poem (Childe Harold) he pronounced not only the
best you have written, but equal to any of the present age."

* * * * *

LETTER 66. TO MR. DALLAS.

"Newstead Abbey, September 7. 1811.

"As Gifford has been ever my 'Magnus Apollo.' any approbation, such
as you mention, would, of course, be more welcome than 'all
Bokara's vaunted gold, than all the gems of Samarkand.' But I am
sorry the MS. was shown to him in such a manner, and I had written
to Murray to say as much, before I was aware that it was too late.

"Your objection to the expression 'central line' I can only meet by
saying that, before Childe Harold left England, it was his full
intention to traverse Persia, and return by India, which he could
not have done without passing the equinoctial.

"The other errors you mention, I must correct in the progress
through the press. I feel honoured by the wish of such men that the
poem should be continued, but to do that, I must return to Greece
and Asia; I must have a warm sun and a blue sky; I cannot describe
scenes so dear to me by a sea-coal fire. I had projected an
additional Canto when I was in the Troad and Constantinople, and if
I saw them again, it would go on; but under existing circumstances
and _sensations_, I have neither harp, 'heart, nor voice' to
proceed. I feel that _you are all right_ as to the metaphysical
part; but I also feel that I am sincere, and that if I am only to
write '_ad captandum vulgus_,' I might as well edit a magazine at
once, or spin canzonettas for Vauxhall. * * *

"My work must make its way as well as it can; I know I have every
thing against me, angry poets and prejudices; but if the poem is a
_poem_, it will surmount these obstacles, and if _not_, it deserves
its fate. Your friend's Ode I have read--it is no great compliment
to pronounce it far superior to S * *'s on the same subject, or to
the merits of the new Chancellor. It is evidently the production of
a man of taste, and a poet, though I should not be willing to say
it was fully equal to what might be expected from the author of
'_Horae Ionicae_.' I thank you for it, and that is more than I would
do for any other Ode of the present day.

"I am very sensible of your good wishes, and, indeed, I have need
of them. My whole