one hundred and fifty stanzas, which is almost as long as the two
first were originally, and longer by itself than any of the smaller
poems except 'The Corsair.' Mr. Hobhouse has made some very
valuable and accurate notes of considerable length, and you may be
sure that I will do for the text all that I can to finish with
decency. I look upon Childe Harold as my best; and as I begun, I
think of concluding with it. But I make no resolutions on that
head, as I broke my former intention with regard to 'The Corsair.'
However, I fear that I shall never do better; and yet, not being
thirty years of age, for some moons to come, one ought to be
progressive as far as intellect goes for many a good year. But I
have had a devilish deal of tear and wear of mind and body in my
time, besides having published too often and much already. God
grant me some judgment to do what may be most fitting in that and
every thing else, for I doubt my own exceedingly.

"I have read 'Lalla Rookh,' but not with sufficient attention yet,
for I ride about, and lounge, and ponder, and--two or three other
things; so that my reading is very desultory, and not so attentive
as it used to be. I am very glad to hear of its popularity, for
Moore is a very noble fellow in all respects, and will enjoy it
without any of the bad feelings which success--good or
evil--sometimes engenders in the men of rhyme. Of the poem, itself,
I will tell you my opinion when I have mastered it: I say of the
_poem_, for I don't like the _prose_ at all; and in the mean time,
the 'Fire-worshippers' is the best, and the 'Veiled Prophet' the
worst, of the volume.

"With regard to poetry in general[9], I am convinced, the more I
think of it, that he and _all_ of us--Scott, Southey, Wordsworth,