t.

"If Denmark has little similarity with its northern neighbour,
neither has it any marked point of resemblance with its southern
one. It always reminds me of the _tongue_ of a balance, vibrating
between Sweden and Germany, and inclining ever to that side on
which the greatest weight lies. Thus its literary tendency is
German, its political one Swedish.

"The best comparison that can be made of Denmark is with Italy; and
to me, although I shall probably surprise the reader by saying so,
Copenhagen appears like a part of Rome transplanted into the north.
In some degree, perhaps, Thorwaldsen is answerable for this
impression; for where he works and creates, one is apt to fancy
oneself surrounded by that warm southern atmosphere in which nature
and art best flourish. When he returned to Copenhagen, it was a
festival day for the whole population of the city. A crew of gaily
dressed sailors rowed him to land, and whilst they were doing so, a
rainbow suddenly appeared in the heavens. The multitude assembled
on the shore set up a shout of jubilation, to see that the sky
itself assumed its brightest tints, to celebrate the return of
their favourite.

"I had been told that I should not see Thorwaldsen, because he was
staying with the Countess Stampe. This lady is about forty years of
age, and possesses that blooming _embonpoint_ which makes up in
some women for the loss of youthful freshness. She became
acquainted with the artist in Italy, and fascinated him to such a
degree that he made her a present of the whole of his drawings,
which are of immense artistical value. She excited much ill-will by
accepting them, but at the same time it must in justice be owned,
that Thorwaldsen is under great obligations to her. He had hardly
arrived in Copenhagen, when innumerable invitations to breakfasts,
dinners, and suppers were poured upon him. Every body wanted to
have him; and, as he was known to love good living, the most
sumptuous repasts were prepared for him. The sturdy old man, who
had never been ill in his life, became pale and sickly, lost his
taste for work, and was in a fair way to die of an indigestion,
when the Countess Stampe stepped in to the rescue, carried him off
to her country-seat, and there fitted him up a studio. His health
speedi