3 MAY 1968, Page 31

Henry's youth

Sir: Henry Tube quotes John Berryman (26 April): 'Death is a German expert' without mentioning that this is yet another 'embedded quotation.' I much prefer Paul Celan's original: 'Der Tod ist em n Meister am Deutsch- land.' We can treat experts lightly, but a master craftsman is altogether more formidable.