Though Scott perceived that Lewis's talents "would not stand much creaming"[310] he continued to regard him as one who had had high imagination and a "finer ear for rhythm than Byron's." Scott felt that his own taste in respect to poetry became more rigorous as he grew older.

In 1823 in a letter to Miss Baillie he commented on Mrs.Hemans as "somewhat too poetical for my taste--too many flowers, I mean, and too little fruit--but that may be the cynical criticism of an elderly gentleman; for it is certain that when I was young I read verses of every kind with infinitely more indulgence, because with more pleasure than I can now do--the more shame for me now to refuse the complaisance which I have had so often to solicit."[311] Similarly he speaks in the preface to _Kenilworth_ of having once been delighted with the poems of Mickle and Langhorne: "There is a period in youth when the mere power of numbers has a more strong effect on ear and imagination than in after-life." With these comments we may put Lockhart's sagacious remark: "His propensity to think too well of other men's works sprung, of course, mainly from his modesty and good nature; but the brilliancy of his imagination greatly sustained the delusion.

It unconsciously gave precision to the trembling outline, and life and warmth to the vapid colours before him."[312] This and his kindness would account for the latter half of the observation made by his publisher: "I like well Scott's ain bairns--but heaven preserve me from those of his fathering."[313] I have found no reference to Landor, a poet whom Southey and Wordsworth read with eagerness, but Mr.Forster makes this statement in his _Biography of Landor_: "Among Landor's papers I found a list, prepared by himself, of resemblances to passages of his own writing to be found in Scott's _Tales of the Crusaders_.

There were several from _Gebir_....
The poem had made a great impression on Scott, who read it at Southey's suggestion."[314] Forster also notes the fact that Southey, in a letter to Scott written in 1812, spoke very highly of Landor's _Count Julian_.[315] I am similarly unable to cite any comment by Scott on the writings of Lamb.

Was it because Scott's genius clung to Scotland and Lamb's to London, that the two seemed so little to notice each other?
It does seem odd that Scott never refers to the delightful _Specimens of English Dramatic Poets_.