841. Lockhart quotes here the following extract from a letter of Byron's
to Scott, dated July 6, 1812:
"And now, waiving myself, let me talk to you of the Prince Regent. He
ordered me to be presented to him at a ball; and after some saying,
peculiarly pleasing from royal lips, as to my own attempts, he talked to
me of you and your immoralities: he preferred you to every bard past
and present, and asked which of your works pleased me most. It was
a difficult question. I answered, I thought the Lay. He said his own
opinion was nearly similar. In speaking of the others, I told him that
I thought you more particularly the poet of princes, as they never
appeared more fascinating than in Marmion and The Lady of the Lake. He
was pleased to coincide, and to dwell on the description of your James's
as no less royal than poetical. He spoke alternately of Homer and
yourself, and seemed well acquainted with both."