The misfortunes which began to gather round him in his thirty-first year, made him well-nigh indifferent to the fate of the poem which had drained his life-force, and from which he had expected so much glory.

It was published without his permission or supervision.

He, meanwhile, in the prison of S.Anna, turned his attention to prose composition.

The long series of dialogues, with which he occupied the irksome leisure of seven years, interesting as they are in matter and genial in style, indicate that the poet was now in abeyance.

It remained to be seen whether inspiration would revive with freedom.