Contents：

Introductory：OfModernEnglishPoetryOfModernEnglishPoetryFieldingLongfellowAFriendofKeatsOnVirgilAucassinandNicolettePlotinus（A。D。200—262）

LucretiusToaYoungAmericanBook—HunterRochefoucauldOfVersdeSocieteOnVersdeSocieteGerarddeNervalOnBooksAboutRedMenAppendixI

AppendixII

DEDICATION

DearMr。Way，Aftersomanyletterstopeoplewhoneverexisted，mayIventureashortone，toapersonveryrealtome，thoughIhaveneverseenhim，andonlyknowhimbyhismanykindnesses？PerhapsyouwilladdanothertothesebyacceptingtheDedicationofalittlework，ofasortexperimentalinEnglish，andinprose，thoughHorace——inLatinandinverse——wassuccessfulwithitlongago？

Verysincerelyyours，A。LANG。

ToW。J。Way，Esq。

Topeka，Kansas。

PREFACE

TheseLetterswereoriginallypublishedintheIndependentofNewYork。Theideaofwritingthemoccurredtotheauthorafterhehadproduced"LetterstoDeadAuthors。"ThatkindofEpistlewasopentotheobjectionthatnobodywouldwritesofranklytoacorrespondentabouthisownwork，andyetitseemedthattheformofLettersmightbeattemptedagain。TheLettreseEmiliesurlaMythologieareawell—knownmodel，butEmiliewasnotanimaginarycorrespondent。Thepersonsaddressedhere，ontheotherhand，areallpeopleoffancy——thenameofLadyVioletLebasisaninventionofMr。Thackeray’s：giftedHopkinsistheminorpoetinDr。OliverWendellHolmes’s"GuardianAngel。"Theauthor’sobjecthasbeentodiscussafewliterarytopicswithmorefreedomandpersonalbiasthanmightbepermittedinagraverkindofessay。TheLetteronSamuelRichardsonisbyaladymorefrequentlytheauthor’scriticthanhiscollaborator。

INTRODUCTORY：OFMODERNENGLISHPOETRY

ToMr。ArthurWincott，Topeka，Kansas。

DearWincott，——Youwritetome，fromyour"brighthomeinthesettingsun，"withtheflatteringinformationthatyouhavereadmypoor"LetterstoDeadAuthors。"YouarekindenoughtosaythatyouwishIwouldwritesome"LetterstoLivingAuthors；"butthat，I

fear，isoutofthequestion，——forme。

AthoughtfulcriticintheSpectatorhasalreadyremarkedthatthegreatmenofthepastwouldnotcareformyshadowyepistles——iftheycouldreadthem。Possiblynot；but，likePrior，"Imaywritetilltheycanspell"——anexerciseofwhichghostsareprobablyasincapableaswasMatt’slittleMistressofQuality。ButLivingAuthorsareverydifferentpeople，anditwouldbeperilous，aswellasimpertinent，todirectone’scommentsonthemliterally，intheFrenchphrase，"totheiraddress。"Yetthereisnoreasonwhyacriticshouldnotadopttheepistolaryform。

OuroldEnglishessays，thepapersintheTatlerandSpectator，wereoriginallynothingbutletters。Thevehiclepermitsatouchofpersonaltaste，perhapsofpersonalprejudice。SoIshallwritemy"LettersonLiterature，"ofthepresentandofthepast，English，American，ancient，ormodern，toyou，inyourdistantKansas，ortosuchothercorrespondentsasarekindenoughtoreadthesenotes。

Poetryhasalwaystheprecedenceinthesediscussions。PoorPoetry!

Sheisanancientmaidenofgoodfamily，andisledoutfirstatbanquets，thoughmanywouldprefertositnextsomelivelierandyoungerMuse，theladyoffiction，oreventhechatteringsoubretteofjournalism。Seniorespriores：Poetry，ifnolongerverypopular，isadameoftheworthiestlineage，andcanboastalongtrainofgallantadmirers，deadandgone。Shehasbeenmuchincourts。TheoldGreektyrantslovedher；greatRhamsesseatedherathisrighthand；everyprincehadhissingers。Nowwedwellinanageofdemocracy，andPoetrywinsbutafeignedrespect，moreoutofcourtesy，andforoldfriendship’ssake，thanforliking。Thoughsomanywriteverse，asinJuvenal’stime，Idoubtifmanyreadit。

"Nonebutminstrelslistofsonneting。"Thepurchasingpublic，forpoetry，mustnowconsistchieflyofpoets，andtheyareusuallypoor。

Cananythingspeakmoreclearlyofthedecadenceoftheartthanthebirthofsomanypoetical"societies"？WehavetheBrowningSociety，theShelleySociety，theShakespeareSociety，theWordsworthSociety——latelydead。Theyalldemonstratethatpeoplehavenotthecouragetostudyverseinsolitude，andfortheirproperpleasure；menandwomenneedconfederatesinthisadventure。

Thereissafetyinnumbers，and，bydintoftea—parties，recitations，discussions，quarrelsandthelike，Dr。FurnivallandhisfriendskeepblowingthefaintembersonthealtarofApollo。

Theycannotraiseaflame!

InEnglandweareintheoddpositionofhavingseveralundeniablepoets，andverylittlenewpoetryworthyofthename。Thechiefsingershaveoutlived，ifnottheirgenius，atalleventsitsfloweringtime。Harditistoestimatepoetry，soaptweare，byourverynature，toprefer"thenewestsongs，"asOdysseussaysmendidevenduringthewarofTroy。Or，followinganotherancientexample，wesay，liketherichniggardswhoneglectedTheocritus，"Homerisenoughforall。"

Letusattempttogetridofeverybias，and，thinkingasdispassionatelyaswecan，westillseemtoreadthenameofTennysoninthegoldenbookofEnglishpoetry。Icannotthinkthathewilleverfalltoalowerplace，orbeamongthosewhomonlycuriousstudentsporeover，likeGower，Drayton，Donne，andtherest。LoversofpoetrywillalwaysreadhimastheywillreadWordsworth，Keats，Milton，Coleridge，andChaucer。Lookhisdefectsintheface，throwthemintothebalance，andhowtheydisappearbeforehismerits!Heisthelastandyoungestofthemightyrace，born，asitwere，outofduetime，late，andintoafeeblergeneration。

Letitbeadmittedthatthegoldisnotwithoutalloy，thathehasatouchofvoluntaryaffectation，ofobscurity，evenanoccasionalperversity，amannerism，asetoffavouriteepithets（"windy"and"happy"）。ThereisamomentaryechoofDonne，ofCrashaw，nay，inhisearliestpieces，evenatouchofLeighHunt。Youdetectitinpieceslike"Lilian"and"Eleanore，"andtheothersofthatkindandofthatdate。

Letitbeadmittedthat"InMemoriam"hascertainlapsesinallthatmeedofmelodioustears；thattherearetrivialitieswhichmightdeserve（hereisanexample）"tolineabox，"ortocurlsomemaiden’slocks，thatthereareweaknessesofthought，thatthepoetnowspeaksofhimselfasalinnet，singing"becauseitmust，"nowdarestoapproachquestionsinsoluble，andagaindeclinestheirsolution。Whatisallthisbutthechangefulmoodofgrief？Thesinginglinnet，likethebirdintheoldEnglishheathenapologue，dashesitslightwingspainfullyagainstthewallsofthechamberintowhichithasflownoutoftheblindnightthatshallagainreceiveit。

Idonotcaretodwellontheimperfectionsinthatimmortalstrainofsympathyandconsolation，thatenchantedbookofconsecratedregrets。Itisaneasierifnotmoregratefultasktonoteacertainpeevishegotismoftoneintheheroesof"LocksleyHall，"of"Maud，"of"LadyClaraVeredeVere。""Youcan’tthinkhowpoorafigureyoumakewhenyoutellthatstory，sir，"saidDr。Johnsontosomeunluckygentlemanwhose"figure"mustcertainlyhavebeenmorerespectablethanthatwhichiscutbythesewhiningandpeevishloversofMaudandCousinAmy。

Letitbeadmitted，too，thatKingArthur，ofthe"Idylls，"islikeanAlbertinblankverse，anAlbertcursedwithaGuinevereforawife，andaLancelotforfriend。The"Idylls，"withalltheirbeauties，arefullofaVictorianrespectability，andloveoftalkingwithVivienaboutwhatisnotsorespectable。Onewishes，attimes，thatthe"Morted’Arthur"hadremainedalonelyandflawlessfragment，asnobleasHomer，aspolishedasSophocles。Butthenwemusthavemissed，withmanyotheradmirablethings，the"LastBattleintheWest。"

PeoplewhocomeafteruswillbemoreimpressedthanwearebytheLaureate’sversatility。Hehastouchedsomanystrings，from"WillWaterproof’sMonologue，"sofarabovePraed，totheagonyof"Rizpah，"theinvincibleenergyof"Ulysses，"thelanguorandthefairymusicofthe"LotusEaters，"thegraceasofaGreekepigramwhichinspiresthelinestoCatullusandtoVirgil。HeiswithMiltonforlearning，withKeatsformagicandvision，withVirgilforgracefulrecastingofancientgoldenlines，and，eveninthelatestvolumeofhislonglife，"wemaytellfromthestraw，"asHomersays，"whatthegrainhasbeen。"

TherearemanywhomakeitakindofreligiontoregardMr。BrowningasthegreatestoflivingEnglishpoets。Forhim，too，oneisthankfulasforaveritablegreatpoet；butcanwebelievethatimpartialposteritywillratehimwiththeLaureate，orthatsolargeaproportionofhisworkwillendure？Thecharmofanenigmanowattractsstudentswhofeelproudofbeingabletounderstandwhatothersfindobscure。Butthisattractionmustinevitablybecomeastumbling—block。

WhyMr。Browningisobscureisalongquestion；probablytheansweristhatheoftencouldnothelphimself。Hisdarkestpoemsmaybemadeoutbyapersonofaverageintelligencewhowillreadthemashardas，forexample，hewouldfinditnecessarytoreadthe"Logic"

ofHegel。Thereisastoryoftwoclevergirlswhosetouttoperuse"Sordello，"andcorrespondedwitheachotherabouttheirprogress。"Somebodyisdeadin’Sordello，’"oneofthemwrotetoherfriend。"Idon’tquiteknowwhoitis，butitmustmakethingsalittleclearerinthelongrun。"Alas!acopioususeoftheguillotinewouldscarcelyclearthestageof"Sordello。"Itishardlytobehopedthat"Sordello，"or"RedCottonNightCapCountry，"or"Fifine，"willcontinuetobestruggledwithbyposterity。Butthemassof"MenandWomen，"thatunexampledgalleryofportraitsoftheinmostheartsandsecretmindsofpriests，prigs，princes，girls，lovers，poets，painters，mustsurviveimmortally，whilecivilizationandliteraturelast，whilemencaretoknowwhatisinmen。

Noperversityofhumour，novoluntaryorinvoluntaryharshnessofstyle，candestroythemeritofthesepoems，whichhavenothingliketheminthelettersofthepast，andmustremainwithoutsuccessfulimitatorsinthefuture。Theywilllastallthebetterforacertainmanlinessofreligiousfaith——somethingsturdyandassured——

notmovedbywindsofdoctrine，notpalteringwithdoubts，whichiscertainlyoneofMr。Browning’sattractionsinthisfickleandshiftinggeneration。Hecannotbeforgottenwhile，ashesays—

"Asunsettouch，AchorusendingofEuripides，"

remindmenthattheyarecreaturesofimmortality，andmove"athousandhopesandfears。"

Ifoneweretowriteoutofmerepersonalpreference，andpraisemostthatwhichbestfitsone’sprivatemoods，IsupposeIshouldplaceMr。MatthewArnoldattheheadofcontemporaryEnglishpoets。

Reasonandreflection，discussionandcriticaljudgment，tellonethatheisnotquitethere。

Mr。ArnoldhadnotthemanymelodiesoftheLaureate，norhisversatilemastery，norhismagic，norhiscopiousness。HehadnotthemicroscopicglanceofMr。Browning，norhisrudegraspoffacts，whichtearsthelifeoutofthemastheAztecpriestpluckedtheveryheartfromthevictim。Weknowthat，butyetMr。Arnold’spoetryhasourlove；hislinesmurmurinourmemorythroughallthestressandaccidentsoflife。"TheScholarGipsy，""Obermann，"

"Switzerland，"themelancholymajestyofthecloseof"SohrabandRustum，"thetendernessofthoseelegiacsontwokindredgravesbeneaththeHimalayasandbytheMidlandSea；thesurgeandthunderof"DoverBeach，"withits"melancholy，long—withdrawingroar；"

thesecanonlyceasetowhispertousandconsoleusinthatlatesthourwhenlifeherselfceasesto"moanroundwithmanyvoices。"

MyfriendstellmethatMr。Arnoldistoodoubting，andtoodidactic，thatheproteststoomuch，andconsiderstoocuriously，thathisbestpoemsare，atmost，"achainofhighlyvaluablethoughts。"Itmaybeso；buthecarriesusbackto"wet，bird—

hauntedEnglishlawns；"likehim"weknowwhatwhiteandpurplefritillariesthegrassyharvestoftheriveryields，"withhimwetrytopractiseresignation，andtogiveourselvesovertothatspirit"Whosepurposeisnotmissed，Whilelifeendures，whilethingssubsist。"

Mr。Arnold’spoetryistome，inbrief，whatWordsworth’swastohisgeneration。HehasnotthatinspiredgreatnessofWordsworth，whennaturedoesforhimwhathis"lutin"didforCorneille，"takesthepenfromhishandandwritesforhim。"Buthehasnoneofthecreepingprosewhich，tomypoormind，invadeseven"TinternAbbey。"

Heis，asMr。Swinburnesays，"thesurest—footed"ofourpoets。Hecangiveanaturalandlovelylifeeventothewildestofancientimaginings，asto"thesebrightandancientsnakes，thatoncewereCadmusandHarmonia。"

Baconspeaksofthelegendsoftheearlierandruderworldcomingtous"breathedsoftlythroughtheflutesoftheGrecians。"ButeventheGrecianflute，asinthelayofthestrifeofApolloandMarsyas，comesmoretunablyintheechoofMr。Arnold’ssong，thatbeautifulsongin"EmpedoclesonEtna，"whichhastheperfectionofsculptureandthecharmofthepurestcolour。Itisfullofthesilverlightofdawnamongthehills，ofthemusicoftheloch’sdark，slowwavesamongthereeds，ofthescentoftheheather，andthewettressesofthebirch。

Surely，then，wehavehadgreatpoetslivingamongus，butthefountainsoftheirsongaresilent，orflowbutrarelyoveracloggedandstonychannel。Andwhoistheretosucceedthetwowhoaregone，orwhoshallbeourpoet，iftheMasterbesilent？Thatisamelancholyquestion，whichIshalltrytoanswer（withdoubtanddreadenough）inmynextletter。{1}

OFMODERNENGLISHPOETRY

MydearWincott，——IhearthatabookhaslatelybeenpublishedbyanAmericanlady，inwhichallthemodernpoetsarerepresented。Thesingershavebeeninducedtomaketheirownselections，andputforward，asMr。Browningsays，theirbestfoot，anapaestortrochee，orwhateveritmaybe。Myinformationgoesfurther，anddeclaresthattherearebuteighteenpoetsofEnglandtosixtyinspiredAmericans。

ThisWesterncollectionofmodernminstrelsyshowshowverydangerousitistowriteevenontheEnglishpoetryoftheday。

Eighteenislongoddsagainstasinglecritic，andMajorBellenden，in"OldMortality，"tellsusthatthreetooneareoddsaslongaseveranywarriormetvictoriously，andthatwarriorwasoldCorporalRaddlebanes。

Ideclinethetask；IamnotgoingtotrytoestimateeithertheeighteenofEnglandorthesixtyoftheStates。Itisenoughtospeakaboutthreelivingpoets，inadditiontothosemasterstreatedofinmylastletter。Twoofthethreeyouwillhaveguessedat——

Mr。SwinburneandMr。WilliamMorris。Thethird，Idaresay，youdonotknowevenbyname。IthinkheisnotoneoftheEnglisheighteen——Mr。RobertBridges。Hismusehasfollowedtheepicureanmaxim，andchosentheshadowypath，fallentissemitavitae，wherethedewlieslongestonthegrass，andtheredrowanberriesdroopinautumnabovetheyellowSt。John’swort。Butyouwillfindherallthefresherforhercountryways。

MyknowledgeofMr。WilliamMorris’spoetrybeginsinyearssofarawaythattheyseemlikereminiscencesofanotherexistence。I

remembersittingbeneathCardinalBeaton’sruinedcastleatSt。

Andrews，lookingacrossthebaytothesunset，whilesomeonerepeated"TwoRedRosesacrosstheMoon。"AndIrememberthinkingthatthepoemwasnonsense。WithMr。Morris’sotherearlyverses，"TheDefenceofGuinevere，"thissongofthemoonandtheroseswaspublishedin1858。Probablythelittlebookwonnoattention；itisnotpopularevennow。Yetthelyricsremaininmemorieswhichforgetallbutageneralimpressionofthevast"EarthlyParadise，"

thathugedecorativepoem，inwhichslimmaidensandgreen—cladmen，andwaterswan，andfloweringappletrees，andrichpalacesareallmingledasonsomelongancienttapestry，shakenalittlebythewindofdeath。Theyarenotlivingandbreathingpeople，thesepersonsofthefables；theyarebutshadows，beautifulandfaint，andtheirpoemisfitreadingforsleepysummerafternoons。Butthecharactersinthelyricsin"TheDefenceofGuinevere"arepeopleoffleshandblood，undertheirchainarmourandtheirvelvet，andthetrappingsoftheirtabards。

ThereisnobookintheworldquitelikethisofMr。Morris’soldOxforddayswhenthespiritoftheMiddleAgesenteredintohim，withallitscontradictionsoffaithanddoubt，anditsearnestdesiretoenjoythislifetothefullinwarandlove，ortomakecertainofafutureinwhichwarisnot，andallloveispureheavenly。Ifoneweretochoosefavouritesfrom"TheDefenceofGuinevere，"theywouldbetheballadsof"ShamefulDeath，"andof"TheSailingoftheSword，"and"TheWind，"whichhasthewind’swailinitsvoice，andallthemadregretof"Porphyria’sLover"initsburden。

Theuseof"colour—words，"inallthesepieces，isverycuriousandhappy。Theredruby，thebrownfalcon，thewhitemaids，"thescarletroofsofthegoodtown，"in"TheSailingoftheSword，"makethepoemavividpicture。Thenlookatthemad，remorsefulsea—

rover，theslayerofhislady，in"TheWind"：

"Formychairisheavyandcarved，andwithsweepinggreenbehindItishung，andthedragonsthereongrinoutinthegustsofthewind；

Onitsfoldsanorangelieswithadeepgashcutintherind；

IfImovemychairitwillscream，andtheorangewillrolloutfar，Andthefaintyellowjuiceoozeoutlikebloodfromawizard’sjar，Andthedogswillhowlforthosewhowentlastmonththewar。"

"TheBlueCloset，"whichissaidtohavebeenwrittenforsomedrawingsofMr。Rossetti，isalsoamasterpieceinthisromanticmanner。OurbriefEnglishageofromanticism，our1830，was1856—

60，whenMr。Morris，Mr。BurneJones，andMr。Swinburnewereundergraduates。Perhapsitwantsapeculiarturnoftastetoadmirethesestrangethings，though"TheHaystackintheFloods，"withitstragedy，mustsurelyappealtoallwhoreadpoetry。

Fortherest，astimegoeson，ImoreandmorefeelasifMr。

Morris’slonglaterpoems，"TheEarthlyParadise"especially，werelessartthan"artmanufacture。"Thismaybeanungratefulanderroneoussentiment。"TheEarthlyParadise，"andstillmorecertainly"Jason，"arefullofsuchpleasureasonlypoetrycangive。Assomeonesaidofacontemporarypolitician，theyare"good，butcopious。"EvenfromnarrativepoetryMr。Morrishaslongabstained。He，too，illustratesMr。MatthewArnold’sparableof"TheProgressofPoetry。"

"TheMountismute，thechanneldry。"

Euripideshasbeencalled"themeteoricpoet，"andthesametitleseemsveryappropriatetoMr。Swinburne。Probablyfewreadershadheardhisname——Ionlyknewitasthatoftheauthorofastrangemediaevaltaleinprose——whenhepublished"AtalantainCalydon"in1865。Iremembertakingupthequartoinwhitecloth，attheOxfordUnion，andbeinginstantlyledcaptivebythebeautyandoriginalityoftheverse。

Therewasthisnovel"meteoric"characterinthepoem：thewriterseemedtorejoiceinsnowandfire，andstars，andstorm，"thebluecoldfieldsandfoldsofair，"inalltheprimitiveforceswhichwerealivebeforethisearthwas；thenakedvastpowersthatcircletheplanetsandfarthestconstellations。Thisquality，andhisvariedandsonorousverse，andhispessimism，putintothemouthofaGreekchorus，werethethingsthatstruckonemostinMr。

Swinburne。Hewas，aboveall，"amighty—mouthedinventerofharmonies，"andonelookedeagerlyforhisnextpoems。Theycamewithdisappointmentandtrouble。

Thefamous"PoemsandBallads"havebecomesowellknownthatpeoplecanhardlyunderstandthenoisetheymade。Idon’twonderatthescandal，evennow。Idon’tseethefunofseveralofthepieces，exceptthemischievousfunofshockingyouraudience。However，"TheLeper"andhiscompanyarechieflyboyish，intheleastfavourablesenseoftheword。Theydonotdestroytheimperishablemeritofthe"HymntoProserpine"andthe"GardenofProserpine"andthe"TriumphofTime"and"Itylus。"

Manyyearshavepassedsince1866，andyetone’soldopinion，thatEnglishpoetrycontainsnoverbalmusicmoreoriginal，sonorous，andsweetthanMr。Swinburnewroteinthesepieceswhenstillveryyoung，remainsanopinionunshaken。Twentyyearsago，then，hehadenabledtheworldtotakehismeasure；hehadgivenproofsofatruepoet；hewaslearnedtooinliteratureasfewpoetshavebeensinceMilton，and，likeMilton，skilledtomakeverseinthelanguagesoftheancientworldandinmoderntongues。HisFrenchsongsandGreekelegiacsareofgreatexcellence；probablynoscholarwhowasnotalsoapoetcouldmatchhisGreeklinesonLandor。

What，then，islackingtomakeMr。Swinburneapoetofarankevenhigherthanthatwhichheoccupies？Whocantell？Thereisnosciencethatcanmasterthischemistryofthebrain。Heistoocopious。"Bothwell"islongenoughforsixplays，and"TristramofLyonesse"isprolixbeyondevenmediaevalnarrative。Heistoopertinacious；childrenarethejoyoftheworldandVictorHugoisagreatpoet；butMr。SwinburnealmostmakesusexcuseHerodandNapoleonIII。byhisendlessodestoHugo，androndelstosmallboysandgirls。Nequidnimis，thatisthegoldenrulewhichheconstantlyspurns，beingtooluxuriant，tooemphatic，andasfondofrepeatinghimselfasProfessorFreeman。Sucharethedefectsofsonobleagenius；thusperverseNaturehasdecidedthatitshallbe，Naturewhichmakesnorubywithoutaflaw。

ThenameofMr。RobertBridgesisprobablystrangetomanyloversofpoetrywhowouldlikenothingbetterthantomakeacquaintancewithhisverse。Buthisverseisnotsoeasilyfound。Thispoetneverwritesinmagazines；hisbookshavenotappealedtothepublicbyanysortofadvertisement，onlytwoorthreeofthemhavecomeforthintheregularway。Thefirstwas"Poems，byRobertBridges，BatchelorofArtsintheUniversityofOxford。Parvasegessatisest。London：Pickering，1873。"

Thisvolumewaspresently，Ifancy，withdrawn，andtheauthorhasdistributedsomeportionsofitinsucceedingpamphlets，orinbooksprintedatMr。Daniel’sprivatepressinOxford。Inthese，asinallMr。Bridges’spoems，thereisacertainaustereandindifferentbeautyofdictionandamemoryoftheoldEnglishpoets，Miltonandtheearlierlyrists。Irememberbeinggreatlypleasedwiththe"ElegyonaLadywhomGrieffortheDeathofHerBetrothedKilled。"

"Letthepriestsgobefore，arrayedinwhite，Andletthedark—stoledminstrelsfollowslowNexttheythatbearher，honouredonthisnight，Andthenthemaidensinadoublerow，Eachsingingsoftandlow，Andeachonhighatorchupstaying：

Untoherloverleadherforthwithlight，Withmusicandwithsinging，andwithpraying。"

Thisisastatelystanza。

InhisfirstvolumeMr。Bridgesofferedafewrondeauxandtriolets，turninghisbackonallthesethingsassoonastheybecamepopular。

InspiteoftheirpopularityIhavetheaudacitytolikethemstill，intheirhumbletwitteringway。Muchmoreinhistrueveinwerethelines，"ClearandGentleStream，"andalltheotherversesinwhich，likeatrueEtonian，hecelebratesthebeautifulThames：

"ThereisahillbesidethesilverThames，Shadywithbirchandbeechandodorouspine，AndbrilliantunderfootwiththousandgemsSteeplythethicketstohisfloodsdecline。

StraighttreesineveryplaceTheirthicktopsinterlace，AndpendentbranchestrailtheirfoliagefineUponhiswateryface。

***

AreedyislandguardsthesacredbowerAndhidesitfromthemeadow，whereinpeaceThelazycowswrenchmanyascentedflower，Robbingthegoldenmarketofthebees。

AndladenbranchesfloatBybanksofmyosote；

Andscentedflagandgoldenfleur—de—lysDelaytheloiteringboat。"

IcannotsayhowoftenIhavereadthatpoem，andhowdelightfullyitcarriesthebreathofourRiverthroughtheLondonsmoke。Norlesswelcomearethetwopoemsonspring，the"InvitationtotheCountry，"andthe"Reply。"Inthese，besidestheirverbalbeautyandtheircharmingpictures，isamanlyphilosophyofLife，whichanimatesMr。Bridges’smoreimportantpieces——his"PrometheustheFirebringer，"andhis"Nero，"atragedyremarkablefortherepresentationofNerohimself，theluxurioushumantiger。From"Prometheus"Imakeashortextract，toshowthequalityofMr。

Bridges’sblankverse：

"Noristhereanyspiritonearthastir，Nor’neaththeairyvault，noryetbeyondInanydwellerinfar—reachingspaceNoblerordearerthanthespiritofman：

Thatspiritwhichlivesineachandwillnotdie，Thatwooethbeauty，andforallgoodthingsUrgethavoice，orstillinpassionsigheth，Andwhereheloveth，draweththeheartwithhim。"

Mr。Bridges’slatestbookishis"ErosandPsyche"（Bell&Sons，whopublishthe"Prometheus"）。Itistheoldstoryverycloselyfollowed，andbeautifullyretold，withahundredmemoriesofancientpoets：Homer，Dante，Theocritus，aswellasofApuleius。

IhavenamedMr。BridgesherebecausehispoemsareprobablyallbutunknowntoreaderswellacquaintedwithmanyotherEnglishwritersoflatedays。Onthem，especiallyonactualcontemporariesorjuniorsinage，itwouldbealmostimpertinentformetospeaktoyou；but，evenatthatrisk，ItakethechanceofdirectingyoutothepoetryofMr。Bridges。Iowesomuchpleasuretoitsdelicateair，that，ifspeechbeimpertinence，silencewereingratitude。{2}

FIELDING

ToMrs。Goodhart，intheUpperMississippiValley。

DearMadam，——ManythanksfortheNewYorknewspaperyouhavekindlysentme，withthestatisticsofbook—buyingintheUpperMississippiValley。Thoseareinterestingparticularswhichtellonesomuchaboutthetasteofacommunity。

SotheRev。E。P。Roeisyourfavouritenovelistthere；athousandofhisbooksaresoldforeverytwocopiesoftheworksofHenryFielding？ThisappearstometospeakbutoddlyfortasteintheUpperMississippiValley。OnMr。Roe’sworksIhavenocriticismtopass，forIhavenotreadthemcarefully。

ButIdothinkyourneighboursloseagreatdealbyneglectingHenryFielding。Youwilltellmeheiscoarse（whichIcannotdeny）；youwillremindmeofwhatDr。Johnsonsaid，rebukingMrs。HannahMore。

"IneversawJohnsonreallyangrywithmebutonce，"writesthatsaintedmaidenlady。"Ialludedtosomewittypassagein’TomJones。’"Hereplied："Iamshockedtohearyouquotefromsoviciousabook。Iamsorrytohearyouhavereadit；aconfessionwhichnomodestladyshouldevermake。"

Youremindmeofthis，andthatJohnsonwasnoprude，andthathisagewastolerant。YouaddthattheliterarytasteoftheUpperMississippiValleyismuchmorepurethanthewatersofhermajesticriver，andthatyouonlywishyouknewwhothetwoculpritswerethatboughtbooksofFielding’s。

Ah，madam，howshallIansweryou？RememberthatifyouhaveJohnsononyourside，onmineIhaveMrs。Moreherself，acharacterpurerthan"theconsecratedsnowthatliesonDian’slap。"Again，wecannotbelieveJohnsonwasfairtoFielding，whohadmadehisfriend，theauthorof"Pamela，"veryuncomfortablebyhisjests。

Johnsonownedthathereadall"Amelia"atonesitting。Couldsoworthyamanhavebeensoabsorbedbyanunworthybook？

Oncemore，IamnotrecommendingFieldingtoboysandgirls。"TomJones"wasoneoftheworksthatLydiaLanguishhidunderthesofa；

evenMissLanguishdidnotcaretobecaughtwiththathumorousfoundling。"Fieldingwasthelastofourwriterswhodrewaman，"

Mr。Thackeraysaid，"andhecertainlydidnotstudyfromadrapedmodel。"

Forthesereasons，andbecausehislanguageisoftenunpolished，andbecausehismorality（thatheisalwayspreaching）isnotfor"thosethateddyroundandround，"IdonotdesiretoseeFieldingpopularamongMissAlcott’sreaders。Butnomanwhocaresforbookscanneglecthim，andmanywomenarequitemanlyenough，havegoodsenseandgoodtasteenough，tobenefitby"Amelia，"bymuchof"TomJones。"Idon’tsayby"JosephAndrews。"NomaneverrespectedyoursexmorethanHenryFielding。Whatsayshisreformedrake，Mr。

Wilson，in"JosephAndrews"？

"TosaytheTruth，IdonotperceivethatInferiorityofUnderstandingwhichtheLevityofRakes，theDulnessofMenofBusiness，andtheAusterityoftheLearnedwouldpersuadeusofinWomen。AsformyWife，IdeclareIhavefoundnoneofmyownSexcapableofmakingjusterObservationsonLife，orofdeliveringthemmoreagreeably，nordoIbelieveanyonepossessedofafaithfullerorbraverFriend。"

Hehasnoothervoicewhereintospeakofahappymarriage。Canyoufindamongourgenteelwritersofthisage，afiguremorebeautiful，tender，devoted，andinallgoodwayswomanlythanSophiaWestern’s？

"Yes，"youwillsay；"butthemanmusthavebeenabrutewhocouldgivehertoTomJones，to’thatfellowwhosoldhimself，’asColonelNewcomesaid。""Thereyouhavemeatanavail，"inthelanguageoftheoldromancers。TherewetouchthecentreofFielding’smorality，asubjectilltodiscuss，amoralitynotforeverydaypreaching。

Fieldingdistinctlytakeshimselfforamoralist。HepreachesascontinuallyasThackeray。Andhismoralisthis："Letamanbekind，generous，charitable，tolerant，brave，honest——andwemaypardonhimvicesofyoungblood，andthestainsofadventurousliving。"Fieldinghasnomercyonaseducer。LovelacewouldhavefaredworsewithhimthanwithRichardson，who，Iverilybelieve，admiredthatinfernal（excuseme）cowardandvillain。ThecaseofyoungNightingale，in"TomJones，"willshowyouwhatFieldingthoughtofsuchgallants。Why，TomhimselfpreachestoNightingale。

"MissNancy’sInterestalone，andnotyours，oughttobeyoursoleConsideration，"criedThomas，……"andtheverybestandtruestHonour，whichisGoodness，requiresitofyou，"thatis，requiresthatNightingaleshallmarryMissNancy。

HowTomJonescombinedthesesentiments，whichwereperfectlyhonest，withhisownastonishinglackofretenue，andwithLadyBellaston，isjustthepuzzle。Wecannotverywellargueaboutit。

IonlyaskyoutoletJonesinhisrightmindpartlyexcuseJonesinanumberofverydelicatesituations。IfyouaskmewhetherSophiahadnot，afterhermarriage，tobeasforgivingasAmelia，IfearI

mustadmitthatprobablyitwasso。ButDr。Johnsonhimselfthoughtlittleofthat。

IamafraidouronlywayofdealingwithFielding’smoralityistotakethebestofitandleavetheremainderalone。HereIfindthatIhaveunconsciouslyagreedwiththatwell—knownphilosopher，Mr。

JamesBoswell，theyounger，ofAuchinleck：

"ThemoraltendencyofFielding’swritings……iseverfavourabletohonourandhonesty，andcherishesthebenevolentandgenerousaffections。HewhoisasgoodasFieldingwouldmakehimisanamiablememberofsociety，andmaybeledonbymoreregulatedinstructionstoahigherstateofethicalperfection。"

LetusbeasgoodandsimpleasAdams，withouthisvanityandhisoddity，asbraveandgenerousasJones，withoutJones’sfaults，andwhataworldofmenandwomenitwillbecome!Fieldingdidnotpaintthatunbornworld，hesketchedtheworldheknewverywell。

Hefoundthatrespectablepeoplewereoftenperfectlyblindtothedutiesofcharityineverysenseoftheword。HefoundthattheonlymaninawholecompanywhopitiedJosephAndrews，whenstrippedandbeatenbyrobberswasapostilionwithdefectsinhismoralcharacter。Inshort，heknewthatrespectabilityoftenpractisednonebutthestrictlyself—regardingvirtues，andthatpovertyandrecklessnessdidnotalwaysextinguishanativegoodnessofheart。

Perhapsthisdiscoverymadehimlenientlydisposedto"charactersandsituationssowretchedlylowanddirty，thatI，"saytheauthorof"Pamela，""couldnotbeinterestedforanyoneofthem。"

HowamusingRichardsonalwayswasaboutFielding!Howjealousy，spite，andtheconfusionofmindthatbefogsaprigwhenheisnottakenseriously，dodarkentheeyesoftheauthorof"thosedeplorablytediouslamentations，’Clarissa’and’SirCharlesGrandison，’"asHoraceWalpolecallsthem!

FieldingaskshisMusetogivehim"humourandgoodhumour。"Whatnovelistwaseversorichinboth？Whoeverlaughedatmankindwithsomuchaffectionformankindinhisheart？Thisloveshinesineverybookofhis。Thepoorhaveallhisgood—will，andinhimanuntiredadvocateandfriend。WhatalifethepoorledintheEnglandof1742!Thereneverbeforewassuchtyrannywithoutaservileinsurrection。Irememberadreadfulpassagein"JosephAndrews，"whereLadyBoobyistryingtohaveFanny，Joseph’ssweetheart，lockedupinprison：—

"ItwoulddoaMangood，"saysheraccomplice，Scout，"toseehisWorship，ourJustice，commitaFellowtoBridewell；hetakessomuchpleasureinit。Andwhenonceweha’’umthere，weseldomhearanymoreo’’um。He’seitherstarvedoreatupbyVermininaMonth’sTime。"

ThisEngland，withitsdominantSquires，whobehavedmuchlikerobberbaronsontheRhine，wasthemerryEnglandFieldingtriedtoturnfromsomeofitsways。Iseriouslydobelievethat，withallitsfaults，itwasabetterplace，withabetterbreedofmen，thanourEnglandofto—day。ButFieldingsatirizedintolerableinjustice。

HewouldbeaReformer，adidacticwriter。Ifwearetohavenothingbut"ArtforArt’ssake，"thatburlybodyofHarryFielding’smustevengotothewall。ThefirstBeauDidapperofacriticthatpassescanshovehimaside。HepreacheslikeThackeray；

hewrites"withapurpose"likeDickens——obsoleteoldauthors。Hiscauseisjudged，andintoBridewellhegoes，ifl’Artpourl’Artisalltheliterarylawandtheprophets。

ButFieldingcannotbekeptinprisonlong。HisnobleEnglish，hissonorousvoicemustbeheard。Thereissomewhatinexpressiblyheartening，tome，inthestyleofFielding。Oneseemstobecarriedalong，likeaswimmerinastrong，clearstream，trustingone’sselftoeverywhirlandeddy，withafeelingofsafety，ofcomfort，ofdelightfuleaseinthemotionoftheelasticwater。Heisascholar，naymore，asAdamshadhisinnocentvanity，Fieldinghashisinnocentpedantry。HelikestoquoteGreek（fancyquotingGreekinanovelofto—day!）andtomaketheroguesofprinterssetitupcorrectly。HelikestoairhisideasonHomer，tobringinapieceofAristotle——nothackneyed——toshowyouthatifheiswritingabout"charactersandsituationssowretchedlylowanddirty，"heisyetastudentandacritic。

Mr。SamuelRichardson，amanoflittlereading，accordingtoJohnson，was，Idoubt，sadlyputtoittounderstandBooth’sconversationswiththeauthorwhoremarkedthat"PerhapsMr。PopefollowedtheFrenchTranslations。Iobserve，indeed，hetalksmuchintheNotesofMadameDacierandMonsieurEustathius。"WhatknewSamuelofEustathius？InotonlycanforgiveFieldinghispedantry；

Ilikeit!Ilikeamanofletterstobeascholar，andhislittlepardonabledisplayandostentationofhisGreekonlybringshimnearertous，whohavenoneofhisgenius，anddonotapproachhimbutinhisfaults。Theymakehimmorehuman；oneloveshimforthemashelovesSquireWestern，withallhisfailings。Delightful，immortalSquire!

Itwasnothe，itwasanotherTorySquirethatcalledout"HurrayforoldEngland!TwentythousandhonestFrenchmenarelandedinSussex。"ButitwasWesternthattalkedof"OneActon，thattheStoryBooksayswasturnedintoaHare，andhisownDogskill’d’un，andeat’un。"Andhaveyouforgottenthepopulardiscussion（duringtheForty—five）oftheaffairsoftheNation，which，asSquireWesternsaid，"allofusunderstand"？SaidthePuppet—Man，"Idon’tcarewhatReligioncomes，providedthePresbyteriansarenotuppermost，fortheyareenemiestoPuppet—Shows。"ButthePuppet—

Manhadnovotein1745。Now，toourcomfort，hecananddoesexercisethegloriousprivilegeofthefranchise。

ThereisnoroominthisepistleforFielding’sgloriousgalleryofcharacters——forLadyBellaston，whoremainsaladyinherdebaucheries，andisthereforesounlikeourmodernrepresentativeofherclass，LadyBetty，inMissBroughton’s"DoctorCupid；"forSquare，andThwackum，andTrulliber，andthejealousspiteofLadyBooby，andHonour，thatundyinglady’smaid，andPartridge，andCaptainBlifilandAmelia，thefairandkindandgood!

ItislikethewholeworldofthatoldEngland——themaidsoftheInn，theparishclerk，thetwosportsmen，thehostsofthetaverns，thebeaux，thestarvelingauthors——allalive；all（savetheauthors）

fullofbeefandbeer；acudgelineveryfist，everymanreadyforabrotherlyboutatfisticuffs。Whathasbecomeofit，thelustyoldmilitantworld？Whatwillbecomeofus，andwhydoweprefertoFielding——anumberofmeritoriousmoderns？Whoknows？ButdonotletuspreferanythingtoourEnglishfollowerofCervantes，ourwise，merry，learnedSancho，trudgingonEnglishroads，likeDonQuixoteonthepathsofSpain。

ButIcannotconvertyou。Youwillturntosomestoryaboutstore—

clerksandsummervisitors。Suchishisfatewhoargueswiththefair。

LONGFELLOW

ToWalterMainwaring，Esq。，LothianCollege，Oxford。

MydearMainwaring，——Youareverygoodtoaskmetocomeupandlistentoadiscussion，bytheCollegeBrowningSociety，oftheminorcharactersin"Sordello；"butIthinkitwouldsuitmebetter，ifyoudidn’tmind，tocomeupwhentheMayracesareon。Iamnotdeeplyconcernedabouttheminorcharactersin"Sordello，"andhavelongreconciledmyselftotheconvictionthatImustpassthroughthispilgrimagewithouthearingSordello’sstorytoldinanintelligiblemanner。Yourletter，however，setmea—voyagingaboutmybookshelves，takingupavolumeofpoetryhereandthere。

Whataninterestingtractmightbewrittenbyanyonewhocouldremember，andhonestlydescribe，theimpressionsthatthesamebookshavemadeonhimatdifferentages!ThereisLongfellow，forexample。Ihavenotreadmuchinhimfortwentyyears。Itakehimupto—day，andwhatafloodofmemorieshismusicbringswithit!

Tomeitislikeasadautumnwindblowingoverthewoods，blowingovertheemptyfields，bringingthescentsofOctober，thesongofabelatedbird，andhereandtherearedleaffromthetree。Thereisthatautumnalsenseofthingsfairandfarbehind，inhispoetry，or，ifitisnotthere，hispoetrystirsitinourforsakenlodgesofthepast。Yes，itcomestooneoutofone’sboyhood；itbreathesofaworldveryvaguelyrealized——aworldofimitativesentimentsandforebodingsofhourstocome。PerhapsLongfellowfirstwokemetothatlatersenseofwhatpoetrymeans，whichcomeswithearlymanhood。

Before，onehadbeencontent，Iamstillcontent，withScottinhisbattlepieces；withtheballadsoftheBorder。Longfellowhadatouchofreflectionyoudonotfind，ofcourse，inbattlepoems，inaboy’sfavourites，suchas"OfNelsonandtheNorth，"or"YeMarinersofEngland。"

Hismoralreflectionsmayseemobviousnow，andtrite；theywereneitherwhenonewasfifteen。Toreadthe"VoicesoftheNight，"inparticular——thoseearlypieces——istobebackatschoolagain，onaSunday，readingallaloneonasummer’sday，highinsometree，withawideprospectofgardensandfields。

ThereisthatmysteriousnoteinthetoneandmeasurewhichonefirstfoundinLongfellow，whichhassincereachedourearsmorerichlyandfullyinKeats，inColeridge，inTennyson。Take，forexample，"Thewelcome，thethriceprayedfor，themostfair，Thebest—belovedNight!"

IsnotthatversionofEuripidesexquisite——doesitnotseemexquisitestill，thoughthisisnotthequalityyouexpectchieflyfromLongfellow，thoughyouratherlooktohimforhonesthumanmatterthanforanindefinablebeautyofmanner？

Ibelieveitisthemanner，afterall，ofthe"PsalmofLife"thathasmadeitsostrangelypopular。Peopletellus，excellentpeople，thatitis"asgoodasasermon，"thattheyvalueitforthisreason，thatitslessonhasstrengthenedtheheartsofmeninourdifficultlife。Theysayso，andtheythinkso：butthepoemisnotnearlyasgoodasasermon；itisnotevencoherent。Butitreallyhasanoriginalcadenceofitsown，withitsdoublerhymes；

andthepleasureofthiscadencehascombined，withabeliefthattheyarebeingedified，tomakereadersoutofnumberconsiderthe"PsalmsofLife"amasterpiece。You——mylearnedprosodistandstudentofBrowningandShelley——willagreewithmethatitisnotamasterpiece。ButIdoubtifyouhaveenoughoftheexperiencebroughtbyyearstotoleratetheoppositeopinion，asyourelderscan。

HowmanyotherpoemsofLongfellow’stherearethatremindusofyouth，andofthosekind，vanishedfaceswhichwerearounduswhenweread"TheReaperandtheFlowers"!Ireadagain，and，asthepoetsays，"ThentheformsofthedepartedEnterattheopendoor，Thebeloved，thetrue—heartedCometovisitmeoncemore。"

Comparethatsimplestrain，youloverofTheophileGautier，withTheo’sown"ChateaudeSouvenir"in"EmauxetCamees，"andconfessthetruth，whichpoetbringsthebreakintothereader’svoice？Itisnotthedainty，accomplishedFrenchman，thejewellerinwords；itisthesimplerspeakerofourEnglishtonguewhostirsyouasaballadmovesyou。IfindonecomesbacktoLongfellow，andtoone’soldselfoftheoldyears。Idon’tknowapoem"oftheaffections，"

asSirBarnesNewcomewouldhavecalledit，thatIlikebetterthanThackeray’s"Cane—bottomedChair。"Well，"TheFireofDriftwood"

andthisotherofLongfellow’swithitsabsolutelackofpretence，itsartfulavoidanceofart，isnotlesstenderandtrue。

"AndshesitsandgazesatmeWiththosedeepandtendereyes，Likethestars，sostillandsaintlike，Lookingdownwardfromtheskies。"

Itisfromtheskiesthattheylookdown，thoseeyeswhichoncereadthe"VoicesoftheNight"fromthesamebookwithus，howlongago!

Solongagothatonewashalf—frightenedbythelegendofthe"BeleagueredCity。"IknowtheballadbroughtthescenetomesovividlythatIexpected，anyfrostynight，toseehow"ThewhitepavilionsroseandfellOnthealarmedair；"

anditwasdownthevalleyofEttrick，beneaththedark"ThreeBrethren’sCairn，"thatIhalf—hopedtowatchwhen"thetroubledarmyfled"——fledwithbatteredbannersofmistdriftingthroughthepines，downtotheTweedandthesea。The"SkeletoninArmour"

comesoutoncemoreasterrificasever，andthe"WreckoftheHesperus"touchesoneintheold，simplewayaftersomany，manydaysofverse—readingandevenverse—writing。

Inbrief，Longfellow’squalitiesaresomixedwithwhatthereaderbrings，withsomanykindliestassociationsofmemory，thatonecannoteasilycriticizehimincoldblood。EveninspiteofthisfriendlinessandaffectionwhichLongfellowwins，Icansee，ofcourse，thathedoesmoralizetoomuch。Thefirstpartofhislyricsisalwaysthebest；thepartwhereheisdealingdirectlywithhissubject。Thencomesthe"practicalapplication"aspreacherssay，andIfeelnowthatitissometimesuncalledfor，disenchanting，andevenmanufactured。

Lookathis"Endymion。"Itistheearlierversesthatwinyou：

"AndsilverwhitetherivergleamsAsifDianainherdreamsHaddropthersilverbowUponthemeadowslow。"

ThatisasgoodasRonsard，andverylikehiminmannerandmatter。

Butthemoralandconsolatoryapplicationistoolong——toomuchdwelton：

"LikeDian’skiss，unasked，unsought，Lovegivesitself，butisnotbought。"

Excellent；buttherearefourweak，moralizingstanzasattheclose，andnotonlydoesthepoet"moralizehissong，"butthemoralisfeeble，andfantastic，anduntrue。Thereare，thoughhedeniesit，myriadsofpersonsnowofwhomitcannotbesaidthat"Someheart，thoughunknown，Respondsuntohisown。"

Ifitweretrue，thereflectioncouldonlyconsoleaschool—girl。

Apoemlike"MyLostYouth"isneededtoremindoneofwhattheauthorreallywas，"simple，sensuous，passionate。"Whatalovelyversethisis，aversesomehowinspiredbythebreathofLongfellow’sfavouriteFinnish"Kalevala，""averseofaLaplandsong，"likeawindoverpinesandsaltcoasts：

"Iremembertheblackwharvesandtheslips，Andthesea—tide，tossingfree，AndSpanishsailorswithbeardedlips，Andthebeautyandthemysteryoftheships，Andthemagicofthesea。"

ThusLongfellow，thoughnotaverygreatmagicianandmasteroflanguage——notaKeatsbyanymeans——hasoften，bysheerforceofplainsincerity，struckexactlytherightnote，andmatchedhisthoughtwithmusicthathauntsusandwillnotbeforgotten：

"Yeopentheeasternwindows，Thatlooktowardsthesun，Wherethoughtsaresingingswallows，Andthebrooksofmorningrun。"

ThereisapictureofSandroBotticelli’s，theVirginseatedwiththeChildbyahedgeofroses，inafaintblueair，asofdawninParadise。ThispoemofLongfellow’s，"TheChildren’sHour，"seems，likeBotticelli’spainting，toopenadoorintotheparadiseofchildren，wheretheirangelsdoeverbeholdthatwhichishiddenfrommen——whatnomanhathseenatanytime。

LongfellowisexactlytheantithesisofPoe，who，withallhisscienceofverseandghostlyskill，hasnohumanity，orputsnoneofitintohislines。OneisthepoetofLife，andeverydaylife；theotheristhepoetofDeath，andofbizarreshapesofdeath，fromwhichHeavendeliverus!

NeitherofthemshowsanysignofbeingparticularlyAmerican，thoughLongfellow，in"Evangeline"and"Hiawatha，"andthe"NewEnglandTragedies，"soughthistopicsinthehistoryandtraditionsoftheNewWorld。

Tome"Hiawatha"seemsbyfarthebestofhislongerefforts；itisquitefullofsympathywithmenandwomen，nature，beasts，birds，weather，andwindandsnow。Everythingliveswithahumanbreath，aseverythingshouldliveinapoemconcernedwiththesewildfolk，towhomalltheworld，andallinit，ispersonalasthemselves。Ofcoursetherearelapsesofstyleinsolongapiece。ItjarsonusinthelayofthemysticChibiabos，theboyPersephoneoftheIndianEleusinia，tobetoldthat"thegentleChibiabosSangintonesofdeepemotion!"

"Tonesofdeepemotion"maypassinanovel，butnotinthisepicofthewildwoodandthewildkindreds，anepicinallwaysaworthyrecordofthosedim，mournfulraceswhichhaveleftnostoryoftheirown，onlyhereandtherearuinedwigwambeneaththeforestleaves。

Apoet’slifeisnoaffair，perhaps，ofours。WhodoesnotwishheknewaslittleofBurn’sasofShakespeare’s？OfLongfellow’sthereisnothingtoknowbutgood，andhispoetrytestifiestoit——hispoetry，thevoiceofthekindestandgentlestheartthatpoeteverbore。Ithinktherearenotmanythingsinpoets’livesmoretouchingthanhissilence，inverse，astohisownchiefsorrow。A

strangerintermeddlesnotwithit，andhekeptsecrethisbrieflayonthatinsuperableandincommunicableregret。Muchwouldhavebeenlosthadallpoetsbeenasreticent，yetonelikeshimbetterforitthanifhehadgivenusanew"VitaNuova。"

WhatanimmenselongwayIhavewanderedfrom"Sordello，"mydearMainwaring，butwhenamanturnstohisbooks，histhoughts，likethoseofaboy，"arelong，longthoughts。"IhavenotwrittenonLongfellow’ssonnets，forevenyou，impeccablesonneteer，admitthatyouadmirethemasmuchasIdo。

AFRIENDOFKEATS

ToThomasEgerton，Esq。，LothianCollege，Oxford。

DearEgerton，——Yes，asyousay，Mr。SidneyColvin’snew"LifeofKeats"{3}hasonlyonefault，it’stooshort。Perhaps，also，itisalmosttoostudiouslyfreefromenthusiasm。ButwhenoneconsidershowKeats（likeShelley）hasbeengushedabout，andhoweasyitistogushaboutKeats，onecanonlythankMr。Colvinforhisexampleofreserve。WhatagoodfellowKeatswas!Howreallymanlyand，inthebestsense，moralheseems，whenonecompareshislifeandhisletterswiththevagariesofcontemporarypoetswholivedlongerthanhe，thoughthey，too，diedyoung，andwholeftmorework，thoughnotbetter，neversogood，perhaps，asKeats’sbest。

However，itwasnotofKeatsthatIwishedtowrite，butofhisfriend，JohnHamiltonReynolds。Nosciturasociis——amanisknownbythecompanyhekeeps。Reynolds，Ithink，musthavebeenexcellentcompany，ifwemayjudgehimbyhiswritings。HecomesintoLordHoughton’s"LifeandLettersofKeats"veryearly（vol。i。

p。30）。WefindthepoetwritingtohimintheAprilof1817，fromtheIsleofWight。"Ishallforthwithbeginmy’Endymion，’whichI

hopeIshallhavegotsomewaywithbeforeyoucome，whenwewillreadourversesinadelightfulplaceIhavesetmyheartupon，nearthecastle。"Keatsends"yoursincerefriend，"andamantowhomKeatswasasincerefriendhadsomeoccasionforpride。

AboutReynolds’slifeneithertimenorspacepermitsmetosayverymuch，ifIknewverymuch，whichIdon’t。Hewasthesonofamasterinoneofourlargeschools。HewenttotheBar。HemarriedasisterofThomasHood。Hewrote，likeHood，intheLondonMagazine。WithHoodforally，hepublished"OdesandAddressestoGreatPeople；"thethirdedition，whichIhavehere，isof1826。

Thelaterelationsofthebrothers—in—lawwerelesshappy；possiblytheladiesoftheirfamiliesquarrelled；thatisusuallythewayofthebelligerentsex。

ReynoldsdiedintheenjoymentofajudicialofficeintheIsleofWight，somethirtyyearslaterthanhisfamousfriend，theauthorof"Endymion。""Itistobelamented，"saysLordHoughton，"thatMr。

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