Hic Et Ubique (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1893. Excerpt: ... Byron resided; and know some facts that have not hitherto been made public. I Hope At some time to record my theatrical reminiscences: and to include in them what I know of that great actor, Charles Dickens. Early In this volume I related a conversation with Lord Lytton on the subject of Sir Walter Scott. The novel which he considered to be his best, which I had already written down, was 'The Bride of Lammermoor.' In this Sir Walter owed everything to fact: the tragedy occurred not on Lammermuir in East Lothian, but at Lord Stair's house in Wigtonshire. I Wished to obtain some illustrations of Poems which I had written from the hand of Gustave Dore': George Cruikshank having executed for me several of his best works. An introduction to him was sent to me by Monsieur de Neukerque, the Minister of the "Beaux Arts" under the Emperor. Dor told me that Dante was his favourite Poet. Of Milton he said that he failed to find graphic Genius: adding that the Fall of Satan was fine. Of Shakspere he said that he could illustrate every line. It is to be regretted that he had not time to carry out this intention. I have known few men whose death I regret more. Numerous as were his works, his Genius showed no sign of exhaustion. I hoped that he had made some progress with Shakspere. Had he only, as I once suggested to him, done a few scenes from Macbeth, they would probably have transcended all his previous works. I can imagine nothing more likely to inspire him than the scenes between Macbeth and the 'murderous, black, and midnight, hags.' The wild heath; the cauldron; the spectres; the lightning; above all the unearthly sentiments uttered by the sexless phantoms, and all the glorious dramatic accessories, which the mighty William introduced with such consummate art, w...