Page:Osorio; a tragedy, as originally written in 1797 (IA cu31924105501831).pdf/17

 various occupation; but the lesson to the literary aspirant is just the same as if he had been ever so blameable.

"I repeat this story as told by Mr. Coleridge himself, because it has been otherwise told by others. I have little doubt that it was more pointedly than faithfully told to him, and can never believe that Mr. Sheridan represented a ludicrous line as a fair specimen of the whole play, or his tenacious adherence to it as the reason for its rejection However, in lighter moods, my father laughed at Sheridan's joke as much as any of his auditors could have done in 1806, and repeated with great effect and mock solemnity,

When first written this play had been called Osorio, from the principal character, whose name my father afterwards improved into Ordonio. I believe he in some degree altered, if he did not absolutely recast, the three last acts after the failure with Mr. Sheridan, who probably led him to see their unfitness for theatrical representation. But of this point I have not certain knowledge After all, I am happy to think that this drama is a strain of poetry, and like all, not only