Lord Byron is to be regarded as a
man, an Englishman, and as a great genius. His good qualities belong
chiefly to the man, his bad to the Englishman and the peer, his talent is
incommeasurable.
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His high rank as an English peer was very injurious to
Byron; for every talent is oppressed by the outer world, - how much more, then,
when there is such high birth and so great a fortune. A certain middle
rank is much more favorable to talent, on which account we find all great
artists and poets in the middle classes. Byron's predilection for the
unbounded could not have been nearly so dangerous with more humble birth and
smaller means. But as it was, he was able to put every fancy into
practice, and this involved him in innumerable scrapes. Besides, how could
one of such high rank be inspired with awe and respect by any rank
whatsoever? He expressed whatever he felt, and this brought him into
ceaseless conflict with the world.
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I could not make any use of any man as the representative of the modern
poetical era except him, who undoubtedly is to be regarded as the greatest
genius of our century. Byron is neither antique nor romantic, but like the
present day itself. This was the sort of man I required. Then he
suited me on account of his unsatisfied nature and his warlike tendency, which
led to his death at Missolonghi.
Lord Byron is only great
as a poet; as soon as he reflects, he is a child.