174 DON JUAN. 



prepossessed that I had a talent that way, 

 and was continually urging me to give 

 the world proof of it, and himself at the 

 same time, by writing a play ; and all that 

 I could say in derision or ridicule never dis- 

 abused his mind of so fallacious an opinion. 

 One fine summer's morning, I recollect 

 he had a parcel in his hand, which he 

 would not allow the porter to dispose of 

 with his other luggage. * After we had 

 left the "Peacock" at Islington, he opened 

 it, when it proved to be a copy, in 

 quarto, of the first and second cantos 

 of "Don Juan," which had been sent 

 him by the publisher the day before, by 

 desire of the noble author, who was then, 

 I believe, in Italy. He read it aloud in 

 a clear, natural voice, in a vivacious and 

 emphatic strain, quite in accordance with 

 the spirit of the subject, and sufficiently 

 audible for the passengers on the roof to 

 hear and to enjoy. 



