Russia in 1839 -Empire of the Czar: A Journey Through Eternal Russia

SIR W. SCOTT AND LORD BYRON.103

tale if the circumstances of its occurrence, which would have been so appropriate to the middle-ages, had not belonged as it were to our own times. In everything, Russia is four centuries behind the world."

When Prince Кhad ceased speaking, we all

exclaimed that the Baron de Sternberg was the type of Byron's Manfreds and Laras.

" It is unquestionable," said Prince К, who

had no fear of paradox, " that it is because Byron has drawn his models from real existences, that they appear to us to possess so few of the attributes of the probable. In poetry reality is never natural.

" That is so true," I replied, " that the fictions of Walter Scott produce a more perfect illusion than the exact copyings of Byron."

" Possibly, but yon must look to yet other causes for this difference; Scott describes, Byron creates: the latter cares little for the reality, even in recounting it; the former is imbued with its instinct, even when inventing."

" Do not you think, prince," I replied, c< that this instinct of reality, which you ascribe to the great romance-writer, is connected with liis often being common-place? What masses of superfluous detail, and vulgar dialogue!—and, after all, it is in describing the dress and the apartments of his personages that he is most exact."

" Stay! I shall defend my favourite, Walter Scott,"

cried Prince К, " I cannot permit so amusing a

writer to be insulted."

" That he is amusing is just the species of merit which I deny him," I responded. " A romance writer F 4