Page:Journal of the Conversations of Lord Byron (1824).djvu/111

 Marriage.’ The ‘Cenci’ is equally horrible, though perhaps the best tragedy modern times have produced. It is a play,—not a poem, like ‘Remorse’ and ‘Fazio;’ and the best proof of its merit is, that people are continually quoting it. What may not be expected from such a beginning?

“The Germans are colder and more phlegmatic than we are, and bear even to see ‘Werner.’

“To write any thing to please, at the present day, is the despair of authors.”

It was easy to be perceived that during this tirade upon the stage, and against Shakspeare, he was smarting under the ill-reception ‘Marino Faliero’ had met with, and indignant at the critics, who had denied him the dramatic faculty. This, however, was not the only occasion of his abusing the old dramatists.

Some days after I revived the subject of the drama, and led him into speaking of his own plays.

“I have just got a letter,” said he, “from Murray. What