In looking over a wide-spread Italian landscape one is struck by the accuracy and picturesque truth of the image; but it needs the sun and the light and the atmosphere of Italy to produce the contrast of light and shade which justifies the phrase.
Our friends were evidently _personae gratae_ at the court of the Laureate; and after our walk he gave us the exquisite treat of reading to us the just completed manuscript of _Rizpah_.

And how he read it! Everybody thinks that he has been impressed by that wonderful poem to the full extent of the effect that it is capable of producing.

They would be astonished at the increase of weird terror which thrills the hearer of the poet's own recital of it.
He was very good-natured about it.

It was explained to him by George Eliot that I should not be able to enjoy the reading unless I were close to him, so he placed me by his side.

He detected me availing myself of that position to use my good eyes as well as my bad ears, and protested; but on my appeal _ad misrecordiam_, and assurance that I should so enjoy the promised treat to infinitely greater effect, he allowed me to look over his shoulder as he read.