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hat he used to express the hope that he might live to make your acquaintance。 I replied that I knew the pleasure that it would give you to know you had soothed the dying moments of such a man； whereupon she begged me to write and tell you。 She was very much affected in speaking of this and of her husband； and I had subsequently a very interesting conversation with her about him and the rest of her family。 。 。 。 You will be glad to hear that the Prince of Wales and his family read “Cleopatra” on their way out here； and think it your best book。
On December 3； 1889； I wrote to the Empress as follows：
Madam； — My brother has written to me from Athens； saying that your Majesty is disposed to honour me by accepting the dedication of my romance； “Eric Brighteyes。”
In a letter to him — which I believe your Majesty has seen — I have set out the reasons which caused me to make this offer。 Therefore I will not trouble your Majesty by repeating them any further than to say how deeply honoured I shall be should you finally decide to accept my dedication。
I now enclose for your Majesty’s consideration that which I have written to this end。 Should I be so fortunate as to win approval for my draft dedication； would it be too much to ask that one of the enclosed copies may be returned to me signed by your Majesty’s hand； or that a written approval may be conveyed to me in some other way？ I ask this in order to protect myself from any possible future charge of having presumed to write what I have written without full permission。
Next es a letter from the Empress to my brother William。
Naples； Grand Hotel： December 13； 1889。
The Empress Frederick has received a few days ago a letter from Mr。 Haggard’s brother on the subject of the dedication of his romance； “Eric Brighteyes。”
The Empress will have the greatest pleasure in accepting the dedication； and begs Mr。 Haggard to tell his brother so； and also to convey her grateful thanks to him in her name； for his letter and for the drafts of his dedication； to which the Empress would suggest a small alteration； which has been inserted in one copy。
It is indeed true that the Emperor Frederick while at San Remo — during those months of anxiety； of alternate hopes and fears； which he bore with a fortitude； patience and gentleness never to be forgotten — found great pleasure in reading Mr。 Rider Haggard’s books。 He as well as the Empress especially admired “Jess；” of which she read out a great part to him aloud。 How pleasant were the hours so spent — and how bitter it is to look back on the last happiness of days never to return — can easily be imagined。
Mr。 Rider Haggard says in his letter that he leaves for Greece on the 13th： so the Empress sends this on to Athens。 The Empress hopes the slight change she suggests in one passage of the dedication — which she thinks charming — will not annoy the author； and she is anxiously looking forward to reading the book itself； which will now have a special interest for her！ The Empress regrets exceedingly that Mr。 Haggard’s brother was not at Athens during her stay there； and that she thus lost the pleasure of making his acquaintance； but hopes she may be more fortunate another time。
On January 19； 1890； the Empress sent me a registered holograph letter from Berlin； which is now bound up with the manuscript of the book。 it runs as follows：
The Empress Frederick thanks Mr。 Rider Haggard for his letter of the 27th December； and greatly regrets the long delay in answering。
Mr。 R。 Haggard no doubt has heard of the sad circumstances which caused so hurried a departure from Rome。 Since arriving here many unavoidable duties have pletely taken up the Empress’s time。
Mr。 R。 Haggard will understand this all the better as he and his family have so recently sustained a sad loss of the same kind — for which the Empress takes this opportunity of offering her sincere condolences。 The Empress encloses the printed draft of the dedication with a suggestion for a slight alteration； and begs Mr。 R。 Haggard to accept her best thanks for the copy of “Jess” and the collection of stories just published； which she is looking forward to reading when she has a little leisure。
With this letter are two copies of the dedication； annotated in the hand of the Empress； for it seems that it was sent to her twice before it was finally settled as it appears in the book。 A few years later； when I was at Homburg for my health； the Empress Frederick asked me to lunch； and I had a long and interesting conversation with her。 As I kept no notes； however； I forget its details。 She impressed me as a singularly charming and able lady。
“Eric” mended itself very much to Lang。 Here is the first thing I can find about it in his letters。
“Eric” begins A1。 I don’t know what about the public； but I love a saga but even too well； especially if it be a bloody one delicately narrated； or a very affectionate thing indeed but brutally set down； as Shakespeare says。 I have only read Chapter I； but it’s the jockey for me。
P。S。 — I have read four chapters； including Golden Falls。 I think it is the best thing you have done； but of course I am saga…fain！ I didn’t think anyone could do it。
Next letter； dated Saturday。
I have got Eric into Swanhild’s toils； and I don’t think I have e to a dull page yet。 I don’t want to flatter； but it literally surprises me that anyone should write such a story nowadays。 Charles Kingsley would have spoiled it by maundering and philosophising。 I have hardly seen a line which is not in keeping yet。 Also the plot is a good natural plot and the characters； except Gudruda； sympathetic。 I think she might be a little less feminine and ill…willy。 As literature I really think it is a masterpiece so far as I have gone。 I’d almost as soon have expected more Homer as more saga。 I don’t think much of the boy who can lay it down till it is finished； women of course can’t be expected to care for it。 Surely it should e out before the “Bow；” which is such a flukey thing； whereas； whatever reviews and people may say； “Eric” is full of the best qualities of poetic ＇？ word doubtful＇ fiction。
Next letter； undated。
The more I consider “Eric；” the more I think that except “Cleopatra；” which you can’t keep back； I’d publish no novel before “Eric。” It is so very much the best of the lot in all ways。 Probably you don’t agree； and the public probably won’t stop to consider； but it is。 I’d like to suggest one or two remarks for a preface — if any。 The discovery of the dead mother and the dialogue with the Carline struck me very much。 Clearly Swanhild needed no witchcraft； and as certainly her natural magic would have been interpreted so — at the time and much later。 Perhaps the final bust…up might be less heavy in the supernatural； but more distinctly represented as the vision of fay men — subjective。 Oddly enough； I found a Zulu parallel today： “I have made me a mat of men to lie on；” says the Zulu berserk when he had killed twenty and the assegais in his body were “like reeds in a marsh。” He is in Callaway。 。 。 。 It is worth an infinite number of Cleopatras； partly because you are at home in the North。 I wouldn’t let anyone peddle it about； or show people； but stick to someone like Longman； if it were mine。
And again：
I suppose Ingram must see it；17； but I wish it could appear tomorrow in a book。 parisons are odious； and I understand your preferring “Cleopatra。” People inevitably prefer what gives them most serious labour。 But it’s a natural gift that really does the trick。 I bet a pound George Eliot preferred “Romola” and “Daniel Deronda” to “Scenes of Clerical Life。” I have a hideous conscience which knows that a ballad or a leading article are the best things I’ve done； though I’d prefer to prefer “Helen of Troy。” But she’s a bandbox。
17 From the Illustrated London News。 — Ed。
The last letter that I can find of Lang’s which has to do with “Eric Brighteyes” was evidently written in answer to one from myself in which I must have shown depression at certain criticisms that he made verbally or otherwise upon the book。
Bosh！ It is a rattling good story！ But I am trying to read it as critically as I can； and I am rather fre