Page "Alessandro Manzoni" Paragraph 7

His intellectual energy in this period of his life was devoted to the composition of the Inni sacri, a series of sacred lyrics, and of a treatise on Catholic morality, Osservazioni sulla morale cattolica, a task undertaken under religious guidance, in reparation for his early lapse from faith.

In 1818 he had to sell his paternal inheritance, as his money had been lost to a dishonest agent.

His characteristic generosity was shown at this time in his dealings with his peasants, who were heavily indebted to him.

He not only cancelled on the spot the record of all sums owed to him, but bade them keep for themselves the whole of the coming maize harvest.