Tragedies (Volume 1) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1821. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER THE FOURTEENTH. 1783-1785. His horse-dealing expedition to England--His re-union with the Countess--Resumption of his literary pursuits. Quitting Sienna, with his mind divided between melancholy recollections of his love, and rapturous anticipations of his horses, he proceeded through Pisa and Lerici to Genoa. His friend, Gandellini, accompanied him to the latter city, where they stayed a few days. Gandellini returned to Tuscany, and Alfieri embarked for Antibes, where he arrived safely after a rough passage of forty-eight hours. As soon as disembarked, he proceeded to Aix, and from thence to Avignon, where he duly visited the magic solitude of Vaucluse, consecrated to fame by the muse of Petrarch, and added his tears to the fountain of the Sorga. In returning to Avignon, he composed four sonnets, to commemorate the emotions of the day, which he accounted one of the most happy as well as melancholy of his life. He entered Paris in a fit of despondence and ennui, and experienced the same sensations of loathing and disgust at the filth and finery of this metropolis, as on his first visit. Though he had letters of introduction to many of the French literati, the month he spent at Paris passed away very tediously. The necessity of hearing and speaking their hated language was to him a perpetual source of annoyance and irritation. Embarking for England in December, he commenced, as soon as he arrived in London, to purchase horses: at first, one race-horse; .afterwards, three for the saddle; and subsequently, six for a carriage. Of these, he had the misfortune to lose several before he left England; but for every one that died, he purchased two; and, at his departure, he increased his stud to fourteen, the number of his tragedies. This whimsical numerical coin...