“Why, I don't pick them up myself; but I have a servant very clever; and if they are not to be had at the booksellers', they are not for me any more than for another.”
She then spoke of Klopstock's “Messiah,” saying it contained four lines most perfect on religion.
“How I should like to see it. Is it translated?” asked Mrs. Delany, turning to me.
“In it,” said her majesty: “there is a story of Lazarus and the Centurion's daughter; and another young lady, Asyddel, he calls her; and Lazarus is in love;—a very pretty scene—no stopping;—but it is out of place;—I was quite angry to read it. And a long conversation between Christ and Lazarus—very strange!”
“Yet Milton does that.”
“Yes.”
THE QUEEN ON ROMAN CATHOLIC SUPERSTITIONS.
And then she went on discussing Milton; this led to Wickliffe and Cranmer; and she spoke of the Roman Catholic superstitions.
“O, so odd! Can it signify to God Almighty if I eat a piece of fish or a piece of meat? And one of the Queen of France's sisters wears the heel of her shoe before for a penance; as if God Almighty could care for that!”