Page:The Monk, A Romance - Lewis (1796, 1st ed., Volume 2).djvu/138

 "All this is true, segnor; but you should consider that I only write for pleasure."

"Your defects are the less excusable. Their incorrectness may be forgiven, who work for money, who are obliged to complete a given task in a given time, and are paid according to the bulk, not value of their productions. But in those whom no necessity forces to turn author, who merely write for fame, and have full leisure to polish their compositions, faults are unpardonable, and merit the sharpest arrows of criticism."

The marquis rose from the sopha; the page looked discouraged and melancholy; and this did not escape his master's observation.

"However," added he, smiling, "I think that these lines do you no discredit. Your versification is tolerably easy, and your ear seems to be just. The perusal of your little poem upon the whole gave me much pleasure; and if it is nor asking too great a fa-