Since you did not lose hope for me in 'Casa Guidi Windows,' because the line of politics was your own, why need you despair of me in the 'Poems before Congress,' although I do praise the devil in them?
A mistake is not fatal to a critic?
need it be to a poet?
Does Napoleon's being wicked (if he is so) make Italy less interesting?
or unfit for poetry historical subjects like 'The Dance' or the 'Court Lady'?
Meanwhile that thin-skinned people the Americans exceed some of you in generosity, rendering thanks to reprovers of their ill deeds, and understanding the pure love of the motive.[77] Let me tell you rather for their sake than mine.

I have extravagant praises and _prices_ offered to me from 'over the western sun,' in consequence of these very 'Poems before Congress.' The nation is generous in these things and not 'thin-skinned.' As to England, I shall be forgiven in time.

The first part of a campaign and the first part of a discussion are the least favourable to English successes.

After a while (by the time you have learnt to shoot cats with the new rifles), you will put them away, and arrive at the happy second thought which corrects the first thought.

That second thought will not be of _invasion_, prophesies a headless prophet.