance,
( 376 ) .
gance, and vocal fymphonies ; in which wc
fometimes hear an excellent violin, flute,
or hautbois ; but never, the ringing of a
human creature. So that mufic is now to
excite no other emotion than that of fur-
prife. Things are carried to fuch excels,
that if not foon reformed, we {hall juftly
become the buffoons of all other nations,
Compofers and performers being only am-
bitious of tickling the ear, without ever
thinking of the hearts of the audience, are
generally condemned in all theatres, to the
difgraceful office of degrading the acls of an
opera, into intermezzi for the dances, which
occupy the attention of the people, and chief
part of the {peculators. And it is to you,
my good mailer, that this degeneracy is
chiefly owing. It is your happy and won-
derful powers, which all are driving in vain
to imitate. But even to limp after you,
requires fuch legs as none are gifted with.
Mercy on us ! v I thought I had done,
when here comes a letter from you, dated
May 27th, which has been opened, and I
am glad of it. I feal my letters from habit,
not the defire of fecreiy. Nor mail I, in
future, ever write a word lefs than I mould,
if this had never happened. I ever had an
averlion
( 377 )
averfion to fuch things as fear public exami-
nation.
If I do not inftantly finifh my letter, it
cannot go this evening. Proftrate at the
foot of the throne, not only the poor Attilia
Rego/o, but alfo the humble author. Love
and believe me per omnia faculafceculorum^
Vienna, Auguft i, 1750.
LETTER VIII.
TO THE SAME.
I receive two of your letters, one of a
date that was once known to God and your-
felf ; at prefent, perhaps, to none but God
alone. The other is of the nth of Auguft,
I ought and mould have anfwered them in an
ample manner, the fubjecf. required it ; but
how could I ? Being in the country where
the company is numerous, I am never fuf-
fered to be alone, but to fleep : ib that there
is no poffibility for a polite man to obtain a
rag of folitude, either to do good or evil.
Content yourfelf, therefore, for the prefent,
with a Laconic anfwer, which being written
under fuch inconveniences, may reafonably
afpire at the merit of a long letter.
I muft
( 37« )
I muft confefs, my dear Gemello, that
among all my poetical imaginations, I have
never been able to find the mine of diamonds
in the mountains of Moravia, which you
talk of. Thefe are miracles referved for
certain divinities of the firft order. Thefe
are words of courfe : fo that I mail not at-
tempt to reconcile their excefs, with my too
great want of merit. But while you are
trying, with all the tendernefs of twinfhip,
to render thefe divinities propitious to me,
if you cannot honeftly exalt my merits,
Ipeak of my fubmimon, fpeak of my grati-
tude, and affure yourfelf, that you run no
irifk of deviating from truth, however lively
and violent may be your expremons. Ac-
cuitomed as you have long been to inhabit
my heart, you know its moft fecret receffes,
and are able to judge of the Sincerity of its
emotions.
Now your royal oracle has pronounced iii
Favour of my Attilio Regolo, I defy Sopho-
cles, Euripides, and all the Athenian Parnaf-
fus» The fublime fufFrage which I can boalr,
is worth that of all ancient Greece. But my
dear Gemello, in our moft recondite confi-
dence* let me difclofe to you my wonder.
Without injuring the angelic penetration
of
( 379 )
of your divinity, I mufr. confefs, I never
ihould have flattered myfelf, ,that the au-
fterity of my Regulus could ever have been
fuffered in that, fphere. The delicacy of
fex, is naturally averfe to it, and royal in-
dulgence and delights do not accuftom the
palate to the harfhnefs of that rigid Roman
virtue which I have endeavoured to deline-
ate in my Attilio. A very uncommon foli-
dity of character is necelfary to vanquifh in
this manner, both fex, and education. Oh,
my fortunate Gemelio ! If I was capable of
envy, you would be the object of it. I thank
you for the defence which you have made
of us poor modern Romans : but confcience
fecretly reproves me. Whoever places us
below the ancients, has reafon on his fide ;
and the reflection is worthy of him who
mayle it.
But did any tyrant of Syracufe or Agri-
gentum, ever torment a poor gentleman, as
you torment me for an opera ? And have
I not reafon to call you a marine monfter !
I begin to think you are breeding, as fuch a
longing fit never appertained to the mafcu-
line gender. You then believe, that con-
tinually tormenting my poor brains, is in-
vention. Do you regard it as a fable, that I
live-
( 38° )
live in the fervice of a fovereign, who de-
lights in poetry, and, luckily, from excefs
of clemency, particularly of mine ; yet dur-
ing five years, I have not been in a Situation
to write a fingle verfe in compliance with
her repeated inlinuations ! Do you believe
that I mould not have been deurous of gra-
tifying a twin brother, and of procuring the
favour of fuch exalted patrons ? Rather, in
charity, believe that I have thought and {till
think of it ; and that if it is not accomplish-
ed, it will not be from want of zeal, out
from a mere phyfical and invincible impoffi-
bility. The ceffation of all amufements for
a confiderable time, occafioned here by an
unhappy event, of which I mall not fpeak
through refpect. for my miftrefs's moll juft
and laudable affli&ion, permits me at pre-
fent, to think of undertaking, leimrely, fome
poetical compofition. I fhall attempt the
ford ; heaven grant that I may not be left
in the^paffage.
Jomelli wrote me word, fometime ago,
that he received an act. of Demetrio, with
which he was extremely pleafed. And my
brother at Rome tells me, that he had heard
the duet : fo that he is at work. Jomelli,
however, from mere complacence, is defi-
rous
( 33' )
rous of pleafing every body, and every body
wants to employ him. He muft, therefore,
be Simulated ; I do it, and you muft not fail
to do it by means of your excellent fecretary
Marchefini, whom I now feize the oppor-
tunity of faluting. I beg you to prefent my
invariable refpecls to the worthy Marquis of
Enfanada, and tell him, that if a motion is
not given to the waters of Parthenope in my
favour, they will be quite ftagnant, to
which they feem much inclined. I am un-
worthy of fo much trouble, but the van-
quishing my evil fortune, is an enterprife to
tempt Spanifh generofity.
The moft excellent lady of the manfion,
and all her numerous guefts, charge me
with compliments to you. I would give
you a lift of the candidates of both fexes, but
neither time nor my head will ftand by me ;
fo I haften to conclude, with my ancient and
moil conftant affe&ion.
Frain, September 15, 1750.
LET-
( 3** )
Letter ix.
TO THE SAME.
Your letter of the 3d of laft month, in
which you tell me of the happy fuccefs of
our little Pegafian expedition, is arrived,
and gives me the greater!: pleafure, in the
midft. of the moft cruel perfecutions of my
nervous affections ; which, this year, are more
obftinate, indifcrete, and intolerable than
ufual. I fhall not defcribe to you my pre-
fent fufferings, as it would too much excite
your pity, and encreafe my own impatience.
In fhort, all I have for it, is heroically to
tolerate the prefent, and force myfelf to
hope for future good. I figh to convince
your glorious patrons, if not of my abilities,
at leafr. of my zeal and attention to obey
them worthily. I am extremely impatient
to hear what was the fate of the laft expe-
dition in their opinion, and, afterwards, in
that of the public.
As foon as ever my complaints grant me a.
truce, I fhall obtain great honour by the
beautiful Arietta that you have fent me,
which
( 3$3 )
which by merely mumbling it between the
teeth, reminds me of my incomparable Ge-
mello. In the mean time I have had it
fung by Sig. ' Tedefchi detto Amadofi, a
Soprano deferving of much efteem ; as, in
a room, particularly, he is, in my opinion,
fuperior to all thofe who at prefent tread
the ftage in the reft of Europe ; and here,
at court, and among the nobility, he id
juftly in very high favour. This performer
comes to entertain and folace me in my
doleful hypochondriacs : and when your
mufic is to be fung, I afiume the character
of Maeftro, and he has the patience to bear
With me.
I mould write much more, but my head
is difobedient. So that after afTuring you of
the moft partial falutations of yours, and my
moft worthy Countefs d'Althan, I embrace
you with my wonted affecrion.
Vienna, December 13, 1750.
This was the laft letter of the year 1750
to Farinelli, which appears in the collection.
Before we advance further, it will be necef-
fary to return back a few months, in order
to reflime the poet's correfpondence with
Sis.
( 3«4 )
Sig. Filipponi, to whom he generally writes
with much vivacity and good humour.
L E T T E R X.
TO SIG. FILIPPONI.
Neither my long refidence in the coun-
try, the idle carnival, nor the troublefome
and lying compliments of the feafon, have
prevented me from. writing fooner ; but the
want of neceffary, ufeful, or, at leaft, amu-
fing,. materials, joined to the natural horror
of a vacuum, which I feel in common with
mankind, particularly in letters, and in the
purfe. Think not that our friendship can
iufFer diminution, from this interval of
iilence. Its roots are fo ftrong, fo ancient,
and fo deep, that they can well bear a dry
feafon or two, without injury. It is not the
plane tree, the palm, or the oak, but the
leek, the lettuce, and the radifh, that perifh,
if not constantly watered.
It is very true, that there are many differ-
ent propofals for reprinting my works ; but,
to tell you the truth, I feel no temptation to
encourage any of them, unlefs induced by
the pleafure of feeing my children more
magnificently
( 3*5 )
magnificently drefTed. I know not, as yet,
who is moft likely to excite this paternal
frailty ; and I fhall not communicate the few
inedited pieces I can find, noi* engage myfelf
in the painful talk of an exacT: and general
correction, in order to encreafe the number
of bad or middling editions which are al-
ready multiplied more than is necefTary.
You have perhaps already perufed my At-
tillio Rego/o. Count Canale fometime ago,
fent a copy of it to Turin. I wiih to have
your opinion of it. If you want to know
mine, here it is.
Though according to letters from Saxo-
ny, the tranquillity of northern affections
has been much difturbed by it at Drefden,
and though they write me word, that the
performers of S. Samuele at Venice, have
reprefented it with great fuccefs, I am not
certain that it will ever occupy the firft
place among my moft popular dramas ; yet
I think it the moft folid, the higheft finifhed,
and abounding with the feweft defects of
any of my operas ; and, in fhort, regard it as
that, which in preference to all the others,
I would preferve, if only one could be faved
from deftruction.
vol. i. c c You
( 3^ )
You have fent back the Count and Counted
Canale very thin ; though in common honef-
ty you ought to have returned to us all that
we configned to you. We fhall there-
fore not let you have them again in a hurry.
I am glad that you are pleafed with the
country moufe (g); but this kind of labour is
not worth the pains it colls. To do it well,
requires genius y and whoever has a capital
of his own, is unwilling to reduce himfelf
to the meagre praife of having brought to
ight the labours of others.
Forget not to keep me alive in the
memory of the moil worthy Count della
Rocca, and the Marquis Ormea, whom I
love and venerate as much as they deferve,
that is, without end. I recommend myfelf,
to the pious fervor of your amiable prieflefs,
and am &c. (>6)
Vienna, February 20, 1750.
(g) This alludes to his tranflation of the fixth fatire of
the fecond book of Horace, which did not appear in any
edition of his works till after his deceafe. It is now gene-
rally placed in the thirteenth or fourteenth volume, with
his other pofthumous works. The tranflation is in Terze
Rime, the verification of Dante, and is extremely clofe
and happy. The original text is printed at the bottom of
the page.
(/;) This was a title which he always, in pleafantry,
gave to Signora Filipponi.
L E IV
( 3*7 )
LETTER XI.
TO THE SAME.
I owe you an anfwer to two charming
letters, and wiflied to pay you with intereft ;
but have not had time to attempt it. And
I now match a moment that is hardly fuf-
ficient for the acknowledgement of my debt,
and prevent profcription. If I were to tell
you all my impediments, you would be in-
dulgent; but their detail would occupy more
room than a categorical anfwer ; and the
excufe would be more tirefome than the
fuppofed negligence.
I thank you for your partial analyfis of my
Regulus'y you gratify my pious prurience by
it, as this opera is the Benjamin of all the
reft. The German aclors here have repre-
fented it in their own language, with great
applaufe ; but I have never yet had the cou-
rage to go near it. The Teutonic air, in a
Roman hero, feems to me like the boar in
the fea, and the dolphin in the wood, which
Horace laughs at.
c c % You
( 388 )
You have procured me the good opinion -
of the mofr. worthy Marchionefs of Lenzi ;
take care to preferve it for me ; reprefent
to her how highly I think myfelf honoured
by her notice ; and how much for her fake
I am grieved, at having fo little merited her
favour, unlefs fhe places to my account, the
infinite refpecl I have for her.
Vienna, June 16, 1750*
LETTER XII.
TO THE SAME.
A most agreeable letter from you was
delivered to me in Moravia, at the fame
time as a command from court to return to
Vienna, in order to write and direct the
reprefentation of a very fhort drama, which
is to be fung by three Arch-dutchefTes, in ce-
lebration of their moil auo-uft mother's birth-
day. This occupation, more indeed of body
than mind, has obliged me to make a fhort
parenthefis in the midfi of all my civil,
oeconomical, political, literary, and voluptu-
ous affairs. You mull not, therefore, accufe
me of negligence, for not anfwering your
letter fooner, nor for doing it now in fo fum-
mary
( 3«9 )
mary a way ; as I am obliged to divide
myfelf among a great number of creditors.
The printer of Turin does my writings
great honour, in fuppofing that an edition in
i2mo. little different from innumerable
others already publimed, would meet with
purchafers. His plan does not tempt my
vanity. The inedited pieces which I have
frill by me, have occasion for the ax and
the file ; therefore the time neceffary for
preparing them, would vex him, and fatigue
me. As to the order in which they mould
appear, I have nothing more to fay, than
that I wifh all the writings of my early
youth might be placed at the end of the
work ; but as the reft have no connexion
with each other, they may be difpofed at
pleafure. Tell him, if it is not too late for
him to profit from the information, that I
have lately received petitions of the fame
kind from Leipfic, Paris, and Piacenza ;
and have made the fame anfwer.
In order to be doing fomething to remind
you of me, I mall give directions for an
excellent little picture of myfelf, which is
now in my poffemon, to be copied for you.
Vienna, October 2 2, 1750
c c q LET-
( 39° )
LETTER XIII.
TO THE SAME.
I should have anfwered your laft letter
fooner, had I not waited till the pi&ure was
fininied ; and now, it being Chriftmas Eve,
I mufl be fhort, as the feveral offices, active
and paffive, have abforbed the whole day.
I fend you one picture of me in wax,
which is moft excellently done. Another
in miniature, which I have had copied three
times ; and, at length, with tolerable fuccefs.
It is now in the hands of a moil tedious en-
graver. When finished, you fhall have a
print likewife from this. Adieu, I write in
company, and therefore can add nothing
more than ufual good wifhes.
Vienna, December 24, 1750.
LETTER XIV.
TO THE SAME
During my filence, I had to combat
with my complaints, and with the mufes.
I have written an opera, by command of
my
( 39 l )
my moft auguft Patron ; I fmiihed it but
yefterday, and you are to regard my writing
to you to-day, as no fmall mark of my
favour.
In order to appeafe you, I enclofe half a
dozen Metaftafios, upon whom you may
fatiate your vengeance, and then refume
your good humour. Adieu. Make my re-
verences to the amiable prieftefs ; look upon
this as a long letter, and try to fancy that it
merits fuch complaifance.
Vienna, April 19, 1751.
LETTER XV.
TO THE CAVALIER FARINELLI.
Notwithstanding appearances are fo
much againft me, my plagues and infirm-
ities were fuch, as not to permit me to
fend you even two lines by laft Saturday's
poft, in anfwer to your moft. agreeable let-
ter of the 25th of November, which I receiv-
ed in the ufual way ; and at prefent, I know
not whether my eagernefs to write to you
will be fufficient to fubdue my difficulties.
J3ut let us fpeak of pleafanter things.
c c 4 The
( 39 2 )
The Minifter Plenipotentiary, Don Anto-
nio di Azlor, from your court, is arrived.
I have been twice at his door in vain ; and
he has been once at mine, with the fame
fuccefs. But at length we have met, and
we now fee one another almoft. every
evening, at the affemblies in Althan houfe.
He has already had an audience of my moll
Auguft Patrons, and I am told, has been
moil gracioufly received. He pleafes me
extremely ; and fuch feems to have been his
fate with, the nobility, and corps diploma-
tique. He has an agreeable ferioumefs in
his afpecl, an opennefs in fpeaking, and fo
noble, courteous, and judicious an addrefs,
that I hope he will worthily and ufefully
fuftain the character with which he is ho-
noured. There is no aflerting any thing
positive for the future ; but whoever begins
well, has half performed his talk. I have
interrogated him very much concerning
yourfelf^ as all are folicitous about what
is moft dear to them, and I am extremely
pleafed with his anfwers. He amires me,.
that your profpeiity has not in the leafl:
altered the fweetnefs and moderation of your
character. A rock, according to ancient
and modern examples, extremely difficult
to
( 393 )
to avoid ; and much more amidft the favours^
than the perfecutions of fortune. He has
allured me, that though mounted to fuch an
enviable iituation, you have not an enemy.
To obtain forgivenefs for fuch profperity, I can
eafily conceive how wife, how difinterefted,
and how beneficent muft be your conducl:,
I congratulate you on thefe inestimable cha-
racteristics, which are your own, and not
the gifts of fortune ; and I congratulate my-
fclf for having known and loved you, be-
fore you had given fuch illuftrious proofs of
your efrimable and amiable qualities.
If you knew Jomelli perfonally, you
would not wonder at the indolence of which
you complain. He has a tranquil and fe-
rene mind, and loves to faunter at his eafe,
and indulge the fatnefs of his well-fed body ;
giving way to every impulfe that can lave
him the trouble of refiftance : fo that he is
always influenced by thofe that are neareft
him. Grieve at this on your own account,
if you will, or rather deplore in him this
moil troublefome defect, but never believe
that he ever meant to deceive you. A fraud
would involve his pacific djipofition in too
much trouble.
I wouI4
I 394 )
I would fay a thousand things more, but
my head has protefted againft it, for fome-
time. Adieu.
Vienna, January 9, 1751.
LETTER XVI.
TO THE SAME.
You began the world by performing
miracles : and it is not one of a common
fort, to make me write verfes at this time of
life, when I have more reafon to execrate
my impertinent infirmities, which plague
me more and more every day. And you
will perforin another miracle, if they mould
let me finilh this letter.
Here is Didone for you, abridged, as much
as poilible, without injuring it too much,
and even corrected in fome place. In the
firn: a6fc, I have not been able to make much
ufe of the fheers ; in the fecond, but little ;
in the third, however, they have been very
aclive. The number of airs is that pre-
fcribed by yourfelf. But in the third act,
as Jarbas, after the combat, would have
come in without an air, and there is a
change of fcene, I have written two verfes
which
( 395 )
which connect with the fenfe and fituation
of the recitative ; but if rung, arcibreviffima^
to a Cavatina, they will give fpirit to the
entrance of the perfonage, and afford the
inftruments an opportunity of feconding the
mutation, without lengthening the opera a
minute. The Licenza (ij, if felf-love
does not feduce me, feems not to partake of
my fuffering ; which only fays, that it is all
the little I mould have been able to do, if
I had not been fo tormented. Pray let the
machinist: read over and over again the re-
marks prefixed to the MS. that he may
underftand and faithfully exprefs your ideas
and mine.
I have received by the favour of the wor-
thy minifter plenipotentiary from your court,
free even from the heavy expences and in-
exorable demands of this cuftom-houfe, your
magnificent prefent of fnufF, porcelain, bark,
vanilla, and other unknown articles. I re-
turn thanks to the generous donor. And
wiih I may ever pofTefs the faculty of me-
riting fuch enviable kindnefs. If my head
(z) Epilogue, or Finale^ generally a compliment to
the fovereign for whofe court, and at whofe expence, the
opera is performed; like the prologues to the operas of
Lulli, written by Quinault for Louis XIV-
would
( 39 6 )
would permit me to write much, this would
be an exceffive long chapter. It will be fo
Hill, when I am able. In the mean time, be
affured, that I am unable to fay whether I
am more glad or more confufed. I hope
that the Marquis d'Enfenada, to whom I
beg my morl: humble reipecls, will believe
this truth; and that you will do the fame.
You wrote me word fometime ago, that
I mould find, in a flafk of earth, an herb that
was good for the breaji^ and a diuretic. Now
inftead of this herb, I have found a white
fubitence refembling foap, but what it is, no
one in Vienna can tell. If you wim that
your prefent ihould not be ufelefs, I beg you
will not forget, in your anfwer, to tell me its
name, virtue, , and the manner of uling it.
However, if it has been fpoiled on the road,
I mufl beg you to fend me another flafk.
The Countefs d' Althan thanks you for
the little canifter of fnuff; but, luckily, it is
too good for ladies ; fo that it will come to
my fhare. Adieu; you have performed the
fecond miracle, at which I rejoice, -and am,
&c.
Vienna, January 30, I75 1 -
J./ ETf
( 397 )
LETTER XVIL
TO THE SAME.
You will wonder at my delay in anfwer-
ing your letter; but when you know the
caufe, you will wonder ftill more, at my
being able to fteal a moment to write thefe
two lines. After my laft letter, I went into
Moravia for the country air, which my
health, more impaired than ufual, required.
In the beginning of Autumn, we were
aflailed among the mountains by a winter ex-
traordinary ; fo furnifhed with ice, with wind,
and all the ornaments of December, that in
defpite of ftoves, chimneys, and pellices lined
with fur, there was no one of the company
who efcaped a cough, accompanied, more or
lefs, with its ufual attendants ; and I, not lefs
favoured than the reft, had a due fhare of
thefe bleffings. But at laft, when the feafon
began to grow milder, and I hoped to re-
cover my ftrength, comes an exprefs with
an Imperial mandate to transfer myfelf to
Vienna, as it was determined that the opera
for the ladies, which was to have come out
in December, mould be reprefented in Octo-
ber. So that, with tl>e blefled remains of
3 my
( 398 )
my defiuxion and other numerous complaints,
I am here in the midft of a crowd of tu-
multuous applications. For befides inftruct-
ing four young ladies, who are quite novices,
both in the language and ufe of the ftage,
the weight of trie director of the mufic falls
on my poor moulders, without my deriv-
ing from it either honour or advantage.
This is one of the court phenomena, in which,
without the leaft crime, I mall fuffer all the
penalty. You know what it is to be a ftage
rudder; it is therefore needlefs. to defcribe
to you my fituation. The opera will be
brought on the ftage in eight or ten days.
I fend you the words before they are pub-
lifhed, not only as my dear Gemello has the
preference in this, as well as in the reft of
my heart, but becaufe it feems very fit for
his purpofe. Adieu. A crowd of people
are waiting for me.
Vienna, O&ober 18, 1751.
LETTER XVIII.
TO THE SAME.
You muft imagine, that, till to-day, I
could neither have the book, nor a moment
i to
( 399 )
to fmifh this letter ; which is the exact truth.
I mall not plague myfelf in trying to per-
fuade you of this, becaufe you have been
often in my cafe ; but with political and
oeconomical circumftances, much more fa-
vourable than mine!
This evening the opera appears on the
ftage for the nrft. time, therefore addio.
A propos to the ftage, at Naples my bu-
finefs is pleafantly fung. They have told
my agent, that when the archbifhop of
Montreal is provided for, fomething will be
given to me* The archbifhopric of Mont-
real becomes vacant by the death of Cardi-
nal Acquaviva, and God knows which of
our nephews may live to fee him provided
for. Then, my beloved Gemello, what are
we to underftand by this ^vtc\o\xs fomethijtg f
But I have no time for declamation; and
you may ealily conceive whether I have
been able to write verfes. Adieu, once
more ; they are all crucifying me at this
moment.
Vienna, Oftober 27, 1751.
LET-
( 400 )
LETTER XIX.
TO THE SAME.
Yours from the efcurial, of the 1 2th, of
laft month, afflicts me with the news of the
bad liate of your dear health, and aggravates
my own fiifferings ; which amidft my plagues
in attending the rehearfals of 77 Re Pajiore,
were more intolerable than ufual. One of
the difagreeable effects of this tumult, is my
not having been able to fecond the wifhes
of my beloved Gemello, in writing fuch a
feftival drama as he had fuggefted to me.
I had intended to devote myfelf to his fer-
vice in the country, but I was there attack-
ed by a fever and defluxio'n, on my arrival ;
and before I was recovered, comes an ex-
prefs which obliged me to gallop to Vienna,
where I alone was forced to practice every
trade, or rather to be Jack of all Trades.
And amidft my fatigues and the enormous
coldnefs of the Theatre; my ill-cured de-
fluxion has taken fuch deep root, and entered
into an alliance with my other complaints
fo clolely, that it affects my fpirits as well as
my health. I comfort myfelf with the
hope that II Re Pa/lore, which I fent you
the
( w )
the inftant it came out of the prefs, will an*
fwer your purpofe extremely well. It is gay,
tender, amorous, fhort ; and has, indeed, all
the neceffary requifites for your wants. No
reprefentation here is remembered to have
extorted fuch univerfal applaufe. The la-
dies who performed in it, did wonders, par-
ticularly as to action. The mufic is fb
graceful, fo well adapted and fo lively, that
it enchants by its own merit, without in-
juring the paffion of the perfonage ; and
pleafes exceffively. I mould inflantly have
had it copied and , fent to you ; but as the
four ladies are aWJbpranos, and there is no
part for any other kind of voice, except
that for AlefTandro, which is a tenor, 1 did
not think it could be of ufe to yon, without
alterations. If ever you mould wifh to have
it, read the drama with attention, caft the
parts; and I will prevail on the compofer
himfelf to adjufr. it to your purpofe, or new
fet whatever you pleafe. The author is Sig.
Giufeppe Bono: he was born at* Vienna of
Italian parents, and fent by Charles VI. to
fludy mufic under Leo, with whom he pair-
ed his firft youth*. I know two other Ger-
man
* This is the firft time that the name of this compofer
has come td my knowledge; of his works I am ftil! ignorant;
vol. i D d however.
( 402 )
man compofers, Gluck, and Wagenfeil*
The firft has furprifing fire, but is mad ; and
the other is a great harpfichord player.
Gluck compofed an opera for Venice, which
was very unfortunate. He has compofed
others here with various fuccefs. I am not
a man to pretend to judge of him.
My dear Gemello, I can write no more,
my head rebels. Adieu, if you wiih me to
be well, mew me a good example ; and be-
lieve that I am more vexed than you can be,
at my inability to oblige you. You know
fo well how fincerely I fpeak, that it is un-
neceffary to enforce this affertion.
Vienna, November 16, 1751.
Soon after the performance of Attifio Re-
golo at Drefden, # the Mingotti, who there
firft difKnguifhed herfelf in the part of At-
iih'a, in that opera, being invited to , the
theatre royal at Naples, to fing in the fame
drama, obtained a letter of recommendation
to the Princefs di Belmonte, from Metaflafio,
however, the character given of him here by Metaftafio,
on whofe probity and good tafte we may rely, afligns him
an honourable ftation among compofers whofe abilities
reft only on tradition, though his productions may never
have penetrated into this country.
4 which
( 4°3 )
which has not been mferted in the poet s
correspondence publifhed at Nice, but ap-
pears in Sig. Saverio Mattel's Memoirs 9
which, though fhort, contain many curious
anecdotes relative to our Lyric Bard's pri*
Vate life, that, previous to this publication*
Were not to be found elfewhere (if). A
fketch of the life of the celebrated finger
and ac"trefs, Mingotti, has already been given
elfewhere, from her own mouth (r); but as
this letter is not mentioned there, and is
fuch an unequivocal teftimony of the favour
in which me ftood with the poet in this
early period of her celebrity, it feems to be
connected with the preceding account of
Attilio*
LETTER XX.
TO THE PRINCESS DI BELMONTE.
" Signora Regina Mingotti, one of the
principal ornaments of the vocal band at
Drefden, being engaged at Naples in the
(b) Memorie perfervire alia vita del Metajlafio raccolte
da Saverio Mattei: Edizi 'one prima, in colle. 1785.
(c) Prefent State of Mufic in Germany, &c. vol 1. Art.
Munich.
d d 2 fame
( 404 )
fame rank, has not efcaped the epidemic
defire of being furnifhed with a letter from
me to your excellence* This requeft, how-
ever, would have been fruitlefs, had fhe
not moft wickedly, and malicioufiy, hit
upon the following expedient for vanquifh-
ing my well known repugnance to give way
to fuch applications. When fhe left the
court of Drefden, what does fhe do, but port:
away to Vienna ; and without giving me
the ieafr. previous notice of my danger, ear-
ly one fine morning, prefents herfelf in my
foom, and in a military habit, preceded only
by her fame, and accompanied by all the
graces of youth, vivacity, and talents*- and
what is ftill worfe, entitled to the chief
credit of the fuceefs of my Attilio in Dref-
den. Now tell me, madam, with your
ufual candour, if ever you heard of fo cun-
ning a mufical trick ? It was like putting a
knife to the throat of a poor chriftian. I
know not not what Socrates, Cato, or Arif-
tides would have done in inch a cafe; but
this I know, that I could not help writing
the letter, and even devoutly thanking Hea-
ven that fhe had the moderation to limit her
pretentions to a letter only.
This
( 405 >
This letter has no date, but it muft have
teen written in 1751, when Attilio wasfirft
reprefeiited at Naples : as a letter written
that year by the poet, to the fame princefs,
to reprefs the too faifguine expectations of
his nrft. patronefs, for the fuccefs of this
opera, appears in Sig. Mattel's Memoirs,
which is the more curious, as it contains
Metaftafio's opinion of the talents of the ad-
mirable tenor finger, Raaff", then young,
and whofe fame -like that of Mingotti, was
fcarcely fledged.
LETTER XXI.
TO THE PRINCESS DI BELMONTE.
Though my Regulus is an opera, of
which I am the leaft afhamed ; and though
my dear Raaff 'is fuch a performer as cannot
be paralleled; I believe that they are not made
for each other, and that, joined together,
they will both be facrificed. That is to fay,
the part of Regulus will ruin my poor Raaff]
and Raaff" will be the ruin of the part, and
of the opera. 'This drama cannot fucceed,
unlefs the principal perfonage pleafes ex-
tremely ; and our dear Raajf is phyfically
P 4 3 unable
( 406 )
unable to fupport this weight. The reafons
are numerous, founded on experience ; and I
hope that your excellence will believe a'
man who venerates you, and efteems Raaff
as much as he merits, that is to fay, excef-
fively. — Befides, that immenfe fpace in the
great theatre of San Carlo, will abforb all
thofe inimitable graces, and that wonderful
agility, which render this charming finger
fo admirable in a room : indeed he has fplit
upon this rock elfewhere, in theatres three
times lefs fpacious than this ; fo that I can
hardly hope that he will mare a better fat©
in future.
The event, however, to the great joy of
Metaftafio, did not correfpond with his ex-
pectations ; the incomparable Raaff having
overcome every obftacle ; and the predictions
of the Princefs of Belmonte, were better
verified than thofe of the poet ; who by the
firm confidence which the princefs placed in
the abilities of Raaff, began to doubt of the
rectitude of his own judgment, before the
opera was brought on the Neapolitan ftage ;
and anticipating his defence in another let-
ter on the fubjecl to the fame princefs, he
fays, '< wherever my matchlefs Raaff can be
heard,
( 4°7 )
heard, he will doubtlefs ravifh the hearts of
all the audience ; but if the fize of this
theatre is fo enormous as it has been de-
fcribed to me, it is impomble to imagine
that the exquifite delicacy of his tafte and
expreffion will not be loft, and in fhort, all
the wonderful and peculiar graces of his ftyle
of finging. You, madam, will fay, that there
is no reafoning againft facts : and I fhalf re-
ply, that men are obliged to reafon, but not
to propriety; particularly about theatrical
matters, as they often elude all prudence
and conjecture, and lefs frequently difgrace
miflakes, than credit predictions. "
END OF THE FIRST VOLUME.
CONTENTS
OF THE
FIRST VOLUME.
SECTION I.
PREFACE Metastasio's birth — His early
talents as an Improvifatorc — Adopted and educated
by Gravina — Studies the law; but unable to fub-
due his paffion for poetry — Produces a tragedy at '
14 — Carried by Gravina, at 18, to Naples, where
he contends with the raoft celebrated Improvlfatsri
of his time. — Death and character of Gravina.
■-.."- - - - p. 1— 15.
Metaftafio's conduct: after this lofs. — At 22 goes a fe-
cond time to Naples. - - 18.
Determining to quit poetry, places himfelf under an
advocate, in order to ftudy the law — But is again
feduced by the Mufes. - - . 21.
Writes an opera, and becomes acquainted with the
celebrated Romanina. - - 28.
Effect of his firft drama upon the audience — ib—
Quits the law — -Anecdote — Writes Didone and
Siroe. ■ - - - 35.
Returns to Rome — Unites his own family with that
of the Bulgarina* - - - 39.
Writes
CONTENTS.
Writes Catone in Utlca, Ezie, and Semlratnlde riconof-
eiuta. - - - - p. 40
Letter i. From Prince Pio of Savoy, offering him
the place of Imperial laureate at Vienna
44.
The poet's conflict with himfelf on this proportion— •
44—46.
Letter a'. Anfwer to the invitation from Vienna.
ib.
Letter 3. Reply to this anfwer, from Prince Pio.
- - 48.
Letter 4. Metaftafib's final acceptance of the con-
ditions offered him. - 50.
Letter 5. To Apostolo Zeno, who had recom-
mended him to the patronage of the
Emperor. •- - 52.
Account of Jpojiolo Zeno and his dramatic works. 54.
Metaftafio's departure from Rome. - - 58.
SECTION II.
The poet's arrival at Vienna. - 60.
Letter i. To a friend at Rome, giving an account
of his firft audience with the Emperor.
ib.
Letter 2. To the Romanina at Rome — Imaginary
account of what is paffing there during
the Carnival — Severity of the froft at
Vienna defcribed. - > 63.
L et-
ui*;
CONTENTS.
»
Letter 3» To the fame. Thanks for the intereft
fhe takes in his happinefs. — Account
of his own health — Arrival of the
apoftolic Nuncio at Vienna — Character
of the abate Pie'rfanti auditor of the
nunciature. — Thanks her for Roman
news. - 67*
Letter 4, To the fame. Excufes himfelf for the
myftery with which he was charged in
concealing from his correfpondent the
preparations for the enfuing Carnival-
Chides her for thinking he could want
a formal account of money tranfa6tions
i — Praifes her oeconomy — But promifes
to be fevere whenever he can. - 69.
Letter 5. To the fame. Satisfaction at hearing of
the complete fuccefs of his opera of
Artaferfe at Rome — Gratitude to his
native city, and the performers, for the
manner in which it was received — Sor-
row and reflexion on the death of Vinci
during its run — Praifes the prudent
conduct of the Romanina. -. 71.
Connecting narrative — Firft appearance of Adrlano in
Slria. - - - - 74.
Letter 6. To the Romanina. Succefs of the opera
of Demetrio at its firft reprefentation—
Character of the Singers. - 75.
Extracts of another letter on the fame
fubjeft — Iffipile announced. - 76.
Letter. 7. To the Romanina. Defends the brevity
of his letters — 111 fuccefs of D'idone
when revived at Rome by bad perform-
ers —
CONTENTS.
ers — Fears that Demetrip will mare the
fame fate. - - - 78.
Account of his occupations at Vienna,
79,
LETTER 8. To the fame. Account of the fuccefs of
JJJipile, and of the theatrical tranfac-
tions at the Imperial court at this time.
The Emperor's praife of Iflipile in going
out of the theatre — Metaftafio wifhes
to obtain a vacant abbey in Sicily, 80.
Letter 9. To the fame. Two new operas on the
flocks-— Complaint of the climate and
its^effedts on his health — A moral Son-
net — Apology for fome of its fenti-
ments. - - r 83,
Letter 10. To the fame. Account of a terrible ac-
cident which happened while the Em-
peror was on a mooting party in Bo-
hemia-*-Difgrace of the theatre delle
Dame at Rome — Metaftatio's thanks
for the Romanina's anxiety for nis
health. ^ 87.
Letter n. To the fame. Reflexions upon the Em-r
peror's unhappy accident, and upon
fome finifter events at Rome — His
Imperial majefty's affliction, and un-
willingriefs to receive comfort — Indif-
pofition of the Archduchefs — EfFedts
of public calamities on the poet's own
fpirits. - 9©.
Letter 12. To the fame. Plaifantry . on his having
the Influenza twice ; while others are
only favoured with it once — His drama
VAfih di Atmrt performing at Rome,
*:■ at
CONTENTS,
at the fame time as a piece written by
Cardinal Polignac. Praife of this lat-
ter, with reflections on that fpecies of
poetry which inftru&s without pleafing
-<-But he will not moralize — Though
he has no fear of offending his corref*
pondent by it. - - 92*
Letter 13. To the fame. Afks the Romanina to
furnifh him with a fubject for an opera
-T-Such is his own indecifion, that if not
obliged to determine he fhould hefitate
to the day of judgment — Reflexions upon
irrefolution — Examples of inconflftencc
in the greateft characters — The Roma-
nina patiently bears with his playing
the philofopher. - - 94.
Letter 14. To the fame. Grateful effufions of gra-
titude to the Emperor for inverting him,
unfolicited, with a place. — The man-
ner in which this benefit was conferred
■ — His joy moderated by a fall — Promifes
to relate what pafles at his audience of
thanks. - 97.
Narrative of the Romanina's death — Of her bequeft
to Metaftafio — And his total renunciation in favour
of her Hufband — Reflexions on his attachment to
this generous female. - 90.
Letter 15. To Sig. Domenico Bulgarini, on
the death of his wife, Marianna (the
Romanina,) - 102.
Letter 16. To his brother the advocate Leopold
Trap a ssi — .His agitation at the un-
expected
CONTENTS.
expected ftroke of the generous Mafi*
anna's death— Afligns reafons for re-
nouncing all claim to her intended be-
queft' — Advifes him to unite interefts
with Bulgarini, and not condemn the
renunciation in his favour. io6«
Letter 17. To a friend at Rome — Is forry that fueh
a great calamity as had lately befallen.
him, in the death of the Romanlna,
was neceflary to procure the long wifh-
ed for pleafure of renewing their cor-
refpondence — Regards himfelf as left
in a populous defert — Vain hope of
fyftems of happinefs — Reafons for not
going to Rome, as his friend advifes
him, to fettle the bufinefs of the tefta-
ment, of which to avail himfelf would
give him more pain than the want of
nepeffaries. - - 108.
The comfort he receives from the appro-
bation of his country. - no.
SECTION III.
Extracts of letters to his brother, containing maxims of
prudence and filial piety — Metailaflo defended from
the feverity of fome anecdotes lately published con-
cerning his want of affection for his family. ill*
Letter i. To Felice Trapassi, his father — Full
of refpe£t and affection — wifhing it
poffible to lengthen his parent's life by
fhortening his own. - - 113.
Letter 2. To the fame. Laments that the narrow
' limits of his fortune and the duties of
his
CONTENTS.
his office prevent his embracing and
giving him new tefUmonies of tender-
nefs and refpecl: — No likelihood of
pontifical patronage producing any-
thing but good wifhes. « 1 14.
Letter 3. To the fame. Fleafure he receives from
every new proof of paternal affection
- 115.
Letter 4. The turbulent fituation of affairs in Ger-
many renders his plan of happinefs
very unliable— Clofe application to his
books, his only refource — Imitates his
father in wifhing for happinefs, but
not in expecting it — Commends his
parent's faculty of anticipating expect-
ed bleffings — But thofe confoling de-»
luiions which are balm to a credulous
mind, are poifon to incredulity. lb.
More extracts of letters to his brother — Metaftafio's
reflexions on princely patronage — Specimen of his
peculiar fpecies of wit and humour — Correfpond-
ence with his brother ; when rinilhed-^-Introdu6lion
to that with his banker at Rome, manifefting the
utmoft anxiety for this brother during illnefs. 1 iS.
Letter 5. To Sig. Francesco Argenvilliers,
banker at Rome — Gratitude for the care
he took of his brother, during illnefs —
Entreats him not to fpare his Roman
property, in any thing that can contri-
bute to his afliflance. - - 122.
Letter 6. To the fame. Further expreilions of
gratitude for the care of his brother's
health,
CONTENTS.
health, and his own peace of mlnd-=*
Begs him to thank his fitter for fo well
exercifing' her duty on this occafion —
Defires his correfpondent to give him
credit for whatever his brother fhould
want, if it fhould exceed his ftandirig
account. - - - 123.
Letter 7. To the fame. Complains that, all his
* . expectations of letters from Rome hav-
ing failed him, his mind is in the
utmoft agitation for his brother's fafety.
- 124.
Three days after, receives an account of his brother's
amendment — The benevolence and fenfibility of
Metaftafio defended, -i - 125.
SECTION IV.
Metaftafio's poetical productions in 1733, including
La Liberta — - - - 127.
His own Mufic to that celebrated Canzonet, with an
Englifh verfion in the meafure of the original. 128.
Introduction to his correfpondence with the bookfeller
Bettinelli, concerning a new and entire edition of
his works — Johnfon's reflexion on the utility of a
bookfeller's patronage to an author — Metaftafio's
polite treatment of Betinelli. ~> - J33.
Letter i. To Sig. Jofeph Bettinelli. Thanks
him for the good opinion he manifefts
of his works — and for the communica-
tion of his plan for a new edition of
them — but difluades him from the en-
terprize. -« ' • - 135.
Let-
CONTENTS.
Letter 2. To the fame. Unable to procure leifure
fufficient to finifh what he had begun
in Italy — Wifhes to know the fize,
paper, and character of this new edition.
— The beauty and corre£tnefs of which,
with a fmall number of copies, will be
all the rewards he fhall expect for the
trouble he intends to undertake. - 336
■Letter 3. To the fame. Has given inftructions to
his brother at Rome, to endeavour to
find for him all his poetical compofi-
tions — and fent him a paper of arrange-
ments. — Informs him of another printer
purfuing a fimilar plan. - - 138
Letter 4. To the fame. An edition preparing at Na-
ples, without confulting the author, or
having correct copies to print from. 139
Letter 5. To the fame. Has received his addrefs to
the public — thinks it well written — ■
wifhes to know who drew it up. 140
Is difpleafed with Bettinelli, for the impetuofity with
which he printshis works — for omitting corrections
which he had fent him — Their interefts reciprocal-
Prom ifes to fend him Cato, corrected and altered—*
and every week fomething for the compofitor, if he
will but have patience — Defires two copies of firfl:
vol. as foon as ready, for his Imperial Patrons, and
begs him to excufe his poetical franknefs - - 141
Fragments of other letters to the fame, — Sends him
another opera — Thanks for the copies fent for their
Imperial Majefties — on reading the proof-fheets,
found fo little to correct, that it feemed ufelefs to
fend more — gives an account of three of his dramas,
vol. 1, E e an4
CONTENTS.
and by whom fct — defires that Facciolati may be
followed in the orthography— fends Bettinelli his
Oratorios — Contents of the feventh volume of his
Edition. — Speaks of the feeblenefs of his early pro^
duclions— Praifes Bettinelii's care and diligence,
as well as civility — Sends him hislaft, and, he thinks,
his beft oratorio — Bettinelli having rapidly difpofed
of the firft impreffion of the poet's works, confults
him about another — Sends him a fcvere critique of his
Dtmofoonte, which produced the following letter. 142
Letter 6. Ironically confeffes his obligations to the
author — will read the Critique frequent-
ly, in order to difcover his faults, and
improve his ftyle — Defends the cha-
ractersof Timante and Crufa, from the
charge of inconfiftency — Quotes TaJJo
in his defence, and Arioflo — Suppofe the
author of theCritique tobe a man of plea-
fantry — Who wifhed to be entertained
by a quarrel of his own making, between
Metaftafio and Apoftolo Zeno— The
report of Metaftafio's Oratorio Qloas
being near condemnation, ill-founded —
Never wrote a fatire in his life, nor
• ever would — Allows Bettinelli to re-
peat what he writes on this occafion,
but never to publifh it. - 147
Letter 7. Tq Sig. Joseph PERRoNi-rWilheshimfelf
at Rome, during the Carnival — Anxi?
ous for the fate of his operas there— *
And for Bulgarini, left his zeal fhould
involve him in fome fcrape — Complains
of not hearing from his friends. 153
Let-*
CONTENTS.
Letter 8. To the fame — Thanks him for Roman
news — Account of the Brunette — And
rehearfal of 1'Olimpiade — Nina Caldara.
155
Letter 9. To the fame. The poet's hurry during
the Carnival— Writes an entertainment
for the archdutcheffes to perform — In-
ftru£tsthem at the rehearfal s — His plea-
fure in that duty — Their courtefy
and humility- 1 — Laments that the whole
world was not admitted to the perform-
• ance — Is prefented with a gold fnuff-
box, for inftrucSting the Archdutcheffes.
Succefs of Denwfoonte at Rome — Ciam-
pi's misfortune — Theatrical matters
ever fubjedl to accidents. — ib*
Letter 10, To the fame — Thanks for the pleafure
he manifefts for the fuccefs of Demo-
foonte — Obliged to be fhort for want of
abilities to fill a letter with nothing—
- " - ,57
i
Firfl performance of La Clemenza di Tito at Vi-
enna and Venice — Reflexion on the influence which
the character of the Emperor Charles VI. had on
Metaftafio's writings. Moral congeniality of their
difpofitions — Dramatic compofitions produced by the
Imperial Laureat in 1735 — Of what kind — Betti-
nelli, the printer, conftantly importunate for hi?
new productions, ^ «- t- - 158
Letter ii. To Sig. Bettinelli — So numerous
are the applications from bookfellers
E c 2 for
CONTENTS,
for bis new pieces, that he thinks it
moft prudent to comply with none —
r - - - j6o
Opera of Temistoi^es, when firft performed —
. Achille in Sciro, written in eighteen days — Occa^
fion on which it was produced — Great favour fhewn
to this performance, by the whole Imperial court —
A prefent from the D. of Lorraine on the occafion — ^
Ciro riconqsciuto — 1737 a fabatical year with
the poet — His productions in the year 1738 — Ex-
tent of his fame — Enobled in the city of Afifi. 161
Letter 12. To the Magistrates of Asisi-t;
Thanks them for the distinction with
1 which they have honoured .him — ■
Wifhes his merit may ever be a fuffi-
cient apology to pofterity for their
partiality. - ' - r 164
Letter 13. To Sig. Angelini di Asisj — Grati-
tude for his new honour, — J65
The Imperial Laureat's profeffional labours from 173S?
to 1740, when he loft his Patron the Emperor
Charles VI. - - -. 166
Letter 14. To a Friend— Time and manner of
the Emperor's death — Affliction for
his lofs. - r - 163
Letter 15. To Bettinelli, previous to this event
—Sends him his new oratorio of
Isacco — - 170,
Letter 16. To the fame — The poet rendered inac-
tive by events and low fpirits — 171
3 SEC,
CONTENTS.
SECTION V.
Confequences of the demife of the Emperor Charles VL
and the fubfequent war, till the year. 1743. - 172
Letter i. To the Marquis Charles Cavallio
Ravenna — Thanks for his remembrance
— Rejoices at the true lovers of litera-
ture he has found at Ravenna — At Vi-
enna all are immerfed in the pleafures of
the Carnival — Rejoices in the joy of
others, though unable to partake of
them. '-* - - 174
Account of his poetical productions in 1744, and of
the commencement of his correfpondence with Pai-
quini, the Italian dramatic poet, in the fervice of the
court of Drefden. - 175
Letter 2. To the Abte Pasquini in Drefden — ■
Playful reproaches for the Abate's long
filence— Rejoices in his friend's prefent
tranquillity — Obliged by the aflillance
his opera of Anticono has received
from him — Hopes when he again
touches the lyre that he fhall not be for-
gotten — Difclaims the poetical fupre-
macy to which his partiality would
elecl: him — Envies him the company
of HafTe and Fauftina — Their Eloge —
. *> - ' - 176
State of Germany in 1745. Metaftafio's productions
in 1746, beginning of a new correfpondence. - 177
e e 3 Let-
Contents.
Letter 3. To Sig. Fil-ipponi, fecretary of the
univerfity of Turin — Difficulty of ob-
• taining a letter from him, humour*
oufly defcribed- — Its arrival not only
appeafeshis anger, but awakensdelights-
ful thoughts of old times — His pleafurc
fomewhat embittered by his correfpon-
dent's formality in addrefling him—
Wi flies much to make an excurfion to
Turin — Eloge of the King of Sardinia
— Of the Marquis Ormea, - 179
Letter 4. To the fame. — Has taken a prefcription
without effect — If his correfpondent
has any patience to fpare, begs him to
beitow it on him-*-No caufe for joy at
the political lituation of Italy— Aullria
has caufe of fear from Provence and
Naples — No great hope from maritime
affiftance— He is in an abyfs of ignorance
— "Will go into the hold of the agitated
bark, till the ftorm is over — Thanks
him for partiality to Antigono and
Ipermestra — His Cantata: Giufti
del che fara, explained— Expects with
impatience from his friend, two trage-
dies of his writing— - - 182
Letter 5. Thanks for his heroic hopes in politics —
Unable himfelf to imagine any thing
good for the future — His opinion of a
fable called La Ballerina — Enquiries
about it from Rome. - 185
Letter 6. To the fame — Metaftafio unable to recon-
cile his friend's courage in politics,
with his own cowardice — His Attil'10
Regain fleeps —Unable to revife it. 187
Let-
CONTENTS*
Letter 7* To the Abate Pasquini — Rallies him
on his being fo much mortified at the
failure of one of his dramas — The bell
method of treating critics — Review of
Pafquini's drama — - - 188
SECTION VI.
Introduction to Metaftafio's correfpondence with the
celebrated Farinelli. - - - 193
— n— —
Letter i. The letter from Farinelli, to which this is
an anfwer, faid by Metaftafio to be,
though fhort, long enough to convince
him of his affection — The confidence
with which he fpeaks of his own affairs,
and cordiality of his offers to the poet,
remove all doubt of the fincerity of his
friendfhip.— -Uneafinefs at his account
of his health — He has the ardent wifhes
of all perfons of tafte in Europe — Is
proud of being vanquifhed by him in
the mufic he has fet to Nice — That
mufic defcribed — Enchanted with his
\ mufic to Se mi da'u — Metaftafio's hap-
pinefs in the extreme good fortune of
his Nice at the court of Spain — Per-
ceives that Farinelli means to turn his
head — Believes the poet in danger from
the Teutonic beauties — But their fleep
is never difturbed by love — Hiftory of
Sicilian place given him by the late
Emperor — Wifhes the queen of Spain
to know the circumfxances-— Promifes
eternal gratitude, if fhe deigned him
redrefs — Prefents from Farinelli ac-
E e 4 knowledged
C 6 N t E N T $
knowledged — Proud of mewing his let-
ters to the ladies of Vienna — All eager
to fee and hear every thing that comes
from him— Confents, unwillingly, to
give Farinelli his picture — Sends two
cantatas for a lady at the court of Spain.
— Wifhing Farinelli to illuflrate them
with his notes and voice — - - 196
Letter 2. To the fame — Acknowledges the receipt
of an affectionate letter from him. —
Has laughed at his humourous descrip-
tions — Promifes the opera of Armida
placat&y (which he had revifed) foon— -
Blames Migliavacca for making altera-
tions in tranfcribing it — Charafter of
that poet's abilities — Of the Tejl's, as a
finger — His pi£ture fet out for Spain-~-
The fubjedl of his place in Sicily re-
newed — Propofes three methods of ob-
viating the difficulty which has been
Virged againit its reilitution — Thanks
him for a recipe — And for his invita-
tion to Madrid — Countefs of Althan's
pleafure in hearing from and of him
— He is ftill her hero. - - 208.
Litter 3. To Sig. Filipponi — Defcriptiou of his
autumnal residence in Moravia. 214
Letter 4. To the fame. MSS. borrowed for his
friend Padre Paoli — Cenfures the old
practice of fending compliments of the
feafon -The health acquired in his
fummer tour, all deftroyed by the ap-
proaches of winter Refufal of the
Opera of Audio for Turin — Sarcafm on
the Tefi. » - - 215
Let-
CONTENTS-
Letter 5. To the Abate Pasquini — Remarks on a
paftoral fable of his -writing — and on
the P aft or fid of Guarini — Congratu-
lates him on his la ft work — Menage to
theWalthers, bookfellersatDrefden, on
their intended new edition of Metafta-
fio's works — Opera of Si face — Con-
ditions. on which he will oblige Meffrs.
Walther — DemofoontefettingforDref-
den by Haffe — Count Archinto's cha-
racter. - - 217
Ltter 6. To Sig. Filipponi — Safe arrival of the
MSS. he had borrowed for his friend —
Count de Richecourt — Fears for his,
friendfhip, as it is founded on a mif-
take — Want of health, want of patience.
His foul pays dearly for the decays of
its manfion — Platonic compliments to
Sig. Filipponi's lady — - 223
Letter 7. To the Abate Pasquini — Inftru&ions
for the performance of Demofoonte at
Drefden. - 225
Letter 8. To Baron Descau — On the fame fub-
jedl. - - 227
Letter 9. To Sic Filipponi — Compliments to the
Marquis della Rofea — The fame to
Count Ormea — Promifes a fonnet,
whenthe mufes are traceable — 228
Letter 10. To the Abate Pasquini — Negative
reply to the Walthers — Succcfs of Se-
miramzde t in fpite cf Gothic nruftc. 229
Performers in this opera, which was new fet by Bonon-
cini. - - - - -lb.
Sonnet on the birth-day of the Emperor Francis the
Fiift — - 231
Let-
CONTENTS.
Letter ii. To the Abate Pasquini — On the pot'rit
he had recei ved of the Electoral princefs
of Saxony — Congratulates him on his
Orfeo. - - 232
Letter 12. To the fame — Further reflexions and
encomiums on the genius and talents of
the princefs of Saxony- 1 — A promife to
comply with the requeft of the Elec-
toral prince, in letting him have his
Attilio for the Drefden theatre —
Thanks Pafquini for his favour at that
court— Receives another packet from
the princefs. - - 235
Letter 13. To the fame— Recommends Venturini,
who was to prefent his opera of At-
tilio Rcgolo to the Electoral prince. 238
LETTER 14. To the fame — Praifes the docility with
which he bore his criticifms — And his
own heroifm in venturing to make
them — Venturini's journey to Drefden,
with the opera of Attilio for the Elec-
toral prince — Arrival of the third a£l
of Demetrio rifatto, by the Electoral
princefs. - - - 240
Letter 15. To the fame — His eJoge of this work,
and of the abilities of that princefs—
Paternal fears for the fate of his Attilio
Regolo — Praifes the Abate's ode to
Count Bruhl — Character of Count Va-
cherbart — - - 241
Letter 16. To the fame — On thefubje£t of his Sici-
lian place — Entreats Pafquini to L'y his-
cafe before the court of Drefden. 244
Letter 17. To the fame — Metaftafio's happinefs at
the favourable reception of Attilio, by
the
CONTENTS.
the Electoral Prince — Anxiety Con-
cerning the effect of his petition. 246
Letter 18. To the fame — Exultation at the flatter-
ing acceptance of his Audio, by the
Electoral Prince and Princefs. 24?
Letter 19. To the fame — Explanations for Count
Vacherbart, concerning the loft place
in Sicily. - - 250
Letter 20. To the fame — Further explanations
concerning his Sicilian claims. lb.
Letter 21. To the fame — Gratitude for the zeal
which his Electoral Highnefs manifefts
in his favour. - ' - 252.
Letter 22. To Sic. Filipponi — His letter not fo
worthlefs as he pretends — His difcover-
ing the affection which the Marquis
della Bocca and Count Ormea had for
him, very important fubjects for a
Letter — His contempt for Antiques.
2 53
SECTION VII.
Letter i. To Farinelli. Praifes his generofity
to Migliavacca. — Hopes for the fuccefs
of Armida Placata — Expedients for the
laft fcene — Wonder at his picture being
fo long on the road — Reafons for
filence on the Neapolitan affair — Ex-
cefs of his vanity from the approbation
of the Queen of Spain — Thanks for
his prefents — Farinelli's favour with
the ladies of Vienna. - - 255
Letter 2. To the fame — Sportive abufe for his
long filence — Recapitulation of the
4 contents
CONTENTS.
contents of his laft letter.-— Chara&er
of Mattei, and the opera fingers of
Vienna, during this period — Recom-
mends the former, as firft woman at
Madrid Metaftafio's judgment and
good tafte, in defcribing vocal abilities*
(Note *) — Sicilian place— Caffarelli's
character. - - - . p. 261
Metaftafio's frequent complaints of a tention of
nerves in 1749; in fpite of which, two pleafant
- letters of his writing to the Princefs di Belmonte,
have been preferved and inferted : the one on an
Earthquake at Vienna-*-The other on a Duel be-
tween Migliavacca, the poet, and Caffarelli,
the finger, at the opera houfe, in Vienna.
Letter 3. To Farinelli — Wrath for long filence
foon appeafed by his letter Rejoices
at the arrival of his picture — His head
turned, by the praifes of the King and
Queen of Spain— Migliavacca per-
fectly fatisfied with his prefent— Com-
plains of want of health — Promifes to
write an opera for Spain — Thanks his
correfpondent for an air which he had
fent him — -Neapolitan place. 275
Letter 4. To the fame — Thanks him for the zeal
with which he has efpoufed his caufe
on the Neapolitan bufinefs New ex-
pedients propofed to get over new
difficulties. - - 281
Letter 5. To the fame — Sends two new Cantatas —
On the iblidity, of Farinelli's friend-
ihip—
M^i>,
CONTENTS.
fhip — On the two Cantatas which he
fent him. - 283
Letter 6. To the fame — Unable to bear the exercife
of intellect — Promifes, however, the
inftarit he finds himfelf equal to the
talk, to produce fomething for his dear
Gemello Has received applications
from various courts and theatres ; but
muft take care of No. 1. — Is fure his
Neapolitan bufinefs will not be for-
gotten by him. - - - 286
Letter 7, To the fame< — Juft fetting off for Mo-
ravia — Enumerates the dangers his in-
gratitude would incur, if he did not write
— -Knows thatprefents for him are on the
road — Yet Farinelli will not bear prolix
acknowledgements A Iks what the
beautiful Caftellini is doings — Fears to
be too much intoxicated by her letters
— The affair of Signor Rodolfo, will
not be neglected during his abfence—
The Emperor hard to catch — Thanks
for the anfwer to Mattei — Not in the
humour to mention all who wifh to be
remembered by him. - - 287
X«etter 8t To the fame — Has two of his letters to
anfwer — Migliavacca wounded in com-
ing from the Opera — Unable to give
an account of the bufinefs with which
he was charged— Jomelli recommended
to Farinelli, for Madrid — His cha-
racter—- His engagements — Wiihes to
go to Spain— -His qualifications. 291
Account
CONTENTS.
Account of a IJcenza or Finale, written by Metaftaflo,
for Armlday at the Court of Spain. - Page 294
Letter 9. To the fame — So angry at his fore throat,
that he forgot to fign or date his letter
— Pities his throat, but thinks it has
done fuch mifchief in its time, that
fome fuffering is due to it — Snuff ar-
rived at Triefte — Recommends Ranieri
Collin to him, - - - ib.
Letter 10. To the fame — Sends him the Poem he
wifhed, with the fupplement Diffi-
culty of making additions exactly fit—-
The pleafure he received from his re-
covery, made him fwallow the pill
without making faces — His opinion of
^Buranello. - 296
This opinion extenuated. - - 2 98
SECTION VIII.
* Connecting Period,
Letter i. To Signor D. Luigi Locatelli, at
Genoa — Author of an Oratorio, to
whicha printer of Bologna, had fetMe-
taftafio's name — On the juftice of his
complaint — -Offers to make a public
declaration, that he had no fhare in the
writing of this piece, or knowledge of
its publication. . 299
Metaftafio's record of this tranfadtion. 300
Letter 2. To the Piuncess di Belmonte who
thought the flow progrefs by which we
arrive at reafon, a great difadvantage— «
Metaftafio.
I CONTENTS.
Metaftafio regards it as a great bieffing.
In reafoning on events, man is always
miflaken — Has a profound contempt
for the predictions of modern Ariftotles
—Apologue of the two jars, contain-
ing the fweets and bitters of life-r~
Pains more aumerous than pleafures—
And imaginary evils more terrible than
real — Verfes from Attilio Regolo-~-
Power of preventing evils which we
forefee, limited — Stoical arrogance and
apathy — Tortoife and the oifter, their
idifadvantages — Whether thofe are moft
happy who think but little, or thofe
who think too much — Giovanni Batt,
Gelli's account of UlyfTes, and his
companions, at the court of Circe—
The Poet perceives he grows old by
his paflion for goffiping Jomelli's
Mufic to the Opera of Achille in Sciro
much admired at the rehearfal. 301
Jitter 3. To the fame. — Manner of paffing his
time in Moravia — Early froft there
defcribed Enjoys the beauties of
Winter-- ^Return to his Poetics at
Vienna. - 312
]Lette 5.4 . To Signor Adolfo Hasse— Who had
requefted his instructions for fetting the
Opera of Attilio Regolo — Compliments
to that compofer — Defcribes the feveral
characters in this drama — r— Wifhes
Haffe to colour and finifh his portraits
— Goes through the bufmefs of each
act — Mentions where he would have
accompanied Recitative Where Ri-
torneJIi
CONTENTS.
tome Hi — Where the mufic fhould be
impaflioned, and where tranquil
•"W iilies him to paint the fituation of
the hero's mind — Technical terms for
inftrumental colouring — Words of the
Jaft fcene, and tranflation — The Poet's
wifhes concerning the lafl chorus —
Quits the fubje6t from fatigue, not
want of matter — Annibali muft con-
tent himfelf with hearing fuch parts of
this 1 tter as may afford him any fatis-
fadtion — Compliments to the Fauftina.
- - - 181
Heafons forgiving this long letter entire. (Note b.)
Letter 5. To the Abate Pasquini — Hisarrivalin
Italy, does not appear by his letter to
have afforded him the happinefs he
expected A.ttil'10 Regolo preparing
for the Drefden Theatre-- — HafTe's
Mufic of the two firft. Acts, excellent
— Long fince his tranquility was at the
mercy of the public — Succefs depends
on fortuitous cicumftances. - ib.
Letter 6, To the fame — His ufual pleafure at the
receipt of his letters changed into bit-
ternefs — Wonders at his forgetting all
he has read about the difficulty of at-
taining happinefs — His friends tried .
every poflible means to enlighten him
— Wife maxims ufelefs to the heart — •
ThePrincefs Royal of Saxony, has com-
municated to him many of her pro-
ductions— Fortune of Attilio at Dref-
den.
CONTENTS.
den Loaded with bufinefs by the
Neapolitan Envoy. - Page 332
Letter 7. To the fam£ — Reafons for not writing
— -^-Advifes him to write to Count
Lofi — Has read with pleafure the Can-
zonet of Signora Livia Acearigi --Speaks
favourably of it - - 335
SECTION IX.
Return to the correfpondence with Farinelli.
Letter i. Prefents arrived — Court of Vienna in-
formed of it — Dares not thank him too
much — Has fent him the Drama of,
Le Cinefi — Count Pinos — Countefs d 7
Althan — She partakes of his Snuff —
Refpectful meffages to the Queen of
Spain. ... 337
Reflections on the inefficacy of Royal favour. - 34O
Letter 2. To Farinelli — Manner in which De-
mofoonte had been brought out at
Madrid — The Author flattered by his
favour at the Court of Spain — It makes
him forget the fpite of his enemy
Fortune — Writes a period for his Bio-
grapher — Sends his Canzonet, La Par-
tenza, with his own Mufic — Jomelli's
praife for attending to words — Admits
that he repeats too much — Farinelli's
favour ft ill at Vienna. - 34 1
<l iiwii
Hiftory of La Partenza, or, the Separation. 344
Mufic to La Liberia, by Metaltafio — Suppefed the fame
as that which he fent to Farinelli, with La Partenza—
vol 1 f f Translation
C O N TENT S.
Translation of that Poem ? adapted to the original
Mufic. . . - - Page 350
I,ETieR 3. To Farinelli — Miftaken in judging of
his health, by the chearful ftyle of
his letters — As his friends at Vienna,
are by his florid looks — Reflexions on
falfe appearances Morality, a pef-
tiferous drug for low fpirits Not
fr.ch a forcerer as himfelf — Few un-
derstand the Italian language But
every body has ears for his vocal witch-
craft — Pleafant difcuffion and decifion
concerning the pronunciation of the
Phrygian Princefs Creufa's name —
How to gratify all mufical ears about
flat and fharp thirds — Grateful thanks
from himfelf and his nofe. - 353
Letter 4* To the fame — Complaints of hurry, and
want of news from his friend — Re-
commends Mademoifelle Caftellina —
Jealoufy a vile infirmity — No one
cured of it in Spain — Unknown in
Germany — The Mattel again recom-
mended — Scarcity of Spanifh muff at
Vienna. - 358
-i ■ ■■ , ! ■■ i
Introduction to his correfpondence with his friend
MvD'Argenvilliers, the Banker, at Rome— Frag •
ments of his firft letters to this correfpondent —
Gratitude for his friendly zeal — Reafons for his not
being able to viflt Rome — Begs him to analyfe his
abilities, and try to find how he, might return his
kindnefs — Botanical figure and allufion - 361
Return to the Farinellian correfpondence
LET-
CONTENTS.
Letter 5. To the cavalier Farinelli Made
amends for his fufferings at his friend's
long filence, by a long and cordial let-
ter — Thanks him for the mufic he has
fet to his canzonet — Fears, if he fhould
turn poet, it would complete his own
ruin by having him for a rival — Proud
of his name being pronounced by roy-
alty at Madrid— HiRory of the ad-
ditional duet he had fent him — Diffi-
culties of writing or preparing another
opera for Madrid — Forgives fortune's
cruelty to himfelf, for her kindnefs to
his Gemello — Still hopes his Neapoli-
tan claims will be favoured by the
court of Madrid — A new and affection-
ate recommendation of Jonuffl — Coun-
tefs D'Althan's and the Vienna ladies'
chorus of compliments. - -• 364
Letter 6. To the fame. Acknowledges receiving
two letters from him at once — Celebra-
tion of St. Peter's day — FarineVi's
march Its effects— ^-Compliments to
two filters of different difpofitions — ■
Countefs D'Althan — Marquis Elfenada
— Bankers — AmorevoWs meffage — Cha-
racter — Promifes, in a future letter, to
be more dry and prolix. - 369
Letter 7. To the fame. A letter of fupererogation
—Advice received of a loaded cheft —
Jomelli's eagernefs to ferve him — Se-
vere cenfure on the prefent paffion for
execution in vocal mufic — Receives an
V f 2, opened
CONTENTS, "
opened letter — Never feals his own
- letters. - 374
Letter 8. To the fame, Jn Moravia without a
moment to himfelf — Has not yet found
the mine of Diamonds there, which
Farinelli talks of — Attilio admired at
, the court of Spain — His wonder — The
aufterity of his hero feemed out of its
fphere — Modern Romans- — Farlnelli's
eagernefs for another opera— /The Era-
prefs Queen's love of poetry, and felf-
denial in letting him reft his brains —
Jomelli's nrft a6l of Demetrio-r-DelirT
ous of pleafing every body— Muft be
fpurred- -Still harps on Parthenope, 377
Letter. 9. To the fame. Happy to hear that his laft
poem is arrived— ExpetSts to gain great
honour by a beautiful Arietta fent him
by Farinelli — -Has had it fung by Te-
defchi — -His opinipu of that finger^—
Complains of his nervous affections. 382
jLettf.r 10. To Sig. Filipponi— 1 heir friendfhip
receives no diminution from filence —
On the propofals of a printer at Turin
to publifh a new edition of his works —
Attilio at Drefden and Venice — Thinks
it the moft folid of his works— Count
and Countefs Canale bring lefs back than
they carried to Turin— r-F^ble pf the
country rnoufe, - , . - 384
Letter ii. 1o the fame. Snatches a moment to
prevent profcriptjou— Thanks for his
Analyfis of Regulus— which has been
reprefented in German— Laughs at the
3 Teutonic
GONTEN T S.
Teutonic air in a Roman hero— Meffage
to the Marchionefs Lanzi. - 387
Letter 12, To the fame. Ordered from Moravia
to write and direct a little drama at
court — This has occafioned a fliort pa-
renthefis in all his affairs — Obliged to
divide himfelf among a great number
of creditors DifTuades the Turinife
printer from publishing a new edition
of his woiks. - - 388
Letter. 13. To the fame. Writes haflily on Chrift-
mas Eve— Sends his picture. - 390.
Letter 14. To the fame. Combats with his com-
plaints and the Mufes-^Has written an
opera, by command of the Emprefs
^•Sends half a dozen Metaftafio's to .
appeafe his correfpondent. - ib
Letter 15. To the Cavalier Farinelli — Hin-
dered from writing by plagues and in-
firmities — The Spanifh minifter Az-
lor arrived at Vienna — Well received
at Court-*-His character and account
of Farinelli — Difficulty to be forgiven
for fo much profperity — Jomelli's in-
dolence. - - - 3qi
Letter 16. To the fame — Tells him he began by
performing miracles-^-- Not one of a
common fort to make him write yerfes
at his time of life Sends Didone
abridged and corrected, with a Licenza
N to which he is partial—Receives a con-
liderable prefent from his friend. 394
Letter ,17. To the fame — Account of the unfeafona-
bly fevere cold jn Moravia — Ordered
unex-
CONTENTS.
unexpe&edly to Vienna — Dire&s an
opera performed by ladies. - 397
LETTER 18. To the fame — Complains of the fatigue
of his opera dire&orfhip, and of his
. treatment at Naples. - - 398
Letter 19. To the fame — Laments the bad fate of
his correfpondent's health — Complains
of his own — And of his theatrical fa-
tigues — II Re pastore — Its great
fuccefs — Character of the compofers,
Bonno, Gluck, and Wagenseil.
------ 400
Preface to the next letter. •* - , . _ ' ^ 02
Letter 20. To the Princess dt Belmonte —
Recommendation of the Mingotti,
drawn from him by furprife. - 403
Letter 21. To the fame Princefs — Eloge of Raaf,
the tenor finger — Fears his want of
force for the immenfe theatre of San
Carlo at Naples, - * 405
ERRATA TO VOL. X.
Page 19, note (J) for counfel, read counfellor. P. 25, note (f) for Criftj-
3nl, >. Criftini. P. 26, 1. 3, for Thofe, r. Three. P. 30. 1. %,for that city,
r. of Rome. P. 41, 1. 4, for happy, r. historical. P. 95, 1. 17, rff/e after-
wards. P. 160, lalt line, after is, r. lefs. P. 174, 1, 1, after Metaftaiio's,
add account. P. 201, 1. 21, r. benifked. P. 254, 1. 2, r. plaufible. Ibid,
bottom, /«- FIFTH, r. SIXTH. P. 255, top,>- VI. r. VII. P. 25S, 1, 5,
for pay, r. day. P. &6i,for Letter III/ r. II. P. 277, 1. 14, for adtrice, ?-.
adtrefs. P. 283, 1. \o,for cantata, r. cantatas. P. 298, bottom, for SIXTH,
r. SEVENTH. P. 299,/er Sedtion VII. r. VIII. P. 307, 1. i6,for Ionia, r.
Ionian. P. 317, I. 16, r. majciric. P. 319, 1. 6, for genius, r. affedtion.
P- 333,1 6, for of,-, in. P. 336. bottom,/«-SEVENTH,Sedt. ;-. EIGHTH.
P. 337, top, for Sedt. VIII. r. IX. P. 340, 1. 16, for profecutions, r. perfe-
cutions. P. 345, laft line, r. effrontery. P. 349, 1. 6. r. tell. " P. 354, .
J7, for ciafcum, r. cial'cun. p. 387, 1. 6, after and, add to.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Sedt. IV. Letter 6, 1. 3, after his, add own. Ibid. 1. 5, r. Creufa. Let.
ii. r. Themiftocles. Sedt. V. Let. J. 1. 8. for them, r. it. Let. 3. 1. 5, ia
delightful, dele s. Sedt. VII. Introd. to Let. 3, 1. 1, r. tenfion. Sect. VTJI,
end of Let. 4, for p. 18, r, 315. End of ditto, note (&) r. p v 330.
*»
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