The Sixty-Third Canto, short though it is, confused me greatly.

In the first place, we have abandoned China. Well, mostly. There is the Chinese character (pictured) which Pound inserts something less than 2/3 of the way into the Canto.

So far as I can tell, it is the diary or correspondence of  a lawyer (that much is mentioned: …So that I/believe no lawyer ever did so much business/for so little profit as I did during the 17 years that I practiced) commenting on the various things he has read recently – from history to current news to literature.

Byron and Shakespeare are mentioned (Timon of Athens, specifically, in the latter case). Jefferson, Adams (pere et fils), Franklin.