"]
[Footnote 2: In Byron's 'Detached Thoughts' (1821) occurs this passage:
"In general I do not draw well with literary men. Not that I dislike
them, but I never know what to say to them after I have praised their
last publication. There are several exceptions, to be sure; but then
they have always been men of the world, such as Scott and Moore, etc.,
or visionaries out of it, such as Shelley, etc. But your literary
every-day man and I never went well in company, especially your
foreigner, whom I never could abide,--except Giordani, and--and--and
(I really can't name any other); I do not remember a man amongst them
whom I ever wished to see twice, except, perhaps, Mezzophanti, who is
a Monster of Languages, the Briareus of parts of speech, a walking
Polyglott, and more--who ought to have existed at the time of the
Tower of Babel as universal Interpreter. He is, indeed, a Marvel,
--unassuming also. I tried him in all the tongues of which I have a
single oath (or adjuration to the Gods against Postboys, Savages,
Tartars, boatmen, sailors, pilots, Gondoliers, Muleteers,
Cameldrivers, Vetturini, Postmasters, post-horses, post-houses,
post-everything) and Egad! he astounded me even to my English."
On this passage Sir Walter Scott makes the following note:
"I suspect Lord Byron of some self-deceit as to this matter. It
appears that he liked extremely the only 'first-rate' men of letters
into whose society he happened to be thrown in England.
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