[278] Lockhart, Vol. III, p. 197.
[279] Lockhart, Vol. II, p. 127.
[280] In his youth Scott read Dante with other Italian authors, but he did not become well acquainted with him, and later even expressed dislike for his work. (See Lockhart, Vol. V, p. 408.) In 1825 he wrote to W.S. Rose, "I will subscribe for Dante with all pleasure, on condition you do not insist on my reading him." (Fam. Let., Vol. II, p. 356.)
[281] It may be interesting to have Southey's comment on the same article. (See Southey's Letters, Vol. II, p. 307.) He says, "Bedford has seen the review which Scott has written of it, and which, from his account, though a very friendly one, is, like that of the 'Cid,' very superficial. He sees nothing but the naked story; the moral feeling which pervades it has escaped him. I do not know whether Bedford will be able to get a paragraph interpolated touching upon this, and showing that there is some difference between a work of high imagination and a story of mere amusement." Either Bedford was mistaken in saying that Scott had ignored the moral aspect of the poem, or else he succeeded in getting a passage interpolated, for the review is sufficiently definite on that point.
[282] Lockhart, Vol. I, p. 481.
[283] Ibid., Vol. II, p. 296.
[284] Lockhart, Vol. V, p. 413.
[285] Journal, Vol. I, p. 112; Lockhart, Vol. IV, p. 429.
[286] Lockhart, Vol. V, p. 391.
[287] Ibid., Vol. II, p. 211.