The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1851-03-19
Goethe's Opinion Of Byron, Scott, ant
Carlyle.

Mr.. John Oxcniord, who has shown re-
markahe capacities for appropriation, in the
use he has made of the abors of William
Peter, Parke Goodwin, and others, in his va
rious - translations from the German, has
recently fallen in with Margaret Fuller d Os-
soils version of the Conversations Of Goethe
cih EclcImdnn, published many years ago
by Mr.. Ripley in his Specimens Of For
egn Literature and the result is two vol
umcs, embracing, with what Margaret Full
Ter translated, the great poets conversations
with Soret. Among the chief notable men
who existed at the time Of the conversations,
and to W! ON reference is made. are Scott
and Byron. The first, whose idU Maid Of
Perh is read as Il new book, is praised for
his objective" qualities The second i
pronounced the greatest modern poet of
England, but ceusurcd for his polcmIc ten
dency. Gocthe's rapture is kindled when
he speaks of him;
Lord Byron, said Goethe, is TO he re.
aarlcd as a man, as an Englsbman, and as n
great talent. His good qualities belong
chiefly 10 the man, his bad TO the English
man and the peer, his talent is incomnen-
surablc. All Englishmcn arc, as such, with.
out reflection properly SO called; distraction.
and party spirit will not permit them to un
fold themselves in quiet. But they arc great
AS practical men. Thus, Lord Byron could
never attain reflection on himself, and OH
this account the maNims in general are nj
successful, as is shown by his creed, much
money, no authority for much money al
ways paralyzes authority. But where he
will create, he always succeeds; and we ma,
truly say that with him inspiration sapple
the place Of reflection. lie was always oh
lieed TO 80 on poelizing, and then every
thing that came from the man, especially from
his heart, was excellent. He produced hi
best things, as women do pretty children
without thinking about it or knowing how i
was done. He is a great talent, born tai
ent, and | never saw the true poeica pow
er greater in any man than in him. In tn
apprehension of external objects and clea
penetration into past situations, he is quite
rs great as Shakespeare. Blu: as pure indi
viduality, Shakespeare is his superior Thi
was fell by Byron, and on this account h
does not say much OF Shakespeare, a!ihoue
he knows whole passages by heart. II
would willingly have denied him altogether
for Shalspeare's checrlulness is ia hi, way
and he feels that he is no match for it. Pop
he does no, deny, for he had no cause to fea
him On the contrary, he mentions hin
and shows him respect When he can, for h
knows we'll enough thai Pope is a mere 70
o himself
Goethe seemed incxl ausIibla on the sui
jccl Of Byron, and felt that | could not lis
4 en- enough. After few digrcssions, he pr'
ceeded thus: His high rank MS an Enais
; peer was very injurious to Byron for ever
talent is oppressed by the outer world.-ho
much more, then, when there are such hia
!. birth and so great fortune. A certain mi'
die rank is much more favorable 10 talcn
J in which account we find all great arts
!, and poets in the middle classes. Byron
' prediction for the unbounded could II
have been nearly so dangerous with mo
r humble birth and smaller means. But as
was, he was able 10 put every fancy in
> practice, and this involved him in Immune
able scrapes. Besides, how could one
such high rank be inspired with awe and 7
C. speet by any rank whatever? lie spoke o
so whatever be felt, and this brought him in
y Ceaseless conflict with the world. 1t is su
prising to remark, continued Goethe, he
large portion of the life of rich Englis
, man Of rank is passed in duels and eloT
ments Lord Byron himself says, that
y father carried oil three ladies. And let a
man be steady son after that Proper
speaking, be lived perpetually in a state
nature, and with his mode Of existence
~ necessity of self>defenco hoa,ed daily beit
, his eyes. Hence his constant pistol -sLooli
Every moment he expected 20 be called o
Ks He could rot live alone. Hence. with
his oddities, he was very indnlsent to his