The Works of Lord Byron (Volume 13); With His Letters and Journals, and His Life, by Thomas Moore, Esq (Paperback)

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1833. Excerpt: ... THE TWO FOSCARI. AN HISTORICAL TRAGEDY, (i) The father softens, but the governor's resolved. -- Critic. " The Two Foscari" was composed at Ravenna, between the llth of June and the 10th of July, 1821, and published with " Sardanapalus" in the following December. " The Venetian story," wiites Lord Byron to Mr. Murray, " is strictly historical. I am much mortified that Gifford don't take to my new dramas. To be sure, they are as opposite to the English drama as one thing can be to another; but I have a notion, that, if understood, they will, in time, find favour (though not on the stage) with the reader. The simplicity of plot is intentional, and the avoidance of rant also, as also the compression of the speeches in the more severe situations. What I seek to show in ' the Foscaris' is the suppressed passions, rather than the rant of the present day. For that matter -- ' Nay, if thoul't mouth, I'll rant as well as thou --' would not be difficult, as I think I have shown in my younger productions -- not dramatic ones, to be sure." The best English account of the incidents on which this play is founded, is in the second volume of the Eeverend Mr. Smedley's " Sketches of Venetian History: " -- " The reign of Francesco Foscari had now been prolonged to the unusual period of thirty-four years, and these years were marked by almost continual warfare; during which, however, the courage, the firmness, and the sagacity of the illustrious Doge had won four rich provinces for his country, and increased her glory not less than her dominion. Ardent, enterprising, and ambitious of the glory of conquest, it was not without much opposition that Foscari had obtained the Dogeship; and he soon discovered that the throne which he had coveted with so great earnestness was far from being a seat of repose. A...