Manzoni (Alessandro)

Exceptionally scarce autograph letter signed ("Alessandro Manzoni") by the leading Italian author of the 19th century, in Italian, translation reading "Most Illustrious Sir, From the translation that your Lordship has been so kind as to make of the ode "The Fifth of May" I have been unable, by myself, to feel other than the honour (you do me), ignorant as I am, unfortunately, of the English language. And if from such ignorance it often happens that I suffer regret and shame, it happened to me on this occasion to a particular degree. However, I try to make up in some way for such a lack by asking an interpreter person of that language to literally return the words of the translation into Italian. And since this results in feeling that I am able to understand, I therefore take courage to demonstrate it to your Lordship. It seemed to me that the sense of the too-fortunate original was expressed faithfully in every part, without being slavishly translated or with similar words where (as my interpreter told me) the elegance of the language allowed it or, in various places, with happy and appropriate substitutions. The brief paraphrases, then, inevitable in a work of this kind, far from being stop-gaps, equally appear to me often to add opportune and excellent ornament. That then which I alone would have been unable to understand, and which comes to me authenticated by the interpreter mentioned above, is a faithful, free and natural translation of the original composition. Please accept my heartfelt and respectful thanks, your Lordship, for the indulgence by which you were moved to carry out this happy work and for the too-courteous letter with which you were pleased to accompany the gift. And the good wishes which you have condescended to send to me for the fortunes of my dear country have aroused in me a most heartfelt gratitude: precious evidence of a generous soul and an illustrious statesman", three pages, folding marks, staining to upper margin due to rusty paperclip, remnants of previous mount, 4to, Milan, 27 January 1867.

Dimensions: 23 x 18cm