Chapter LXXXVIII: Letter 358: To Mr. Bankes

"Ravenna, February 26. 1820.

"Pulci and I are waiting for you with impatience; but I suppose we
must give way to the attraction of the Bolognese galleries for a
time. I know nothing of pictures myself, and care almost as little:
but to me there are none like the Venetian--above all, Giorgione. I
remember well his Judgment of Solomon in the Mariscalchi in
Bologna. The real mother is beautiful, exquisitely beautiful. Buy
her, by all means, if you can, and take her home with you: put her
in safety: for be assured there are troublous times brewing for
Italy; and as I never could keep out of a row in my life, it will
be my fate, I dare say, to be over head and ears in it; but no
matter, these are the stronger reasons for coming to see me soon.

"I have more of Scott's novels (for surely they are Scott's) since
we met, and am more and more delighted. I think that I even prefer
them to his poetry, which (by the way) I redde for the first time
in my life in your rooms in Trinity College.

"There are some curious commentaries on Dante preserved here,
which you should see. Believe me ever, faithfully and most
affectionately, yours," &c.

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