[1] In the Danish edition from 1924 it says "In 1815 Landor settled down in Italy and stayed there without interruption for more than 30 years. First in 1857 did he settle permanently in England (in the city of Bath). For information about where Landor lived and when we think other sources should be used.--Transcriber's note. [2] See _The Centenary of Landor's Birth_ in _The Examiner_ of 30th January 1875, an article written by the talented poet and critic, Edmund Gosse, who for us Danes possesses the special merit of being one of the most appreciative and best-informed foreign critics of Dano-Norwegian literature. [3] See, for example, the two Conversations between Southey and Porson, and the survey of the English poets in _Miscellaneous_, cxvi. [4] A satirical pamphlet which he published in 1836, _Letters of a Conservative, in which are shown the only means of saving what is left of the English Church_, made no impression. XVI RADICAL NATURALISM If in the year 1820, any respectable, well-educated Englishman had been asked: "Who is Shelley?" he would undoubtedly, if he could answer the question at all, have replied: "He is said to be a bad poet with shocking principles and a worse than doubtful character. The _Quarterly Review_, which is not given to defamation, says that he himself is distinguished by 'low pride, cold selfishness, and unmanly cruelty' and his poetry by its frequent and total want of meaning.' He has lately published a poem called _Prometheus Unbound_, the verse of which the same review calls 'drivelling prose run mad.' And the press is unanimous in this opinion. The _Literary Gazette_ writes that, if it were not assured to the contrary, it would take it for granted that the author of _Prometheus Unbound_ was a lunatic--as his principles are ludicrously wicked, and his poetry is a mélange of nonsense, cockneyism, poverty, and pedantry. It calls the work in question 'the stupid trash of this delirious dreamer.'" And it is quite possible that our Englishman would have added, in an undertone: "There are very bad reports in circulation about Shelley. The _Literary Gazette_, which is always specially severe on the enemies of religion, hints at incest. It declares that 'to such a man it would be a matter of perfect indifference to rob a confiding father of his daughters, and incestuously to live with all the branches of a family whose morals were ruined by the damned sophistry of the seducer.' These expressions may be too strong, but it is hardly credible that they are entirely undeserved; for _Blackwood's Magazine_, the only periodical which has been at all favourable to Shelley, writes of his _Prometheus_; 'It seems impossible that there can exist a more pestiferous mixture of blasphemy, sedition, and sensuality.' And you may possibly have heard Theodore Hook's witty saying: '_Prometheus Unbound_--it is well named: who would bind it?'"