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Evange l ist a m o ng t he he athe n fo r thirty ye ars Supre m e P o n t ifi fo r t we nty W h at is he n o w ? In N o stud e nt o f l it e r atur e c an d o u bt w h at he w as T he t he hi st o r y o f l e arning Crus ade s ar e n o n o ve l ti e s c l o s e o f t he e ighte e nth an d e arl i e r p art o f t he nine te e nth c e nturi e s had a m o n o p o l y o f crus adi ng in p o e try G o e t he an d Schi ll e r in G e rm any ; d e Muss e t Vict o r Hug o w ith t he R o m anticists in Fr anc e ; W o rds wo r t h at t he he ad o f t he L ake Sch o o l in Eng l an d s ang an d f o ught s ang t o figh t E l iz ab e th an p o e ts w age d n o wars t he y we r e dis c o ve re rs with o ut be ing in t he re al m o f f ancy b u cc ane e rs Thes e o the rs as s o m e o f th e m w e r e o n t he Sp anish M ain we re inv ad e rs o f e st abl ish e d king d o ms as we r e t he Is rae l ite s o f C an aan Of all t he c o mb at ant p o e t s W o r ds wo rth had s e t hims e l f t he h ar d e st t a s k an d w o n t he m o st sign a l vi c t o ry His h and w as ag ainst e ve ry m an In t he r u d e b at tl e he d id n o t sh u n t o wo u nd a n atur al all y— a fo re r u nne r l ik e Co wp e r in t he o ns l aught u p o n p o e tic dic t i o n an O bs e rve r o f r ur a l l ife l i k e Th o ms o n A f an atic d o ub tl e ss at o nc e o f w id e vi e w s an d n arr o w ; but it w as he w ho t ho ugh in t he p an o p l y o f a C ap t ain ; fighting fo r t he m o s t p art al o n e t augh t ho w t o re p l ac e p o e tic phr as e s an d c o m m o npl ac e s by p o e tic i d e as cl o the d in pl ain p u re Engl ish wi t h rhy t hm t o m at c hf Ab o ve all i t is t o him AN

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FIVE CE N TURIES OF EN GLISH VERSE

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m ainl y t ha t l ite r atur e o w e s t he s o l e mn in augur ati o n o f t he w o rship o f N atur e Th o ugh u n d o u bte d l y H e t hr e w d o wn an d he bui l t up he r al d e d by Co wp e r he s u bst anti all y o p e n e d t he n e w age which c l o s e s fo r us with T e nnys o n Hi s O f Eng l ish ve rs e f a m o us br e thre n in s o ng m o re o r l e ss unc o nsci o us l y e ve n m o c king B yr o n u n de rwe nt his in flue nc e w hi l e t h e y vaunte d the ir ind e p e nd e nc e T he l ate r p o e tr y o f t he nin e te e nth c e ntury has b e e n as a wh o l e th o u gh with an ad diti o n o f m e l o dy o f hi s h o use an d l in e age H e acc o mp lishe d a gran d wo r k in virtue o f sp l e n did p o e tic gifts e xtrao rdin ary phil o s o phic insight an d o bstin ate in do mit ab l e c o ur age As ne ce ss ary a p ro p e rty fo r him I fe ar w as as fo r m any gre at p o e ts an abs o l ute an d in his c as e inn o ce nt inc ap acity fo r r e c o gnizing t he e xist e nc e o f singe rs be si de s hi ms e l f Is it an inte lli gibl e c o ntradicti o n in t e rms t o s ay th at whi le he w as a d dicte d t o w arm m o r al indi gn ati o n an d a d mir ati o n An abs e nc e o f t he he had a c o l d h e art ? s e ns e o f hum o ur w as a p art o f his e quipm e nt w hi ch w as pe rh aps e ss e nti al If it b l in de d him t o absur d i t i e s in t he e x agg e r at i o n o f his critic al m r in c i p le s i t a l s st l d o e e e h i p ag ainst ign o r ant ridic u l e G all ant l y he flu ng d o wn b e fo re a dve r s ari e s w h o m his inspir ati o n b e wi l d e r e d an d e nr ag e d n o l e ss th an his e cc e ntrici t i e s t he g aunt l e t o f his P e t e r Be ll w e at he r c o c k le ss Ki l ve Chi l d l e ss Ti m o thy Exp o s t u l ati o n an d R e p l y with dive r s m o r e as st r ang e The n w he n t he p o e t c e as e d t o sing un l e ss t o an inne r circ l e w h at wisd o m s t i ll wh at un de rst an ding o f t he s o u l o f things T he pri e st re m ain e d with t he inhe r e nt s ancti t y w hich had j ustifie d his o rigin al inve stit u r e with t he p o e t s m ant l e W e fe e l hi m re ady t o go o n pr o phe sying sh o u l d t he c o m missi o n b e re ne we d ; bl issfull y unc o nsci o us o f t he p rb b ab le N e ve r Lite r ary hist o ry sh o ws fe w m o re p athe tic figure s th an t he .

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WILLI AM W ORDSW ORTH

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w he n visibl e withi n t he di minishe d ci rc le o f his discip l e s a righte o us witne ss an d z e al o t e age r t o d e fe nd t he c aus e o f p o e tic a l t ruth as in yo uth ; with n o f o e s t o m o c k an d pe rs e c u te him n o n e fo r him t o b an an d burn c l a d in s ac e rd o t al r o be s ab o ve his arm o u r ; s e e mi ng t o a c are l e ss un gr ate fu l wo r l d t o b e s acrificing c o ld d e ad victims o n a c o l d d e ad alt ar I c ann o t but re c o gni z e th at t he m ass o f his ve rs e has c e as e d t o p l e as e T hat is t he c o m m o n f ate o f p o e try in b u lk It m u st b e c o nc e d e d th at t he ru l e appl i e s e sp e ci all y h e r e Ordin ary re ad e rs e ve n w ith a t aste fo r p o e try ar e s atisfie d with a f r ac t i o n o f hi s As i t h appe ns t he fe w f avo u rite s ar e ge ne rally t he fr u it o f e arl ie r ye ars B ut c o mp aris o ns o f age m ay we l l b e o f inte r e st fo r stud e nts o f l i t e r atur e ; the y d o n o t affe ct t he que sti o n o f abs o lu te m e rit W he n I am c ho o sing pi e ce s t o m ak e m y o wn an d l o ve I d o n o t c o nsid e r d ate s Si mi l ar l y I d o n o t c o nc e rn mys e lf with W o r ds wo rth s phi l o s o p hy un l e ss so far as it w as t he m o tive fo r a p o e m an d c o l o u rs it As it h app e ne d t he phi l o s o phy w as o f a kind t o be ar a ve ry inti m ate re l ati o n t o t he p o e t r y T he sch e m e o f i t w as t he p r e e xist e nc e Of spirit in an ange l ic st at e an d its n e w bir t h in t o a n e w o rd e r o f N at u r e pr e p ar e d fo r it by t he Divi n e A r chite c t T he f abric with its app o int e d c e n t r e an d l o rd w as d e sign e d t o b e a d mir a b l y f air an d happy I n all its c o ns t it u e nts f ro m m an t o b e ast t o t he flo w e r s o f t he fi e l d m o u nt ain an d v alle y winds an d w at e rs it w as m e ant t o d e ve lo p by t he law o f its be ing int o b e au t y mutu all y gr at e fu l l o vi ng k in d ne ss symp at hy sym m e t r y an d har m o ny As a thin ke r he s e e ms t o h ave f ashi o ne d fo r hi ms e l f s o m e s u c h syste m as t his fo r o u r g l o be Be ing a p o e t b o rn he w as in t he h abit o f sum m o n i ng inspi rati o n t o mini ste r t o t he i de a I c an unde rst an d t he f ascin atio n t o o

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o e e f a o e t e l ct discip l s w tching r l ti n in his v r s h a o f e hi s e e a e e a a p w r s ch r ct rs A distinc t ch pt r o w t e t h o e t he t w o in psych o l o gy might b e de vo t e d t o t he m anne r in w hich t he t he o r y n o w an d ag ain s u bd u e s i m agin ati o n t o its s e rvic e n o w an d ag ain t h o ugh m o re in yo uth th an age whi l e ans we ring t he s u m m o ns sn atche s u p t he Phi l o s o phe r but w he r e t he Po e t w o u ld an d c arri e s him n o t w h e r e he I t is n o t o u r pr o vince h e re t o inqu ir e w he th e r he we re pri m ari l y Po e t b e c ause Phi l o s o ph e r o r Phi l o s o phe r b e c aus e Po e t F o r o u r pu rp o s e i t is e n o ugh t o appr e ci ate hi s d o ctrine th at N a t ur e l o ve s t o c l o the all he r w o rk s w ith b e au t y ; th at she wishe s he r princip al c re atur e m an t o c o mp l e te it ; t o i mit ate he r in l o ve an d s e e it e nj o y i t go o dne ss t o all ; that he o u ght t o l e arn fro m t he — — in he r an d h e rs ho w c l o s e l y e xc e ll e nc e Of Divin e o rigin he is l ink e d t o H e ave n W e n e e d n o t t o di sc o ve r t he P o e t in hi m e nd e avo ur t o pi e ce t o ge the r a c o mp l e te syste m o u t o f his ve r s e Le t us d e l ight o urs e l ve s with its ch ar m whe r e ve r w e fin d i t— n o t qu arr e ll ing w ith t he s we e t n e ss be c aus e t he h o ne yc o mb m ay b e hi dd e n a m o ng t he b o ne s o f a d e a d l i o n o f th o u gh t T o t ake O ffe nc e at W o r d s wo r th b e c aus e t he phil o s o p he r in hi m is it m u st b e ac k no w l e dge d ne ve r ve ry far o ff wo u l d b e t o b anish o urs e l ve s fr o m his kingd o m o f p o e try alt o g e t he r Id e as vast an d l o f t y ar e c o nst ant l y disc e rnibl e wi ll ing t o h o l d al o o f o r appr o ach as t he r e ad e r wi ll Wh e r e an y o f t h e m insist up o n a ss o ci ating t h e ms e l v e s w i t h t he m el o dy we l c o m e th e m ; fo r t he c l aim pr o ve s the m an d t he inspir ati o n t o b e o n e Thro ugho ut a mp l e sp ace s o f g ard e n l and whe r e he r e igns t ho ught e ve n fo r t h o s e w ho d o n o t d e l ve an d mine in it a dds atm o sph e re an d a s e ns e o f mys t e ry W ho c an acc o un t it i ll in a p o e t t hat t o his e ye s N ature is always l o nging t o d e m o nst r at e h e rs e l f t o .

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WILLIAM W ORDS W ORTH

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b o t h d e l igh t fu l an d b e n e fice n t I In a l e gi o n o f inst anc e s he c o u ld n o t h ave d o n e be tt e r p o e tic all y had he be e n s e arching fo r be au t y wi t h as l ittl e he e d t o a l e ss o n fr o m i t as an E l iz abe th an minstre l o f l o ve H e c o ul d h ave p ro duc e d n o m o re sp o nt ane o us app ari t i o ns o f m e tric al s we e tn e ss Lucy is n o t t he l e ss l yric all y l o ve l y th at she impe rs o n ate s N atur e s i de a l w o r k m anship ds th ir s tat shall le nd T he fl o ating c l t h will o w b nd T he fo h N o shall he f ail t E ve n i t h m o tio ns f t he St rm G rac that shall m o ld t h M aid n s f o rm B y sil nt s ym p thy T h s t ars o f midn i g ht s hall b e d ar To h h shall l an he e a a d I m any a s e c r t p l ac e Wh r ri vu le ts d anc th ir w yward r nd A d b a ty b rn o f m m ring s o nd S hall p ass int o he r f ac e D o o m t o an e ar l y de ath has n o t t he l e ss p ath o s in it t h at it m ay e xe mp l ify N ature s s e re ne c o mp o s u re in bringing fo rth flo we r s n o t t he l e ss e xqui sit e that the y wi ll fade S he dw l t am ng t h ntro dd n w ys B id t h springs o f D v A M id wh m th r w r n n t o prais And v ry f w t o l v A vi l t by a m ssy s t n H alf hidd n fr m t h y F ir a a star whe n nly e I s hining i n t h sk y d f w c ld kn w S h li v d n k n o wn W he L cy c a d t b B t h i i h g rav a d h be

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A v ic t hrilli g h rd w bird I s p ring t im f r m t h C c k Br aki g t h sil nc e f t h s as Am ngs t t he farth s t H b rid s Will o o te ll m what h sings P rhaps t h pl aintiv n m b rs w ld happy fa ff t hi g s F And b att l s lo ng ag O i it s o m e m o re h m b l l y F mili ar m att r o f t o d ay 7 S o m n t ral s o rr w l ss o p ain That has b e n d m y b ag in W hate r t h th m t h M id n s ang As if h r s o ng c o ld h v o e nding I aw h singing t h wo rk And t h si c kl b nding I lis t n d m o ti o nl ss a d s till And a I m o nte d u p t h hill T h m si c in m y h ar t I b r L ng afte r it w as h ard o m o r e so

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FIVE CE N TURIES OF E N GLISH VERSE

S kyl ark t e ache s that l o ve m ay b o th aspir e an d st o o p pilgrim f t h sky E th r al min tr l D t tho d pis t h ar th whe r c r s ab nd h ar t a d y O whil t h wing s aspir a B th wi th t hy n t p n t h d wy g r nd T hy n t whi c h t ho c nst dro p int at will Th q iv ring wings c o m p o se d that m si c still h d y wo d L v t o t h ni g hti g le h A priv acy f gl ri s light i thin Whenc e th d s t p o r p n t h w rld a fl o d Of harm ny wi t h in tinct m re di vin e Type f t h wis wh s r b t ne v r r o am Tru e t o t h kindr e d p ints o f H eav e n d H o m l T he Linn e t s e e ms t o pr e ach n o t at all but has his l e ss o n — th at N ature c o m m ands t o b e g l ad o o t hav I m ark d t h happ i t g st O ll t his c v r t f t h b le s t I H il t th far ab v t h re s t I j y f v o i c e a d pi i o n Tho u Lin t 1 i t hy g r n array Pr sidi ng Spiri t h r t o d y D s t l ad t h re v ls o f t he M ay ; And this is t hy d o mini o n While bird a d b tt rfli s a d fl w rs M ke all o b and o f p ar m rs Th ra ging p a d d wn t h b w rs Ar t s o l i t hy m p l ym nt A Lif a Pre s nc lik t h Ai Sc tte rin g t hy gl adn s wi th t c r T o b l e s t wi th a y o t p ir Thyse lf t hy o w nj o ym nt Fit c o mp ani o n is he in his ai r y p u l pi t fo r t he j o yo u s wi l d fl o we rs th at t he p o e t surpr is e d re ve ll ing t o o o n e spring o n t he sh o re s o f Gr asm e re A h t f g ld n d ffo dils B sid t h l ake b th t he t r s Fl tt r i g d d ncing i t h b r z T he

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14

c alm so d e e p riv r glid t h at hi wn swe e t will D ar G o d t he v e ry ho s s s e e m a le p And all t hat mig hty he ar t is ly ing s till Ag ain his is a V o ic e in t he wi lde rne ss w hich n o t affe c t ing t o b e ab l e t o cur e t he di s e as e pr o t e sts ag ainst p e r s o n al c o nt a min ati o n by t he pr e vai l ing r e b e ll i o n Of fle sh ag ainst spirit o f E arth ag ainst He ave n l ate n d s o o n T h w o rld i t o o m u c h wi th u s p o w rs G e tting an d p e nding w e l y w ast e o ee i N at re that i o u rs Litt l e w he arts away a s o rdi d b o n h v e g iv e n o W This S a that b are s he b o s o m t o t he m o o n T h winds t hat will b h wling at all ho rs And a e u p g ath re d n o w like sle e ping fl o we rs F r t his fo e ve ryt hing w e a e o u t o f t u ne — G re at G d I d rathe r b e I t mo ve s s n o t A P ag an s ckl e d i a cre e d o u two rn S O mi g ht I s t a di ng n t hi s p l e as ant le a H av e g lim pse s that w ld m ake m e le ss f o rl o rn H ave si ght o f Pro te u s rising fr o m t he se a O he ar o ld Tri t o n b l o w hi s wre at hed ho rn List e n fin all y t o t he t w o e m u l o u s spiritu al ri val s fo r — o o o f o u c o ntro l W rdsw r t h s s l Th o u ght t he p ro fo un de st Im agin ati o n at its l o ve l i e st— c o al e scing as in t he m ighty Od e int o a l o ng r e s o u nding p e al o f m u sic re a lizing t he Mi l t o nic visi o n o f Phi l o s o phy c e l e s t i all y h ar m o nio us T he R ainb o w c m s a d g o e s And l o ve ly i t h R se T he Mo n d o t h wi t h d e li g ht Lo k r nd he r whe n t h h av e ns ar e b ar W at e rs o a s tarry n i ght A e b e u t if l a d f air T h s n hine is a g l o ri o u s bir th B t y e t I kno w whe re e r I go That the re hath p ast away a g l o ry fro m t he e art h ’

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birth is b t a sl ee p a d a f rge tting u li fe s St ar T he S o u l t hat ri s wi t h u s H ath had e lse wh re it s s e tting And c o me th f ro m af ar N o t in e ntire f o rg e tf uln ss And n o t in u tte r nake dne ss B u t t r ailing c l o u ds o f g l o ry d o w e c o me F ro m G o d who is o r H o me H e ave n li e s ab o u t u s in o r inf ncy S had s o f t he p ris o n ho e b e g in t o c l s Up o n t he g ro wing B o y B u t he b h lds t h li g ht an d whe nc i t fl o ws H s e e s i t i n his j oy ; T he Y o u t h w ho d ail y f ar th r f r o m t he e as t Mu st t rave l s till is N atu re s Prie s t An d by t he v isi o n s p l e ndid I s o n his w ay att e nd d A t le ngth t he M an pe r ce iv s it di aw ay An d f ad e int o t he lig ht o f c o mm o n d ay Our

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16

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W h t m a h m ad f m a he r e c o gniz e s w i t h d e l ight th at n e ve rth e l e ss h m an h r t ll f h v W H e is g r at e f u l t o N at u re an d t o N at u r e s s o u r c e t h at in i mp ro ving e arth s surf ac e into infinit e l o ve l ine ss the y h ave de ve l o pm e nt Of m an al s o T he r e is n o t n e g l e ct e d t he m any a o n e w ho d m e d t o g i c o m p any wi th P ain An d F ar a d Bl dsh d mis r b l e t rain T rns hi ne c ity t g l ri s g ain H e th an k s He ave n fo r Mi l t o n w h o s e s o l wa like a St ar a d dwe lt ap ar t ; fo r Bu rns w ho s ho w d m y y t h H o w V rs m y b ild a p rinc e l y t hr ne O h m b l t r th ; fo r t he p l o u gh b o y s m e rr y w h o o p ; an d fo r t he st at e l y Be gg ar w o m an c r at r — a w d f g l ri B a ti f l t s f at r ! fo r t he pr o o fs O f h u m ani t y s abi l ity t o r is e sup e ri o r t o f o r tune affo rd e d al i ke by t he R o yal S we d e an d by t he l e e ch g athe re r m o t i o n l e ss as a c l o u d o n t he l o ne l y mo o r I c ld hav l a g h d m ys lf t s c rn t o find I t hat d c re p i t M a fi rm a mi nd fo r Spring s b e st o w al o f a t r ain o f fl o we rs mig hty b and S inging at m y he rt s c mm and ; fo r t he spirit b re ath e d fo r mm in t he w o o ds w hich made t h s o nding c at ar act H a nt him like a p a i n ; an d had j u s t ifie d his p r aye r an d ho p e as he m e di t ate s gr ate fully o n t he ch o i r o f Po e ts n

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i t is th at he w o u l d n o t sing with o u t thinking H e pro duc e d pl ays w hich ar e p o e ms al s o id e al tr ans l ati o ns t he Picc o l o mini an d t he D e ath o f W alle nste in an d — b e sid e s pr o digi e s w h ich I am h o lding o ve r in re s e rve — thre e gre at Od e s Th at t o Fr anc e a s o l mn m si c o f t he wind is a pr o u d d e cl ar ati o n o f t he supe ri o rity o f his l o yal f aith in Fr e e d o m t o d is e nch antm e nt by t he gr e e d ine ss o f re ne g ad e s s e duc e d as had b e e n Fr e nchm e n T o m ix wi th King s i t he l w l s t o f sw ay Y ll i t h h nt a d shar t h mu rde ro u s p r y N o dithyr a mb o n t he o ve rwh e l ming g l o ry o f A l pine p e ak s has e ve r surp ass e d in spl e n d o ur o f dicti o n his Hymn It is i m m ate ri al th at he w as ind e bte d fo r t o Mo nt Bl anc an o ut l in e o f t he p o e m t o an o bscur e G e rm an p o e t e ss Th at he had n e ve r s e e n t he m o un t ain o r vall e y g ave a d d iti o n al fr e e d o m t o his e nthusi asm As it is t he c o n ce p t io n m o ve s ap art o n a high l e v e l f r o m w h ich it n e ve r de sce nds S l s vran f t h V l O s tr gg li ng wi th t h d arkn s all t h ni g ht A d vi i t d all nig ht by t r p s f s t r wh the y Sink O w h n th y c lim b t h sk y C m p ani n o f t h m rning star t d w Thys lf E arth s r sy s tar d f t h d wn w k 0 wak a d tt r p rais C h r ld W h s nk t hy s l s p ill rs d p in E ar th W ho fi ll d t hy c nte n nc wi th r s y li g ht W h o m de t he p re nt o f p e rp t l s t r ms 2 fi e wild t rr nt fi rc ly gl d e An d y y ll d y f rth f ro m night d tt r d ath W h Fr m d rk a d i y c ve rns ll d y f rth D o wn th p r ci pi to s bl c k j gg e d R c ks F o e v r hat t e d a d t h s am e fo r v r 2 .

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SAM UEL T AYLOR COLERIDGE

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Wi t h g r ans f tr m pl d m wit h sm rti g w nd A t nc th y g r n wi t h p in d h dd r wi t h t h c ld i p B t h h th f d p t il nc And all th t n i f r shing c r wd Wi th g r ns a d t r m lo s sh dd rings— ll i v r I t t lls n t h r t al wi th s nds l ss d p a d l o d A t l o f l ss affri ght And t mp d wi th d light As Ot way s lf had f r m e d t h te nd r l y T i s o f a li tt l c hild Up n a l n s m wild N o t fa f r m h m b t h hath l o s t h w ay And o w m o ans lo w i bi tt r g ri f d f ar A d w s c r ams l d d ho p s t m ak he r m o th r h ar I re c o gniz e t he t o u ch o f gr e atne ss e ve rywh e re : t he a b o unding fl o o d o f m aj e stic th o u ght an d i m age ry w hi c h e n r aptur e d fri e n d s an d b e w i lde r e d t he m n o l e ss t han f o e s It is p o ssibl e t o d iss e ct pi e c e afte r pi e c e an d d e m o ns t r at e t he gr and e ur B u t t he c o m m o n re a d e r o f t he b e au t y p o e tr y w ho l i ke mys e l f r e ads p o e ms t o find o u t w hi ch o f the m he c an l o ve is n o t dr awn irr e sistibl y b ac k T he s e n o bl e O de s Hymns Mu s ings S o nn e ts e ve n Epigr ams an d j e ux d e sprit ar e n o t in ge ne r al o f t he p o e try wi t h w hich w e c ar e t o l ive An d w hy 2 D e fe cts ar e vi sibl e o n t he s ur f ace o f m any Ofte n it is pre aching inste a d o f singing Ext r ane o us curr e nts o f tho ught ar e pe r mi tte d t o e nc ro ach In d ign atio n in its e lf right e o u s m ay b e in Opp o r t un e It ro ars wi t h a n o isine ss whi ch f atigu e s T he f au l t is as in p e nm ans hi p w he n t he upstr o ke an d d o wnstro ke ar e e qu all y d ar k A s u spici o n is e xcite d as in t he Ch a m o uni Pind aric th at t he e ag le is flapping his wings t o g ain imp e tus fo r t he i ght he ave n wards Im agin ati o n its e lf e f o r e sce s into a c o n f using e x u be r anc e — f ancy u p o n f ancy— r e e c t io n u po n re fle c t i o n T he c o nge ri e s is r at h e r m at e ri al fo r p o e try th an p o e t ry e

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30

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i t s e l f Po e ms by o the r w ri t e rs h ave it is tr u e m aint aine d the ir pl ace in p o p u l ar e stim ati o n in t he f ac e o f dr awb ac k s B u t in C o l e ri d g e I c ann o t b u t s u pp o s e a s c o nsid e r ab l e that the y gre w o u t o f an e ss e n t i al misc o nc e pti o n by him Po e try de m an d s o f t he rights o f ve rs e o ve r t he v e r sifi e r t he c ho ic e st o f a m an s p o we rs ; if g re at p o we rs t he gr e at e st H e sh o u l d hav e a wi ll an d t he wi ll t o an d all o f t he m m ass t he w h o l e an d th ro w it int o t he lap o f hi s t he m e Co l e ridge had n o su ffici e nt since rity in his v o c ati o n n o full c o nvicti o n o f t he sup re m e o b l ig ati o ns o f t he p o e t s m antl e N atu r e had b e sto we d t he gift o f ve rs e up o n him as hi s pr o p e r m o d e o f e xp re ssi o n an d he us e d it as l ight l y a s he c a m e by it App are nt l y he w as n o t c o nsci o us th at t he r e is ago ny as we ll as raptur e in t he d u e utt e rance o f such a vo ice A re ad e r l i ke mys e l f is l i abl e t o t he di s t aste fu l fe e l ing th at he has had o ffe re d t o him a s e ri e s o f e x e rcis e s inst e a d o f insp ir e d m e ss ag e s th at the y re pre s e nt t he o b e di e nc e o f a m arve ll o us a ss e mb l ag e o f h u m an e n e rgi e s t o th e i r l o rd an d m ast e r an d n o t t he e mpir e o f his p o e tic spirit o ve r hims e l f T he su rpris e is t o t u rn a p age an d b e in a n e w w o rld Sudd e n l y with n o au dibl e he r al d t o ann o u nce t he ad ve n t Engl ish l ite r atur e f o un d e nshrin e d in it T he Ri m e o f t he Anci e nt M arine r Chri st ab e l th o ugh de l aye d in p u b l ic at i o n T he T al e o f t he D ark L adi e T he N ighting al e an d — b e l ate d l i ke Christ ab e l— Ku b Ia Kh an E ach diffe rs in fe e l ing t ho u ght t o ne rhy t hm fr o m t he re st an d all agr e e in b e ing gre at s we e t an d s atisfying The Anci e nt Marine r is r e m ar k ab l e fo r m o re th an its intrins ic m e rits ; it is phe no m e n al as b e ing fro m Co l e ridge N e ve r w as the re p oe t o r thi n ke r wi t h a f o n dn e ss l i ke his fo r vague ne ss ragge d e nds N o thing o f t h at is he r e n o t o n e incid e nt n o r o n e e m o ti o n o u t o f s e as o n an d p l ac e an d t he t e mp t a ,

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S AMUEL T AYLOR COLERID G E

31

t io ns t o wan de ring An in finite v ari e ty o f sc e ne ch aracte r i mpul s e s t e r ro r h o rr o r ro m anc e awe r e m o rs e re pe ntance h o pe dis app o intm e nt t he bl issful c al m o f He ave n s p ard o n an d thr o u gh o u t t he w h o l e a c aptiv ating simp l icity I kn o w o f n o p o e m w ith m o re o f t he divine e nd o w m e nt n o ne w hich p o ss e ss e s m o re o f n e ve r gr o wing o u t o f d at e The m e l o d y o f t he o f ch ar m al i ke fo r age an d y o uth d irge sung by s e r aphs in t o ke n o f fo rgive ne ss fo r t he f ate h aunts an d e n o f t he M a rin e r s t w o hun dre d shipm at e s ch ants I t is l i ke b al m o n an aching wo und Twas o t tho se s o ls that e d in p ain W hi c h t o the ir c o r e s c ame ag ain B u t a t ro o p o f s piri t s b l e s t F o r whe n i t d awu d— t he y d r o pp d t he ir arms And c l st e r d ro u nd t he m ast S we e t s o unds ro s sl o wly thro u g h t he ir m o u th And f ro m th ir b o die s p ass d Aro u nd aro und e w e ac h sw e e t s o u nd T h n d arte d t o t he Su S lo wly t he so u nds c am e b ac k ag ain N w m ix d n o w o n e by o e S o me tim e s a dro pping fro m t he sk y I he ard t h Sky l ark sing S o me time s all li ttle birds that a H o w t he y se e m d t o fill t he se a an d ai Wi th the ir swe e t j arg o n ing And n o w twas like all inst ru m nts N o w like a l o ne l y fl u t e An d n o w i t i an ang e l s s o ng That m ake s t he he ave ns b m t I t c e as d y e t s till t he s ails m ad o A ple asant no ise till no o A no ise like o f a hidde n b r o k I n t he l e afy m o nth o f J u ne That t o t he sle e ping wo o ds all n i g ht Sing e th a quie t tune ,

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32

Rim e st o o d al o ne it must h ave i m m o rtal iz e d its w rite r ; b u t t he s a m e ye a r o r t w o which pr o d uc e d it b ro ught t o l ight t he e arl ie r an d m o re i mp o rt ant p o rt io n T hat is a p o e m fo r p o e ts Y e t T he An cie nt o f Chr ist ab e l Marine r w hich might h ave b e e n s u pp o s e d m ade t o c o mp e l p o p u l ar admi rati o n lay p ractic all y sti ll b o rn u nti l t he twin inspir at i o n printe d nine te e n ye ars l ate r c all e d it into ac kn o wl e dge d l ife The t w o r e s e mb l e o n e an o the r in no thing e xc e pt l o ve line ss T he vari e ty w hich di stinguishe s Christ abe l has n o affinity t o th at o f its c o e v al in birth Eve ry d ive rs e curre nt in T he Anci e nt Marine r s e ts t o w ar ds o n e in e vit ab l e e n d In Chr ist ab e l the re is n o n e c e ssity t o wo r k in an y give n di re cti o n N e ve r had a rich an d c ap rici o u s f ancy m o re l ib e rty N e ve r di d app ar e nt tr ust in ch ance be t te r j u stify its ind e pe nd e nc e F ancy rul e s as ir r e sp o n sibl e as t he s waying o f a l e afy b o u gh The re s u l t is h arm o ny n e ve rthe l e ss ; p e rfe cti o n in th o u ght i m age s n e w an d f ascin ating fle xibi l ity o f rhythm It might al m o st b e Supp o s e d t hat t he p o e t w as im p r o vi sing an d as u nc e rt ain a s his audi e nc e o f e a ch n e xt music al e ffe ct t i ll it c a m e It m d n r n ar a b B t what i t i h c n t te ll th r sid i t s e ms t b O th k tr Of t h h g b r d b r s t d ld T h ni g ht i c hi ll t h f r st b r I i t t h wind t hat m th bl k Th r i t wind e no gh i t h i T m v w y t h rin g l t c rl Fr m t h l v ly l ady s c h k Th r i t wind n gh t twirl Th d l af t h l as t f i t c l n e Th t d nce s a ft n d anc it H ngi g li ght d h gi g hi gh O t h t p m s t twi g t hat l o ks p at the sk y H ad t he

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s t i l l w an t ing o f t he p e rfe cti o n o f Christ ab e l i t is t hat t rue criticis m has n e ve r re gre t t e d its inc o mp l e te ne ss W e ll t hat it r e m ains a t o rs o inc o mp ar ab l e I ha v e c l ass e d w ith t he m thre e o t he r p o e ms an d the y all d e s e rve t h e ir e min e nce First m u st st an d t he wo n dro u s Visi o n— l i ke Christ ab e l a fr agm e nt Exe cr ab l e unp ar d o n busine ss p e rs o n fro m Po r l o c k w ho sti fle d t w o ab l e t he hu nd r e d o r m o r e g o l d e n dr e a m l in e s o f Ku b la Kh an A gr e at m aste r o f ficti o n an d a p o e t t o o as w e w alke d up t he hi ll at t he f o o t o f w hich al as ! he n o l o ng e r dwe ll s o nc e t o l d m e th at he r an k e d Ku b la Kh an high e st a m o ng Co l e ridg e s p o e ms It w as a p ar ad o x th o ugh s o far l ite r all y t rue th at t he dre a m e r o f such a d re a m is d e m o nstr ate d t he re by t o h ave had p o e try in his ve ry b l o o d T he m e l o dy bubb l e s d ance s r e ve l s l a m e nts an d thre ate ns

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As wo r t hy s t i ll o nc e m o r e o f a p l ac e in t he hi e rarchy is t he Intr o d ucti o n t o t he B all ad o f T he D ar k o f s o ng L adi e T he b all ad li ke Christ abe l is a fr agm e nt ; b u t t he pr e l ud e o n t he v a ri e ty O f minist e rs th at Lo ve c an e n l is t — e ve n an o ld and m o ving a s o ft an d d o l e fu l air — st o ry is as c o mp l e te in be auty an d c o l o ur as a r o s e ,

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fte r t he c o mpo siti o n o f t he Od e t o De j e c t i o n he wo uld h ave l e ft t he wo r l d o f p o e try as rich as w he n he fin ally de p arte d As a thinke r he s u r v ive d an d re igne d Inspir ati o n c e as e s fo r m o st in fo r t hi rty t w o ye ars m o r e midd le l ife Fe w o nc e inspire d ce as e whi le the y b re athe fro m ve rsifying The y ve rsify be c au s e ve rs e w as wo n t t o b e th e ir highe st m e nt al m e d ium an d instrum e nt Co l e ridge whe n n o l o nge r mind e d t o wri t e Anci e n t Mari ne rs Chr ist abe l s had an alte rn ative H e re m aine d an an d inte lle ctual au t o cr at an d pr o c e e de d t o u t i l ize his o the r gift as a sugge ste r o f pr o b l e ms a s e t t e r o f t e xts If l ite r ature c anno t b e s aid t o h ave be ne fite d by t he so lilo i e a a h a a h e H ghg t l s t i t g a in d n g tiv l y by u s t i a t e a s e e t e e q e sc ap e th ro ugh th at s afe ty v a l ve fo r i m agin ati o n fr o m t he d ange r o f a di l uti o n o f p o e t ic gre atne ss H aving t aste d o f C o l e ri d ge s be st w e sh o u l d all o f us h a ve be e n gri e v o us su ffe re rs had we be e n o bl ige d t o pu t up wi t h aught l o we r Be tte r n o thing if n o m o re o f Christ abe l o r he r pe e rs 1 802 ,

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I W A S br o ugh t u p t o re g ar d S o u t he y as t he pe e r o f Co le ridge W o r ds wo rth B yro n She ll e y an d Ke ats ; n o t ne ce ss ari l y the ir e qu al in d e gr e e b u t who ll y wo rthy t o b e r an ke d a m o ng th e m As a scho o l bo y an d as an u nd e r gr a du at e I re a d hi m with r e spe ct in s o m e s o rt wi t h a d mir ati o n Whe n I be c a m e e ntit l e d t o cho o s e Co lle ge prize s a c o ll e cti o n o f his p o e ms w as in my l ist My c o nte mp o r ari e s wo ul d n o t h ave s e l e cte d him ; t he y did n o t t hin k m e e cc e ntric fo r my pr e fe r e nc e I h ave s u r sc arc e l y pl ace d o n v i v e d t o find him u tte r l y o u t o f d a t e Eve n I mys e l f an u pp e r sh e l f wi t h t he G e o rgi an c l assics had c e ase d t o r e a d hi m sinc e my Unive rsi t y d ays u n l e ss whe n I wishe d t o a mus e my c hi l dr e n wi t h o n e o f his bal l ad s Gho sts o f o ld ass o ci ati o ns s e e m e d t o r u s tle d o wn ab o u t m e l i k e last y e ar s l e ave s fr o m a wind t o ss e d b e e ch tr e e in e ar l y spring as m o re re ce n tl y I t urne d o ve r t he m any p age s t o try t o disc o ve r w hy hi s ve rs e w as cu rre nt o nc e an d n o l o ng e r p ass e s T he tid e o f n e g l e ct e ve n has r e a c he d if n o t t o t he f u ll e xt e n t t he ar e a o f his v e rs e in w hic h he is indi sp u t ab l y a m a ste r F e w Eng l is h p o e t s ar e his e q u al s ve ry fe w hi s s u p e ri o rs in hu m o u r Hum o u r v ari o us an d singu l ar at o nc e N e ve r m e r e fu n b o rn wi t h a l au gh an d e x piring in a y awn Po e try al s o t ho ugh with s e n t im e n t n o t u nbe c o mingly o btr u sive Ab o ve all an infinite c ap acity fo r inve n t ing o cc asi o ns fo r its e l f tho ugh fr o m s u bj e ct m atte r t he m o s t u n l i ke l y T o give i ns t an c e s o u t o f m any as r e m a r k ab l e ,

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pp o r t u ni t y m ay b e supp l i e d by a h e npe c ke d C o rnish m an w h o s e b rid e had u nf air l y t ak e n t o t he church a b o t tl e w hich he race d fr o m t he o f t he d o mini o n e ns u ring w at e r 1 I t m ay a lt a r t o b e firs t t o d r in k a t t he W e ll o f St K e yn e b e t he n a t u r al anxi e ty o f pi o u s c o u n t rym e n t o s e c u re fo r — a t he ir vi ll age by tim e l y p re limin r ie s s u ch as a d e athbe d —t o B e at ific at i o n t he r e lic s o f a S aint d e sign ate w h o m 2 n e ighb o urs mig ht o the rwis e c o ax away in l ife A m o t h e r s f re nzy o f angu is h fo r he r chi l d d e vo u re d by a cr o c o d i l e sugge s t s a sc e n e o f r e ve nge in ki nd as e quit abl e as it is 3 irr e sis t ibl y c o mic A flo we r o f s mi l ing s ati re springs un de r t he p o e t s p e n fr o m t he fie ld o f Bl e nh e i m w at e r e d w i t h t he b l o o d o f m u rd e r e d myri a ds v ry wi c k d t hing W hy t w S id li ttl Wil h lm in N ay m y li tt l g irl q t h h y It w f m vi ct ry The t h e m e m ay b e a P o p e s u n t o l d m o r t a l sin wi t h a S ain t s g all o p o n S at an s o w n unwi ll ing b ac k t o c o nfe ss 5 a n d a bs o l ve o r a r o bb e r s r e l e as e fr o m a n d r e st o r a t i o n t o his l a wf u l gibbe t E ach is m a d e t o yi e l d t he be s t o f dive rsi o n H al f a c e nt u ry ago e ve ryb o dy r e ve ll e d in t he 7 wi t o f T he D e vi l s W a l k Th e r e w e re fe w w ho had n o t b o t h s hu dd e r e d an d l au ghe d o ve r Arc hbis ho p H at to an d 8 his r at s an d t he g all an t fu t i l e figh t wi t h he r r e giste r e d p u rch as e r t he Arc h Fi e nd o f T he O l d W o m an o f Be r ke l e y in he r ir o n s e al e d an d c h aine d c o ffin hymn e d an d h all o we d by fif t y Cho ris t e rs an d fif t y Pri e s t s w i t h fo r s e ntine l s he r s o n a m o n k an d he r d a u gh t e r a n u n I h c m wit h y f fl m T h D vil t f tc h t h d ad A d ll t h C h r c h wi t h hi p r nc g l w d Lik fi ry f r ac d t he

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pe rh aps u ngr ate fu l The m ass o f S o u the y s wo r k di s p l ays qu al iti e s which we r e appr e ci at e d o nc e an d m ay p l e ad In t he fir st p l ac e hi s wo rk m an fo r s o m e r e c o gniti o n sti ll ship is e xce lle nt with e xc e pti o ns n atu r all y ; e spe ci all y such o f t he p u r ve y anc e o f C o u rt l y o r p atri o tic a du l ati o n a s A Visi o n o f Ju dgm e nt o r t he int o l e r a b l y dr e ar y P i l grim age t o W ate r l o o Jo an o f A r c is a sp aci o u s ch apte r wi t h t he rightfu l pr o p o rti o n o bs e rve d with o f hist o ry o f r o m anc e t o f a ct In t he t w o Mad o cs a t r u e instinct in W al e s an d in Azt l an he had t o trust e nti re l y t o his f ancy fo r t he ge ne r al sche m e as we ll as fo r d e t ai l s T he wh ol e is harm o ni o u s l y pr o b ab l e R o de ric k t he L ast o f t he G o ths ag ain is l i ke Jo an an a d mi r ab l e sp e ci m e n o f A l m o st hist o ric al j o in e r y by a r o m anc e r with a c o nsci e nc e have happ e n e d had h app e ne d o r e ve rything a ll e g e d t o might h a v e h app e n e d Th o u gh l ibe rti e s ar e t ake n with e v e nts an d th e i r o r d e r t he p r o p e rti e s ar e inv a ri ab l y c o r r e ct as is t he sce ne ry It is i mp o ssibl e t o l ive in t he s e ve r al n arrative s wi t h t he i r ch ar acte rs an d t he s e ntim e nts a t tribut e d t o t he m w i t h o ut b e ing t he b e tt e r fo r t he s o ci e ty T he n stu d y t he c o u p le o f Asi atic e pics ; an d a d mir e t he int re pi di t y with w hich t he p o e t p lung e s int o a n e w w o r l d Thr o u gho ut t he y ar e pic t ur e squ e an d g o rge o us l y c o l o ur e d R e ally i t is h ard t o u n de rst and t he pre s e n t co l dn e ss t o w ards A r abi an N ights Ent e rt ainm e n t s s u ch a s t he s e T hal ab a hi ms e l f i t m ay b e o bj e cte d l ac k s in t e re st In that he o n l y r e s e mb l e s m any an o the r he r o an d t he vivacity o f his a dve ntur e s at o n e s At all e ve nts t he crim e c ann o t b e i mpute d t o t he s t o ry o f Ke ham a I t w as n o o rdin ary i m agin at i on whic h— th o u gh g u id e d p e r haps by t he R ap e o f Lu er e c e — e x t r acte d s atisf ac t i o n o f i mp l a c ab l e r e ve nge f u l n e ss o u t o f a C ain l i k e br and o f s e curity fo r its abh o rr e d o bj e c t fr o m e ve ry pe ri l t o l ife an d

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c harm t hy li fe Fr o m t he we ap o n s o f s tri fe Fr m s to ne a d f ro m wo d F r o m fi r e a d f ro m fl o o d Fr o m t he se rpe nt s to o th And t he b e ast s o f b l o d F ro m Si c kne ss I c harm the e And Time shall n o t harm the e B u t E arth whi c h is mi ne I t s f ru i t s s hall d e ny the e And Wate r shall he ar me And kno w the e a d fly the e An d t he Winds s hall n o t t o u c h t he e W he n the y p ass by t he e And t h D e ws h ll o t we t t he W he n the y f all n i g h thee An d t ho u s hal t s e e k D e ath T o re le as t he i v ain Th u halt li ve i t hy p ain While Ke hama shall re ign Wi th a fi e in t hy he art An d a fir e i n t hy b rai An d S le e p shall Ob e y m e And vi si t the e ne ve r An d t he C u r se shall b e o n the e F o r e v e r an d e ve r I

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c l im ax t he st o rming H ll its lf by t he M an A l mighty his chi e f an d f at al c o nqu e st O t he r k e ys be sid e s t he h e r o ic ar e t o uche d by S o uthe y an d t he s o r d id l y cri min al as in t he o nc e t he m arve ll o u s 11 — f a m o us Mary t he Maid o f t he Inn a h aun t ing h o rr o r I f ai l t o re c o gniz e t he m agic al r e s e rve t he pe nsive ch arm o f Co ll ins s Ev e ning in T he First o f D e c e mbe r Wh n N t r shr ds he rs l f e ntranc e d d p tr nq illity I H ann ah s gr ave h o w e ve r whe r e n o n e ns le t rf w ld thi k W h tr d p n t h w rld f wo s l y b ri d t h r Of w hat vi e s with T he Paris h R e giste r an d T he B o r o u gh in t he p o we r t o e l ici t an a crid fr agr anc e fr o m t he grim e o f sin an d i t s s o rr o w Wi t h a sw e e t simpl icity he w e l c o m e s t he 1 4 He re turn o f tr av e ll e rs t o t he ir ho m e an d chi ld re n pre c e d e d T e nnys o n in t he disc o ve ry o f t he d o m e stic i d yll 15 a s The O l d Mansi o n H o u s e t e st ifi e s If o n l y his be st s u gge ste d e x a mpl e s had be e n gi v e n t o t he w o r l d he migh t h ave w o n c e l e bri t y fo r Inscrip t i o ns— fre e all fr o m t he be s e t ting sin o f p ro misc u o us a d ul at i o n— l i ke t h at i m agine d fo r a m o n u m e n t t o r u t h l e ss Piz arr o A gre t r n m T h li t f G l ry b o a t t Thank t h G d th t th ar t t s c h a h W h m d th Whe n in t he Par a dis e o f hi s b o o k s it wi ll n o t b e dis p u t e d th a t at l e as t t he s ha d o w o f inspir ati o n fa ll s u p o n hi m M y d ys m ng t h D d p t Ar nd m I b h ld W h r r th c al y ca t T h mig hty mind f ld M y n v r f ili g f ri nd th y Wit h wh m I c v r d y by d y

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cc o unt f u lly fo r t he ne g l e c t in i t s e xc e ss The re ar e re as o ns o n t he surf ac e T o be gin I m u st a d mi t a w an t Ag ain t he b u lk o f q u al ity a c e rt ain c o a rs e n e ss o f f a bric is a disc o u r age m e nt as is t he e xte nt o f a str ange l ake t o H e m ay b e s u re th at it c o nt ains fish witho u t a n ang l e r b e ing ab l e t o te ll whe re the y lie Simi lar l y the s e vast o n l y t o b e c hanc e d by a r e ade r e pics hid e v al u ab l e id e as T he inte re st o u t o f an o ve r wh e l ming fl o o d o f t r u is ms in o the rs is al i e n an d re m o te Fro m t he fir st it re qu i re d much o f it t o b e b o l ste r e d up by Ori e nt al l e arning in t he s e ti m e s o f de e p e r r e s e arch m u s t y an d rus t y B u t in t he f ac e o f wo r k s s o m e e ar l i e r an d m o re l ate r which h ave c o nque re d pub l ic f avo ur n o twithst and ing an al o go us d raw b ac k s e ve ry w hit as pr e j u dici al t he p o e t m ight we ll argu e th at such att e mp t s at an e xp l an ati o n ar e in su i c ie n t I d o n o t flatte r myse l f th at he wo u l d b e at all be tte r inc line d t o acc e pt min e — th at t he c au s e is his f ai l ur e thr o u gh o ut t o fo rge fro m t he fu rn ac e within hims e l f a ch ain o f symp at hy wi t h his r e ad e r s Th at h o we ve r I be l ie ve t o b e t he tru e one H e s e l d o m s e e ms t o c o nne ct t he ir an d hi s c o m m o n hu m an n atur e N o te ho w r are l y if e ve r his ve rs e m ake s t e ars t o st art t o t he e ye l ids T he chill fr o m this abs e nce o f mutu al g l o w is p o sitive p al p ab l e an d f at al N e ve r wi ll t he e m o ti o ns o f a p o e t s re ade rs ch ar m he n e ve r s o wis e l y t ake fir e u n l e ss fro m t he kin dl ing o f fue l in t he singe r s o wn b re ast S o uth e y s Mus e w as de vo i d o f t he p assi o n o f symp athy an d his re n o wn su fi e r s in c o ns e qu e nc e H e p o ss e ss e d m any o f t he e nd o w m e nts by whi ch ad mi re rs ar e att r a cte d H e w as w ith o ut th at w hich h o l ds the m b o un d It c o ul d n o t we ll h ave be e n o t he r wis e with a write r who re s o rte d t o p o e try as a r e c r e ati o n fo r re st fr o m t he t o i l s o f his l ite r ary t re ad mi ll H e und e rsto o d t he ar t o f it an d c o u l d c all o n it w h e n he ch o s e t o d o a

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his bid ding I t was his h and m aid w he n i t s ho u l d h ave b e e n his mistr e ss A t h o us and piti e s ! H e miss e d t he d e are s t o bj e ct o f his a mbiti o n ; an d w e h ave l o st w h at might have be e n fr o m t h at rich ly f u r ni she d n atur e s o m e inspire d s t r ains As i t w as he co u l d n o t b e a gre at p o e t an d he w as a gr e at m an o f l e tt e rs b u t he had a l o fty s o u l .

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Wild as t he s c r am f t he c rle w Fr m c rag t o c r g t h sign l w I s tant thr gh c pse a d he ath ar se B o nn e ts a d s p e ars a d b e nde d b ws be l o w n l ft ab v O rig ht Spr ng p at nc t he lu rking fo ; Fr m shingle s g r y th ir l anc s s tart T h b rac k n b sh s e nds f r th t h d ar t d t he will o w w nd T h r sh s Ar b ris t ling into ax a d b r nd And v ry tu ft f b ro m g iv s li f s trif T p l aid e d warrio r arm d f Th t whis tl g r r iso d t he gle n At nce wi th f l l fi h ndr d me W atching th ir l ad r s b c k a d will d s till Al l il nt t he r th y s t d H e w as an e qu ally g l ad int e rpre t e r o f t he pibr o ch o f D o n al d Dhu an d o f t he pr o scribe d an d hunte d Macgre g o rs o wl s ho o t O sign l f fig ht t hat f r m m o nar ch w dr w T b e he ard b t by nig ht i o ve nge f l b alo In his c as e di re ct an d l o ng p e rs o n al symp athy n o t m e re l y with t he s u bj e ct in ge ne r al b u t with its p artic u l ar e x e m lifi c at i o n s w as virtu all y in di sp e n s ab l e A r t f o r m h i p did n o t supp l y its p l ac e in t he l e ast With o u t it he is di ffus e an d du ll T he sp e ct ac l e o r e xp e ct ati o n o f an e xch ange o f h ar d b l o w s had an a ptit u d e fo r e xciting his inspir ati o n ; b u t he had t o b e p e r s o n all y inte re ste d b e f o re e ve n a pitche d b attl e m a d e a p o e m Eve rything e l s e — st o ry t e lling i t s e lf is an accid e n t in his p o e try e xc e pt t he p e rs o n al e mo ti o n an d th at r e sp o nd e d f o rtun at e l y t o o th e r th e m e s b e si d e s arms T o uch t he ke y in his rich m e m o r y o f an anci e nt l e ge n d an histo ric e dific e an d l o ve l y music p o urs f o rth N o whe re has minste r fr o m t he g l o r y o f its prim e t o e l o que nt d e c ay re ve al e d it se l f t o a n insig ht m o re de l ic at e n

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Thr o ugh o ut Sc o t t s p o e ms bl e mishe s an d d e fe cts ab o und wi th o ut c l o uding his ti tl e t o a p o e t s ho n o urs H e di lu te s Ve ry hi s d e sc ript io ns o ft e n an d is c are l e ss in dict io n s e ldo m did he u se pr u ning ho o k o r file N o p o e t c o u l d Mu ch in t he l o nge r c o mp o siti o ns m ay b e m o re s l ipsh o d b e f ai r st o ry t e ll ing an d is s u r e t o b e a rch ae o l o gic all y ins tru ctive It m ay e ve n re ach t he l e ve l o f a p o pu l ar b all a d Ass u re d l y i t is n o t p o e try T he f aci l i t y p r o o f t he o ct o syll abic m e tr e l u r e d hi m int o v e r b i ally f at a l p ro l ixity Wi de re ading in m any di re cti o ns an d a m e m o ry fo r p ar ticul ar subj e cts pr actic all y b o u ndl e ss c o ntribut e d t o t e mpt hi m t o i mpr o vis e As he fr e e l y a d mitte d he w as with o ut t he f ac u l ty o f s e l f criticism I t is an invalu abl e inc ap aci t y d u ring t he pr o ce ss o f p o e tic al pr o d ucti o n ; a ve ry d ange r o us o n e in t he s u bs e qu e nt p e ri o d o f re fle cti o n A m o ng t he re s u l ts w as th at he acc e p t e d an d r e visi o n unsuspici o us l y w h ate ver s u bj e c t h appe ne d t o pre s e nt its e l f F o r an y an d e spe ci all y fo r a m e tric al st o ry i t is e ss e nti al t h at t he p l o t sho u ld p o ss e ss e n o u gh intrinsic an d g l o wing int e r e st t o stim u l at e r e ad e r an d wr i t e r al i ke With thr e e As m e r e t al e s T he Lay o f t he Las t he w as f o r t u n at e Mins t r e l Mar mi o n an d T he L a dy o f t he L ak e f ascin ate B ann o c k b u rn is n o t in t i m ate l y e n o ugh c o nne cte d with B ruc e s w an de rings a m o ng t he Is l e s t o l e nd a dve nture s a m o ng th e m r e tr o sp e ctive ani m at i o n Ve r y fe w o f5, tf;1e p re s e nt ge n e r ati o n h ave p ati e nc e t o tr ac e t he m az e o f R o ke by In c o ns e que nc e a fin e pie c e o f ch ar acte r d r awing in Be rt ra m with his au d aci o us e sc ap e s an d d e at h has b e e n waste d T he B rid al o f T r ie r m ain a bright g ard e n o f f anci e s w ith its Arthuri an atm o sph e re is n o m o re th an a nam e if th at Me rl in wo u l d h ave t o c o m e t o l ife ag ain t o re vive it ; an d e q u all y e nt o m b e d in spi t e o f th e s w e e p o f gr and fl o w ing ve rs e is H aro l d t he D aunt l e ss ’

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mind The r e is a s o rt an d Sc o tt s is o f i t in w hich t he re ade r has t o d isti l fo r hi ms e l f T he b o rn p o e t has c o lle c t e d se l e cte d t he m ate ri al s ; has hims e l f be e n e nr apture d by t he fe e l ing r at he r t h an e xpr e ssi o n o f t he ir e ss e nc e I t is t he f au lt o f hi s p u b l ic if i t c ann o t b e s o l i ke wis e T he incl in ati o n o f t he pr e s e nt age is t o w ar ds h aving in t r o sp e c t i o n an d inte lle ctu al an al ysis d o n e fo r i t an d by its p o e ts T o p o e try i t l o o k s fo r p ro b l e ms if n o t n e c e ss ari l y fo r t he s o l u t i o ns Sc o tt d o e s n o t d e al in e nigm as In him i t w o u l d h ave b e e n affe ct ati o n an d he is n e ve r affe cte d As he n e ve r p o s e s as a Sphi nx so he pr e t e nds n e ith e r t o b e a chi l d o f n at u r e l i k e B u rns n o r a n atur e w o rshipp e r l i k e W o rds wo rth Y e t his sc e ne s ar e all in t he ir ch ange fu l dive rsity c o nst antl y t r u e an d re al H e d o e s n o t atte mpt t o hid e his d e b t t o l ibr ari e s fo r ve ry m u ch in his n a rr ative s H e m ake s n o p ar a d e o f t he e q u al t r u th t h at he has ch arm e d t he he art o u t o f t he m ; t ha t in his v e rs e it b e ats as it r ar e l y b e a t b e f o r e N o g o l d e n haz e fl o ats o ve r t he p o e ms o f Sc o tt The y app l y n o f o r m o f spir it u al o r s e nsu o us int o xic ati o n On l y whe n t he i m agin ati o n is e l s e w he r e c l o ye d with s we e tne ss o r has w e ari e d o f t yi ng kn o ts in t he br ain whe n it l o ngs fo r d ancing br e e z e s an d fi r e l i ke t he Ho m e ric i t t u rns wi t h re l i e f t o t he Last Minstre l s Lay t o M armi o n t o T he Lady o f t he Lake The y r e e nte r in t o the ir rightfu l in Whe n the y ar e d u ly he rit anc e o f h e a rt hsid e f a v o u r und e rst o o d i t wi ll be s e e n al s o th at t he y c an re c l aim so m th at is pro pe rty in t he e thing o f w o r t h as high ; Sc o tt t he m an is a p o ss e ssi o n t h at an y aut ho r hims e l f pro vince o f l i t e r ature m ay b e pr o ud t o appr o pri ate as prim ari ly its awn N o b o d y c an b e s u rpris e d t hat t he t itl e t o such a p riz e has at tim e s be e n disput e d Th o s e sp le ndid gif t s t he m anl ine ss t he m agn animi t y t he inc ap abi l i t y o f ’

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nvy j e al o usy m e anne ss u n kindne ss t he fre s hn e ss t he ge nius w hich e xtr a c t e d go l d fr o m e ve ry t hing an d t r ans mute d l e ad into g o l d t he l arge pr e s e nc e in l e t t e rs an d in — l ife w hich e nn o bl e d b o t h we r e t he y t he po e t s o r t he s t o ry te lle r s m o re l e gi t im at e att ribu t e s S t u dy t he p o e ms an d y o u wi ll find t he b asis o f a ll t he re N e ve r in w rit e r w as the r e l e ss o f e g o t ism ; y e t n e ve r p o e t w as m o re ass u r e d t h at p o e try w as his v o c at i o n H e c o n t inu e d in t he fu ll pr actice o f t he ar t as l o ng as inspir a t i o n with t he r are st e xce p t i o ns d e ni e d by m any t o b e is wo nt t o d e sc e nd F o r its s ake he had e xc e p t i o ns s acrifice d pr o fe ssi o nal a mbi t i o n he had c u rbe d t he aspi ra t i o ns o f r o m ance an d hid d e n i t t ake s e c o n d p l ac e The re it W ai t e d a m o d e st u nd e rs t u dy u n t i l p o e try vo l u n t arily wi t hdre w whe n it c am e f o rw ard t o p l ay t he ch ar ac te r p r o t anto B u t t he p o e t ic spirit dw e lt ap art i t had no t d i e d I t is fe l t fe e ding gui ding l e nding w arm t h an d grac e t o ficti o n always pr e p are d t o ste p f o rth fr o m its re t ire m e n t n e e d — l i ke Achille s be hi nd t he b o rr o we d shie l d o f at Aj ax sc aring wi t h his b att l e cry t he wo l ve s o f Tro y fr o m t he bo dy o f P atr o c l u s

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b o rn p o e t an d n o t hing b u t a p o e t ; a p o e t wi t h w h o m all he s aw w ho t h o u ght in p o e t r y all o ve r tu rn e d t o p o e try w ho wr o te m u ch ve rs e re ad fo rm e r l y w ho had t he aspir ati o ns an d s t i ll if at all with p l e asur e w ho o f a gr e at p o e t pe rh aps t he be l i e f th at he w as o n e an d a min o r p o e t a n v r r c gniz d m r th n a e a s o e e t w e e o e s y n e ve r with a singl e e xc e pti o n wr o t e o the r th an m in o r p o e t ry N o t that his c o pi o u s p o e tic a l r e pe rt o ry is with o ut abun d ant t e stim o ny t o a ric h an d re ady f ancy H e is at ho m e in Fairyl and T he H au nt e d Gle n in which t he E l ve s ar e t o m e e t t o cr o wn fo r King a m o rt al m an r e fine d int o th e ir n ature by s e ve n ye ars o f pe n ance is f u ll o f de l ic ate im agin ings T he m o n arch e l e ct r e n am e s hi s atte nd ant sprite s a s in its m o d e l A Mids um m e r N ight s Dr e am w he re a a a u e i a a o o r ss r cr t r d sch rg s s m functi n d inty o e e e t h e e S g he r e is t he t e xtur e th at in fe ar o f c o ming up o n c o ars e r thre ads w e h ave a s e ns e o f r e l ie f w he n t he f abric is l e ft inc o mp l e te with a dismiss al o f t he l ittl e be ings t o the i r s e ve r al du t ie s Sti ll m o re music al as vo ic e d in Ettric k di al e ct is t he app e al t o t he f airi e s t o watch o ve r a n e w b o rn b abe Hum o ur e ve ryw he re in Ho gg bubb l e s up fr e e l y th o u gh n o w he r e m o re de l ightfull y th an in t he t r agi c o m e d y o f T he G u de Gr e y e K att N O fe e l ing he art c an he l p c o mp assi o n at ing t he s ad pl igh t o f t he gr e a t B y sc ho p e o f Bl ain w ho fo r t o ying wi t h t he b e au t e o u s w i t c h he had P OE T , a

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invi te d t o unm as k and b an finds hims e l f s ud de nl y in Mi str e ss Pussy s c l aw s t ak ing agh ast hi j nt Up thro t h milk y w y The re is s t o re as we ll o f hum o ur s siste r re al p atho s ; fr o m t he e l e gy o n t he n a m e le ss chi ld w h o se li tt l f e t ac r ss t h l awn Sc arc e f r m t h p rimr p r ss d t h d w ; I tho g ht t h s piri t f t h d wn B f o r m t t h g r nw d w t o P o o r Litt l e Je ssi e s l a m e nt It l a g i I l o s t b i th m y f t h r d m t h r I m sim p l p r a f rl rn t h w ay that I liki t a nly d r b r th r I had My Willi — b t he s lying c a ld i t h c lay Eve n t he o ld h o use d e s e rte d by t he thriving age d f arm e r has its t ribute o f pre tty pi t y T hy ro f will fa t hy r fte rs s t rt c a ld t hy h art h will b H w d am p n ilk h n s t h rt Ah a will Th t r t w b li th a b a ld i the e b rni c l r F a we l m y h s a My b rt r b sh a b wz y tr while I m a n s j urn h r Th w h m e lik t h I ll n v r find A d he c an sing t o o B urns l i ke j us t fo r singing s s a ke n a s o f Pe ggi e t h f air s t fl w r E ttri c k ve r aw T h b r es an d o f b l issful h o ur W he n t he li ttl wee bit h art Ris s high i t h b r a t b i t s t arn An t h li tt l w Ri t d i th be e n

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62

t re a j y ae d ar That t h he art an hardl y fram e i b o nni e l assie W i a bo Whe n t h k y e c o m e s hame Whe n t he k y e c m e s ham e Twe e n t he gle amin g a d t he mirk W he n t he k y e c o me s ham e ’

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p o ssibi l iti e s o f ch arm in all r e al p o e try ar e infin ite Wh e ne ve r w e l o o k c l o s e at ve rs e by a ge nuine p o e t o f high as h e r e a t e mp t at i o n t o e x agg e r at e m e rit o r lo w d e gr e e n atur ally aris e s St anding a l it tl e f ar t he r o ff I se e de fe cts p e rv a ding t he e ntir e b o dy o f H o gg s ve rs e N o t m e r e l y d o th e y affe ct w indy e ffu si o ns l i ke M ary Le e o f Car e lha t he ti re s o m e i mit ati o ns o f c o nt e mp o r ary w rit e r s in T he — n Po e t ic Mirr o r t he e ch o e s o t c o nfe ss e d i mi t ati o ns as is — t he g l ib f al s e s e ntim e nt o f C a ry ns c H h e n l ind e n o E a o of O Ke an an d t he m e di o cri t y o f t he S acre d Me l o di e s the y ar e n o t abs e nt e ve n f ro m t he pi e c e s I h ave s e l e cte d I t is n o t o n l y o r m ain l y t o sh o w t he p o e t at his b e s t a r awn e ss b o th o f m at e ri al an d o f w o r k m anship a d e ar th T he qu al i t y which I chi e fl y o f me ll o wn e ss an d fin i sh miss is p o e tic r aptu r e with t he c o ns e qu e n t g l o w o f sym p athy b e t we e n r e ad e r an d au tho r A p o e m w ith th o s e pro p e rt i e s w i ll l e ave b e hind in t he r e ad e r s s o u l s o m e thing o f its e l f w hic h d r aw s him b a c k t o it w ith r o p e s w h e t he r o f si lk o r o f s t e e l He r e he a d mire s t hin k s ho w c l e ve r it all is ho w b e autif u l s o m e p arts — an d r e t ains n o thing T he flo o d has s we p t o ve r t he s u rf a c e o f t he mind an d is g o ne I f e ar I c an m ake n o l arge e xc e pti o n n o ne in f avo ur e ve n o f T he Gu de Gr e e K att My bj cti n pp l s o e o a o e t i e t h y bulk o f T he Que e n s W ake its e lf o n whi ch , as a w ho l e t he surviv al o f t he Sh e phe rd s r e put ati o n p rincip all y de pe nds T he pre amb l e s t o it s v ario us t al e s ge n e rally ar e e xc e ll e nt T he

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FIVE CE N TURIES OF EN GLISH VERSE

As w e re ad o f he r b e autiful chi l dh o o d he r vanishi ng he r l o ving r e app e ar anc e in th at w hic h w as fe l t t o b e n o l o nge r he r ain c o u n t r y e ho w s he s o j o urne d brie fl y a m o ng he r k insf o lk a waking dre a m an d fin all y di ss o l ve d ag ain int o a c e l e sti al m e m o ry w e ar e s e nsib l e o f n o vi o le nc e ; w e ar e in t he p o e t s h ands an d ar e c o nt e nt t o b e th e re B n i Kilm y g a d p t h g l n B t i t w a na t m t D ei m nly t o he ar t h y rlin sing It w And p t h c r ss w r nd t h s p ring Kilm e y w as p r a p r c l d b F minny l k th w B t l ang m y h And l ang m y h s k i t h g r n w d S h w Lang t h l ird D i b l m And l ng l ang g r t Kilm y c m ham Wh n m ny l ang d y h d c m d d Wh n g i f g r w c lm d h p w d d W h n m s f Ki lm y s l h d b n s ng W h n t h b d sm an had p ay d a d t h d d b ll r ng L t l te i a gl mi wh n all w stil l Wh n t h fring w d t h w t lin hill Th w d w s r th m n i th w n Th r k th t h ng v r t he p l in Lik li ttl w c l d i t h w rld it l ane W h n t h ingl l w d wi iry l m L te l t i t h gl ami Kilme y c am ham Kilm y Ki lm y wh r hav e y b n? L ng h w s g ht baith b lt d d n Kil m y l k d p wi th l v l y g r c B t a s mi l w a n Kilm y f ac As till w a h l k d a till w h As t h stilln e ss th t l y t he m rant le O t h m is t th t sl e e p s w vl s F Kilm y had b ee n h k n d t wh r A d Kilm y had n wh t h c ld t d c l ar Kilm y h d b wh r t h c c k n v r c r w Wh r t h r in n v r f ll a d t h wind ne v r b l w ,

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FIVE CE N TURIES OF E N GLISH VERSE b o nny Kilm n y f re e frae s t ain k t h wo rld ag ain If v r yo That wo rld f i f o rro w a d fe ar 0 t ll f t h j o y s t h t a e w ai ting h re The y lift d Kilm y the y l d h away An d h w alk d i t he li g ht o f a s n l e s s d ay ky w a Th d o m o f c ry t al b ri ght Th f t ain f vi io n a d fo ntain f li ght T he m e rant fi e lds we re o f d azzli g g l o w A d t h fl o we rs o f e v rl a ting b l o w The de e p i t he stre am he r b o dy th y l aid That h r y th a d b a ty ne v r might f ad And h he ard a s o ng h h ard i t s g She k d n o t whe r b t s ae swe e t l y i t r ng I t f ll o t he a lik a dr am o f t he m o rn O b l t b e t he d ay Kilm e y w a b o rn N w shall t h l nd o f t he s p iri ts s e N w s hall i t k e what a w o m an m ay b e Th y b r h away she wi t o t ho w F h f lt o t a m n o r t b e l o w B t s o swi ft t he y wai e d he thro g h t he lig ht Twa like t h m o ti n o f s o nd o ight U m b e r d g ro ve b l o w the m g r w T he y c am th y p d a d b ac kward w Like fl o o d o f b l o m glidi g o A m m t e i a m o me t g o n 0

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te ll o f t he pl ac e whe re sh had be e n An d t h g l o ri e s t hat lay i n t h l an d u n s e n T o w arn t he li vin g m aid e ns f air T he l o v e d o f H e av n t he piri ts c are That all who se min ds n m e le d re m ain S hall blo o m in b e au ty whe n time is g an e To

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A P OE T wi t h gr e atne ss in hi m ; w ho has wri tte n u n fo rge tt ab le things I llustri o us in pr o se as in ve rse b u t As a p o e t a succ e ss an d a f ai l ure a lw ays a p o e t T o b e gi n with a the m e by whi ch he wo u l d hi mse l f h ave cho se n t o b e ju dge d — in his m e te mpsycho sis as a Gre e k p o e t he wo r k s m ir ac l e s Study E n ale o s an d Cy m o d ame ia P an an d Pitys Cupi d an d P an Eur o p a an d he r Mo t he r Chr ys ao r T he A l tar o f Mo de s ty T he o ut l in e s ar e e x qui site l y c le ar ne ve r o u t o f d r awi ng t he grace if s o m e t im e s m arb l e c o l d is fin e l y st atue squ e N o w an d ag ain an d t he w arm l ivi ng m o d e rn b l o o d ass e rt s its e lf in hi m t he figur e s ar e suffus e d wi th p ath o s Eve n the n if n o t Gre e k n e ithe r ar e the y c rud e l y G o thic T he b le nd is be autifully te mpe re d in T he H a m a d ry a d in Pe l e us an d The tis in t he fir st p art o f Co r y t ho s in t he c o que tting with he r p e as ant wo o e r o f t he s we e t wo o d nymph who as an y hum an m ai d kn e w th at t o p l y at l o v Sto ppi g it s b re athin g wh n it b re athe s mo st s o ft I s swe e te r than t o p l ay o a y p i p ; an d in th at m as te r p ie c e I hi e n e i a an d Ag ame mn o n p g t he fin al he ro ic te nd e rn e ss o f t he Vi ctim An ag e d ma n o w t e d a d wi th t O wo rd s te pt sl o wly o a d to o k t he wrist Of t he p al m aid n She lo o k t u p a d saw T he fill e t o f t he p rie s t a d c alm c o ld e y e s Th t d she whe re he p ar t s to o d a d c ri d O f th r g ri v e n o m o r t he shi p s an sail .

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r o m anc e go astr ay mimic k ing o n e an o t he r s v o ice S o m e tim e s o n t he o the r h and as in Co re sus an d Call ir ho e an d in m any o f t he l yrics he is s o pre cipit ate l y bri e f t h a t t he c l im a x is an affr o nt T he n in t he l o nge r p ie ce s b ase d o n histo ry he is a t af t e r an e vi l an d f av o u rite h abi t o f p t he British Le gis l ature t o p ro c e e d by re fe re nc e T hat is he ass u m e s that t he r e al e ve nts ar e kno wn o r wi ll be l o o ke d up N o t l e ss o ffe nsive t o p o pu l ar t aste is t he w an t o f sifting Me re e xe rcis e s l i ke t he tri al o f A e schyl u s t he b an dying o f indiffe re nt c o mp l im e nts be twe e n hi m an d S o ph o c l e s t he s l au ghte r o f Co r y t ho s by his f athe r an d t he r e sc u e o f A l c e stis by He rcu l e s e l b o w sc e ne s o f abs o l ute l o ve l ine ss s u ch as T he H a m adr y ad I p hige n e ia t he fir s t p art o f Co r y t ho s Pe l e u s an d The tis an d Po l yxe n a A si mi l ar w an t o f ass o r t m e n t d o u b tl e ss has he l pe d t o sp o i l e ve n t he g a rd e n o f l yr ics fo r a pub l ic w hic h wi ll n o t b e a t t he p ains t o distinguish b e t we e n fl o we rs an d w e e ds T he s a m e pub l ic d o ci l e w he n it is a qu e s t i o n o f e c o n o my o f br ain wo rr y ha s b e e n s atisfi e d t o t ake it o n tr ust fr o m t he initi at e d th at L an d o r is a p o e t w ho si t s o n t he d ais It d o e s n o t tro u bl e t o sc ru t iniz e his righ t W e re i t t o inqu ir e it wo u l d l e arn t h at he had t he p o e t s gift o f i m p arting t o his ve rs e o ve r an d ab o ve all e l s e a fe e li ng as if o f a spiri t having ho ve r e d n e ar T he attribu te is t o be p riz e d be yo nd all o the rs w he n appre he nd e d fo r it is t he re ad e rs t he n as much as t he wr it e r s an d e ve ry wr ite r re j o ic e s t o s hare t he d e l ight wi t h t he m L and o r it is t o B u t t he p o p ula r b e fe ar e d had l itt l e o f t hat p l e as u r e c o l dne ss which w as his o rdin ary e xpe ri e nce c ann o t h ave d e prive d hi m o f t he r apture o f fe e l ing t he d e sce nt o f i n spir ati o n I re a d a s e ns e at l e as t o f t hi s s u pre m e jo y in his o wn r e vie w o f a c are e r w hich impr e ss e d hi s c o nte m — — e e e e o a e r o e o r ss d w v r n d l ss l y cr ss gr in d a a a a e h r i e s h s p an

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C OUR A G E is r e qu ire d t o pr ais e Mo o re e ve n m o d e r ate l y Admi r at i o n o f hi m is l i ke l y t o b e t ake n as e vid e nce o f an d o f a pr o p e nsity t o t he a pr e fe r e nc e o f s o und t o s e ns e he in o us cri m e o f che ap s e nsibi l i t y N o twiths t an di n g li a b ili t y t o the s e t e rrib l e c harg e s I wil l n o t with o u t a s t ruggl e b e p arte d fr o m o ld f a v o u ri t e s in his l ife s w o r k N o w as fo rm e r l y I find in i t a p o w e r o f affo r di ng t o p articul ar m o o ds N o t m e r e l y ar e t he s atisf a c t i o n t he y h a ve b e e n cr a ving the re sp e ci al p o e ms w hi ch I c o ul d n o t c o nse n t t o ab and o n the re e ve n is a spiri t in t he w h o l e w hi ch ass e rts fo r i t a right t o l o dg e wi t hi n t he r e c o gniz e d p o e t ic d o m a in Mu ch o f Mo o re s pu b lishe d w o r k I wi ll ing ly all o w has l o ng be e n o u t o f d at e T he sm o o t hne ss o f hi s An a cr e o n is n o t He ll e ni c e n o u gh t o c o nte n t m o d e rn sc ho l arship T he viv aci t y o f hi s p o l i t ic a l an d s o ci a l s at ire e v ap o r ate d a s i t hi t i t s m a r k T he Tw o p e nny P o s t b ag T he In te r an d T he F u dge F a mi l y in P a ris wi t h a c e p t e d Le tt e rs l e gi o n o f p o l i t ic al e pigr a ms ar e fo rgo tt e n an d i t is use le ss The ir hu m o u r an d wit s o m e t im e s r i o to us t o c o mp l ain a lw ays au d a ci o u s d a a n e r quire t o o O ft e n e r c aus t ic g y m u ch r e a ding in be twe e n t he l ine s o f sc and al s c o nne cte d wi t h Car lt o n H o u s e — n o l o nge r a Whig c e n t re — an d i t s un wi e l dy m as t e r F o r ve ry di ffe re n t r e as o ns Lall a R o o k h is si mi l arl y ne gle cte d T he re al s o I e qu al ly re c o gn ize t he u s el e ssne ss o f qu arr e ll ing wi t h public t a ste T he di ffu s e ne ss e spe ci all y in T he Fire W o rshi ppe r s an d a w ant .

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FIVE CE N T URIES OF E N GLISH VERSE

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r e as o n abl e ne ss t o w ards which F ad lad e e n re ally w as in t he e ntir e sc he m e o f t he t al e o f T he o ve r t o l e r an t Ve i le d Pro p he t might have be e n e xc u s e d T he t r e atm e n t o f t he g e n e r a l t he m e a s if it w e r e a h u ge o p e r at ic l ib re tt o w as f at al Mo o r e had a m e d l e y o f m u sic al sp e ct a c l e s l e arn t s o p e rfe c tl y t he ar t o f writing wo rds t o an air that he c o mp o s e d a p o e m o f t he dim e nsi o ns o f an e pic o n t he s a m e l ine s T he cr o w d o f im age ry in a w o r k o n that sc al e is be wi l d e ring T he c o ve ring p l o t is sm o the r e d in r o se s i t is dr o wn e d in a b u tt o f s we e t m al mse y T he w ho l e pr o d u c e s t he e ffe c t n o t s o m u ch o f p o e try p u r e an d simpl e a s o f p o e try in s o l u ti o n A ll t h at re m ains p o sitive l y e xt ant o u t o f a p ro l o nge d an d ind u s t ri o u s c a r e e r s achi e ve m e nt is an a cc u m u l ati o n o f l yrics N atu r all y t he y di ffe r wid e l y in de gr e e s o f m e ri t A fe w d e s e rve t o survi ve by V i rtue o f the ir s aucy ins o l e nce — a j u ve ni le e x e rcise t ho u gh it w as fo r e x mp l e W h I l d y u I c n t b t allo w I had m a y a x q i it min t w B t t h s c rn that I f l f y H th v n m o r l x r y i it T h s w h th r w r o w r ff S m wi tc h ry s ms t o w i t y o T l v y w a pl a t n gh A d h t i d li ci s t h te y o T he c l as hing m e l o dy wi ll r e sc u e o n e at l e ast o f t he S acre d S o ngs : S d t h l d tim b r l E gypt s d rk J h v h h t i mph d — hi p pl fr Si g— f t h p rid o f t h tyr nt i b r k H i c h ri ts hi h rs m did a d b rav all s pl H w v i w a th ir b t f t h Lo rd hath b t s po k n A d c h ri t s k i th w v d h rs m n a S d th l d timb r l E gypt d ark J h v h ha tri mph d— hi p pl a f r o

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FIVE CE N T URIES OF E N GLISH VERSE

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THOMAS MOORE

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while I grant t he c l aims o f an e ntire c l ass o f t he ve rs e t o have t o re turn an a dve rs e ge ne ral ve rdi ct in t he Co urt G l ad l y I qu al ify it by o f p o e tic ar t ag ainst its auth o r — a e u a I adm i re t he m an I l o ve e xte n u ting ci r c mst nc s m any o f t he p o e ms I c o n de mn t he p o e t The d e cisi o n is p ainfu l b u t un avo i d abl e A p o e t m u st b e pro no u nce d a fai lure whe n he has n o p o w e r o f s o wing in his r e ad e rs t he ge rm s o f fu ture tho ugh t s o r impu ls e s H o w l o ng d id e ve r e m o ti o n l ast w hich w as s t i rr e d by t he pi t ifu ln e ss o f P ar adi se an d t he Pe ri o r t he s a dn e ss o f T he M instr e l B o y ? T he faul t is radic al I fe ar Re s ul t s ar e p ro p o rti o n ate t o the ir c ause s an d s o ng t o l ive an d b e fruitfu l m u st h ave be e n b o rn in tr avai l N atu r e w as u n kind l y kind t o Mo o re as t o He rric k in e n do wing him with an e ar t o o instinc t ive l y t r u e t o o misce ll ane o u s a symp athy an d a wit t o o d o ci le H i s gifts s e duc e d hi m in t o di sr e g ar d ing an d d e xt e r o us hi s o w n a xi o m — w hi ch a gr e e s w ith H e rr ic k s t o o — th at l abo ur t o t he wri t e r is a c o n diti o n o f an y gre at pl e asur e t o t he r e ad e r Othe rwis e i t is inc o nce ivabl e th at m o st o f t he p r o d u c e o f an i m agin ati o n fe rti le l i ke hi s aft e r h aving be e n w o rshipp e d by c o nte mp o r arie s sho u l d be l o s t an d f o rg o tte n e xc e p t fo r its c as u a l an d hal f c o n t e mptu o u s pre s e rvati o n in a ntiqu ate d pi an o sc o r e s ,

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A S T A T E S M AN in d e dic ating a m e m o ri al t o Le igh H u n t c o nfe ss e d t o littl e k n o wl e d g e o f his writings T he s am e m ig ht b e m ad e all b u t o n e s ho r t p o e m ad mi ssi o n a s t o by a m aj o rity o f e du c ate d Eng l is hm e n I sh o u l d l i ke t o b e ab l e t o tre at t he n e g l e ct a s r e fl e cting h o n o ur o n t he n ati o n al ge nius fo r h avi ng pr o d u ce d autho rs o f such me rit an d in such p l e nty as t o have re nd e re d hi m sup e r uo us At all e ve nts an y w ho t ake up a vo l um e by Le igh Hun t fo r t he first tim e wi ll b e s u rpris e d at its rar e d istincti o n o f style B u t the y o u ght t o b e hurt if n o t by re gre t fo r a p le asur e the y h av e hi the rto d e ni e d the ms e l v e s by s o m e s e ns e o f ingratitud e t o t he ki nd l y spirit w hich de v o te d its e lf d u ring l o ng ye ars t o t he e nd e avo u r t o e nte r t ain a c are l e ss pu b l ic Gr ac e is a spe ci al qu al i t y I t is n o t t he highe st Be ings An a d di tio n o f o f a l o fty n atur e m ay b e d e stitute o f i t o r o bsc u r e t he i m an e xc e ll e nc e wi ll s o m e t im e s m ar it pre ssi o n o f its p re s e nc e T ho ugh ve ry far fr o m b e ing a d e fin iti o n o f g e nuin e p o e t r y t he N o thing t o o much c o m Witho u t c l aiming fo r Le igh Hunt m o n ly is p art o f o n e that he n e ve r o ffe n d s ag ainst t he c an o n I be l ie ve his instinct fo r it t o b e ge ne r all y t ru e Wh ate ve r e l se hi s p o e try is n o t al m o st invari ab l y it is in p e rfe ct t aste I ne ve r b e gin T he Sto ry o f Rimini witho ut a pre judice ag ainst its e xiste nc e Whe n D ante had d o n e it all in s i x d o z e n inim it ab l e l in e s i t is s acri l e ge t o pre te nd t o ,

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JAMES HE N RY LEIGH H UN T

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inte rpre t an d de ve l o p Le igh Hu nt s o wn e xqu isite 1 re nd e ring o f t he o rigin al is its e l f a s u ffici e n t re b u ke o f Y e t I alw ays e n d by ac kn o w his atte mpt at e xp l aining l e dging t o mys e lf t h at if i t w e re t o b e d o n e t he d e cline o r ris e fr o m inn o c e nt b o y an d gir l fri e ndship t o p assi o n a t e l o ve c o u l d n o t have be e n m o re d e l ic ate l y s had o we d T he s a m e pr ais e c an b e be st o w e d an d wi t h o u t fe ar he r e o n t he r e j u ve n e sc e nc e c o n f e rr e d o f D an t e s a wf u l fr o wn upo n t he trage dy o f He r o an d Le and e r an o ld t ale y ng d y t s v r mi s t r l s ng An d warm wi th lif a chr o nic l e a s f t w o t hat di d l as t ig ht d o h v di d So mi ght th y o w hav li d T h st ry s h art t o m e s till b t ag i st i t s id ’

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FIVE CEN TURIES OF EN GLISH VE RSE

ws w sin g s kn w swe e t i gn o r nt thing pe o p l s N u ght f p l an t s l o v N o d o s t h ar t h gidd y s te e p l e s C aro lli g f th a d thin had r ai d th m wi n A if h a t hy f ath e r s l vi g h and E N o wise d s t tho un d rs tand W h n he m ak s th f e bl y g rasp H i fi g e rs wi th a tiny c l as p N o d o st kn w t hy v ry m o the r s B almy b o so m f r m an the r s N o r t he y s th t whil th y f o ld the e no gh b h ld th N v r a Mo th r t ru e a d go o d ha sh b n t o th Li ttl st r g s tr nu o u s d ty Sh h s d n h d t t hy b a ty T t hy b r in Till th c m t b l ss m b right W rth t h k i f ai a d light Lin e s simpl e H e has d e e p e r str ains at his c o m m an d e n o u gh t he d o o m o f u n ive rs al hum anity he has c o mbin e d in t o a gri s l y p o rtr ait o f t he King o f T e rr o rs N o c o m m o n min o r p o e t s br ain c o u l d have c o nce ive d an d drawn it A gr and t o uch in M ahm o u d is t he Su l t an s a cce pt anc e o f gri e f as a s u bj e c t s ind e fe asibl e title t o an inst ant au di e nce S rr w id Mahm d is a r ve r nd thing ; I r c g i z it rig ht s Ki g wi th King B ri ll i ant r ays pie rc e thr o ugh t he s o m e wh at b e wi l d e ring haz e o f t he c o ntr o ve rsy b e t we e n C apt ain S wo r d an d Capt ain P e n 0 Go d l t m b re athe a d l o k p at t he sk y G d i a h ndre ds vil R nd b t g th t h g ld n As fo r Ab o u B e n Ad he m it has always be e n a d mitte d t o b e a p e ar l o f gr e at pric e N o u ght o f all t he D o t th o u o ,

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JAM ES HE N RY LEIGH HUN T

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j ai l Eve n at hi s suns e t hi s o wn f a mi l i ar frie nd un inte nti o n ally w e m ay b e sur e w as t he c au s e o f t he faste ning upo n him o f an o di o u s ch ar acte r in fic t i o n A d e l igh t fu l write r b o th in pr o s e an d ve rs e he n e ve r w as visite d by a g l e a m o f pr o sp e rity T he p u b l ic c ar e d l itt l e fo r o n e w ho had n o m e ss age o f his o wn t o d e l ive r n o t e ve n an agr e e ab l e r anc o ur t o wr e ak H ad he l i ke t he pr o ve rbi al wo rm be e n give n t o turning he migh t at l e ast have e xcite d inte r e s t if n o t c o mp assi o n As it w as he simp l y we nt o n wi t h hi s singing n o t a d miringl y r e m arke d in l ife an d sc arce l y at all sinc e H e w as an d is I d a r e s ay o n e o f t he p o e ts t he w o r l d t ho u g h I thin k i t a pity it sho ul d In c an d o with o u t an c as e i t m ay b e h o p e d an d b e l i e ve d t h at t o him singing y as a b ird sings be c au s e it m u st so pl e as u re c am e fr o m hi s s o ng as it c o m e s t o a bird be c au s e t o t he singe r o f a s we e t s o ng p l e asur e mus t .

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W H AT o f t hi s t o rre nt o f ve rs e myr rh an d gall p o ure d fo rth in s o m e fif te e n ye ars— is it a l ivi ng str e am o r unfi lte r e d sur f ac e w ate r ? Is it t he c ur sing e pit aph o n Tim o n s to mb by t he wi ld se a w ave s o r t he s ho we r o f go ld hi s age an d fe ll o w m e n a cc o mp anying i mp re c ati o ns o n a s t he mis ant hr o p e st an d s a p r o phe t o f e vi l at t he m o uth o f hi s f o r l o rn c a ve If a vo ice f ro m t he grave i t is at an y r ate a m ighty vo ice as o f a Tit an buri e d al ive un de r Etn a Such m o de r n c riticism as is pr o n e t o d e ny pr e s e nt a ctive e xi ste nce t o B yro n will n o t d ispute th at he l ive d o nce an d i ssue d ro ya l pr o c l a m ati o ns H e st o o d fo r f o rc e m o ve m e nt pe rturb a ti o n W o rds wo rth Co l e ridge She ll e y an d Ke ats we re m o r e r a dic al r e vo lu ti o n is t s in p o e try B yro n n e ve r c e as e d B ut t he t o pr o fe ss hims e l f a discip l e o f D r yd e n an d Po p e m o st fe rve nt ad mir e rs o f t he fir st f o ur wo ul d n o t pr e te n d t o c o mp are t he c o nt e mp o r ar y inn o v ating in flu e nc e o f t he wh o l e o f the m in l ite rature wi th B yro n s H e d id as much to war d s e xt e nding t he s way o f Eng l an d as t he vi ct o ri e s o f N e l s o n an d W e ll ingt o n o r t he d e sp o tic wi ll o f P itt T he pe rs o n al ity in its we akn e ss e s as in its stre ngth fascin ate d H is pi l grim age o f p assi o n an d re m o rs e m arke d its c o urs e a s with r e d ho t l a v a o n t he h e ar t o f E ur o pe N o w w he n t he r u sh o f m o l t e n m atte r has c o o l ed an d sti ffe ne d it is e asy t o an alys e its ab e rr ati o ns an d impuritie s Its e xtr avag ance s ar e m o nstr o us W hate ve r t he c ri m e s o f ,

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first an d fo re m o st i mpr e ssi o n o f She lle y is o f a spirit — — e e o f un r e s t th o u gh s o m e thing b si de s re stl e ssn ss br o o ding — no ho ve ring s wo o ping— o v e r e ve r fr e sh p l ans fo r e ve r fr e s h Cre ati o ns w hich it is t o e ngine e r W e ar e c o nsci o u s o f a c o ntinu al s e ar ch by him fo r n e w e l e m e nts w h e nc e t o c o nstruct n e w He ave ns an d a n e w e arth It is t he Fre nch R e vo l uti o n e xh auste d crushe d by m ain fo rc e fo r t he m o m e nt be l o w t he s ur f ac e p anting pr o t e sting fe rm e nting in a h aughty Engl ish arist o c ratic n ature Visib l y an d a udib l y it is r e be ll i o us an d sc o rnfu l It has id e aliz e d p assi o n e r e cting it int o a di vin e law Hithe r an d thithe r i t rushe s raising an alt ar w he re ve r f ancy has al ighte d fo r t he inst an t N e ve r wi th o ut an i do l it tr a mp l e s o n w h at e ve r is n o l o ng e r fo r it a d o r ab l e A ll must ac kn o wl e dge t he f ascin ati o n o f e ach fr e sh c o nc e pti o n if o n l y it we r e pe rmitte d t o st ay l o ng e n o u gh fo r a d ay d re a m t o r e p o s e in it The re is a l o nging t o inf o rm with a b o d y e ach e xh al at io n a s it ris e s t o c o nd e ns e t he r ainb o w hu e d v ap o u r A l as t he p age ant o f f airy c ast le s whi ch diss o l ve int o air as w e wind t he ho rn at the ir g ate s at l e ngth di s app o ints an d tire s W e be gin t o d o u bt w he the r t he y b e m o r e th an g o ss am e rs o f an inte lle ct unce rt ain o f itse l f She ll e y w as a b o rn p o e t W ho m n atur e in a fre ak b e nt a n d w arp e d p e rh aps al s o e nrich e d by t he ci rc u mstanc e s o f his tim e p are nt age an d d o mici l e Be ing w h at thus he w as he c o u l d n o t h ave be e n o the r th an a p o e t pr o fe ss e d TH E

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n o t hing e l se H e w as e nd o we d wit h f ac u lt ie s in ab u nd anc e b e sid e s p o e tic i m a gin ati o n His pr o s e is d e l ightfu l H e might h ave w o n fa m e as a n o ve l ist a m e t a physici an a re l igi o us te ache r a p o l i t ici an As it w as fr o m b o yh o o d he cho se o r as d o u b tle ss he tho ught w as f o rc e d into a s o ci al is o l at i o n w hich d e nie d t o his gre at inte ll ige nc e an y o t he r fixe d fo r m o f e xpre ssi o n th an po e t ry Made fo r fri e nds hi p t o a d mire an d b e ad mire d t o b e a d iscip l e an d h av e discip l e s he did n o t t ake e x c o m m u n i c ati o n kind ly H e thr e w t he b l a m e up o n e xi sting in st it u t i o ns a fe u d al aristo cr acy re l igi o n d e ge ne r at e d in t o f o rm al ism an d pri e stcr af t s t ate sm e n Co urts an d Kin gs He ave n i t se l f R e f u s e d an aud ie nce o the r wise he utte re d hi s r age an d c o nt e mpt in ve rs e T he n arr o w cir c l e he j o ine d in d e f au lt o f a l arge r w as d e b arre d by its o wn is o l atio n fr o m unpre judice d criticism at o nc e sym p athe tic an d f r an k H e hi mse lf had t o o much t o s ay an d fe lt Ofte n hi s t o o arde nt l y t o c are t o st o p an d m e di t at e r an k e xube rance is o wing t o t he c has e o f a succe ssi o n o f f u gitive f anci e s N o s o o ne r has he st arte d o n e t han a se c o nd has go t u p an d se t hi s br ain c o ursing in a fre sh di re cti o n His be s e tting f au l t as a p o e t is e xce ss De nun ci ati o n is pur sue d t o scurri lity D e scripti o ns o f n atur al l o ve line ss l e ngthe n fn t o te di o us l ango u r Vit al pr o ble ms ar e discus se d much subtle ty an d t o o l i t tle d e p t h at o nc e w i t h t o o Re dun d ancy d a mps t he fir e o f A l as t o r T he Re vo lt o f Is l am R o s al ind an d He l e n Epipsychi di o n T he Wi t ch It o f At l as T he Ma sq u e o f An a rc hy Jul i an an d M ad d alo dr aws a fi l m o ve r T he Se nsitive Pl ant an d e ve n t he be au ty o f Ad o n ais Indign ati o n rave s in t he gr e e nn e ss o f Q u e e n unc u ltur e d He b re ws e xul ting in o ld M ab w i t h its S al e m s s ham e ful gl o ri e s an d ho wlmg hi d e o us pr ais e s an d

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It b lunts t he e dge o f t he m o re t o t he i r D e m o n G o d m atur e s atir e s Sw e llfo o t t he Tyr ant C astle r e agh an d t he r e st Whe n as fr e que nt l y t he re s e ntm e nt is right e o us in its o rigin its virtue sti ll as B yr o n s is m arr e d by vitupe rati o n T he fu ry o f t he fl a m e turns t he w at e r int o ste a m H o we ve r m u ch t he r e is t o s ay h o we ve r sugge stive t he te xt t o b e e xp o u nd e d t he in abi l i t y t o kn o w w he n t o st o p sti fle s t he e ffe ct T he b l e mish e s ar e n o t s u rprising in t he circ u mst anc e s The re we re his s e l f b anishm e nt fr o m ho m e an d f a mi l y s o ci al o str acism e x alte d vi e ws o f d u t y t o Hu m anity n o t invari ab l y c arri e d int o pr actic e a fe r ve nt b e l i e f in t he e xist e nc e o f a c o nspi r acy o f T o ri e s an d critics t o supp re ss him an d a c o mbin ati o n o f inte ll e ct u al an d spiritual p e r h aps e ve n s o ci al pri de with physic al an d m o r al shyn e ss Ad d t he gifts in s u ch a m e d l e y insidi o us l y an d pe cu l i arl y d ange r o us o f an i nf all ibl e s e nse o f h arm o ny in wo rds an d a v a st min e o f f ancy T ake t he w h o l e t o ge the r an d w e h ave a c l ue t o t he fl aw s o f A l ast o r an d its succe ss o rs an d t o t he i r as e xtr ao rdin ary b e au ti e s al s o T he e ntir e re al m o f p o e try c an sh o w n o thing s o ph e n o m e n al It w as a str ange u nive rs e p arad o xic all y m o nstr o us as p ar a d o xic all y id e a! whi ch spre a d b e fo re t he p o e t s e ye s T u rn e d b ac k up o n himse l f he had fe d u p o n an d he ld ince ss ant c o m muni o n with his o wn i m agin ati o n H e c o u l d p aint t he m o st re al istic o f l an d sc ap e s sc e ne s w e se e with o u r e ye s shu t a s o f t he P is an pin e f o r e st w h e r e t he m l t i tu dino u s Bill o ws mu rmu r at o r f e e t And t he e arth a d o c e an m e t ; o r o f t he E u an e an Hill s in g t he n o o n o f a t u mn s g l o w ; b u t a f ancy l i ke his w as ind e p e nd e nt o f actu al o bs e r v ati o n -

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In t he c o nce pti o n it is as m u ch a t o rs o as an actu al c o nfe ss e d fragm e nt l i ke t he Hype ri o n o f Ke ats B u t it is c o l o ss al In its w ays o f tho ught an d styl e it is m o re o ve r T he Ce nc i an e x act typ e o f its auth o r s c o m m o n m ann e r b e l o ngs t o a di ffe re nt c l ass alt o ge the r It is a tri u mp h in t he c o l dn e ss o f its ho rr o rs o ve r t he t e mp t ati o n t o its cre at o r b e ing w hat he w as t o b ur st all t he b arri e rs o f tragic T he spirit is n o t A e schy le an ; n o t Sh ak e sp e ar e an ar t T he re is s o m e an al o gy t o Mar l o we o n l y with m o re de pth an d fine n e ss o f th o u ght A l as fo r t he ug l ine ss o f t he the m e T he phe n o m e n o n is t hat w hi l e it an d t he Pr o m e the u s c u ri o us l y u n l i ke b o th ar e abs o l ute l y an d e qu all y ar e r e p re s e nt at ive o f t he ir au t ho r in o n e e sse nti al re sp e c t Ind e p e nd e nt as m any p o e ts ar e d e te rmine d t o f o ll o w t he ir o wn bi as e ve n ins o l e nt t o t he re ading wo r l d the y h ave t he y e v i d e nt l y have we ighe d an e y e t o it n e ve rt he l e ss ; ho w the y c an m o st c e rt ain l y re n de r t h e m s e l ve s au di bl e t o it I t wo u l d b e diffic u l t t o m atch She ll e y in t he sing le ne ss D o ubtl e ss he o f his re g ar d t o him s e l f a l o n e a s he w rit e s wo u l d h ave l i ke d t o b e p o pu l ar H e ne ve r e nd e avo ure d t o H e has ge n e r al att ain th at e n d by c o nsu lt ing pub l ic t a st e s symp athie s n o t t he sym p at hy whi ch is at p ains t o c o m pre he n d a di ffe re n t p o int o f vi e w fr o m o ne s o wn Par ad o x as it s e e ms it is o n e o f t he e xp l an ati o ns o f t he p e c u l i a r She ll e y c u l t N e ve r w as the r e a b o d y o f writings w hich t o t he i n i ti at e d is a s u r e r ind e x o f t he au t h o r s mind w hich a d mits r e ve r e nt s t u d e nts e n a m o ure d e ve n o f d e fe cts to m o re intim at e c o m m u ni o n with it fo r t he ve ry r e as o n th at i t n e ve r appe ars t o b e l o o ki ng t o o pini o n o u tsid e H ad S he lle y c are d fo r e xte rn al f avo ur he mi ght h ave c o rre cte d d i u se n e ss in dicti o n an d o bsc ur ity in id e as he wo u ld h ave had a l arge r p u bl ic an d fe we r w o rs hi pp e r s T he s e r e ne u nc o nsci o usne ss t hat his r e a d e rs ha ve t he ir .

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l i ke s an d dis l i ke s which he might at l e as t try t o und e r s t and t ho u gh witho ut d e fe rring t o the m appl ie s t o all his w o r k H e t ake s acc o unt so far o f s o cie ty abo u t hi m as H e ne ve r l e arne d t ha t t o l e cture it o n its sh o rtc o mi ngs pity te ac he s ho w t o cure T he ap artne ss is t he m o r e inste ad o f t he l e ss p al p abl e th at his inspir ati o n c o ns t antl y a e p t s n o l ight fr o m u s e s his f e ll o w me n fo r a t e xt e t cc y t he m Un le ss fo r ado r ati o n o f w hi ch w e ar e n o t all c ap ab le w e c ann o t c o m e c l o s e t o hi s spiri t Fo rtun ate l y fo r l o ve rs o f c e l e sti al m e l o d y as we ll as fo r his f a m e n ature had u nite d wi t h t he m e t aphysic al mystic al ic o n o c l as t ic e go t ist t he s wee te st o f in stinc t ive s inge rs Sud d e n l y t he r e wo ul d issue a gu sh o f music abs o l u te l y pu re e the r e al y e t wi t h w ar m bl o o d c o u rsing t hro ugh His s o ngs a m o ng the m r e pre se nt all t he be au tie s p o ssibl e fo r t he e xpre ssi o n o f re gre tfu l l o ng ing bi t t e r sw e e t t he s harp cut ne atne ss an d e l e g anc e o f a Gre e k e pigr am ; mys t e ry p at ho s upbr aidi ng s e lf u pbr ai di ng Th e r e ar e p assi o n at e ne ss s e l f re str aint Mo ve m e nt c o m m o n l y is t he re s o m e tim e s if ve ry r are l y d ancing jo y wi t h c asc ad e s o f bre e zy g l o wing i m age s Unis o n o f wo rds an d r hythm ne ve r f ails He re ar e a fe w flo we r s pl u c ke d as the y c a m e t o my hand I h ave n o t atte mp te d t o arr ange t he m T he y c o u ld n o t jar o r cl ash an y m o re t han c o l o urs in a be d o f ro s e s H e has i m agine d an Indi an l o ve r s e re n adi ng hi s mistre ss I arise f ro m dre ams o f thee I t he fi rst swe e t sl p f nig ht Whe n t he win ds ar b r athin g lo w An d t h s tars a e shi ing b i g ht ; I ari e f ro m dre ams o f th And a spiri t i my fe e t H ath le d me —w ho kno w ho w i T t hy c ham b e r wind o w S we e t ! ,

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E N DYM I ON s ur pris e d an d sho c ke d t he l inge ring o r t ho d o xy o f l ate Ge o rgi an c ritics I t s au t ho r pr o vo ke d as much anim o si t y as W o rds wo r t h an d m o r e t han Byr o n W o rd sw o rth b o r e n o r e l ati o n t o t he id o l s o f t he ir yo u th Dr yde n an d Po pe B yro n an d Sc o tt al s o affe cte d t o re ve re bo th R e vie w e rs simp l y did n o t un de rstand She lle y Endym i o n w as t he w o rs t o f r e be l s It had b o rr o w e d an d t r ave stie d myt hs o f t he Gre e k Cl assics an d t he m e tre o f Engl is h Mas t e rs Many re al f au lts ind e e d m ay be fo u nd in it T he pl o t wan de rs an d pe rpe tu ally l o se s i t s e l f T he n arr ative o f t e n t he d e scripti o ns ar e pr o l ix an d te di o u s T he dicti o n is tr o u bl e d with s t r ange w o r ds an d phr a se s N o t r a r e l y t he id e as T he r hym e t e n ds t o l e ad t he s e nse t hin in c o mp aris o n w i t h t he p ar ad e o f t he circ u m ar e st ance s m e an t t o w ai t u po n t he m Occ asi o n all y t he pr o s aic w i ll o b t r u d e i t s e lf ; c o tt o n b ac ki ng s ho wing u nd e r ve l ve t pi le B u t t he n t he g o lde n au tu mn al haze t he d e l ici o u s u n c e rt ain t y w hat visi o ns o f r o m anc e wi ll n e x t c o m e an d e age w as o n e o f T h o fr o m an d int o h appy Dre a m l and g — m u ddy pe rtur b ati o n strif e s o f pe o ple s ag ains t kings an d kings ag ainst pe o p le s o f m o rt al s t ruggl e s be t w e e n agr ar i an i s m an d fe u d al ism l a bo ur an d c api t al p o l i t ic a l e c o no my Im agine fo r t he fe w be l at e d o u tw o rn F aith an an d E l iz abe t hans t he jo y in t his p age an t o f O l ympi an go dd e sse s h au nting t he h appy p astur e s o f Arc a di an hill s I t is in tr u th an E l iz abe t han po e t s w o rl d T he E li z a be t h an id e a o f po e t ry bre at he s t hr o u gho u t La ws o f .

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1 20

physic al n atur e ar e suspe n de d Me n ri de o n e ag l e s wings walk t he se a an d s o j o urn in o ce an c ave s N o w hispe r o f wr ang l ings o f st ate sm e n disc o nte nts an d hu nge r o f t he s e e thing m ass e s stirs t he s e re n e s o l itu de Fi e l ds an d wo o d l an d s ar e g o ve rn e d by n o hu m an law an d ne e d n o ne T he c ar e s ar e n o t o f a kind t o b e in fl a m e d o r l ull e d by T he auth o r o f En dym i o n had t he l yre o f a Tyrt ae us d r u nk d e e p fr o m t he f o unt ains o f Si dne y Spe nse r an d — a Wi ll i a m B r o wn e o f Sh ake spe re t he singe r o f Ve nus an d Ad o nis o f Luc re ce an d t he S o nn e ts H e had l e arnt t o m o ve in an uppe r air o f his o wn as the y in the i rs Whe re in his m o de l s a tincture o f a purp o s e had inte r ve n e d he st o pp e d sh o rt H e wo u l d h ave abh o rr e d t o e n l ist l i ke his be l o ve d Spe nse r t he Mus e in t he s e rvice o f a m o ral a ll e g o ry F o r hi m p o e try w as n o m inist e r t o d u ty as u nd e rst o o d o utsid e N o p ainfu l re qu isiti o n o f s e l f de ni al w as i mp o s e d up o n it by t he l aw s o f its b e ing En d ym io n with o u t a sting o f t he c o nsci e nce r e m o u l d e d fo r p o e tic u se o n H e ll e n i c l in e s e ve n might w av e b a c k t o t he s k i e s his dre a m mi stre ss H e is n o t l i ab l e t o a sh ad o w o f re pr o ach fo r w o o ing an d winning be fo r e he w as pro pe r l y o ff with t he o ld l o ve a d us k y an d m o r e t angib l e m ate f dr aming — N w N mo r Wh re shall o dw lli n g b Z F o r p o e ts in g e n e r al t he o n e i nsp ir ing m o tt o is A thing f b e au ty i s a j y fo r e v r ; fo r t he unive rs e t he e t e rn al law That fi rst i b au ty sho ld b e fi rst i might an d fo r hims e l f — h B a ty is tr th tru t b a ty that i s all Y kno w o ar th a d all y e n d t kno w T he w h o l e is i m m atur e H ad K e ats l ive d n o t imp o ss i b l y ’

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buse d it l e ss th an in Ke ats s l ate r w o r k t he m ain cre di t I be l ie ve t o b e d u e t o t he p o e t s sho c k at be ing c o nfro nt e d by his o wn cr e ati o n au n t in g in t he b ro a d d ay o f typ e its dishe ve ll e d an d u n ab ashe d ch arms It m ay al m o st b e s ai d th at in n o f a m o us Eng l ish p o e m is w ant o f m e th o d m e as u re p ro p o rti o n m o re fl agrant th an in En d ymi o n Po st an d in my o p inion pro pte r Endym i o n o n t he n o qu al i t y in t he w rit e r is m o r e c o nspic u o us o the r h and th an c o mp l e t e n e ss o f w o rk m anship Th at st an d s o u t fro m t he m u l titud e o f a d mir ab l e pr o pe rti e s in t he g all e ry o f his m aste rpie c e s Atm o sphe re l ights sh ade s p e rspe ctive I m agin ati o n always s atisfie s ar e all in th e ir ri ght p l ac e s an d n e ve r c l o ys T he t e mp l e o f his p o e t b e ing thu s r e e d ifie d he d e dic at e d t o t he g o d d e ss Be au ty w ith Me l anch o l y fo r he r chie f m inistr e ss — d ainty Me l ancho l y — h e a ty B a ty that m st d i Sh dw e lls wi t B And J y who s h nd i v r at his li p s Biddi ng adi ; d aching Pl as r igh T rning t o p is n whil t h b e m th si p s Ay i t h v ry t m p l e f D li ght s v r n shrin V il d M l anch l y ha h T h gh s e n o f no n s av him who s str n o s t g Ca b rst J o y s g r p ag ins t hi p al ate fi mi ght H i s o l shall t st t h s ad n ss o f h And b am ng h cl o dy tro phi s h ng W e have n o right t o b e as t o nish e d at his inc l in ati o n t o t he p e nsive n e ss t he r e m o t e n e ss t he s o l it ari ne ss o f s o u l w hich he inte nds by Me l anch o l y Inte lle ctu all y e ve n he w as fr a m e d t o t ak e l itt l e int e re st ap art fr o m di s e as e in t he wo r ld int o w hich he w as b o rn H e th o ught an d fe l t himse l f int o an o the r t w o c e ntu ri e s e ar l i e r In t hat wo r l d its e lf he tro u b l e d his f ancy wi t h n o ne o f t he active c are s an d struggl e s I t s ve ry b o o k s he did n o t re ad as an antiqu ary ’

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st u d e nt T he air o f it w hich b e bre athe d he had disti ll e d Its g arde ns w hich he p ace d he had fo r hi s indivi du al u se himse lf e ncl o se d an d p l ante d Ove r t he wh o l e he dr e w — a u e e o f e o u a n o t f r o m Sp ring tm sph r v i l s l mb r s c l m n a o e a b u t fr o m m o r e c o mp ani o n ab l e A u t umn S aso n f m ists a d m ll w f rui tf ln ss Cl s b s m f ri nd f t h m t in g ; C nspiring wi th him h w t l o d a d bl ss With f r it t h vin s th t r und t h thatch av s d c o tt ag t r s T b nd wi th ppl s t h m A d fi ll all f r i t wi th ri p n ss t o t h c r or

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P rhap s t h s lf sam e s g that f d p ath Thr gh t h sad h art o f R th wh n sic k f r ho m t d i t ars amid t h ali n c rn Sh T h s m t h t o ft tim s h th t h f o am Cha m d m g i c a m t s p ning Of p ril s s as i f ry l ands f rl o rn F rlo rn t he v e ry w rd i lik a b ll T t ll m b ac k f r m t h t o my s l e s lf Adie u t h f ncy c anno t ch t o w ll As h is f am e d t d d c i ving e lf Adi e adi de s t hy p l ainti v anth m f a Past t h n ar me ad ws o v r t h still str am Up t h hill sid d w t is b ri d d e p I t he n xt v all y g l ad s W a it a visi n o a w ki g dr am 2 1 1 — F l d i that m si c d I w k sl e p Me l ancho l y an d Be au ty h and in hand — v e ry marve l s B u t I must ad d an o the r m ar ve l— this an e x a mp l e o f c o n sum m at e ar t— t he Ch apm an H o m e r s o nn e t Mu ch hav I t ll d i t h r lms f g ld An d m any g o dl y s t at s a d king d ms se n R o nd m any w st rn isl nds hav I b n Whi ch b ards i f alty t o Ap llo h ld Oft f wid xpans had I b n t ld That d p b ro w d H m r r l d a hi d m sn Y t di d I n v e r b re ath i t p re s r n Till I h ard C hap m an s p e ak d a d b ld t l Th n f l t I lik so m watch r f t h ski s W h n a e w pl an t swims int his k O lik st o t C o rt z wh n wi th ag l y s H s t ar d at t he P a ifi a d all hi m L k d t ach th r wi th wild s rmise S il nt p o n a p ak i D ari n H ad Ke ats writt e n n o m o r e th an such a s o nne t an d such o de s he must h ave r an k e d a m o ng t he highe st in s o ng H e f o u n d t im e h o we ve r in his bri e f an d s o r e l y tri e d sp an o f l ife t o w o r k o n l arg e r c anv as e s an d n e ve r w ith o ut a e

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t riumph T he E v e o f S t Agne s Is abe ll a Lami a Hype r io n bre athe all fo ur o f t he s am e cr e ative s o u l E ach is radi ant l y distinct A m o ng the i r m any bri ll i ant qual itie s n o t t he l e ast a m azing is fo r t he p ro ximity in t he d at e s o f th e ir bi rth this abs o l ute varie ty Exquisite n e ss o f d e t ai l always h arm o ni o us ch ar acte rize s Many a p ainte r c o ul d te stify n o t wi t h o ut a p ang t he fi rst ho w pr o v o c ative is t he p o e t s ch all e nge t o w o r k up t o t he g l o wing fr a m e in whi ch he has se t hi s s we e t Made l ine an d ho w un e qu a l t he c o mp e ti t i o n A c ase m e nt hig h an d t ri p l e ar c h d t he re was All g arl ande d wi th c arv e n imag e rie s Of f ru i t s an d fl o we rs an d b u nche s o f kno t g rass And di am o nde d wi th p ane s o f qu aint d e vi c e Innu m rab le o f st ains an d sple ndi d dye s As a t he tige r m o th s d e e p d amask d wing s ; And in t he midst m o ng tho u sand he raldrie s And twilight saints a d d i m e mb la o in gs A shi e lde d s cu tche o n b lu sh d wi th bl o o d o f qu e ens a d king s F ull o n this c ase m e nt sho ne t he wintry m o o n And thre w warm gu l e s o n Mad e line s f air b re ast As d o wn she kne l t fo r he av e n s g rac e an d b o o n R o se b l o o m f e ll o n he r hands t o g e the r p re st And o he r silve r c r o ss s o ft ame thyst An d o h r hair a g l o r y lik a s aint S he se e m d a s pl e ndid ang e l ne wl y dre s t S av e wing s fo he av e n — Po rphyr o g re w f aint ; S he kne l t s o pu re a thi g o f re e f ro m m o rt al t aint S o o tre m bling i n he r s o ft an d chilly ne st I s o r t o f w ak f ul swo o n p e ple x d sh lay Until t he p o ppie d warm th o f sl e e p o ppr e s d H e s o o the d limb s a d s o u l f at i gu e d aw ay F l o wn l ik e a tho u ght u n til t he m o rro w d ay Blissful ly hav e n d b o th f ro m jo y a d p ain Clasp d lik e a mi ss al wh re swart P ayn i ms p ray Bl inde d al ike f r o m sunshine a d f ro m r ain As tho u gh a ro se sho u ld shu t an d b e a b u d ag ain .

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FIVE CE N TURIES OF E N GLISH VERSE

An o the r an d who lly di ffe re nt n o te is struc k wi t h ve ry di ssimi l ar but as de l ic ate l y sui t abl e acc o mp anim e nts in t he pit e o us st o r y o f Is ab e ll a N o t th at au ght is all o we d t o o bsc u re t he c e nt r al figur e a l m o st t he p e e r o f Ch auc e r s Gris e ld a she b o ws t o t he st o r m o f frate rn al ve nge anc e o n he r humbl e l o ve r fo r l o rn t e n de r un vin dictive an d p atie nt e xce pt fo r t he o n e he art pi e rcing cry fo c r l t i s s aid sh T o st e al m y B asil p o t away f ro m m In L ami a o n t he o the r h an d it is t he p l o t r athe r th an t he circumst anc e s o r t he figur e s o n w hich atte ntio n is c o nc e ntr ate d On t he t ale m o ve s t o its c at astr o phe myste ri o us y e t fo re s e e n ine vit abl e auste re st ate l y l i ke a gr e at m e di ae va l n o b l e in ve l ve t an d l ace o n his w ay 15 t o T o we r Hi ll An d fin all y t he p al ac e d o o r o f K e ats s sp l e n di d f ancy — — fl i e s o p e n fo r t he go d Hyp e ri o n t o p ass w ithin d f ll o f wrath H e te d b t h t Hi s fl mi ng r o b s st am d o t b y o nd hi s he ls And g av a r o ar a if o f rthl y fi That s c ar d away t he m k th r al H rs And m ad th ir do v wing s tr mb l O h flar d Fr m stat l y nav t o n v f r m v au l t t v a l t Thr gh b o w rs f f ragr nt a d e nwr athe d light A d di m o nd p av e d l st r s l o ng ar c ad s U til h a h d t h gr at m ain c p o l a Th r standi g fi r c b n ath h st ampt hi f t A d f ro m t h b as m nt s d p t o t h high t w rs J d his o w g ld n r gi n ; a d b f r T h q av e ring th d r th r p n had c ase d H is v i c l apt t d s p i te f g dlik c u rb T t his r s l t O dr ms o f d y a d ig ht O m st r s f rms O ffi gie s f p in O s p ct r s b y i a c ld c ld g l o m O l ank e ar d P hant o ms o f b l ac k w e d d p ls ,

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1 30

P ri e sts o f Me l an ch o l y F an e s o f t he Mu s e s o u ght t o b e v e r i t ab l e Panth e o ns with ro o m fo r shrin e s o f all t he Gr ac e s T e n de rne ss L o ving kindn e ss H e r o ism F aith an d Vi r tu e s an d inn o c e nt J o y h av e a right t o m ak e th e i r h o m e th e r e ; N o t all in an d a Ch ap e l Sho u l d b e c o ns e cr at e d t o S o rr o w Ke ats s i de al l o v e lin e ss is r e al T he stur dy fr e qu e nt e rs o f t he Me r m aid m ight h av e m o c k e d at s o m e o f t he c l assic fo rms rising fr o m hi s p e n S o m e thing in t he l andsc ap e is sc e n e p ainting Ru de b o t anists w o u ld sc o ff at t he f airy f o r e sts an d g ar d e n l and o f t he e xi l e d Tit ans N o l ark c ar o l s h e re wi th t he fr e shn e ss o f t he Ayr shire pl o u ghm an s T he Mu s e is hid d e n t o k e e p c o mp any w ith scu l pt u r e d fu ne ral u rns an d t he d u st th e r e in ins t e ad o f k ind ling li ving h e arts B u t I r e p e nt Le t m e b e f o rgiv e n fo r h aving b e e n t e mpt e d t o d we ll o n a s o mbr e tr u is m which afte r all is o n l y a h al f trut h Sid e by sid e with it st an d s as I gl adl y a c kn o w l e dg e an o th e r th at ge nius has m anifo ld ph as e s On e p o e t n o w an d th e n m ay b e sp ar e d fr o m t he d ul l h aunts o f m e n t o r o am e nchant e d an d e nch anting thr o ugh It is g o o d t o b e r e min de d fr o m mo o n lit f o r e st gl ad e s t im e t o tim e th at t he d u ty o f p o e try is n o t t o se w an d spin ; th at it s fir st o b l igati o n t o b e fu l fill e d o n p ain o f b e ing n o t p o e try at all is t o b e b e autif u l as a li l y o f t he fi e l d Ke ats w as b o r n in an age o f br u t e mi l it ary f o rc e Hu m ani ty had b e e n v u l gariz e d by p o litic al p ani c o r a mbit io n I d e as with n o m o n e y o r physic al p o w e r in th e m we r e d e spis e d His n atur e re vo lt e d in d isgu st In d e fi anc e he se t u p t he i m age o f B e au ty t o b e w o rshipp e d At l e ast t he s e rvic e it f ascin at e d carri e d m e n o u tsi d e th e ir o w n p o o r s e l v e s an d r e fine d W ho o ld o r y o u ng c an r e c all t he fir s t r e v e l ati o n t o hi m o f T he E v e o f St Agn e s t he N ighting al e Od e Hyp e rio n W ith o ut f e e ling how w hil e he r e ad an .

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FIVE CE N TURIES OF E N GLISH VERSE

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1 36

FIVE CE N TURIES OF E N GLI SH VERSE

d istinct as t o indic at e th at in W o l fe s p o e tic al c ar e e r t he ph e n o me n o n t he acci de nt is n o t his au tho rship o f a c o u pl e o f p ar ag o ns o f m e l o d y but his o missi o n t o ad d a sc o r e o f e qu al m ar v e ls I f I had tho u g ht tho u c o lds t hav e di e d I mi ght n o t w e p fo r th e B u t I f o rg o t whe n at t hy sid e That tho u c o ldst m o r tal b e ; I t n v e r thr o u gh m y mind had p as t T he t im e w o ul d e e r b o e r An d I o the e sho u ld l o o k m y l ast And tho u sho u ldst sm ile n o m o r ’

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n e c e ss ar il y t he wri ting o n t he Pal ac e wall an d with th at t he r o m anc e o f t he Je wis h m ai de n B e ni n a has n o d ir e ct c o nn e xi o n T he y m o ve al o ng d iffe r e nt l in e s whi ch o n l y c as u ally inte rs e ct N o thin g c o u l d b e m o re m anif e stl y fo rc e d th an t he fin al gro u ping o f t he mo n ar ch his m o th e r Wh e n t he Pr o phe t d e ciphe rs t he a n d t he H e br e w f ami l y b l az o ne d s e nt e nc e ho w gl aring again t he d e sc e nt o f t he po e m b e l o w t he l e v el o f t he B ib li c al n ar rative Y e t h e re t o o t he auth o rship i s int e rn all y c ap ab l e o f i d e ntific ati o n with th at o f t he e ar l i e r d r a m as T he Je wish girl s s o li lo qu y o n t he sum mit o f t he t o w e r o f B e l is fu ll o f m e l anch o l y h arm o ny B e l sh azz ar s acc o mp lishm e nt o f his pl e dg e t o t he h e r ald o f hi s d o o m is m a r k e d by a S p l e ndi d m ag -

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e at all d o e s n o t li k e t he gr e at singe rs pr od uc e u p o n m e v e nts t he impr e ssi o n o f h aving p ass e d t he c o nstit u e nts o f his p o e try t hr o ugh his inne r n atu r e an d h avi ng se t th e m in A p e rc e ptib l e mo n o t o ny in his t he ir pl ac e s b r e athing o f it str ains t e ll s t he s a m e t al e H e stri ke s a singl e k e y c o n A pr e d e stin e d t in u ally th o u gh o n e o f d ignity an d p o w e r p o e t m ay pr e fe r a p artic u l ar n o t e he wi ll give signs th at W ith all th e ir f e e b l e n e ss T he he has m any at his d isp o s al Ho urs o f Id l e n e ss in d ic at e d m o r e pr o mi s e th an t he m agn i N e v e rth e l e ss it m ight fi c e n t Lo rd o f t he B r ight City h av e b e e n anti cip at e d th at w h at e v e r t he sho rtc o mings o f S amo r at an y r at e t he s ac r e d d r a m a s w o u ld pr actic all y T he p o e tic v o i d o b l ig e t he ir a uth o r t o b e a p o e t sti ll a fe w hymns an d tr ans l at io ns u n l e ss fo r a ft e r th e m d uring t wo thir d s o f a l if e time in fl icts a sh o c k as at a su dd e n d ar k n e ss I c an o n l y su r m is e a m e nt al r e v o l u ti o n A s imi l ar spir itu al ch ang e drie d up o r s e al e d t he fo u n t ains o f s o ng i n t wo o th e r m o d e rn s inge rs a s e ni o r an d a j u n i o r far mo r e s u b t l e an d o f wi d e r c o mp ass if n o t o f a str o nge r i nt e ll ig e nc e B o th e ar l y in mi d dl e l ife turne d fr o m c o nstructi o n t o an al ysis The critic al f ac ul ty in Co l e ridge to o k t he sh ap e o f th e o l o gic al m e t aphysics In Matth e w A r n o ld it w as a r ag e fo r t he c l e ar anc e o f r u bbish ; fo r t he b u s in e ss t o b e und e rst o o d i n a hi gh l y c o mp l i m e nt ary s e ns e o f a mo ral an d l it e rary d u st d e struct o r It b e c a m e in Mil m an i nqu iry int o t he b as e s o f e cc l e si astic al hi st o ry Thro u gh o u t t hi s s e c o n d st ag e o f hi s int e ll e ct u al d e ve l o pm e nt he d i d g o o d e v e n gr e at wo r k The r e w as c r e at io n as w e ll as d e m o li ti o n H e p u ll e d d o wn th at he m ight bui l d up Y e t s o m e wi ll r e gr e t with m e fo r t he s ak e b o th o f p o e try an d o f his f a m e th at t he mo rt ar o f t he f o un d at io ns he r e n e w e d had t o b e mix e d with t he l if e b l o o d ,

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C A N ON A I N G E R an admirab l e critic o nc e c o mme nte d t o m e o n t he c l ai m o f t he wr it e r o f a p o p u l ar hy m n t o r e sp e ct as a p o e t : Y o u k n o w t he stan d ar d o f p o e tic m e rit in hymns is n o t high Is it n e c e ss ar y t o pl e ad fo r s aint l y Ke b le s p o e tic titl e as it w e r e i n fo r ma p aup e r i s ? H e w r o t e in d e e d o th e r v e rs e s o m e o f i t o f w o rth ; fo r e x a mp l e a d e l ightf u l appe al o f wi ld fl o w e rs t o t he l o rd o f t he m an o r t o sp ar e f ro m his high f ar mi ng S had y sp o ts a d no o ks wh r w Y t may fl o rish s af a d f re e B u t as a wh o l e it is inc o nsi d e r ab l e an d by his hy mns he m u st vi rtually b e j u dge d W ith o u t g o in g th e re fo re o utsid e T he Chri sti an Ye ar an d Lyr a I n n o c e n t iu m I am g l ad fo r m y o wn s ak e t o b e ab l e fr o m th e m t o ans w er my qu e stio n — l i mit e d as it is in t he n e gative I fin d ge nuin e p o e tic s e nsibi l ity in a fair pr o p o rti o n o f th e i r c o nt e nts T e n de r n e ss symp athy j u dge me nt an d de li c acy aspir atio n s afte r t he n o b l e an d sub l im e ar e th e r e Eve ry wh e re I o bs e r ve a f e e li ng fo r b e auty a sinc e r e l o ng ing t o un d e rst an d an d i nt e r pr e t N atur e Eve ry o n e has fe l t t he s we e tn e ss o f s o m e fi v e o r six st anz as o f t he Ev e ning H y m n in T he Christi an Y e ar Occ asi o n al T h o u ghts o n c hi l d r e n s t r o ub l e s in t he Lyr a I n n o c e n t iu m 2 al mo st m atch th e m W ith e qu al intuiti o n an d affe cti o n at e n e ss Ke b l e dr aw s h appy l e ss o ns f r o m sic kn e ss t he h e art s s e lf d o ubtings mo ur ni ng an d d e ath At time s n o t ,

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h ang man w ho t o b e s o l e h e ir o f t he e arth had just str ung up his s o l it ary c o mpani o n a b e ggar m an I f t h v ri s t w ld li ck my h nd I c ld l v it lik a c hild ! So ag ain t he h u m o ur o f t he t al e o f Miss Ki lman se gg l e ave s sp ac e fo r a gri m indivi d u al pitif u l n e ss G ld still g o ld hard y llo w a d c o ld d h di d f g ld ! F o g o ld she had liv d

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ge n e r o us in dign ati o n ph o spho ric wi t c riticism c o nstr uctiv e l ightnings o p e n ing He av e n as th e y as w e ll as d e structiv e stri k e t he e art h ar e all th e r e T he pity is th at t o o o fte n e ith e r t he thi n k e r has o v e r l ai d t he p o e t o r t he inspir ati o n It is as wh e n a c anv as has is p l aying ab o u t a d e a d the m e r o tte d u n d e r a maste rpi e c e o f ar t T he p o e t h o we v e r is th e r e alw ays th o ugh it m ay b e in t he b ac kgr o un d it is t he r e ad e rs I am afr aid w ho ar e l i k e l y t o b e in d e fau l t T he g e n e r al p u b l ic n e ithe r inte r e sts its e lf in byg o n e p artis anships n o r has sp ar e inte l lige nc e fo r di al e ctics Eve n an e n t hu si ast fo r p o e try d o e s n o t e xp e ct t o h av e t o k e e p t he fi r e o n his h e arth al ight with t he as he s o f y e st e rd ay o r st e a m c o al N o n e c o u ld p e rc e iv e m o r e cl e arly ho w he miss e d p o pu l arity fo r his grave r ve rs e o r b e ar t he le ss m o r e ch e e rf u ll y th an Lo w e ll hi ms e l f wh stri ving Parnassu s t o c lim b Wi th a wh l b al f isms ti d t o g the r wi th rhy m ,

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fte r he w as d e ad a d go n e And e his m e mo ry d i m E ar th se e m e d m o re sw e e t t o li v e u p o n Mo re ful l o f l o ve b e c au se o f him And d ay by d ay mo re ho l y g r w E a c h s p o t whe r he had t r o d Till afte r p o e ts o nly kne w The ir fi st b o rn b ro the r as a g d As his p e n w an d e rs ab o ut t he gl ad e s t he f o r e st b e c o m e s a w o o dl and e nc hant e d T he g re at Au g s t no o n li g ht Thro u gh myr iad rifts slante d Le af a d b o le thi ckl y s pri kl Wi th fli cke rin g g o ld The re i warm A gu st gle am i g Wi th q u ick sile nt b ighte n i n gs F ro m m ad o w l ands r o aming T h fi e y t winkl e s H i s fi t fu l he a t li g htni g T he li ttl f o u nt twinkl e s I t s sil v e r s aint s b lls That n o spri te ill b o di g M ay m ake his ab o d e i T he se inno c e nt d lls H e dr e a ms bright dr e a ms as he w atch e s t he d e spis e d d an de l i o n fringing in b li t h e s o m e M ay t he d u sty r o a d wi t h h arm l e ss g o l d Th n think I o f d e p shad o ws t he g rass Of m e ad o ws w he re i s t he c attl g r az e Whe r as t h b r e z e s pass T h g le ami g ru she s l an a th u sand way s Of l av e s t hat sl u m b r in a c l o u d y m ass O whi te n in t he win d o f w a te rs b l That f ro m t he di tanc sparkl e thro u gh S o m wo o dland gap a d o f a sky ab o v Wh e re o e whi te cl o d like a tray l m b d o th m o v He ave n an d e arth s e e m t o m e e t in hi s t al e o f t he Ch rist Yet

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m o st p art t o hi d e w as his int e lle ctu al H e mo v e d in t he n arr o w e st o f o rbits n o t a sc e nd ancy disd aining intim acy wi t h hi s p o s t hu m o u s f ath e r in law t he Qu ak e r b ank e r an d hymn w rite r w o rthy B e rn ard B art o n A lways he car e d l e ss fo r a d mir ati o n th an fo r affe cti o n whic h he priz e d w hi l e he s e e m e d t o s l ight F e w e ve n o f hi s f a mi l i ars p e r haps n o t T e nnys o n hims e l f n o t w it hst an d ing t he d e dic ati o n c o u l d h av e g u e ss e d th at he w as s e c u r e H e n e v e r fr e tt e d at t he o f i m m o rt al i t y o n P a rn ass u s n o n r e c o gniti o n o f his g e ni u s F o r t he w o r l d n o m an o f l e tt e rs c o u ld h av e b e e n mo r e Of t he b u lk o f his d o ings in l it e r atu r e it r e m ains o bscur e s e r e n e l y u nc o nsci o us sti ll His an o nym o u s v e rsi o n o f O m ar s r e put e d m u sings its e lf it r e f u s e d t o t ak e at his o w n fin al v a l u ati o n o f a p e nny pi e c e A qu art e r o f a c e ntury aft e r t he o ri gin al p u b l ic a ti o n in 1 85 9 t he Encyc l o p ae d i a B rit annic a in a l ist o f e diti o ns o f t he R u b aiyat r e f e rs t o his as j u st a p o rti o n o f t he s a m e r e n d e r e d in Engli sh v e rs e T he c o ld n e ss o f l it e r ary o pini o n w hi l e by E Fitzge r al d he l iv e d str u c k hi s s e ns e o f h u m o u r r ath e r th an o f r e s e nt m e nt It n e ve r o ccu rr e d t o hi m t o c o mpl ain His int e r e st — w as in his w o r k fo r t he tim e b e ing as muc h in a p l o dd ing v e rific ati o n o f t he Fi e l d o f N as e by as in t he inspir e d 1“ int e rpr e t ati o n o f a go l d e n E ast e rn lay S o l o ng as he f e l t he had d o n e his p art th o r o u ghl y an d t o t he b e st o f his p o w e rs he w as s o v e r e ign l y c o nt e n t O l d Fitz a n d so he d i e d t o h av e t he S o l iv e d minu te st hal f l e g e nd ary scr apings o f hi s ch ar act e r lit up in t he gr av e w ith a b l az e o f r e no wn N o r with o u t r e as o n a s I sinc e r e l y thin k tho ugh I h av e b e e n e xp o sing mys e l f I k no w t o c o n d e mn ati o n ali k e fo r e x agge r at e d p rais e o f t he v e rs e by p e rs o ns n e v e r t o uch e d wi th t he r aptur e o f t he Eng l ish e d Rub aiyat a s m e r e h ar m o ny an d by v o t ari e s .

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C O V E N T RY P A T M O R E 1 82 3 — 1 8 9 6

I r e a d Co v e ntry Pa t m o r e I w o n d e r if the r e b e n o t a s e cr e t r e l igi o n a m o ng e d u c at e d w o m e n M an w o u l d h av e n o right t o b e s u rp ris e d if th e y k e pt in th e i r b o u d o irs th e i r sch o o l r o o m d e s k s the ir w ar d r o b e s al o ng wi th Jan e Eyre an d T he Ch risti an Y e a r c o pi e s o f T he Ang e l in t he H o us e an d Vict o ri e s o f L o v e B e f o r e the y go d o w n in t he m o r n ing w hi l e the y d r e ss fo r di nn e r afte r o r b e f o r e the ir e ve ning pr aye r the y might we ll find ti m e fo r a fe w v e rs e s if n o t fo r a b o o k M ay the r e n o t b e l a di e s c l u bs at w hich he is r e gu l ar l y st u di e d Gi rto n Ext e nsi o n l e ctu r e s at w hi ch he is e xp o u nd e d ? Whe n m e n pr ais e the ir Mi l t o n W o r d s w o rth B r o wning T e nnys o n d o the y n e v e r h e ar P at mo r e s n am e w hisp e r e d by f e mi nin e l ips ? Tru e th at he is s e l d o m m e nti o n e d o p e n l y an d n o w l e ss o ft e n t han thirty ye ars ago It m ay m e r e l y b e an o the r pr o o f o f t he a d age th at half o f u s k n o w n o thing o f t he w a t h e in w ch th r h l f l iv h i a e o e y I fin d it h ar d t o cr e d i t th at t he o n e r e al p o e t w ho pr o c l aim e d t he right divi n e o f w o m e n t o b e a d o r e d n o l e ss aft e r th an b e f o r e m ar ri age an d m o r e so as wiv e s an d m o th e rs th an as b rid e s has c e as e d t o b e h abitu all y r e v e r e d by th e ir se x Po e t e ss e s d o n o t c o unt b e si d e s th at th e y r ar e l y ar e g e nu in e w o m an l o v e rs Unti l Co v e ntry P atm o r e p o e ts had b e e n w o nt t o e n d the ir wo rs hi p as s o o n as t he Al t ar st e ps we r e r e ac he d As he b o asts it w as re s e r ve d fo r him l as t o f all t o sing t he first o f th e me s As

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tr ac e s it in a s e ri e s o f s o ft s we e t idyll s ve ry fu ll y fr o m t he w o o ingt o t he w e dding ring an d t he nc e in o u tl in e r athe r shad o w y thro ugh h appy ye ars o f nupti al an d p ar e nt al l o ve T he husb an d l o ve r pr ays t o b e inspir e d as chr o nicl e r Tho Primal L v who g a t t wi gs And v o i c s t t he w o dl and birds G rant m t h p o w r o f s aying thing s T sim pl a d t o o sw e t fo w rds He

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t ab l drawn b e sid e hi s h ad H had p t wi thi hi s r e ac h A b o x o f c o u te rs a d a e d v e i d sto n A pi c o f gl ass ab rad d by t he b e ach A d i x o r s v e n she ll A b o ttl wi th b l e b e lls And t w o Fre nch c o pp r c o ins r ang e d the re wi th c are fu l ar t T o c m f rt his s ad h art S o w he n that ni ght I p r ay d T o G o d I w pt a d s aid Ah w he n at l ast w e li wi t h t r anc e d b re ath N o t v e x ing t he e i d e ath A d T he n r m e m b re s t o f what t o y s W e m ad e o u r j o y s H o w w akl y u nd e rs t o o d T hy g re at c o mm and e d g o o d Th n f athe rly n o t l e s Than I wh m Tho hast m o u ld d f ro m t he cl ay Tho l t l ave T hy wr ath a d say I will b e s o rry fo the ir c hild ishne ss Fo r ,

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COVEN T RY P ATMORE

25 1

h ave m atch e d he r N o t t o sp e ak o f Jan e an d Fr e d e ri ck n o b e ings c o u l d b e im agin e d l e ss l i k e l y th an H o n o ri a an d F e l ix Vau g han t o t o ss t o an d fr o t he thu nd e rb o l ts o f Ero s Obvi o u s l y it is v ain t o att e mpt t o l ink t he t w o s e ts o f sto ri e s an d the ir ch ar act e rs Any c l u e s se e ming t o l ea d in t h at d ir e cti o n s o o n bre ak in t he h and T he utm o st which can b e ass e rt e d is t he e xist e nc e o f a p air o f sit u ati o ns r athe r tr ains o f fe e l ing wi th a r e l ati o n b e twe e n the m or m o r e o f o pp o siti o n th an r e s e mbl anc e T he Ange l in t he H o us e is a pictu r e o f hum an l o ve o f t he pu r e st th at e arth B e ing o f e arth it is m o rt al an d T he Unk n o wn c an o ffe r Er o s m ay e xhibit t he e n d o f s u ch in d is e as e an d de at h in c o nj u g al d e sp air an d an o rph an s d e s o l ati o n B y t he S id e is a s e c o n d pictu r e o f an o the r l o ve w id o w e d o rph an e d a s p assi o n at e e t im m rt l n d t r i u mph nt in t o a a a h to o e y mi d st o f s o rr o w an d ab as e m e nt a p e rs e c u te d Chu rch An an al o gy is tr ac e abl e if b ar e l y b e twe e n t he wr e c k o f l o v e in T e nnys o n s M au d r aving into m adne ss h e al e d by an d P at m o r e s i d o l atry o f ho m e fl a ming a B e rs e r k e r fi t in its ruins int o a r aptu r e o f Catho l ic mysticism A t all e v e nts T he Unk n o wn Er o s m a r k s s u ch a r e v o l u ti o n in t he p o et Th e r e w as as he d o e s n o t d e ny a str u ggl e b e fo r e he w and e r e d far fr o m hi s o ld C ry tal o wi g s r c F o r an inst ant in d e e d th e r e m ay hav e b e e n an imp uls e t o “ tu r n b ack A m e l i a? in its l o d ging within t he pr e cincts o f t he f u rn ac e o f Er o s is a br e ath o f pi o us simp l e t e n d e rn e ss a s t o o is t he e xq u isit e pict u r e o f t he Virgin M o th e r ad o ri n g a t o nc e D e ity an d Inf ancy All M th rs w rshi p littl f t A d kiss t h v r y g r d th y v t ro d B t ah t hy li tt l e B by sw t ind d t hy G d W h w .

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T HE RE ar e re ad e rs w ho li ke the ir p o e ts u n mix e d — p o e ts o nly n o t phi l anthr o pists o r mis anthr o pists the o l o gi ans or sc e ptics m e t aphysici ans o r bi o l o gists wits s ati rists hu m o rists as we ll R o ss e tti w as m a d e t o s u it the m Ju st an d n o b l e s e ntim e nts a d o rn hi s v e rs e Its sc e n e ry c o u l d h av e b e e n r e pr e s e nte d o n l y by a p aint e r o f ge nius a th o ughtf u l o bs e rv e r o f n at u r e A llu si o ns c o ntinu all y t e stify t o t he stu d e nt b o th o f m e n an d o f b o o k s T he things ar e h o w e v e r w he r e t he y ar e s o l e l y t o s e rve t he de man d s o f t he p o e t S ar t H e is p o e t in e ve ry l in e e ve ry turn o f a phr as e in t he m o d e ll ing o f e v e ry c ad e nc e In a p ie c e o f a hu n d r e d an d e ighty st anz as I find b u t o n e which is pr o s aic H e mi ght h av e s e e m e d o f a n atur e t o o fi ne l y c o nstitu t e d t o o s u btl e t o o e xc l usiv e fo r a b all ad write r W hat e v e r instinct p e rhaps we arin e ss o f t he s o l e t he cr avi ng fo r an c o mp ani o nship o f his o wn e m o ti o ns app e al t o wid e r symp at hi e s tur n e d hi s M u s e in t hat d ir ce ti o n as p o e t he acc e pt e d fr e e l y its o b l igat i o ns B e ing t he tho r o u gh artist he w as t he m o st f astidi o u s o f wri t e rs b e c a m e p l ain r o u gh an d br u squ e t he f au lt l e ss l y me tric al v e r si fi e r stumb l e d in hal f r hym e s It c an pl ain l y b e d isc e rn e d th at t he u nc o u thn e ss t he irr e g u l ariti e s ar e as int e nti o n al as t h e y ar e p o p u l ar l y e ffe ctiv e I b e l i e v e th at t he Whi t e S hi p t he King s Tr ag e dy w e ir d R o s e M ary its e lf — B e ryl S o ngs an d all— wo u l d at a Pe nny R e ad ing b e sur e o f che e rs an d t e ars e ve n o f c o mpr e h e nsi o n if p arti al fr o m t he humb l e st au die nc e T he Thr e e r ank amo ng t he ,

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25 5

f o r e m o st o f the ir fr ankl y p o p ul ar c l ass in English ve rs e ; an d the y ar e t he wo r k o f o n e o f t he m o st ae sth e tic o f p o e ts T ake t he first an d tr ac e ho w u n d e r c o v e r o f a st o ry fitte d t o c aptivat e a p e as ant a m e chanic a chi l d as fi n e a w e b o f th o u ght an d f e e li ng is w o r k e d a s c o u ld h a v e b e e n spu n fo r a st u dy in br ain wo r k L awl e ss lic e nc e is d u l y c hastis e d in Knight an d d a m s e l b u t as t he c l im ax o f a m o st in tric at e g a m e o f cr o ss pu rp o s e s Ou t o f a m o t he r s b e au tif u l prid e i n a d au ght e r s i m agin e d p u rity Mary mine that a t Mary s r o se .

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is h a m m e r e d an e ngin e at o nc e t o pi e rc e t he g u i l ty he art T he l o v e r w ho w o u l d h av e l iv e d an d t o s l ay its b e tr aye r if l o yal di e s fo r hi s faithle ssn e ss T he B e ryl st o n e i t s e lf in all its b ri lli ancy p erishe s fo r its p e r fi d io u s c o mp lici t y w ith d e vi l s T he m agic a l j e we l r e fl e ct e d t he futur e in i t s g l e ami ng d e pths but t o n o ne but a pur e m aid It had be e n re a d by t he gir l in he r chi l dh o o d She w a s t o r e a d it n o w at he r m o t he r s di c t ate t o l e arn o n whi ch r o a d an a mbush might b e l aid t o t ake t he l ife o f he r affi an ce d l o ve r Sir J a m e s o f H e r o n hay e as he r o d e t o b e shrive n at H o l y Cr o ss She d are d n o t te ll he r m o t he r th at she ful fi lle d t he fate d c o n d iti o n n o l o nge r P l R s Mary s a k t o t h fl o o r T h ni g ht will c m if t h d y i N y he av n t ak s c ns l st r wi t h st r A d h l p shall r ac h y r he r t f r m af ar A b ride y o ll b as a m aid y a e T h l ad y nb nd he j we ll d z n A d dr w f ro m h r b t h B e ry l st o n S h p d i t w a t o a sh d wy s ph r W rld o f wo rld t h s s c o m p r That b e ars a d b rie s t he to iling y ar ,

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FIVE CE N TURIES OF E N GLISH

256

VERSE

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FIVE CEN T URIES OF E N GLISH VERSE n w h f ac d h h rd h c ry And h aid P t b ack h m t o t d i A d b ac k wi th t h c rr nt s f r c th y r l draw t a wate r wh l Lik a l af that t h t id Lo w t h p o r shi p l an d O t h n k e d k l a sh b st mi ght g lid T he sist r t il d t t h b r o th r s sid fr m b l w ca to h H r a c he d And stiffe n d hi arms t o cl tch h r so B t w f r o m t h shi p s o m s p i d t h b o at A d S av d w a t h c r y f r m m any a t h at And d wn t t h b at th y l pe d a d f ll I t t rn d a b c k t t rns i w ll And n thing w a th r b t t h rg a d sw ll T h Princ that w a d t h Ki ng t c m Th r i a instant go ne t o his d o o m H w Princ e f l st a d p rid H sh w d g rac till t h ho r h di d Wh h sh ld b ki g h ft wo ld w H d y k t h p as nt t hi gh w pl O him t h shi p s s c o r e th ir f rr ws o w G o d nl y k o ws wh r hi s o l di d wak B t I hi sis te r s ke w hi m d i f He k

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DA N TE GA B RIEL ROSSE T TI I

25 9

ve nti ne t o r e qu i re as a r igh t o f T he Ki ng s Tr age dy an y e xpl an ati o n o f its cho ic e o the r th an t he fascin ati o n o f t he pr o l o nge d h o rr o r its e l f W e fe e l t he a we o f t he suspe ns e be fo r e t he ass assins had re turne d fo r a fu rth e r s e arch aft e r t he ki ng s hi di ng p l a c e t o t he r o o m te n ante d n o w o n l y by he r o ic Cathe ri ne D o ugl as he l p le ss fro m t he t o rture o f he r sh atte r e d ar m Thr gh t h o pe n d o r T h ni ght wind w ail e d r o nd t h e m pty r o o m A d t he r sh s sho k o t he fl o o r A d t h b e d dro p d l w i t h d ark re c ss Wh nc t h rr s wa re nt away A d t h fi li ght still sh n o v r t h s p ac W h re o hidd n s c r t lay A d t h r in h d c ase d a d t h m o o nb ams lit T h wi nd o w high i t h w all Bri ght b ams that O t h pl a k that I kn w Th gh t h painte d pa d id f all An d g l m d wi th t h s pl nd r o f Sc t l nd s c ro wn An d shi ld arm o rial B t th n a g r at wi nd sw pt p t h ski s A d t h c l im b i g m n f ll b ac k And t he ro yal blaz d fr m t h fl r An d no g ht r m in d o i t t rac k An d hi g h i t he d rk n d wind w p n T h shi ld a d t h c ro wn w e r b l c k do

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FIVE CE N TURIES And

E N GLISH VERSE

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v rm o re I br g ht h r w rd S h b t t o h d ad ki g J m s A d i t h c ld a wi t h fi draw b r ath S h s p o k e t he t rai t o r nam e e

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FIVE CE N TURIES OF E N GLISH VERSE

2 62

S o nne t bui lding w as in his b l o o d T he r apture o f D ante w o rs hi p c o nstitu te d it his pr o fe ssi o n Fr o m his m o de l s in t he Vita N u o va an d t he cyc l e o f t he Maste r s h arbinge rs c o mp ani o ns he l e arnt ho w t o e xtract t he utm o st an d musi c fr o m t he j ang l ing o f t he cur io us un de r ve sture o f sh ac kle s His ini mit ab l e tr ans l ati o ns sh o w his s ki ll Parti e n lar ly a d mi r ab l e in hi s o rigin al wo r k is t he s e ri e s he e ntit l e d T he H o us e o f Li fe In it with a h an d c o mp ar ative l y fre e , he c o nstructs bric k by bric k t o b e o ve r l ai d with a m arb l e c o ating a te mpl e o f Lo ve I c o nf e ss t he m ar ve l o f t he m as o nry ; in e ach s e gm e nt t he inte rde pe nd e nce at o nc e wi t h fin al un ity Ove r an d a bo ve all an d ind e p e n de nc e bl o ws an air o f re fr e shing sp o nt ane ity T he y t o wh o m t he ri g o u rs o f t he m e tre e spe ci all y in a ch ain wi th a hun d re d l in k s ar e dist aste fu l m ay fin d a p l e as ant sur pris e in T he H o use o f Life The y wi ll I thin k ac kn o wl e d ge th at it has pr o ve d i t p o ssibl e if by n o m e ans a thing o f c o ur s e fo r a s o nn e t t o b e a p o e m al s o Unf air as it always is t o te ar away m e m be rs o f a s e ri e s I am c o mpe ll e d by t he l aws o f sp ac e t o o ffe r sp e cim e ns o nl y -

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26 3

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Be s ide s be auty he re th e re is te n de rn e ss an d so far t he pie c e is fo r R o ss e tti unique T he pre vai l ing w ant o f th at p ro p e r t y is a n atur al c o ns e que nce o f t he e mpi re o ve r him o f o n e c an o n an d g o sp e l c o nn e cting all hi s m any ch ar acte r i st ics Fr o m o ld m e m o ri e s I in di c ate d it w h e n I st art e d N o w th at I c l o se t he re vi e w o f my m o r e re c e nt i mpre ss io ns o f hi s p o e ms I find m y be l ie f c o nfir m e d Mo r e th an w ith She lle y — w ho w as a pri e st o f hum ani t y as we ll a s singe r— m o re e ve n th an wi th Ke ats — in w h o m a di st inct c u rr e nt o f yo uth s w ar m b l o o d un c hi ll e d by t he sh ad o w o f de ath is pe rc e ptible t he ru l e with R o ss e tti is t o o b e y n o o th e r m aste r an d e n d th an ar t W hi l e he re c o gni z e s t he e xiste nc e o f o th e r — e a an d i mpul s s i ms c o n di ti o ns whi l e he m ake s u se o f the m hims e l f— he n e ve r fo rge ts o r pre te nd s t o fo rge t th at fo r hi m th e ir o bj e ct is t o s e rve as p o e tic m ateri al H e sh rin ks fr o m n o s adne ss s o urne ss ug lin e ss which wi ll wi de n t he c o mp ass o f hi s l yre I d o n o t supp o s e I am l ibe ll ing t he g e ne ral e d uc ate d pu bl ic if I find in t h at i mp e ri o us e c le c t ic ism o r ae sth e ticis m a k e y t o his l a c k at all tim e s o f c o m m o n p o pul ar f avo u r I c ann o t affe ct t o b e s ur pris e d whe n I re c o ll e ct s o m e o f his be autifu l m o nstro siti e s Af te r all it is n o t an un w h o l e s o m e instinct w hich d e m an ds o f p o e try th at it sh all b e l ife s c o ns e cr ate d m iniste r s anctify ing pu rifying an d s we e te n i ng R o ss e tti t he p o e t r e c o gni ze d e tti t he p ainte r n o such o b l ig ati o n an o r e th a n R o ss m y Acc o r dingl y t he p o e t l i ke t he p ainte r pr o b ab l y wi ll c o ntinu e t o b e wo rshippe d by a s e ct an d n o t by a n ati o n H o we ve r p o e try is an ind e pe n de nt King do m w ith its It ne ithe r is o b l ige d n o r d e si re s t o b e e xc l usive o w n l aw s Its b o r de rs ar e wi de The y h ave m ade ro o m fo r Dr yde n as fo r Mi l t o n fo r B u rns as fo r Co w pe r fo r B yr o n as fo r W o r d s wo rth W e ll c an th e y c o nt ain R o s se tti al s o Po e ms ,

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disc o ve re d in t he m H e d e si re d t o inspire an d invigo rate by de scribing b o th as he saw the m Str ange l y e no ugh t he r e s u l t is n o t t he r o b u st pictur e o f a ctu a l t hings w hi ch he E ach succ e ssive m ay b e pre s u m e d t o h ave c o nt e mp l at e d sce ne fl o ats in a h az e o f dre a my suns hin e thr o ugh w hich t he upr o ar an d st o rm o f h u m an p assi o n s o un d a s m e l o di o us ly unre al t o t he re ade r as t he e cho o f p ast l ab o urs t o t he l o tus e ating s ai l o rs Eve r in vain t he p o e t r ais e s his pro te sting b attle c r y o f t he t ale he has t o te ll Of t he w o nd e rf u l d ay s a c o ming w he n all S hall b e b e tte r than w ll .

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fe e l ing with which I had he ar d it re cite d by an Oxf o rd frie n d sh o rtl y afte r its publ ic ati o n a t o nce c a m e b ac k T he jing le o f it had st aye d w ith m e unfo rg o tt e n fo r fif t y ye ars an d u nf o rge tt ab l e The re w a a l ady liv d i a h ll Larg h ye s a d slim a d t all And e v r h s g f r o m no o n t no o n T w o e d r s e s ac r ss t h m o o n Th r w a a Knight c m riding by I arl y s p ring w h n t h r o ads w r dry And h h ard that l ady si g at t h n Two d r s s a c r ss t h m o n Y t n n t h m o r he t pp d at ll B t h r d a g all o p p as t t h hall And l ft that l ady singi g t n on Tw d ro s s c r ss t h m n B c a s f rs th t h b attl w as t A d t h s c arl t a d b l had go t t b me t H ro d t h s p r t ill t h n xt w arm n n T wo d r e s ac r ss t h m n ‘

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ALGERN O N CHARLES S W IN B URN E

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PO E T S in ge ne r al l o ve t o p re ach an d t o a c o ngre g ati o n W he n the y s o l i l o qu iz e the y c ho o s e a m ar ke t p l ace F o r a ve r y fe w t he prim a ry if n o t t he fin a l f o r u m is t he ms e l ve s Afte rwar d s the y m ay b e pe rs u a d e d t o ad mit t he publ ic t o the i r c o nfid e nc e At t he m o m e nt o f singing the y had b e e n h o ne stl y un aw are o f its e xiste nce The y r e s o rte d t o p o e try si mp l y b e c ause the y kn e w o f n o b e tte r instru m e nt wi th which t o h am m e r o u t th o ughts vital t o th e ir o w n s o u l s If t he re s u l ting i de as f ai l t o to uch o th e r he arts o r e ars the y d o n o t mi nd T he ir di s re g a r d o f mi sce ll ane o us symp athy t he o cc asi o n al c ru d ity o f f o rm ha ve n o c o m m o n o rigi n w ith t he r o ughn e ss o f a wri te r w ho h aving studi e d hi s ar t as ch alle nge s critic is m t o di se ntangle a vi o li nist studi e s his The s e t he be auty fr o m t he e xc re sc e nc e s c o nc e al ing it s o l it ari e s d o n o t c o nc e rn th e mse l ve s with t he artistic re qui re m e nts o f t he m e di um o f e xpre ssi o n the y h ave ado p t e d The y h arb o ur n o inte nti o n un l e ss t o m o ul d an d de ve l o p fo r th e ir o wn u se a c o nc e pti o n o r an a spir ati o n T o this l imite d c l ass o f p o e ts w ho fir st an d l ast ar e thinke rs Arthu r Hu gh Cl o ugh be l o ngs N ature h o we ve r e nd o w e d hi m w ith p o e tic a l gifts m o r e o r l e ss ind e p e nd e nt Thu s a pe c ul i ar l y de l ic ate o f th at sp e cific ch ar acte ristic s e nse o f rhyt h m di stingui she d hi m fr o m t he c o m m e nce m e nt A Rive r Po o l writte n wh e n he w as t we nty o f his c a r e e r .

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FIVE CEN TURIES OF EN GLISH VERSE

29 4

s e r vi c e H i s yo uth w as c ast in a time o f me nt al an d spiritu al qu e sti o nings a ctive e sp e ci all y a m o ng pu pi l s o f A rn o ld Pe ri l o us l y as the y di sturbe d t he gre at te ache r s o wn s o n singing ke pt o n t he wh o l e with hi m its in de pe n de nce His fri e n d his T hy r s is had a l e ss i mpe ri o us i m agin at i o n o r F ro m a m o re re st l e ss l y an d u n se lfi shly l o gic al c o nsci e nc e an e ar l y p e ri o d t he p o e tic instinct in hi m be c a m e pr i m ari l y fixing if o n l y fo r a time an instrum e nt fo r e mb o dying his sh ado wings o f e xist e nc e pre s e nt p ast an d future o f t he g o ve rn me nt o f t he Uni ve rs e o f In fini ty Ve rs e be c ame his me ans fo r e xpre ssing t he c o n flict in his s o u l b e t we e n sc e pticism an d mysticism At m o me nts t he s o ngste r in hi m w o ul d ris e an d c ar o l It w as o n l y as it we re by an accide nt R e all y he w as m o r e his p ro pe r s e l f e ve n in uns atisfying E ast e r D ay Od e s Christ n o t Rise n y e t Rise n T he Que sti o ning Spirit 1° — th an in t he m usic o f t he Swiss g ir l s Be the s d a c att l e c all Mo st o f all w as he hi ms e lf in a m o ving if unh o p e ful cry such as Parting .

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ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH

s o le mn ch ant o f an appe al agains t d o gm atizing o n t he Un kn o w ab l e 0 Th i t hat m y s t ri o s shrin E thro ne d a I m s t ay di vin I will o t f ram o th ght f wh t T h m y st i th r b t I will t p r t e f th s d And b p r fan wi th y a d E no g h t hat in o so u l a d h art Th whats r Th m ay st b a t Uns e s c r i that high shrin Ack wl dg d p r s nt d d ivi I will o t a k m pp r i S m f t r d y t pl ac T h t h r N y t d ny s c h m y th s a d th n A d w o m n aw T h d th r T hy nam w a s c h h r h Th u di d t app ear T him ly Th i that d im shrin D U k o wn kn w r main di in ; if Th r ys t at l as t i Th t c n t h f ct th t r nd th m li s w y t h j dg m nt gu id T h h nd t i gh t d s Thy lf divid I — h i s l a d he art B Th b t t r I will t a k t o f l Th t W he the r at all o r ho w far he succ e e d e d in di sc o ve ring — h e h an dl e s whe the r he might n o t a c l u e t o t he pr o b l e ms by p assing the m by h ave had a brighte r c are e r an d be e n h appi e r pe rs o n ally is a qu e sti o n n o s t r ange r c an ans w e r with assuranc e T o me he ne ve r app e ars t o h ave fe l t that o u t o f all hi s s e l f in t e r r o gat in gs he had pi o ne e r e d a v i a m e di a Ce rt ainl y t he go spe l he pre ache d t o hi ms e lf m ad e W ith t he e xc e p t i o ns o f T he B o thi e fe w c o nve rts o utsid e an d Pe sch ie r a w ith its c o mp ani o n hi s p o e ms we re as l itt l e he e de d in his l if e time The y ar e with t he s a m e e xce pti o ns or

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l e ss re ad n o w H e hi ms e lf di d n o t mi n d an d wo u ld n o t H e di d n o t s e e k fo r t he f a m e e ithe r o f p o e t o r o f m in d pr o phe t N e ve r c o ul d it h ave o ccurre d t o him t o b e di s h T e Eng li s h ap o in t e d t hat i t did n o t an d has n o t c o m e p pu b l ic t ake s s m all p l e as u r e in phi l o s o phi c al p o e try un l e ss an e xtr a o r d in ary h ar m o ny b e inspir e d by an e a rthy s e l f l o v e an d Ar thur C l o u gh s m e l o dy an d li ke Om a r Kh ayy am s p hi l o s o phy ar e n o t thu s inspir e d Me anw hil e he w an de rs S o m e ti me s a b o u t Vict o ri a n l it e r atur e l i ke a p hant o m h o we ve r ph ant o ms be c o m e as muc h f o rc e s as ar e subst anc e s It is in an d h e re aft e r it m ay happ e n t o b e s o with him tru th di fficu lt t o b e l i e ve that a spi ri t s o graci o us so e age r t o l e a rn as we ll as te ach s o o rigin al s o re ve r e nt so o p e n m ind e d so p e ne t rating in its insight w ith a p e rs o n al ity s o int e r e sting s o st ar l i ke s o ge ne ro us l y ho t ag ainst injustic e — — n d a a a e a o g inst th m l ne c an actu all y b e as an d t yr anny f aint in its in flu e nc e a s t he d e adn e ss o f p o pul ar att e nti o n t o t he w o r k s it p e rm e at e s w o u l d s e e m t o pr o ve .

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l ighte d l ake an d o n t he Te rrac e at Be rne Th o ugh t he sin o f mo no to ny c ann o t b e ch arge d ag ainst hi s ve rse n o t Such as s o un d ar e all s o l e mn m any ke ys ar e t o uch e d an d auste r e The n n o Matthe w A rn o ld Cu l t has a ris e n N o c o ngre g ati o n h o we ve r minut e o f r e ve r e nt disc i p le s g athe rs t o g e the r in his n ame Pe rs o ns o f re fine m e nt a d mir e The y nur s e t he e m o ti o n in th e ir o wn b re asts The y fe ar t o vu l g ariz e it by pub l ishing it abr o ad T he c o ntr o ve rsi al f a m e whi ch he acqu ir e d in t he c o nc l u di ng s t age s o f his c ar e e r has its e lf in a w ay acte d ad ve rs e l y T he s e nti me nt o f his e ss ays w as th o ugh in t he bi tt e r with o ut t he s we e t akin t o t h at o f his ve rs e In l atte r d ays his p o e try o fte n appe are d t o b e re g ar de d as an appe n d age t o his e ss ays r ath e r th an th e y t o it Of t he l imit ati o ns in f act t o his p o pul ari ty the re c an The y we r e ne c e ss ary re sul ts o f his wh o l e b e n o qu e sti o n h abit o f m ind H e had an e xce ssive te n de ncy t o w ar ds c o ns ide ring t he p o e t a pre ache r t o war ds ch anting h o mi l ie s o n t he lo w a ims an d p u rsui ts o f m o d e rn s o ci e ty its tins e l its e arthi ne ss H e l ai d hims e l f o pe n t o t he r e p ro ach o f p aradi ng as a di sc o ve re r o f t he h o ll o wn e ss o f l ife H e w as pr o ud o f be ing t hr o ugh his h o n e sty a h o m e l e ss wan de re r f o r l o rn f ro m t he he arth o f o rth o d o xy S o m e tim e s he phi l o s o phiz e d wh e n he o ught t o h ave be e n singing Ofte n his tho ughts pre ss e d fo r ward so e age rly as t o thr e ate n t o sti fle o n e an o th e r N o t m e re l y ar e his p o e ms u nre l ie ve d by a sing le fl ash o f g aie ty the y ar e n o t l ight e d by a sp ar kl e L ast l y an d m o st d e tri m e nt all y he insiste d up o n of j oy p e rh aps c o u l d n o t h e l p m ixing t he wo r k o f t he critical with th at o f t he c re ative fa cu l ty H e wo u l d sit in j u dge m e nt up o n t he purity o f his o wn inspir ati o n up o n t he qu anti t y o f c an dl e p o we r o f t he t o ngu e s o f fi r e as th e y al ighte d up o n him On e an d all ar e he avy fe tte rs upo n f ancy ; an d as .

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such t he ge ne r al e ve n t he instruc te d pub li c has a l w ays fe l t th e m F o r an int i m ate circ l e the y e nh anc e r e spe ct fo r t he p o we rs w hich c an b u rst thr o ugh s u ch o bstac l e s T he drawb ac k s ar e fo r it t he e xal ting d e fe cts o f his Mus e s qu al iti e s H ad he n o t d e vi ate d int o pre achi ng w e s ho ul d it wi ll urge h ave l o st t he he r o ic dirge o f Rugby Ch ape l N o app e al in Chr ist s n a m e w o ul d h av e b e e n r ais e d in Pr o gre ss fo r symp athy with wh at e ve r F ait h r e ge ne r ate s H ad he n o t b e e n ap t t o c o nf o u nd phi l o s o p hi zing an d singing we might h ave be e n sp are d t he c ro ss graine d m e dit ati o ns o f E mp e do c l e s but sho ul d h ave miss e d t he l o ve l y inte rl u de s o n t he h arp o f Callic le s T hre e f o urths o f T he Bu ri e d Life ar e psych o l o gy r ath e r th an p o e try but with o ut the m w e had lest t he music o f t he c l o s e — t he su dde n p ause in l ife s distr acte d turm o i l ,

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h ave d anc e d fro m t he si l e nce o f de ath int o t he si le nc e o f l iving l ight An d t h p l in whe r t h d d ag D i d it w sil nt w r f r w ag O that w id pl in w w apt i gl o m W he r m y spl nd o r finds it t m b M ny sp nt flam s a d falle n ni ghts T he o t w imm rt al li g ht s Ris sl o wl y p int o t h sk y v rl sti gly T shin t h r Lik st ars v r t h b nding hill Th p c h nd t h wo rld i st ill Wi t ho u t t he vain e ffo rt in t he Epi lo gue t o Le ssing s L ao c o ii n t o m arsh a l t he arts in th e i r re sp e cti ve r an k s w e sho u l d h ave l o st t he n o b le t ri bute t o M usic Mis r r D min d a d th y T h w rds tt D p is th ir p ni te ntial m an Mi ghty th ir p th s b t t is g n ! B th v n t k s th m th n— tho s t w P o r b o nde d w rds — a d m ak s th m w I fin i te m ke s th m m k s th m y u g Transpl ants th m t o ano the r t o g Wh r th y o w wi t ho t c ns t raint P r ll t h s ul o f th ir c o m pl ai t c h nn l l arg A d r ll d wn T h w l t h di vine t h y hav in c harg Pag ft r p ag e o f m i c t rn And still th y liv d still th y b r P re n i al p assi n f ra ght a d f re Mi re r D o min Eve n w he n w e fe e l hi m str ai ni ng afte r an i de a e v a d e s hi s gr a sp a s in T he Str aye d R e ve ll e r t he te n dri l s o f fl o ating f ancy c l ing t o a hun dre d e nt ranc ing sc e ne s Ego tistic al is he ? If an y o n e is a l ic e ns e d e g o tist is n o t a po e t ? W e ary w o rn o u t bl as é t o o if he p le as e s o l o ng

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s ake o f a rhym e o r rhythm T he y h ave b e e n s ai d t o b e c ap ab l e o f l e tting a rhym e intr o duc e a th o u gh t B r o wning wo ul d h ave sc o rne d t o give up t he l e ast p artic l e o f an id e a H e n e ve r sc ru p l e d t o m anu at t he d e m and o f di cti o n f acture te r ms an d phras e s as c l o t he s fo r an id e a R athe r t h an suffe r rhyme t o l e a d th o ught he c o ine d rhym e s al s o H e m ay s e e m t o b e pr o l ix Ag ain i t is tho ught w hich is t o b l ame ; s o m e i de a wi ll h ave had t o dis e nt ang l e its e l f p ainfu ll y fr o m e ncumb e ring m atte r o r it is gr o wing an d ne e ds a d di tio n al rai m e nt in t he s hape o f sp e e ch Its p are nt ne ve r d re a mt o f re fusin g so n atu ral n e c e ss ary e ve n l au d abl e an d d e c e nt a de m and T he Ring an d t he B o o k r e p o rts in fo ur v o l um e s a c ri min al tri al Th at is t he p o e m s o u tw ard gui se T he re al ity is a mic r o sc o pic an a l ysis o f t he l ife be ats o f a gr o up o f h e arts Me asur e its right t o t he sp ac e n o t by t he c rim e n o t by t he he ar t s b u t by t he pu l s ati o ns o f t he re p o rt e r s b rain an d t he r e is n o t a p age t o o m any Vo l umino u s if n o t d iffu s e r u gge d a n d h arsh n o t c are fu l t o re nd e r t he id e as he — e u e i e s pre m e l y p riz d nt lligibl much l e ss p al at abl e — t o t he o r di n ar y Eng l ishm an he st ands in t he m a ss o f hi s w o r k al t o g e t he r ap art b o t h fr o m his c o nt e mp o r ari e s an d hi s p re d e c e ss o rs With all the ir vari anc e s an d c o ntr arie ti e s t he s e ve r al sc ho o l s o f p o e t r y m ay b e s aid at l e ast t o h ave a gre e d as a ru l e up o n a m e a sur e o f c o mp l im e nt ary re sp e ct fo r t he un de rst an di ng o f the i r p u b l ic Fo re m o st a m o ng t he fe w di ssid e nts st ands t he au th o r o f S o r d e ll o Cal ib an u p o n Se t e b o s Princ e H o he n st ie l Schwang au R e d Co tto n N ight c ap C o un t r y F ifin e at t he F ai r The I n n Al bum J o c o se r i a P ar le y i n gs with Ce rt ain Pe o p l e La Saisi az t he t w o Po e ts o f Cr o isic an d As o l and o N o c harg e c an b e l o dge d against hi m o f havi ng p an de re d t o t he p o pul ar t aste o r i gno rance .

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c o mpl ac e ncy with whic h he l au nc he d up o n l ite r at ur e t hi s rapid succ e ssi o n o f c o nun drums e nr age d t he c o nte mp o r ari e s o f t w o thi rds o f his c are e r H e ne ve r appe are d t o b e aw ar e o f t he s ho c k s he w as a d mi n ist e ring Hi s g e n e r al unc o uthn e ss s e e m e d t he m o re aud aci o us in t he f ace o f a s t o r e o f m o st tun e f u l o cc a si o n a l p o e ms with w hich he inte rsp e rs e d his h abitu al e xp e rim e nts up o n t he e nduranc e At wi ll he sh o w e d that w he n he ch o s e n o ne o f r e a d e rs c o u l d b e m o re m e l o di o us th an he B y t urns he w as ge ntl e an d fie ry able t o uns e al t he fo u nt ain o f l au ghte r an d t he f o unt ain o f t e ars H e w as m aj e stic te rrib l e simp le — — o e te nd e r e ve n t i mp o stur if hungry c o nte nt wi th a pro fo und tho ught be ne ath t o b e j u st gr ace fu l With t he s e ns e up o n us o f t he wo r k s by whi ch app are nt l y he m e an t his n am e t o l ive w e ask n o t s o much w hy us u all y he c l ashe s t he harp stri ngs as w hy t he psych o l o gist t he m e t a physici an has sud de nl y str aye d int o abs o lu te singing W as he m o ve d by c o mp assi o n fo r t he b e wi l d e re d an d d az e d M ay cri t ic 2 W as he hims e lf we ary o f un tune fu l ne ss it n o t h ave b e e n th at t he m u sic always un de rl ay t he phi l o s o phy th at t he phi l o s o phy w as always re ady in — f avo uring circumst an c e s t o bre ak int o s o ng th at l ife s sc o wl o f c l o ud hi d e s b e hind it sple ndi d a st ar 2 I h ave be e n g l ancin g thr o ugh t he lyri cs sc atte re d o ve r m any vo lu m e s I t wo ul d b e h ard t o s ay wh e re e l s e c an b e f o und a m o re abs o l ute c o m bin ati o n o f th o ught s e ntim e nt rhyth m — o r whe re m o re vari e ty In The Lo st Le ade r I re ad re pr o ach a m aze m e nt r e vo lt h o p e th at he t he r e ne gade in fighting t he a dmi r a t i o n fo llo we rs he has de se rte d will ke e p all t he p ro we ss w hich had w o n the ir wo rshi p — th at he wi ll re pe n t in de ath— b e — o the ir s o nc e m r e in He ave n fo r the y l o ve hi m T he

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It is t he s a m e thr o ugh o u t B r o wning w hi l e he might b e s u pp o s e d t o inte nd n o thing but a s o ng w as thin k ing In r e turn w h e n m e dit ating he an d o ft e n p r o f o u nd l y sti ll s ang It w o u l d b e i dle fo r m e t o ass e rt th at in his wo r k o u tsid e his idyll s an d l yrics m e l o dy is t he prim ary a ttr ib u t e w hich a r e a d e r o bs e rve s N e ith e r is it s e nti m e n t T he e ar d o e s n o t in S o r d e ll o in P ar ac e l sus give by d rin king in t he m u sic t he sign al fo r t he h e art t o g l o w B ut wh ate ve r he wr o te w as p o e try N o ne c o u l d e ve r mist ake a d o z e n l ine s o f his fo r pr o s e I w o u l d e ve n go s o far a s t o s ay if a c o mp a ris o n had t o b e a tt e mpt e d th at whe n he is n o t m aking e xpe rim e nts in m e tr e o r o n t he fo r b e ar anc e o f his a d mire rs hi s ve rs e fo r inst ance in Christm as E v e an d E aste r D ay La Sai siaz o r P ar le y i n gs c o u l d b e s ho wn t o b e m o r e abs o lu te l y distingu ish ab l e r hythmic all y fr o m pr o s e th an In a Ye ar o r H o m e T ho u ghts fr o m Abr o a d an d F r o m t he Se a H o w v a ri o u s t he b l an k ve rs e is an d ho w str o ng H o w it s e e ms t o h ave spr u ng rip e an d fu ll fr o m t he b rain o f p o we r ! T he th o u ght st ands o u t fr o m it as t he m u sc l e s in a st atu e by Miche l Ange l o Int o a s e nt e nc e it c an c o nd e ns e m o r e t han c o u l d b e e xpr e ss e d in a p age o f pr o s e It c an t ak e a s e nte nce o f pr o s e an d dr aw fr o m it a h u nd re dfo l d t he m e aning Singul ar m e rits ; an d as singul ar d e fe cts ; t he d e fe cts an d w it h gr e atn e ss in b o th T he o f t he wr it e r s qu al iti e s s e lf c o m m un ing in p artic u l ar which l i e s at t he b asis o f H e wo u l d h ave re j o ic e d all hi s w o r k ha s its d r aw b a c k s T he re t he h abit o f e sp e ci all y t o s hin e a s a d r a m atist di al o gu e u n ce asm g might h ave be e n e xp e cte d t o b e p e cu liar ly v alu ab l e o n t he c o ntr ar y it m ars t he an d t he re e ffe ct o f his m o st pr o mising e nte r pris e s It re n de rs the m fu ll o f inte re st as p o e ms it pu she s f at ally int o t he b ac k gro u nd t he acti o n w hich is e ss e nti al t o a pl ay s s u cce ss .

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3 38

S o m e tim e s I h ave m ys e l f f e l t inc l ine d t o c o nd e mn t he Idyll s o f t he King fo r unre al ity an d pr o l ixity ; as if o n e had a right t o re quir e t al e s o f chiva l ry t o b e r ati o n al t e rs e ood s e nte nti o us pithy Whe n in a j u s t e r m I a d mit th at he must b e a f o rtun at e stud e nt o f r o m anc e who is c o n ve rs ant wi t h an y m o re f ascin ating th an Ge r aint an d Eni d L aunc e l o t an d E l ain e t he L ast T o urn a m e n t fo r all the ir diffus e n e ss ; with aught m o re di vin e th an Gui ne ve re wh e r e T e nnys o n fo und at l e ngth a wo rthy m atch fo r t he e l s e p e e r l e ss cr e atur e o f his y o uthfu l i m aginings kingl y Mo rte d Ar t hur Wh at stre a m l e t ag ain in a d e ll o f Parn assus e ve r l au ghe d m o re g ai l y than t he B r o o k e sc ap e d fr o m its 7 e ncumbe ring Wh e r e is th e r e a m o r e h appi l y fr a m e i nsp ire d Pr o th al ami o n th an t he W e l c o m e t o A l e x an d r a Bride o f t h he ir f t he king s o f t he s a 7 Whe re a b att l e s o ng t o be at t he Ch arge o f t he Six Hun dre d Into t he v all y o f D e ath W h e re a mo re triump hant fun e r al hymn th an t hat o n t he — e a h Gr t Duke wi th t e gr an d bre ak t he cry o f t he mighty Se aman fro m his t o mb W h i h that c m t h lik h d g e st With b an r a d wi th m si c wi th s ldi r a d wi th pri t Wi th a nati o n w ping a d b r aking o my r st If imp at i e nc e b e fe l t at t he re suscit ati o n o n t he gr ave s brink o f Lo c ks l e y H all le t it b e r e m e mbe r e d th at thre e ye ars l at e r t he wo rn br ain de m o nstr ate d its vi cto ry o ve r age in Cr o ssing t he B ar L o ng in de e d be fo r e th at y e t m any ye ars aft e r F it z Ge r ald wo ul d h ave si l e nce d hi s frie nd t he singe r had trie d t ri u m h I we ll r e c o ll e ct t he de pth o f t he p an t ly a n e w str a in i mpre ssi o n pro duce d by t he app e ar ance o f In Me m o ri a m ,

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pp e nd ed H e c o ul d n o t p ass a c o nte mp o rary pr o b l e m by with o ut a dve ntu ring an ans we r Mo r e than o n e c o e val at h o m e an d a cr o ss t he Atl antic had as I h ave s ho wn t he s a m e cr aving His sp e ci al a dvant age w as t he p o ss e ssi o n o f t he s e cr e t o ve r an d a b o v e gif t s he sh a r e d wit h o th e rs Whe n o nc e t he str ange n e ss o f his o f irr e sistib l e m e l o dy m e th o d w as s u rm o u nte d th at acte d l i ke a sp e ll up o n Angl o S axo n inte ll ige nc e Lo ng be fo r e t he e n d he had ste e p e d t he re al m o f Eng l ish ve rs e in an atm o sphe re all his o wn Exce pt fr o m within o n e t e nt in t he wi l d e rn e ss n o l yr e s o u nd e d w hich had n o t be e n tun e d o r re tun e d in u nis o n w ith his Und e r t he str e ss o f t he u nch alle nge d a bs o l u te n e ss o f his u l ti m at e s u pr e m a cy an e ff o rt is n e e d e d th at he hims e l f t o r e c all th at he had t o fight fo r hi s thr o n e had o fte n d e sp ai r e d c o mp l aining th at O c e i a g o ld n h r ar t h a s d I c ast t Up the re c m a fl o w r T h p p l s id a w d H ave I o ve rpr ais e d ? I d o n o t m e an in vi e w o f t he ve ry p o ssibl e hint that I o u ght first t o h ave c o nsid e re d what m y e u l o gie s we r e w o rth T o th at t aunt I kn o w I have b e e n e xp o sing mys e l f thr o ugh o u t my s e ve nty t w o c o m m e nts B u t witho u t r e g ard t o my tit l e t o an o pini o n at all is t he p an e gyric h e r e o u t o f just pr o p o rti o n t o t he c l aims o f o the r p o e ts 2 At an y r ate I h ave n e ve r c o nc e al e d fr o m mys e l f my the m e s d e fic ie nci e s I pe rc e ive th at t he l iqu id s we e tn e ss is t o o invari abl e T he c ar pin e s fo r a l ittl e harshne ss a s e ns e o f o p e n air fo r an o cc asi o n al u n in t e n T he m e lli u o u s styl e t e mpts t io n ally br o ke n b ac ke d l in e in t he r e s t as t o ve rb o s e n e ss p articu l a r l y in t he Idyll s we ll as th o s e o f T he King wh e r e ind e e d it is m o r e e x c u s ab l e At tim e s i t l ab o ri o us l y e mb al ms a fly in am be r T o o a

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m any kno tty q u e stio ns ar e l ight l y pro p o u nd e d The r e is a pr o p e nsity t o mist ak e si t tin g up o n t he p u zz l e s o f e xiste nc e No t fo r th e ir inve s t ig ati o n if n o t fo r th e ir s e tt l e m e nt r ar e l y t he ar t by w hich Gr ay in t he E l e gy pr o d u c e d Th o ugh t he e ffe c t o f e nti re si mp l ici t y f ai l s T e nn ys o n ve ry s e l d o m e ve n his t aste is n o w an d th e n at f au l t In bri e f his t he o l o gy m o r al phi l o s o phy sc ie nc e an d s ki ll in t he c o nstructi o n o f a p l o t ar e t ho s e o f a p o e t a D ar w in o r a Wi lkie Co ll ins n o t o f a B ish o p B ut l e r Th e re is t he fe mini ne H e sings d ar kling n o t s o a ring n o te in his music H e is n o t quite t he mag ici an o r pr o ph e t s o m e o f hi s discip l e s pro cl aim e d hi m Scrutiniz e d c l o s e l y his ar t b e tr ays fl aw s which t he d e l ic ate fin i sh had c o ve r e d — an d his Mu s e is t he m o r e a d o r ab l e fo r .

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s ee me d t o h ave rung all c o nce ivab l e ch ange s o f p o e tic th o ught an d fe e l ing he ar o s e t o de m o nst rate th at give n t he m an t he p o ss ib l e v a ri ati o ns had in n o wis e b e e n e xh aust e d S o m ay it b e — so will i t b e — in t he futur e as in t he p ast th o u gh had t he sun o f g re at B ritish singe rs actu all y be e n e xtinguish e d w ith A lfr e d T e nnys o n its s e tting w o u ld n o t h ave dish o n o ure d its d awn -

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kn o w at it s birth m o ve d p e rh aps tr ansfo rm e d t he auth o r No W e f e e l th at fo r t he m o m e nt it has tr ansfo rm e d us cr e de ntial s ar e want e d n o i llu stri o u s n a m e S u d de n l y t he wo r d s c atch fir e an d o ur s o u l s wi th the m T he s e ns e o f m ast e ry o f tr ansp o rt o f a k ind o f m agic is a lways t he s a m e T he o cc asi o n t he circumst ance s t he p at e rnity an d affiniti e s o f t he V isit ant wh e n w e try t o its pr e s e nce diffe r as w i de l y as Sp e ns e r s a cc o u nt fo r inspir ati o n fr o m Po p e s o r W o r ds wo rth s fr o m B yro n s S o m e tim e s t he p o e t had c o nst ant l y be e n within t he b u t as l e e p t o rpi d A sh o c k had a uth o r o f suc h v e rs e an d he s an k b a c k int o aw ak e n e d hi m it sp e nt its f o rc e l e thargy o r re p o s e S o m e tim e s t he pi e ce re pr e s e nts t he spring ti de o f m o de st p o we rs a sp asm o f c o nce ntrati o n o f the ir e ss e nc e uninte lligib l e t o th e ir o wn e r T he wri te r s d o min ant i mpu l s e m ay h ave be e n o th e r al to ge th e r than th at o f f ancy It m ay h ave be e n w o r l d l y a mbiti o n in dign ati o n at tyr anny o r cru e l ty wo nd e r l o ve t he A l e ve r has be e n s o ught t o ae c o m e nthusi asm o f pi e ty h h l h cr a v i ng o t e r u l ing p assi o n an d fo r t he in st r u i s t e f p m e nt ve rs e has be e n r e quisiti o n e d Pu re i m agin ati o n s rival rh e t o ri c its e l f wi ll e ve r an d an o n fo r c e o p e n in its flo o d a spring o f p ath o s r aptur e Str aight w ay w e fe e l o ur s e l ve s r ap t fr o m c hi ll a d mir ati o n int o g l o w ing sy m p athy S o m e tim e s it is all an a ccid e nt A visi o n a gh o st has stu mb l e d u p o n a str ange r l o dge d in t he h aun te d ro o m ; S o m e t i m e s it simp l y is t hat insp irati o n has be e n wan de ring afte r its m ann e r in s e arch o f a h o m e Lo o ki ng ab o ut fo r r e st t o t he s o l e s o f its f e e t it has t ak e n re f u g e with n o b e tt e r th an a v e r sifi e r Po e try fr o m t he tim e o f its E l iz ab e th an re vival fo r s o m e t hre e qu arte rs o f a c e ntu ry o nw ar d s w as in t he British air A l arge r l ife had o p e n e d fo r o u r is l and e rs fre e d o m o f s o u l ,

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mbiti o ns an e xp ans e o f ar t l e arn ing l uxury The y had gr o wn int o l o r d s t o g o v e rn a l arg e r wo r l d A l angu age an d m any sc a rc e l y c o mpr e fo r such a p e ri o d w as w anting h e n di ng t he ch ange in th e ir utte r ance fo und t he mse l ve s p o e ts T he y s ang b e c ause the y c o u l d n o t he l p i t an d we re inc l ine d t o b e ash a m e d o f t he i mpul s e I t s e l d o m o ccur re d N e ve r th o u gh t o th e m t o c l aim p ro p e rty in th e ir str a ins the y might c o urt p o pu l a r favo u r fro m t he st age did it e nt e r th e i r mi n ds t o a d o pt minstre l sy a s th e ir v o c ati o n In such a pe ri o d o n e w ho had he ch o s e n t o ab and o n o th e r pursuits c o u l d c o nc e iv ab l y h ave qu al ifie d fo r f u t u r e g e n e r ati o ns as a p o e t pr o fe ss e d might wr ite Occ asi o n al Ve rs e c o mp ar ab l e with th at by re c o gniz e d m aste rs o f t he cr aft T he Li e c o m m o n l y th o u gh n o t un iv e rs all y attribut e d t o R al e gh is a succ e ssi o n o f l ightn ing fl ash e s S y t t h Co r t i t g l ws And shin s lik ro tt n wo o d S ay t t h C h r c h it sh ws W h t g o d d d th g d I f C h rch d C rt r pl y Th g iv th m b o th t h li N o c o nte mp o r ary e u l o gy o n Si d n e y s u rp ass e s his e pit aph W h t hath he l o st th t s ch g r at g r c h th wo Y o ng y ars f dl ss y ars a d h p un s r s g ifts f w al th that still sh ll d re Of f o rt O h ppy r ac wi t h g r at p rais s ! H i s s o nn e t M t ho g ht I aw t h g rav wh r L ra lay w o rthi l y intr o d u ce d t he Fae ri e Que e ne His app e al in t he Pi l grim age fr o m his p e rs e cu t o rs t o He ave n is inspire d if e ve r ve rs e w a s Bl o d m st b my b dy s b lm r N t h r b alm will t h r b e g iv W hil t m y s o l lik q i t p lm r Tr v ll th t wards t h l and o f h av n new a

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Do s t tho u l a g h t o se e ho w f o ls a e v xe d T o ad d t o g o ld e n nu m b e rs g o ld e n nu m b e rs 0 sw e e t c o nte nt ! 0 swe e t 0 swe e t c o n te nt C anst drink t he wate rs o f t he c ris ped sp ring 2 0 swe e t c o n te nt Swimm s t tho u i n w e al th y e t sink s t i n thine o wn te ars 2 O p unishm e nt The n he that p atie ntly want s b u rde n b e ars N o b u rd e n b e ars b u t i s a king a ki g 0 swe e t c o n te nt ! 0 swe e t 0 sw ee t c o n te nt Wo rk ap ac e ap ac e ap ac e ap ac e H o ne st lab o u r b e ars a lo v e ly f ac e T he s a m e c a su al qu al ity c ann o t in de e d b e assign e d t o t he gr e at s o ng w hich chill s as w ith t he d a mp o f de ath in W e bste r s Duche ss o f M alfy Int o th at t he who l e s o u l o f t he t e rrib l e p l ay is c o nd e ns e d H ark n o w e ve rythi n g i s still T he s c re e c h o wl an d t he whistl e r s hrill C all u p o n o u r d ame al o u d A d b id he r qu i c kl y d o he r shr o u d Mu ch y o u had o f land an d re nt ; Y o u r l e n gth i n cl ay s n o w c o m p e te nt A l o ng wa distu rb e d y o u r mi nd H e re yo u r p e rfe ct p ac e i s signe d Of what i s t f o o ls m ak e s c h v ain k e e ping Sin the ir c o nc e pti o n the ir b ir th w e e pi g The ir life a g ne ral mist o f e rro r The ir d e ath a hid e o u s sto rm o f te rr o r Stre w y o u r hair wi th p o wd e rs swe e t D o n c l e an line n b at he yo u r f e t — And t he fo ul fi nd m o re t o che c k A c ru c ifix le t b l e ss y o u r ne c k Ti s o w f u ll t id e twe e n ni g ht an d d ay E n d y o u r g ro an an d c o m e away “ B ut t he ru le o f t he s le n de r n e ss o f t he c o nne xio n be t we e n a d r a m a an d its s o ngs h o l ds tr u e o f t he t win l yri cs o f Shirl e y s w ho th o ugh b o rn l at e is as a sing e r E l iz a be than Bo t h u

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witty airy m instre l sy this o f t he Sc o ttish h e aths wh e n at its highe st So d o ur it is as t o sugge st that t he u n k n o w n b a r d s n e e de d a murd e r o r a br o k e n he art to tun e the i r h arp strings B ut t he inspi rati o n is u n mist ak ab l e And r e m e mb e r — I h ave b e e n ab l e t o give but shr e ds o f a vast flo ating c l o ud o f s o ng with n e ve r a p o e t t o c l aim fo r hi s o wn t he g e ni u s an d t he g l o r y ! T he — — p e o p l e s p o e try t he b all ad s in ni ne te nths o f Eng l an d by t he e n d o f t he sixte e nth c e ntury whi ch r e vis e d an d Che vy Ch as e had l o st all n ative g l am o ur v u l g ariz e d ind e p e n de nt vit al ity Me an w hi l e in Sc o tl an d at l e ast o n t he fr o nti e r t he w h o l e survi ve d an d m atur e d T he Engl ish B o r de r th o ugh as m ay we ll b e h o pe d an d be l i e ve d it p art o o k in t he e nj o ym e nt c o ntribute d l itt l e e xc e pt p o ssib l y t he d i al o gue be t we e n t he Tw e e d an d t he Ti ll F o r s o me thr e e hun dr e d ye a rs m o r e o r l e ss t he p o pu l a r l ite r ature o n t he n o rthe rn si de w as ve rs e A ll w as h an de d d o wn fr o m m e m o ry t o m e mo ry with a r e c o gniz e d right in within t he int e rpr e t e rs at e ach st ag e t o m o di fy an d n arr o w l i mits m o de rniz e H o w th e s e wan de re rs t o l d a t al e an d wi th a varie ty ho w rich H o w m ade t o suit all t aste s an d c l ass e s T he musici an m ight b e e arning fo o d an d sh e l t e r in a rustic inn o r symp athy an d l arg e ss in t he h all s o f high B ucc l e uch Li ke t he si ll y b lin d Lo chm abe n he had st o r e o f t al e s tr agic a l an d p ath e t ic as h arp e r we ll as gro ss an d g ris l y T he m e rit w as as d ive rs e Fr o m a lo w de pth it r o s e t o p o ints o f sub l imity h o rr o r t e n de r n e ss s e l f sacr ifi ce which e d uc ate d inspir ati o n m ay m atch but rar e l y has e xc e ll e d In Eng l and if d o ubtl e ss m ain l y fo r t he e d uc ate d c l ass e s an aft e rg l o w o f t he c u l tur e d E l iz ab e th an sp l e n d o u r e n d ur e d t o an d thr o ugh o ut t he p e ri o d o f t he R e st o r at io n It m ay b e a me r e c o inci d e nc e but it fade d away with t he ad ve nt No

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3 66

Is aa c W at t s s Cr adl e Hymn I r e c o gniz e trac e s o f n a tive inspir ati o n b u t inspirati o n pr e s se d into d o ing suit an d s e r vic e t o r e l igi o us e nthus ia s m H sh my d ar li s till a d sl mb r H o ly ang ls g rd t hy b d H av l y bl ssing s wi th t nu m b r G ntly falling t hy h ad H w m c h b e tte r t h t a tte nd e d Than t h S f Go d c o ld b W he n f ro m h av n he d e s c nd e d And b e c am e a c hild lik th e W a th r n thing b t a m ang r C rsed sinne rs c o ld aff rd T o r c i v t h h av nl y s trang r 7 D id the y th s affr nt th ir Lo rd 7 S ft my c hild I d id o t c hid th T h gh m y s ng might s nd t o hard T i t hy m th r s it s b s id t h And h rms shall b t hy gu ard Y t t o re ad t h sham f l s t o ry H o w t h J ws ab d th ir King H o w th y s d t he L rd o f G l ry Mak s m angry whil I si g S t h l o v l y b ab e a dre ssi g Lo v ly i fant ho w he mil d W h n h we pt t h m th r s b l e ss ing S o t h d a d hu h d t h ho l y c hild L h sl m b rs i hi m ang r W h r t h h rned o x n f d P ac my darling h r o d ng r H r r t hy b d x a n M y st tho l iv t kno w a d f ar him Tr s t a d l v him all t hy d ay s ; Th n go dw ll f v r n ar him S hi f ac a d s i g h s p ra s e I

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S ke tc he s in bl ac k an d wh ite by She nsto ne in T he S c ho o l mis tre ss ap pe a l t o o ur s e nse o f t he pictur e sq ue Fo u r l in e s in his s o c alle d Le vi t ie s p l u mb d e pths o f hu man sic kne ss at hum ani ty has t a e l d l if s d ll r und e W h Wh r r his stag s may hav b n May si gh t o t hink he s till has f o un d H i s warm s t w l c o m at a i N o w an d t he n a gust o f pity o r s e l f pity b l o ws rh e t o ric a sid e — rh e t o ric sti ll th o ugh o f a n o b l e s o rt a s in L o nd o n a n d T he V anity o f Hum an Wish e s F o r an inst ant s o m e thi ng true r t ake s it s p l ac e an d Jo hns o n m ar k s with te ars inste ad o f antith e s e s what ills t he s ch l ar s lif ass il T il e nvy want t h patro n a d t h ga l m o urning with affe cti o n at e si mpl ici t y al m o st wi t h or k ind l y e nvy t he o bscur e l y wis e an d c o ars e l y kin d pr actis e r in p hy sio he s e e s L ve t t o t he g rav d s c nd O i i o s inn c nt sinc r Of v e ry f ri ndle ss nam t h f ri nd Pi e c e s l i ke t he s e ar e inte re sting as p all i ative s o f a pr e vai l ing ste ril ity in r e spe ct o f Occ asi o n al in s p irati o n fo r s o m e hundr e d ye ars Othe rs l i ke Mic kle s Cu mn o r H all ar e e nd e are d by h abi t an d tr ad iti o n m o re th an by intrinsic m e rit B ut fo r a c e ntury afte r t he c l o s e o f t he Eng lis h p o e tic al re n aiss ance t he di stincti o n I h ave d r awn be twe e n p o e try an d wri te rs o f p o e try has l ittle pr actic al a pp l ic ati o n During this te di o us inte r re gnum such ve rs e a s d e s e r ve s t he n a m e o f p o e try w as t he w o r k o f its p o e ts Ve ry se l d o m di d t he ph e n o m e n o n o ccur o f a sp ar k o f ge nui ne inspir ati o n l ighting up o n a p o e t aste r o f a di vine e m o ti o n visiting unc o nse cr ate d l ips an d insisting o n .

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Tr e asury o f S o ngs an d Si r Arth r Q i ll r C o uch s Oxf o r d B o o k o f Engl ish Ve rs e — e a ch ad mi rab l e S o m e tim e s t he vo l ume s h ave br o ught o n e o r an o the r l yr ic fo r t he fir st tim e Oft e n the y have re c alle d e xce ll e nc e t o m y t o my n o tic e r e co lle cti o n an d r e fle cti o n A ll stu de nts b o t h p ast an d p re s e nt o f p o e try wi ll agr e e th at t he r ight t o t he tit l e o f p o e t an d p o e try d e p e n d s On l y o n t he p o ss e ss io n by t he c andid ate s o f inspir ati o n t he st an d ar d fo r th at 7 N at u r all y it is a pr o p e rty which In t he e asi l y e vad e s o r di n a ry an al ysis fo r g e n e r al u se first pl ac e it is wo nd e rf u l ho w g o o d m ay b e ve rs e with ho w sinc e r e l y o n e ge ne r ati o n m ay an d o u t b e in g inspir e d r e c o gniz e its pr e s e nc e A w r it e r m ay him an o th e r f ai l t o s e l f c o nsci e ntio u s l y be l i e ve in it s d e sc e nt up o n his s o u l t b e un ab l e t i n f u s e it int o his l in s A ng h e e o m o t e y vari o us circ u mst anc e s o r acci d e nts m ay b e fo un d an It is t he e xp l an at i o n o f a c o m m o n l it e r a ry ph e n o m e n o n fr e que nt he a d ing o f ch apte rs w ith l in e s n o t in t he l e ast p o e try an d the ir i mp o rt atio n in t o t he t e xt o f int e ll ige nt pr o s e B e yo n d d o u bt it is o n e o f t he r e as o ns why true p o e ts m ake b ad j u dge s o f t he m e rits o f t he ir o wn wo r k A l s o fr o m this o n t he o th e r h and? an d fr o m an al o go u s c au s e s a de ni al o f inspir ati o n t o p articu l ar pi e c e s is o p e n A l ate r ge ne ratio n may a l m o st t o a s m u ch qu e sti o n ing p o ssib l y r e h abi l it at e as p o e ts n o t a fe w d e ad n in e te e nth c e ntury c e l e briti e s Me anwhi l e I r e j o ic e t o thin k p o e m s a t all e v e nts in f a ir n u mb e rs h ave s u rvive d t he l ast c e ntury an d s u rvive sti ll T hu s th o ugh t he p e rm an e nt p l ace o f Christin a R o ss e tti — D ant e G abrie l s sist e r— is n o t e t d e ci d e d l ist e n t o Ech o y an d w e m a b s it w i ll h n ur b l e ur e b a e o o e y C o m t o m i t h sil nc e f t h nig ht C m i t he spe aking sil nc e o f a dre am u

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S hall I fi d c o mf o rt trave l so re an d we ak 7 Of l ab o u r y o u Shall find t he su m Will the r b b e ds fo r m e an d all who se k 7 Y e a b e ds fo all w ho c o m e Pat h o s p e rhaps an d p atho s is insidi o u s Y e t t he r e is p at h o s whi ch is j u st t he b l o o m u p o n str e ngth— a p atho s th an o t he r th an L e titi a B ar b au ld s th o ugh she wr o t e L ife Fe l ici a H e m an s s th o u gh she wr o t e Gr ave s o f a H o u s e h o l d whe n he s ang o f Lucy a p ath o s ak in t o W o r d s w o rth s I S t hi s Christ in a R o ss e tti s ? S o m e ti m e s wh e n t he inspir atio n is far fr o m t he r u l e w e w o n de r why it wa it e d o n this o r th at p ar ticul ar p ie c e ho w fr o m t he pi l e o f W hitt ie r s we ll inte nti o n e d t u n e ful st a r l e ss ve rs e l e aps f o rth J o hn B right s fav o urite S k ipp e r I r e so n s awak ing t o r e m o rs e fo r t he d e s e rti o n o f his br o the r fish e rm e n in a t e mp e st ! H e ar m e ne ighb o u rs at l ast he c ri d What t o me i s this no isy rid e 7 W hat i s t he shame that cl o the s t he skin T o t he nam e l e ss ho rro r that l iv s wi thin 7 W aking o r sle e pin g I se e a wre ck And he ar a c ry f ro m a ree lin g d e ck H at m a d c u rse me — I o nl y dre ad T h hand o f G o d a d t he f ac e o f t he d e ad S aid F l d Oi so f hi ho d ho r r t n

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Q Sc tt B rd Mi tr l y t 1 8 s M ri E d ward E d w rd A Sc ttis h B ll d Fr m MS c py t a m itt d fr m Sc tl d I B k i 5 P rcy R l iq S (I h v glic iz d t h p lli g i P rcy c py ) m wh t A Sc tti h Riv S i T h m Dick L d r T h T w C rbi (Sc tt B rd r M i tr l y ) W M t h w ll v r i M i tr l y A ci t d M d r v ri T h L chm b n H rp r (Sc tt B rd r Mi tr l y ) l xxx ) J ph Add i P t (J hn Dr T h m P ll S g (J h P t l ) A Cr d l Hym Dr I c W tt M r l S g (J h l l i t P t z l 3 6 7 8 10 1 1 s t l y t 5 Sh t W ritt I L vit i at H (J h P t) T h V ity f H m Wish Practi r i Phy ic t 2 O t h D th f M R b rt Le v t Am br Phili p — T Mi s Ch rl tt P lt y i h M t h r Arm M y 1 1 7 24 (J h P t ) S lly i All y t z 1 d 4 H ry C r y P m Chri t ph r S m rt A S g t D vi d t 5 W rk d Lif 1 7 9 1 R Br w i g P l y i g wit h C rt i P pl (Chri t ph r S m rt ) 3 i J h Lg t z 1 6 Sc tti h S g d Od t t h C ck M ry C rlyl Aitk T h Fl w E lli t (Sc tt B d r M i t l y ) f th F r t J A ld R b i G r y L d y A B r rd (Li d y ) Liv s f t h l ii Li d y Call r H rri P m with M m i d Ch l L d y N ir R g rs 1 869 th L l I b id Th L d C d i B t S g ( l tt r fr m G M Fra r T i m Lit r ry S ppl m t D 2 3 1 904 wh r it i m ti d th t t h gh b ly t P f r W ils L ckh rt J h G lt d L rd att rib t d vari E glin t ) O a I f t Dyin g S B r Ch l L m b P t Bo h 1 84 1 W rk I b id H t r I b id T h Old F m ili r F c T h F lli g L f M tg m ry T h P o tic l W rks f J m T h W if l t t za 1 2 4 P ms f R ral Lif — i t h D r t — i D l ct b y W illi m B r S c d c ll cti A Di g T h m L v ll Bed d P tic al W rk E d E d m d G 1 89 0 T he

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C O N C LU S I ON S 7

FR OM my fir st t o my l at e st wo rds o n V e rs e which is p o e try tho u gh it m ay b e witho u t a p o e t I h ave had in my m ind t w o q u e sti o ns Co nsci o u s l y o r u nc o nscio u s ly I h ave b e e n ask ing m ys e lf : Wh at th e n is Po e try ? an d What m ak e s a Po e t ? I am un ab l e t o ans we r the m y e t t o my o wn e ntir e S at isf a cti o n I c an e nu m e r at e t he qu al itie s w hich singl e o r s e ve r al n e ve r all t o ge the r u nl e ss p e r haps in o n e s u p e rh u m an c as e I mys e lf fin d in Eng lish ve rs e Fancy an d I m agin ati o n F o rm — o r Styl e St ate lin e ss Passi o n Ch arm Myst e ry Path o s Atm o sphe r e an d Sp o nt an e ity sh ar e a m o ng the m wh ate ve r p o e try is in my j u dge m e nt e n t it l e d t o b e c all e d gr e at Im agin ati o n an d F ancy st and f o r e m o st Im agin a t i o n c o n d ucting t he pr o c e ss e s o f r e c o nstr u ctin g an t icip at ing pr o ph e sying ; s e tting F ancy in m o ti o n ; F ancy whe th e r in de p e n de nt l y o r aft e r I m agin ati o n has d o n e i t s wo r k an d s om e tim e s b e fo r e s e e ing thi ngs u nd e r a ch ange d asp e ct t he o ld as if th e y w e r e n e w T he abs e nc e o f F o r m 1 s m o r e r e a di l y no t e d th an its pr e s e nc e Whe n t he distingu ishi ng ch ar act e ristic as o f B e n J o ns o n as p o e t o f H e rric k W all e r Suc kling an d Lo ve l ac e it is almo st id e ntic al wi th Styl e It imp lie s S e lf r e str aint an d R e s e rve Fr e que nt ly it has t he h appin e ss t o b e ass o ci at e d with t o o m u ch o f gr and e ur fo r it t o b e singl ed o u t as t he wr i t e r s b a dge Y e t a p o e t m ay b e i llu stri o us with o u t it fo r W o rds wo rth is State lin e ss an d Passi o n n e c e ssiti e s s o m e tim e s ar e o fte n o u t o f p l ac e W e w ant n o fin e r e x amp l e o f t he f o rm e r th an Par adis e Lo st an d n o w o rs e th an N ight Tho ughts ,

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CO N CLUSIO N S 7

403

Pas sio n take She lle y S wi n b urn e At t he ir be st th e y e xe mp lify t o p e rfe c t i o n t he se lf a b an do nm e nt t he e cst asy whi ch is t he triu mph o f p o e tic ar t Char m in p o e try e ve ry o n e fe e ls n o n e c an e xp l ain It al t e rs its hu e s t o e a ch r e ad e r s e y e s An alys e it an d t he h an d gr asps air It c o m e s at n o b o dy s be c k an d c all n o t e v e n Mi l to n s o r Sh e ll e y s Co m mo nl y by n o means always it turns its b ac k u p o n W o r d s wo rth I t wi ll n o t b e p art e d fr o m He rric k an d Ke ats Myste ry is a r ar e Vis it ant an d we l c o me o nl y whe n r ar e It is a m o ng t he distincti o ns o f Christ ab e l It is t he glo ry o f W e bst er s we ir d e x e cuti o n di rge o f Sc o ttish Ed war d o f Sy dn e y D o b e ll s K e ith o f R av e lst o n Ed ward It is E dgar A ll an Po e s prim e e ng in e an d hi s Evi l Ge ni u s N o n e c an sp e ak o f P atho s as an y l o nge r S hy an d r e t iring Of o ld it w as litt le use d N o t unkn o wn a m o ng t he Eli z abe thans it w as wi th the m far fr o m habitu al In l ate r d ays it is its abs e nc e whi ch wo u ld b e r e mar k ab l e B o th wr it e r an d critic ar e ap t t o fin d it a dange r o u s sn ar e The y ar e li ab l e t o b e bribe d by it t o acce pt the ir o wn he art be ats fo r m u sic o f t he sphe r e s I h o p e I h ave alr e ad y s u ffici e nt l y w arn e d my r e ade r s th at th e y ar e fr e e t o disc o unt my pr ais e s o f ve rs e w h e n e ve r t h e y th e m s e l ve s a r e inc l in e d t o sh e d a t e a r o ve r it In a p o e t t o aim at p atho s sche m e fo r it is cri min al Whe n it c o m e s it sh o u l d c o m e as an incid e nt n o t as t he m o tive o r c al c u l a te d r e s u lt In gr e at p o e try as W o rdsw o rth s it st e als fo rth a lm o st as it w e r e ag a inst t he p o e t s wi ll I h ave l e ft t o t he e n d a c o u p l e o f qu alitie s whi ch ar e n o t so m u ch s e p ar at e pr o p e rti e s o f p o e try as c o ndi ti o ns o r state s o f it E a ch I r e gar d as e xc e e dingl y pr e cio u s Whe n w e ar e n o t s ur e that w e h ave l e a rnt fr o m a p o e m all which is t o b e l e arnt that w e have fe lt all which is t o b e fe l t C c 2 Fo r

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FIVE CE N TURIES OF E N GLISH VERSE

4 04

w he n w e susp e ct th at it h o ld s in r e s e rve fo r us d e li ghtful p o ssibili ti e s that it has e nte r e d into us an d th at w e ar e in sp iritu al uni s o n with i t— the n an d the r e I r e c o gn iz e Atmo sphe r e It is n o t a be ginni ng o r b asis b u t a r e s ul t Whe n t he fe as t is o ve r a b o x o f spik e n ar d is br o ke n an d a fr agr ant v ap o ur e nve l o ps all Bl ake s ve rs e fl o ats in Atm o sphe re So d o e s Ke ats s E v e o f St Agn e s S o Christ ab e l T h e r e is At mo sphe r e in H o gg s Ki lme n y I fin d n o n e in C a mpb e ll an d litt l e in S co tt s o wn ve rs e tho u gh abund ance in hi s B o rd e r Minstr e lsy Aki n t o it I supp o s e tho ugh t he st at e is as h ar d t o d e scribe as Atm o sph e r e is e ve ry supr e m e p o e t s an d p o e m s str ange p o we r s u d de n l y t o Op e n fr e sh s o ur c e s in br ain an d h e art F o rthwi th issue s a fl o o d o f fe e li ng as m agi c all y s w e e t t o r e ad e r as t o writ e r A m e r e v e r sifi e r m ay go up an d d o wn s inking we ll s e ve ryw he r e H e to r tu r e s t he d e pths o f t he s o i l The e ntir e r e gi o n r e m ains fo r hi m a d e s e rt a S ah ar a T he p o e t c o m e s with hi s wi ll o w bo u gh an d springs g u sh fr o m t he s o lid ro c k t o m e e t t he divi ning r o d as it be nds It is a r e al gift l ik e t he sp e ll t he to uch o n hum an e y e s w hi ch us e d t o r e ve al t he c c e xist e nc e wi th t hi s e a rthy w o r l d o f o urs o f a ctu a l F a iry l and I h ave n am e d t he c o ndi ti o n fo r want o f a b e tt e r wo rd Sp o nt an e ity fo r its e ffe cts h ave n o man ife st c au s e R e ally sp o ntane o u s ge n e r ati o n is as un kn o wn in p o e try as in physics F ancy s o ws t he ge rms an d fo rge ts whe r e The y whe n spr u ng u p re me mb e r an d afte r w and e ring aw ay r e turn as bir ds t o the ir n e sting p lace s N o b o d y c an t e ll t he pr e c is e n at ur e o f t he ag e nt wh e the r it b e a thi ng o r a p o we r a m o d e o f a cti o n an asp e ct Of s o me thi ng e ls e It r o am s ab o ut t he r e al m o f p o e try l e ndi ng i ts e l f o u t t o t hi s o r th at s e p ar at e qu ality Po mp at its t o uch b e c o m e s maj e s ty Char m ris e s e ve ryw h e re lik e ,

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b o rn

th at t im e T he t as t e an d fashi o n o f t he p e ri o d m ay h ave ch ange d an d b e e n f o rg o tt e n T he spirit if e ve r it we r e r e al an d sinc e r e w i ll th o u gh tinge d with t he c o lo u rs o f its age c o nt in u e t o li v e in l it e r at u r e It m ay e ve n burst an e w int o fl am e I f t he p e ri o d as a w h o l e o r an y di stin ct str atu m in it a cc e pt e d as its vo ic e a p o e t it had fo r m e d he w i ll r e m ain a v o ic e th o ugh e ch o ing fr o m a w i l d e rn e ss In an y e ve nt he an d t he pub l ic which o nc e l ist e n e d t o his m u sic wi ll h ave had t o a l a rg e e xt e nt a c o mm un i ty o f s o u l B ac o n has b e e n a rg u m e nt ative ly f ab l e d t o b e t he actu al Sh ake sp e ar e T he f ancy wo u l d h ave b e e n m o r e p l ausib l e if he had be e n d e scri b e d as a c o ll ab o r at o r Th e n the r e w o u l d b e tr u th i n it b u t o n l y a fr acti o n o f t he tr u th H e m u st S h ar e t he fe llo wship with R ale gh an d Dr ake Ess e x t he C e ci l s t he w i t s o f t he M e rm aid Sidn e y Sp e ns e r t he b u cc an e e r m ar in e rs o f D e vo n— w i t h t he e ntir e awake n e d n ati o n All we r e t o ge th e r j o int au tho rs with Sh ake spe ar e o f t he P l ays an d o f m any a f a m o u s p o e m fo r a h al f c e n t u ry b e sid e s Eve ry au th o r m o r e o r l e ss a p o e t m o st o f all r e pr e s e nts his e n vir o ni n gs T he char act e r o f p o e try always d e p e n d s l arge l y u p o n t he p e rs o n al e l e m e nt o n t he n at u r e s W arm e d by o f t he r e ad e rs a s w e ll a s o n t h at o f t he p o e t t he s a m e sunshin e an d b u ff e t e d by t he s a m e st o r ms as t h e y he give s b ac k t o the m the i r o wn in s o ng W he n w e a dmi r e t he a ntiq u e wi t h o u t be ing ab l e t o giv e a r e as o n fo r it Oft e n is th at ins e nsib l y w e h av e l ive d o u r a d mir ati o n b ack int o an o the r age by virtu e o f c o m m u ni o n wi t h o n e o f its cr e atu r e s an d cr e at o rs T he bl o o d o f a dist ant e r a is stirring in us It is n o t always dir e ct symp athy w ith a p e ri o d which s e ts n atu r e s po e tic ally e n do we d s inging t o the ir ge n e r a ti o n S o m e tim e s it is an an al o g o u s e m o ti o n in a c o n t r ast e d g u is e — a t e mpe r o f r e vo lt t he at t r acti o n o f antip a t hy of

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CO N CLUSIO N S 7

407

A mino rity has p e rs u ad e d its e lf th at t he sc e n e o ught t o b e shifte d He rbe rt an d Vau ghan we r e inspir e d t o pr o te st ag ainst t he m ann e rs o f th e ir tim e o n b e h alf o f H e ave n L ate r o n fr o m t he s a m e di sgust at t he pr e s e nt Co w l e y au g ur e d tri u mphs fo r sci e nc e sti ll u nb o rn b u t in t he air S a m u e l B u tl e r m o c ke d d e sp o t ic Pu ri t an Maj o r G e n e r al s Dryd e n ch a mpi o n e d r e ac t i o n p o l i t ic al an d the o lo gic al S wift w as j au ndic e d ag ainst a wo r l d as p e tt y as Li llip u t an d as c o ars e as B r o bdingn ag Po p e s sp it fi r e cyn ic al indi ff e r e ntism inspir e d its e lf wi t h t he s o ci al mi asm a i t affe ct e d t o l o ath e B ur n s s Mus e w ave r e d b e t we e n j o y in Ar c adi an simp l icity an d an u n e asy a r e m o rs e f u l r e b e lli o us — o n e ss against Kir k S e ssi ns p e rh aps ag ainst f ami ly S atur d ay N ights t he ms e l v e s B yr o n s d e fi anc e o f his fe ll o w m e n B r o wning s di squ isiti o ns t o s o ci e ty o n t he m e aning it had f o rg o tt e n o f its o w n v ag ari e s an d T e nnys o n s e ffo rts t o t e mpt it into b e c o ming t he id e al o f its d ist o rt e d distr acte d s e l f ar e all al ik e st e e p e d in t he tim e s circu mst anc e s T he ir pu b l ic r e c o gniz e d its e lf— d e no unc e d c o mp assi o n ate d — a m o r aliz e d e the r e liz e d as the ir t h e m e E ach p o p u lar sin ge r in turn has b e l i e v e d hims e lf a l e a d e r an d a pr o phe t So he has b e e n ; b u t a l e ad e r be c au s e m o st o b e di e nt l y r e pr e s e nt ativ e o f hi s f o ll o we rs a pr o phe t b e c au s e b e st tr ans lat ing t he in cli n ati o ns o f hi s di scip le s by hi s o wn E l iz ab e than gr ande ur an d sp aci o u sne ss r e fle ct the ms e l ve s in t he gi ants o f c o nt e mp o r ary p o e tic al l it e r atu r e It is t he s a m e w i t h t he e a rt hi ne ss t he int e lle ctu al an d spiritu a l p o ve r t y o f thr e e fo u rths o f t he e ighte e nth c e ntury Eve ry p e ri o d cr ave s t o have its e lf po e tic ally int e rpr e te d t ho u gh Whe n it is w it ho u t J o n so n s t he lyr e r asps an d cr e ak s an d He rb e rts an d c ann o t c o m mi ssi o n e n o ugh Grays an d G o l dsmiths i t m u st p e rfo rc e p u t u p w i t h Y o ungs an d In an y c as e i t l o ngs t o fe e l ak in t o t he Ak e n sid e s .

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4 08

FIVE CENT URIES OF E N GLISH VERSE

min str e l sy

A p o e t bo w s t o t he s a m e instinct His s o ng wh e the r in d e fi anc e o r r e spo ns e w as nur s e d in an d wo ul d r e turn t o t he h e art s t o w hich he S ings Gr e at p o e try has ch ar a cte ristics its ve ry o wn N o l e ss i t in d ic at e s t he sp e ci al circ u mst anc e s o f its o rigin The S o m e ve rs e e xe rts au th o rs disg u is e th e ms e l ve s a s l i t t l e a di stinctive p o we r — a m o unt ing t o c o mpul si o n— Of r e fe r ring its e l f b ac k t o t he wr it e r s p e rs o n al ity W e c ann o t re ad Clo u gh w ith o u t c u ri o sity as t o t he m o tive t he l ight w hich a pi e c e thr o ws up o n t he m e nt al st age t he p o e t had r e ach e d t he n e arn e ss t o t he g o al Evid e ntl y he wr o t e t o t e ll hims e l f H e r e I am n o t allu ding t o s u ch de l ib e r ate in t r o sp e c t i o n I am thin king o f t he sun p o rtr aits in spira ti o n t ake s ho w it brings a who l e b e ing wi th it s r e sp e ctive t e n d e ncie s an d e n e rgi e s o f all s o rt s t o mirr o r its e lf Str o ngl y m ar ke d an d vigo r o u s in t he m ain fe atur e s usually with f ail in gs as s e lf e vi d e nt t h at b e ing is b o und t o b e The Mu s e d o e s n o t an o int he r kings at r and o m In t he e xp e ct t he s e ns e o f a n atur al e l e c t w e h a ve a rig ht t o titl e t o t he cr o wns p l ace d o n the ir h e ad s T he assu r anc e T h o ugh p o st e rity m ay is supe ri o r t o S i l e nc e t o n e gl e ct h ave fo rgo tt e n th e ir r o yalt y is in de fe asibl e T he su b st anc e m at e r i al an d S piritu al a d o pt e d by t he p o e tic sp a r k It fo r its l o d ging o r h o m e o u ght t o b e s e l f su i cin g sh o uld b e ab l e t o e nt e rt ain t he gue st an d survi ve w ith d i gnity its d e p artu r e S u rve y t he dy n asty o f s o ve r e ign B ri t ish p o e ts t o wh o m succe ssive g e n e r at io ns h ave p aid h o m age Be yo n d d isput e n in e t e nths will b e ad mitte d t o h ave be e n n o t l e ss r e m ark abl e as m e n than as p o e ts t o r e m a in r e m ar k ab l e wh e n th e y h ave c e as e d t o sin g Ge ni al Ch au c e r ris e s at my invo c ati o n so ldi e r a mb ass a d o r an d c o u rti e r c he e r fu y c ar e l e ss o f pr e l at e s o r fr i ar s o l a a e a c w s I se Sp e ns e r w ith o F ry l nd st t s e t h k e t a i e s y .

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n e ve r t o all s e e ming o r gu e ssing susc e ptib l e o f a j e al o u s suspici o n N at u r e w o u l d h ave b e e n cr u e l had s he n o t e qui pp e d w ith m anif o l d stu rdi n e ss tho s e s e l e cte d t o h and t he t o rch o f i nspir ati o n fr o m o n e g e n e r ati o n t o an o the r T he p o e t ic spirit is we ll a dvis e d in pr e fe rr ing t o ho u s e in a big n atur e The v o c at i o n o f p o e t is a m o ng t he m o st unc e rt ain t he tho rni e st With s o m e ve rs e it is tr u e w e fin d it di ffi c u l t t o ass o ci ate t he th o u ght o f t o i l T he writ e r might h av e ,

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CO N CLUSIO N S 7

411

r e ad e r p e rh aps as t he w o r k e r s e e s i t s hall be a r u p o n its fac e n o e vid e nc e o f t he p ains it has c o st N o t t he l e ss is it t he fruit o f a pr o tr ac t e d an d ve he m e nt c o u rs e o f spiritu al gymn astics fr e qu e nt l y o f ago ny Co u r age curi o sity p ati e nc e o bstin acy e go tism s e lf r e l i anc e p e rh aps a spice t o o o f s e lf c o nce it all ar e want e d fo r t he struggl e ag ainst ad ve rs a ri e s at h o m e an d abr o ad T he p o e t m u s t h av e a wi ll H e mus t insist o n b e in g b li nd an d d e af t o t he c l aims o f riv a l f a c u l ti e s o f his o wn w he n inspir ati o n is o n hi m The y m u st e ve n le t the ms e l ve s b e h arn e ss e d t o its ch ari o t L ac k o f d o gge dn e ss in br e aking in c o u nt e r in t e ll e ct u a l an d spirit u al i mp u ls e s in o b ligin g t he m t o s e rve has o fte n sm o the r e d t he p o e t u nd e r t he p hi l o s o phe r o r critic A tri al y e t m o r e affli cting is t he du t y o f b e ing m ast e r in hi s o wn h o u s e t o t he s e lf to rtu rin g — o n o n o e xt e nt f s e tti g b u d s t t he fl ights o f his Q u e e n hi s G e ni u s his Inspir ati o n its e lf o f i mp o sing si l e nc e o f s e ating r e as o n ab o ve e cst asy All t he tim e t he wo r ld o u tsi d e m ay a c t a s th o u gh r e s e ntful o f hi s m e r e e xiste nc e H avi ng suffe r e d hi s Mu s e Me d e a li ke t o to ss him int o t he b o ili ng c au l dr o n he iss u e s fo rth b e lie vin g hi ms e lf a d o r ab le H e s alli e s o u t in t he c o ld r ain st o rm an d d a r kn e ss t o w o o t he p u b li c with gui t ar an d s e r e n ade as if it we r e a l o vi ng m istr e ss H e fin d s hims e lf a b u tt fo r ins o l e nt ridic ul e wh e n abs o rbe d in hi s i d e as c arri e d away by a pr Op he t ic r aptu r e he d anc e s li ke D avi d be fo r e t he Ark H e m u st st e e l him s e lf t o be ar p e rs e c u ti o n b e c au s e he is ho n e s t chill s u rpris e w he n he is s u b li m e c o nt e mpt whe n he an n o u nc e s t o hi s age n o ve l ti e s whi ch wi ll b e tru is m s fo r t he n e xt In t he l o ng an d i llustri o u s l in e sc arce ly a S ingl e m e mbe r has n o t had t o gr o p e hi s w ay t o r e no wn thr o u gh stifling f o gs o f pr e j u dice N atu r e s e ldo m mo d e l s an y fo r po e ts wi tho u t a dding e x t r e m e s e nsi t ive n e ss t o o u t sid e o pini o n ,

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FIVE CE N TURIES OF E N GLISH VERSE

41 2

The y h ave t o pr e t e n d n o t t o c ar e o n t he c o u rs e Th e r e h ave b e e n

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FIVE CE N TURIES OF E N GLISH VERSE

p e n alty th an n e g l e ct Po e ts u nl e ss the y b e cr o wn e d ar e n e ve r s afe fr o m t he pill o ry T he y e nt e r t he li sts at t he o l a w o d i o h o o a e t o m e h l r l d m th t n d r f r rs in f t e r e e e t e e p Gr e e k St ate In e qu ity the y we ll might p l e ad th at the ir critics o u ght e qu all y t o abid e t he ris k F o r mys e lf I am f u ll y c o nsci o u s ho w f air t he c l ai m wo u ld b e an d sinc e r e l y trust t hat I h ave b e h ave d as if I we r e Thr o u gho u t I c an ass e rt th at in v e nt u ring t o a ss u m e t he critic al ch ar a ct e r I h ave had a c o nst ant s e ns e o f a c o r d r o un d m y o wn n e c k inste a d o f t he p o e t s I h ave e ve n fe lt a l ive l y appr e h e nsi o n th at t he n o o s e mi ght b e tight e n e d by t he thic k finge rs o f s o m e Geo rgi an po e t s gh o st F o r th e ir o wn s ake s n o l e ss t han fo r th at o f t he pu bli c m e mb e rs o f t he o bn o xi o us p r o fe ssio n in whi ch fo r my pr e s e nt purp o s e I h ave e nr o ll e d mys e lf ar e b o und I be li e ve t o b e always o n t he w atch that th e y d o n o t b ar e ntr anc e withi n t he te mp le o f t he Mus e s t o ange l s un aw are s Co ntin u ally th e y sho u ld b e r e m in di ng t he ms e l ve s th at aspir ants vain l y s e e king ad m it t an c e in t he de spis e d gui s e o f Min o r Po e ts h ave b e e n di sc o ve r e d e r e t his t o b e m e dit ating p o e try w hich is Gr e at .

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I N DE X OF FIRST W ORDS

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IN DEX OF FIRST W ORDS

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ORDS

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M s ic wh s ft v i c s d i My d y s am ng t h D ad p st d a dro wsy n m bn ss p ains My h r t ac h s My l dy s ms f i vo ry My littl S w h lo k d f r m th g htf l y s My Lo rd ha n d f th s w t s g y My p ar nt s b o w a d l d th m f o rth My s lf wh n y ng did ag rl y f r q nt go n b f r M y p ri ghtl y n ig hb r Mys te ri s N ight whe n firs t p ar nt k w b t this h r b lik i b s t M y y o th w a happy u

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I N DEX OF FIRST W ORDS

4 24

ightingal tho u s re ly a t 0 S he ik I c anno t l e av e the e s 0 te ll m f ri e nds whil e y t y h ar O t h F r nc h a e i t he b ay i that m y s te ri o s shrin 0 Tho 0 what a l o d a d f arf l shri k w a th r Ob s cu r ly s p tte d t o t h d o o r a d th nc R o slin all that dr ary ni ght O Of a lif liv e d s o m wh r I kn w o t Of ll t h g irls that a s o sm ar t Oft i t h s till y ni g ht Of t w o that di e d l as t nig ht Oh b r athe o t hi s nam l t it sl e p i t he shad Oh b t t o b r ath t h b r ath Oh c o ld I f e e l a s I hav f l t t o think M an e v r Oh G o d Oh had I l iv d i t hat g r at d ay Oh t h li tt l e m o r a d ho w m c h it is Oh what a h ar t s b d i ng m l dy Oh w o rld o h li f o h t im Onc i a g o ld e n ho r Onc mo r i m o r than b rid al b a ty stands Onc po n a midnight dr ary whil I p nd r d w ak a d we ary O hav I m rk e d t h happ i s t gu s t O i the r hand Wi th Mil t n an d wi th K ats O E ly si an l awn s O m rni ng all al o n On E tt ri c k s m o u nt ain g r e e n O e w o rd i s t o o o fte n p r o f ane d O this swe t b ank y r h ad thri c e sw t a d d ar he is b u t ne wl y O y o u r li v e s he h ie k d an d c i e d d ad O p n he r I fl g t he shu tte r wh n wi th m any a flirt a d fl tte r O r signal f fig ht that f ro m m o nar chs w e dre w ON

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I N DEX OF FIRST W ORDS

42 6

S lo w sinks m o re l o ve ly e r e his r ac e b e r u n S m all ho pe m y girl f r a he lm t o hid e S o ft t o u c h invisib le S o le Po si tive o f N ight S o le s o vr an o f t h Vale S o me tim e s o l o ne l y m o untain m e re s S o m e time s wo nde ring so l S o o n o l ate s ard o ni c Fate S o rro w said Mahm o u d i s a re ve r nd thing S o sl e e p fo r e v e r sl e p 0 m arb l e p air S o u ls o f p o e ts d e ad a d g o ne S o ul w as like a star a d dw l t ap ar t S o u nd t he l o u d timb re l o e E gypt s d ark se a Sp e ak n o t t hy s pe e ch m y b o u ghs am o ng Spl ndi d a st ar 7 Spre adi n g May s l e afle ss b l o ms i a d am p n o o k Star i s o t e qu al t o star o bl o sso m t he sam e as b lo ss m Stay stay Still in he r we b d li ghts Stran g e i s it n o t 7 that f t he m yr i ads who S u c h a s o ft fl o ating wi tc he ry o f s o u nd S we e t m y child I liv fo r the S we e t nu rslin g s o f t he ve rnal skie s S we e t strang e r who m I c alle d m y wi fe o

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I N DEX OF FIRS T W ORDS

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