[Footnote 274: Even Byron admired Southey. He once wrote, "His prose is perfect. Of his poetry there are various opinions: there is, perhaps, too much of it for the present generation; posterity will probably select. He has _passages_ equal to anything." (Byron's _Letters and Journals_, ed. Prothero, Vol. II, p. 331.) Shelley also had a high opinion of Southey's work. (Dowden's _Life of Shelley_, Vol. I, p. 158, and pp. 471-2.) Landor liked _Madoc_ and _Thalaba_ so much that, when he found Southey hesitating to write more poems of a similar kind because they did not pay, he offered to bear the expense of the publication. Southey refused the assistance, but was stimulated by the kindness and considered Landor's encouragement responsible for his later work in poetry. (Forster's _Life of Landor_, Vol. I, pp. 209-214.)] [Footnote 275: _Lockhart_, Vol. II, p. 307.] [Footnote 276: _Ibid._, Vol. I, p. 415.] [Footnote 277: _Ibid._, Vol. I, p. 477; see also _Edinburgh Annual Register_ for 1809, part 2, p. 588.] [Footnote 278: _Lockhart_, Vol. III, p. 197.] [Footnote 279: _Lockhart_, Vol. II, p. 127.] [Footnote 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.)] [Footnote 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.] [Footnote 282: _Lockhart_, Vol. I, p. 481.] [Footnote 283: _Ibid._, Vol. II, p. 296.] [Footnote 284: _Lockhart_, Vol. V, p. 413.] [Footnote 285: _Journal_, Vol. I, p. 112; _Lockhart_, Vol. IV, p. 429.] [Footnote 286: _Lockhart_, Vol. V, p. 391.] [Footnote 287: _Ibid._, Vol. II, p. 211.] [Footnote 288: Introduction to _Marmion_; _Lockhart_, Vol. II, p. 82.] [Footnote 289: _Lockhart_, Vol. II, p. 508.]