To this consummation it was indispensable to lead you by slow degrees and circuitous paths.
Meanwhile, a profound silence, with regard to your genuine history, was to be observed; and to this forbearance your consent was obtained with more readiness than I expected.
"There was an additional motive for the treatment you received from me.
My personal projects and cares had hitherto prevented me from reading Lodi's manuscript; a slight inspection, however, was sufficient to prove that the work was profound and eloquent.

My ambition has panted, with equal avidity, after the reputation of literature and opulence.

To claim the authorship of this work was too harmless and specious a stratagem not to be readily suggested.

I meant to translate it into English, and to enlarge it by enterprising incidents of my own invention.

My scruples to assume the merit of the original composer might thus be removed.