Letter to «Monsieur le Duc» [Carlo Visconti di Modrone]

Here I am, here we are. Last night, or else this morning at one in the morning. We wanted to leave at 6 in the morning to go straight to Lucca where I am expected on the 4th and where I unfortunately could only arrive the 5th at nightfall. Supposed to begin the 10th I will not have time to rest and do my rehearsals. That is why I absolutely did not want to have you come [because we…a second minute]. All these asses are insane because the faults, the sins and words of Bazzi [Rossi] as well as the taciturn (on every other occasion) barrister. I hope you will have me go onstage with a new opera in September because I do not trust doing the Otello with a tenor who has already been tried and could [Trezzini] you, […] the Public and the holy patience of the Good Governor. And then you would be the one to pay the bother for everyone. The Ines de Castro I did only in Naples but is worthy of Milan where we need a first Bass, a 1st tenor, a very good 2nd tenor and a prima and second Donna. The sets and then the costumes, I think we could have them from Naples, in any case I can explain it all to the Painter and to the seamstress as long as she is mine […] whom I have the pleasure of knowing she is happy with her husband who has changed entirely to his advantage and also to that of the poor lambs that wolf swallowed, and who no longer [sits on] them because the devil no longer able to tame the actors has become a hermit. Besides, joking aside, he behaves as a man of honour with his wife and I may add he made amends for his faults largely gone by. So I hope he will be rewarded for it and be back in grace, to employ him even by the day so that we can lead the stray sheep back to the path of virtue. A-A-men! You would be a love if you came to Lucca; the climate would suit you well, and then we would anticipate [sic] the good of [guess who], and you, dear Duke, that of hearing me say a world of foolishness. I’m not writing […] words already. I am studying Maria Stuarda if you want it for the start – and if the artists have it to know half of it when I return, [we could go] onstage with a new work. I went to Westminster Abbey, to copy Maria’s and Elizabeth’s costumes. My hand aches, dear Duke, so I can write no more. Come to Lucca to fill us with happiness – your Marietta Garcia».