North.—Boccaccio?
Landor.—He is entertaining.
North.—Machiavelli?
Landor.—A coarse comedian. [103]
[Footnote 103: Vol. ii. p. 252.]
North.—You honour Ariosto?
Landor.—I do not. Ariosto is a plagiary, the most so of all poets. [104] Ariosto is negligent; his plan inartificial, defective, bad.
[Footnote 104: Vol. i. p. 290.]
North.—You protect Tasso?
Landor.—I do, especially against his French detractors.