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account； and desires me to assist you in my capacity of publisher
in bringing forth two or three works which you have prepared。 My
good friend is perhaps not aware that for some time past I have
given up publishing … was obliged to do so … had many severe losses
… do nothing at present in that line； save sending out the Magazine
once a month； and； between ourselves； am thinking of disposing of
that … wish to retire … high time at my age … so you see … '
'I am very sorry； sir； to hear that you cannot assist me' （and I
remember that I felt very nervous）； 'I had hoped … '
'A losing trade； I assure you； sir； literature is a drug。 Taggart；
what o'clock is？'
'Well； sir！' said I； rising； 'as you cannot assist me； I will now
take my leave； I thank you sincerely for your kind reception； and
will trouble you no longer。'
'Oh； don't go。 I wish to have some further conversation with you；
and perhaps I may hit upon some plan to benefit you。 I honour
merit； and always make a point to encourage it when I can； but …
Taggart； go to the bank； and tell them to dishonour the bill twelve
months after date for thirty pounds which becomes due to…morrow。 I
am dissatisfied with that fellow who wrote the fairy tales； and
intend to give him all the trouble in my power。 Make haste。'
Taggart did not appear to be in any particular haste。 First of
all； he took a pinch of snuff； then； rising from his chair； slowly
and deliberately drew his wig； for he wore a wig of a brown colour；
rather more over his forehead than it had previously been； buttoned
his coat； and； taking his hat； and an umbrella which stood in a
corner； made me a low bow； and quitted the room。
'Well； sir； where were we？ Oh； I remember； we were talking about
merit。 Sir； I always wish to encourage merit； especially when it
comes so highly recommended as in the present instance。 Sir； my
good friend and correspondent speaks of you in the highest terms。
Sir； I honour my good friend； and have the highest respect for his
opinion in all matters connected with literature … rather eccentric
though。 Sir； my good friend has done my periodical more good and
more harm than all the rest of my correspondents。 Sir； I shall
never forget the sensation caused by the appearance of his article
about a certain personage whom he proved … and I think
satisfactorily … to have been a legionary soldier … rather
startling； was it not？ The S… of the world a common soldier； in a
marching regiment … original； but startling； sir； I honour my good
friend。'
'So you have renounced publishing； sir；' said I； 'with the
exception of the Magazine？'
'Why； yes； except now and then； under the rose； the old coachman；
you know； likes to hear the whip。 Indeed； at the present moment； I
am thinking of starting a Review on an entirely new and original
principle； and it just struck me that you might be of high utility
in the undertaking … what do you think of the matter？'
'I should be happy； sir； to render you any assistance； but I am
afraid the employment you propose requires other qualifications
than I possess； however； I can make the essay。 My chief intention
in coming to London was to lay before the world what I had
prepared； and I had hoped by your assistance … '
'Ah！ I see； ambition！ Ambition is a very pretty thing； but； sir；
we must walk before we run； according to the old saying … what is
that you have got under your arm？'
'One of the works to which I was alluding； the one； indeed； which I
am most anxious to lay before the world； as I hope to derive from
it both profit and reputation。'
'Indeed！ what do you call it？'
'Ancient songs of Denmark； heroic and romantic； translated by
myself； with notes philological； critical； and historical。'
'Then； sir； I assure you that your time and labour have been
entirely flung away； nobody would read your ballads； if you were to
give them to the world to…morrow。'
'I am sure； sir； that you would say otherwise if you would permit
me to read one to you'； and； without waiting for the answer of the
big man； nor indeed so much as looking at him； to see whether he
was inclined or not to hear me； I undid my manuscript； and； with a
voice trembling with eagerness； I read to the following effect： …
Buckshank bold and Elfinstone；
And more than I can mention here；
They caused to be built so stout a ship；
And unto Iceland they would steer。
They launched the ship upon the main；
Which bellowed like a wrathful bear；
Down to the bottom the vessel sank；
A laidly Trold has dragged it there。
Down to the bottom sank young Roland；
And round about he groped awhile；
Until he found the path which led
Unto the bower of Ellenlyle。
'Stop！' said the publisher； 'very pretty indeed； and very original；
beats Scott hollow； and Percy too： but； sir； the day for these
things is gone by； nobody at present cares for Percy； nor for Scott
either； save as a novelist； sorry to discourage merit； sir； but
what can I do！ What else have you got？'
'The songs of Ab Gwilym； the Welsh bard； also translated by myself；
with notes critical； philological； and historical。'
'Pass on … what else？'
'Nothing else；' said I； folding up my manuscript with a sigh；
'unless it be a romance in the German style； on which； I confess； I
set very little value。'
'Wild？'
'Yes； sir； very wild。'
'Like the Miller of the Black Valley？'
'Yes； sir； very much like the Miller of the Black Valley。'
'Well； that's better；' said the publisher； 'and yet； I don't know；
I question whether any one at present cares for the miller himself。
No； sir； the time for those things is also gone by； German； at
present； is a drug； and； between ourselves； nobody has contributed
to make it so more than my good friend and correspondent； … but；
sir； I see you are a young gentleman of infinite merit； and I
always wish to encourage merit。 Don't you think you could write a
series of evangelical tales？'
'Evangelical tales； sir？'
'Yes； sir； evangelical novels。'
'Something in the style of Herder？'
'Herder is a drug； sir； nobody cares for Herder … thanks to my good
friend。 Sir； I have in yon drawer a hundred pages about Herder；
which I dare not insert in my periodical； it would sink it； sir。
No； sir； something in the style of the DAIRYMAN'S DAUGHTER。'
'I never heard of the work till the present moment。'
'Then； sir； procure it by all means。 Sir； I could afford as much
as ten pounds for a well…written tale in the style of the
DAIRYMAN'S DAUGHTER； that is the kind of literature； sir； that
sells at the present day！ It is not the Miller of the Black Valley
… no； sir； nor Herder either； that will suit the present taste； the
evangelical body is becoming very strong； sir； the canting
scoundrels … '
'But； sir； surely you would