[97]
simplicity or shyness of his character; and the timidity, which seems to be based in a sort of principle and persuasion with him, is in no degree affected by his fame and success, unless, indeed, it be rather increased by them.
Mad. Arconati, who has been intimate with him from childhood, says he has drawn his own principles and character in the last speech of Adelchi, where he says, among other things in the same tone, that he has lived in a state of the world where it has been necessary either to do or to suffer wrong.
But such evenings as we spent at Manzoni's are spent by few in Milan.
The great ambition of the Milanese ladies is to have a fine equipage with which to drive in the beautiful public promenade, and a box at the opera to go to afterwards.
We tried them both.
We drove with the Littas two evenings, just at sundown and twilight, and saw the fashion of the city, perhaps from two to four hundred equipages, driving round rapidly for a little while in the really noble space arranged for it on the old ramparts, . . . . and then stopping for a little time in the middle, where the gentlemen on horseback and friends on foot or in other carriages come and speak to them.
Many of the equipages were very rich and tasteful, . . . . and the whole show was very brilliant and graceful.
The last evening we were in Milan we went for an hour to the Marquis Trotti's, and found the same circle of children and friends gathered around the courtly old gentleman that I saw there the first evening.
After staying there a little while we went to the opera, for which Mad. Litta had sent us the key to her box . . . .
The interest and enjoyment of two delightful days at
Como were much increased by the unexpected presence of
Mr. Wordsworth and
Mr. Robinson for a part of the time.
At
Bergamo, ‘the birthplace of
Bernardo Tasso and of Tiraboschi, and the spot whence comes that peculiar Bergamesque dialect which, in the person of Harlequin or Truffaldino, amuses all
Italy,’ another cordial meeting with
Mr. Wordsworth and
Mr. Robinson occurred; but after breakfasting together the parties separated,
Mr. Wordsworth going to the Lago d'iseo,
Mr. Ticknor to the
Lago di Garda, promising a reunion at
Venice.
There our party arrived first, on the 17th of June.
Venice, June 17.—It seemed very strange to us to come into a city so silent and yet so grand; magnificent in its palaces and
