THOU wert not, Cassius, and thou couldst not be, Last of the Romans, though thy memory claim From Brutus his own glory, and on thee Rests the full splendor of his sacred fame; Date, 1818. Published by Garnett, 1862, and the SONG by Mrs. Shelley, 1824. Shelley writes to Peacock regarding the drama: 'I have devoted this summer, and indeed the next year, to the composition of a tragedy on the subject of Tasso's madness; which, I find upon inspection, is, if properly treated, admirably dramatic and poetical. But you will say I have no dramatic talent. Very true, in a certain sense; but I have taken the resolution to see what kind of tragedy a person without dramatic talent could write. It shall be better morality than Fazio, and better poetry than Bertram, at least.' Nor he who dared make the foul tyrant | Did you inform his Grace that Signor quail Amid his cowering senate with thy name, Though thou and he were great; it will avail Pigna Waits with state papers for his signature ? |