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

104HISTORICAL ROMANCE.

who needs a volume to prepare a scene is anything but amusing. Walter Scott was very fortunate m appearing at an epoch when people no longer knew what amusement meant."

" How he describes the human heart," said Prince

D: for every body was against юе.

" Yes, provided he does not make it speak, for expression fails him whenever he attempts the passionate and the sublime : he draws characters by their actions admirably, for he has more skill and more power of observation than eloquence; his mind is methodical and calculating; he has appeared in a congenial age, and has marvellously revived and embodied the most vulgar and consequently the most popular ideas and images."

" He has been the first to solve, in a satisfactory

manner, the difficult problem of historical romance :

you cannot refuse him this merit," added Prince

К.

" Would that it were insolvable," I replied. " With what multitudes of false notions have the crowd of illiterate readers been imbued by the mixing of history with romance. This union is always mischievous, and, to me, scarcely appears amusing. I would prefer reading, even for aimisenient, M. Augustin Thierry, or any other equally grave author, to all the fables about real personages that have ever been invented."

" If it is a matter of taste," said Prince К,

smiling, " we will dispute no longer about it; " and, taking my arm, he begged me to assist him to his state-room, where, offering me a seat, he continued, in a low voice, " as we are alone, and you like historvj