Page:The Works of Lord Byron (ed. Coleridge, Prothero) - Volume 4.djvu/518

480 Goethe, but he will be appreciated by her. I am afraid of the experiment with the peat post himself

"I read to him the Vision of Judgment. He enjoyed it like a child; but his criticisms went little beyond the exclamatory 'Toll! Ganz grob! himmlisch! unübertrefflich!' etc., etc.

"In general, the more strongly peppered passages pleased him the best. Stanza 9 he praised for the clear distinct painting; 10 he repeated with emphasis,—the last two lines conscious that his own age was eighty: 13, 14, and 15 are favourites with me. G. concurred in the praise. The stanza 24 he declared to be sublime. The characteristic speeches of Wilkes and Junius he thought most admirable.

"Byron 'hat selbst viel übertroffen;' and the introduction of Southey made him laugh heartily.

"August 16. "Lord B. he declared to be inimitable. Ariosto was not so keck as Lord B. in the Vision of Judgment."