His aridity was
certainly not winning, and, in reading him, I frequently felt a lack of
breadth of view and horizon, but the compelling power of his line-
drawing captivated me. When my doctor's thesis was finished, towards the
middle of December, 1869, both it and the collection of articles bearing
the name _Criticisms and Portraits_ were placed in the printer's
hands. In the beginning of 1870 two hitherto unprinted pieces were
added, of which one was a paper written some time before on Kamma
Rahbek, which had been revised, the other, a new one on Merimee, which
in general shows what at that time I admired in style.
It had long been settled that as soon as I had replied to the critics of
my thesis I should start on prolonged travels, the real educational
travels of a young man's life. I had a little money lying ready, a small
bursary, and a promise of a travelling allowance from the State, which
promise, however, was not kept. This journey had for a long time been
haunting my fancy. I cherished an ardent wish to see France again, but
even more especially to go to Italy and countries still farther South.
My hope of catching a glimpse of Northern Africa was only fulfilled
thirty-five years later; but I got as far as Italy, which was the actual
goal of my desires. I knew enough of the country, its history from
ancient days until then, and was sufficiently acquainted with its Art
from Roman times upwards and during the Renaissance, to be regarded as
passed for intellectual consecration in the South.
Pages:
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362