Contents：
Introductory：OfModernEnglishPoetryOfModernEnglishPoetryFieldingLongfellowAFriendofKeatsOnVirgilAucassinandNicolettePlotinus（A。D。200—262）
LucretiusToaYoungAmericanBook—HunterRochefoucauldOfVersdeSocieteOnVersdeSocieteGerarddeNervalOnBooksAboutRedMenAppendixI
AppendixII
DEDICATION
DearMr。Way，Aftersomanyletterstopeoplewhoneverexisted，mayIventureashortone，toapersonveryrealtome，thoughIhaveneverseenhim，andonlyknowhimbyhismanykindnesses？PerhapsyouwilladdanothertothesebyacceptingtheDedicationofalittlework，ofasortexperimentalinEnglish，andinprose，thoughHorace——inLatinandinverse——wassuccessfulwithitlongago？
Verysincerelyyours，A。LANG。
ToW。J。Way，Esq。
Topeka，Kansas。
PREFACE
TheseLetterswereoriginallypublishedintheIndependentofNewYork。Theideaofwritingthemoccurredtotheauthorafterhehadproduced\"LetterstoDeadAuthors。\"ThatkindofEpistlewasopentotheobjectionthatnobodywouldwritesofranklytoacorrespondentabouthisownwork，andyetitseemedthattheformofLettersmightbeattemptedagain。TheLettreseEmiliesurlaMythologieareawell—knownmodel，butEmiliewasnotanimaginarycorrespondent。Thepersonsaddressedhere，ontheotherhand，areallpeopleoffancy——thenameofLadyVioletLebasisaninventionofMr。Thackeray’s：giftedHopkinsistheminorpoetinDr。OliverWendellHolmes’s\"GuardianAngel。\"Theauthor’sobjecthasbeentodiscussafewliterarytopicswithmorefreedomandpersonalbiasthanmightbepermittedinagraverkindofessay。TheLetteronSamuelRichardsonisbyaladymorefrequentlytheauthor’scriticthanhiscollaborator。
INTRODUCTORY：OFMODERNENGLISHPOETRY
ToMr。ArthurWincott，Topeka，Kansas。
DearWincott，——Youwritetome，fromyour\"brighthomeinthesettingsun，\"withtheflatteringinformationthatyouhavereadmypoor\"LetterstoDeadAuthors。\"YouarekindenoughtosaythatyouwishIwouldwritesome\"LetterstoLivingAuthors；\"butthat，I
fear，isoutofthequestion，——forme。
AthoughtfulcriticintheSpectatorhasalreadyremarkedthatthegreatmenofthepastwouldnotcareformyshadowyepistles——iftheycouldreadthem。Possiblynot；but，likePrior，\"Imaywritetilltheycanspell\"——anexerciseofwhichghostsareprobablyasincapableaswasMatt’slittleMistressofQuality。ButLivingAuthorsareverydifferentpeople，anditwouldbeperilous，aswellasimpertinent，todirectone’scommentsonthemliterally，intheFrenchphrase，\"totheiraddress。\"Yetthereisnoreasonwhyacriticshouldnotadopttheepistolaryform。
OuroldEnglishessays，thepapersintheTatlerandSpectator，wereoriginallynothingbutletters。Thevehiclepermitsatouchofpersonaltaste，perhapsofpersonalprejudice。SoIshallwritemy\"LettersonLiterature，\"ofthepresentandofthepast，English，American，ancient，ormodern，toyou，inyourdistantKansas，ortosuchothercorrespondentsasarekindenoughtoreadthesenotes。
Poetryhasalwaystheprecedenceinthesediscussions。PoorPoetry!
Sheisanancientmaidenofgoodfamily，andisledoutfirstatbanquets，thoughmanywouldprefertositnextsomelivelierandyoungerMuse，theladyoffiction，oreventhechatteringsoubretteofjournalism。Seniorespriores：Poetry，ifnolongerverypopular，isadameoftheworthiestlineage，andcanboastalongtrainofgallantadmirers，deadandgone。Shehasbeenmuchincourts。TheoldGreektyrantslovedher；greatRhamsesseatedherathisrighthand；everyprincehadhissingers。Nowwedwellinanageofdemocracy，andPoetrywinsbutafeignedrespect，moreoutofcourtesy，andforoldfriendship’ssake，thanforliking。Thoughsomanywriteverse，asinJuvenal’stime，Idoubtifmanyreadit。
\"Nonebutminstrelslistofsonneting。\"Thepurchasingpublic，forpoetry，mustnowconsistchieflyofpoets，andtheyareusuallypoor。
Cananythingspeakmoreclearlyofthedecadenceoftheartthanthebirthofsomanypoetical\"societies\"？WehavetheBrowningSociety，theShelleySociety，theShakespeareSociety，theWordsworthSociety——latelydead。Theyalldemonstratethatpeoplehavenotthecouragetostudyverseinsolitude，andfortheirproperpleasure；menandwomenneedconfederatesinthisadventure。
Thereissafetyinnumbers，and，bydintoftea—parties，recitations，discussions，quarrelsandthelike，Dr。FurnivallandhisfriendskeepblowingthefaintembersonthealtarofApollo。
Theycannotraiseaflame!
InEnglandweareintheoddpositionofhavingseveralundeniablepoets，andverylittlenewpoetryworthyofthename。Thechiefsingershaveoutlived，ifnottheirgenius，atalleventsitsfloweringtime。Harditistoestimatepoetry，soaptweare，byourverynature，toprefer\"thenewestsongs，\"asOdysseussaysmendidevenduringthewarofTroy。Or，followinganotherancientexample，wesay，liketherichniggardswhoneglectedTheocritus，\"Homerisenoughforall。\"
Letusattempttogetridofeverybias，and，thinkingasdispassionatelyaswecan，westillseemtoreadthenameofTennysoninthegoldenbookofEnglishpoetry。Icannotthinkthathewilleverfalltoalowerplace，orbeamongthosewhomonlycuriousstudentsporeover，likeGower，Drayton，Donne，andtherest。LoversofpoetrywillalwaysreadhimastheywillreadWordsworth，Keats，Milton，Coleridge，andChaucer。Lookhisdefectsintheface，throwthemintothebalance，andhowtheydisappearbeforehismerits!Heisthelastandyoungestofthemightyrace，born，asitwere，outofduetime，late，andintoafeeblergeneration。
Letitbeadmittedthatthegoldisnotwithoutalloy，thathehasatouchofvoluntaryaffectation，ofobscurity，evenanoccasionalperversity，amannerism，asetoffavouriteepithets（\"windy\"and\"happy\"）。ThereisamomentaryechoofDonne，ofCrashaw，nay，inhisearliestpieces，evenatouchofLeighHunt。Youdetectitinpieceslike\"Lilian\"and\"Eleanore，\"andtheothersofthatkindandofthatdate。
Letitbeadmittedthat\"InMemoriam\"hascertainlapsesinallthatmeedofmelodioustears；thattherearetrivialitieswhichmightdeserve（hereisanexample）\"tolineabox，\"ortocurlsomemaiden’slocks，thatthereareweaknessesofthought，thatthepoetnowspeaksofhimselfasalinnet，singing\"becauseitmust，\"nowdarestoapproachquestionsinsoluble，andagaindeclinestheirsolution。Whatisallthisbutthechangefulmoodofgrief？Thesinginglinnet，likethebirdintheoldEnglishheathenapologue，dashesitslightwingspainfullyagainstthewallsofthechamberintowhichithasflownoutoftheblindnightthatshallagainreceiveit。
Idonotcaretodwellontheimperfectionsinthatimmortalstrainofsympathyandconsolation，thatenchantedbookofconsecratedregrets。Itisaneasierifnotmoregratefultasktonoteacertainpeevishegotismoftoneintheheroesof\"LocksleyHall，\"of\"Maud，\"of\"LadyClaraVeredeVere。\"\"Youcan’tthinkhowpoorafigureyoumakewhenyoutellthatstory，sir，\"saidDr。Johnsontosomeunluckygentlemanwhose\"figure\"mustcertainlyhavebeenmorerespectablethanthatwhichiscutbythesewhiningandpeevishloversofMaudandCousinAmy。
Letitbeadmitted，too，thatKingArthur，ofthe\"Idylls，\"islikeanAlbertinblankverse，anAlbertcursedwithaGuinevereforawife，andaLancelotforfriend。The\"Idylls，\"withalltheirbeauties，arefullofaVictorianrespectability，andloveoftalkingwithVivienaboutwhatisnotsorespectable。Onewishes，attimes，thatthe\"Morted’Arthur\"hadremainedalonelyandflawlessfragment，asnobleasHomer，aspolishedasSophocles。Butthenwemusthavemissed，withmanyotheradmirablethings，the\"LastBattleintheWest。\"
PeoplewhocomeafteruswillbemoreimpressedthanwearebytheLaureate’sversatility。Hehastouchedsomanystrings，from\"WillWaterproof’sMonologue，\"sofarabovePraed，totheagonyof\"Rizpah，\"theinvincibleenergyof\"Ulysses，\"thelanguorandthefairymusicofthe\"LotusEaters，\"thegraceasofaGreekepigramwhichinspiresthelinestoCatullusandtoVirgil。HeiswithMiltonforlearning，withKeatsformagicandvision，withVirgilforgracefulrecastingofancientgoldenlines，and，eveninthelatestvolumeofhislonglife，\"wemaytellfromthestraw，\"asHomersays，\"whatthegrainhasbeen。\"
TherearemanywhomakeitakindofreligiontoregardMr。BrowningasthegreatestoflivingEnglishpoets。Forhim，too，oneisthankfulasforaveritablegreatpoet；butcanwebelievethatimpartialposteritywillratehimwiththeLaureate，orthatsolargeaproportionofhisworkwillendure？Thecharmofanenigmanowattractsstudentswhofeelproudofbeingabletounderstandwhatothersfindobscure。Butthisattractionmustinevitablybecomeastumbling—block。
WhyMr。Browningisobscureisalongquestion；probablytheansweristhatheoftencouldnothelphimself。Hisdarkestpoemsmaybemadeoutbyapersonofaverageintelligencewhowillreadthemashardas，forexample，hewouldfinditnecessarytoreadthe\"Logic\"
ofHegel。Thereisastoryoftwoclevergirlswhosetouttoperuse\"Sordello，\"andcorrespondedwitheachotherabouttheirprogress。\"Somebodyisdeadin’Sordello，’\"oneofthemwrotetoherfriend。\"Idon’tquiteknowwhoitis，butitmustmakethingsalittleclearerinthelongrun。\"Alas!acopioususeoftheguillotinewouldscarcelyclearthestageof\"Sordello。\"Itishardlytobehopedthat\"Sordello，\"or\"RedCottonNightCapCountry，\"or\"Fifine，\"willcontinuetobestruggledwithbyposterity。Butthemassof\"MenandWomen，\"thatunexampledgalleryofportraitsoftheinmostheartsandsecretmindsofpriests，prigs，princes，girls，lovers，poets，painters，mustsurviveimmortally，whilecivilizationandliteraturelast，whilemencaretoknowwhatisinmen。
Noperversityofhumour，novoluntaryorinvoluntaryharshnessofstyle，candestroythemeritofthesepoems，whichhavenothingliketheminthelettersofthepast，andmustremainwithoutsuccessfulimitatorsinthefuture。Theywilllastallthebetterforacertainmanlinessofreligiousfaith——somethingsturdyandassured——
notmovedbywindsofdoctrine，notpalteringwithdoubts，whichiscertainlyoneofMr。Browning’sattractionsinthisfickleandshiftinggeneration。Hecannotbeforgottenwhile，ashesays—
\"Asunsettouch，AchorusendingofEuripides，\"
remindmenthattheyarecreaturesofimmortality，andmove\"athousandhopesandfears。\"
Ifoneweretowriteoutofmerepersonalpreference，andpraisemostthatwhichbestfitsone’sprivatemoods，IsupposeIshouldplaceMr。MatthewArnoldattheheadofcontemporaryEnglishpoets。
Reasonandreflection，discussionandcriticaljudgment，tellonethatheisnotquitethere。
Mr。ArnoldhadnotthemanymelodiesoftheLaureate，norhisversatilemastery，norhismagic，norhiscopiousness。HehadnotthemicroscopicglanceofMr。Browning，norhisrudegraspoffacts，whichtearsthelifeoutofthemastheAztecpriestpluckedtheveryheartfromthevictim。Weknowthat，butyetMr。Arnold’spoetryhasourlove；hislinesmurmurinourmemorythroughallthestressandaccidentsoflife。\"TheScholarGipsy，\"\"Obermann，\"
\"Switzerland，\"themelancholymajestyofthecloseof\"SohrabandRustum，\"thetendernessofthoseelegiacsontwokindredgravesbeneaththeHimalayasandbytheMidlandSea；thesurgeandthunderof\"DoverBeach，\"withits\"melancholy，long—withdrawingroar；\"
thesecanonlyceasetowhispertousandconsoleusinthatlatesthourwhenlifeherselfceasesto\"moanroundwithmanyvoices。\"
MyfriendstellmethatMr。Arnoldistoodoubting，andtoodidactic，thatheproteststoomuch，andconsiderstoocuriously，thathisbestpoemsare，atmost，\"achainofhighlyvaluablethoughts。\"Itmaybeso；buthecarriesusbackto\"wet，bird—
hauntedEnglishlawns；\"likehim\"weknowwhatwhiteandpurplefritillariesthegrassyharvestoftheriveryields，\"withhimwetrytopractiseresignation，andtogiveourselvesovertothatspirit\"Whosepurposeisnotmissed，Whilelifeendures，whilethingssubsist。\"
Mr。Arnold’spoetryistome，inbrief，whatWordsworth’swastohisgeneration。HehasnotthatinspiredgreatnessofWordsworth，whennaturedoesforhimwhathis\"lutin\"didforCorneille，\"takesthepenfromhishandandwritesforhim。\"Buthehasnoneofthecreepingprosewhich，tomypoormind，invadeseven\"TinternAbbey。\"
Heis，asMr。Swinburnesays，\"thesurest—footed\"ofourpoets。Hecangiveanaturalandlovelylifeeventothewildestofancientimaginings，asto\"thesebrightandancientsnakes，thatoncewereCadmusandHarmonia。\"
Baconspeaksofthelegendsoftheearlierandruderworldcomingtous\"breathedsoftlythroughtheflutesoftheGrecians。\"ButeventheGrecianflute，asinthelayofthestrifeofApolloandMarsyas，comesmoretunablyintheechoofMr。Arnold’ssong，thatbeautifulsongin\"EmpedoclesonEtna，\"whichhastheperfectionofsculptureandthecharmofthepurestcolour。Itisfullofthesilverlightofdawnamongthehills，ofthemusicoftheloch’sdark，slowwavesamongthereeds，ofthescentoftheheather，andthewettressesofthebirch。
Surely，then，wehavehadgreatpoetslivingamongus，butthefountainsoftheirsongaresilent，orflowbutrarelyoveracloggedandstonychannel。Andwhoistheretosucceedthetwowhoaregone，orwhoshallbeourpoet，iftheMasterbesilent？Thatisamelancholyquestion，whichIshalltrytoanswer（withdoubtanddreadenough）inmynextletter。{1}
OFMODERNENGLISHPOETRY
MydearWincott，——IhearthatabookhaslatelybeenpublishedbyanAmericanlady，inwhichallthemodernpoetsarerepresented。Thesingershavebeeninducedtomaketheirownselections，andputforward，asMr。Browningsays，theirbestfoot，anapaestortrochee，orwhateveritmaybe。Myinformationgoesfurther，anddeclaresthattherearebuteighteenpoetsofEnglandtosixtyinspiredAmericans。
ThisWesterncollectionofmodernminstrelsyshowshowverydangerousitistowriteevenontheEnglishpoetryoftheday。
Eighteenislongoddsagainstasinglecritic，andMajorBellenden，in\"OldMortality，\"tellsusthatthreetooneareoddsaslongaseveranywarriormetvictoriously，andthatwarriorwasoldCorporalRaddlebanes。
Ideclinethetask；IamnotgoingtotrytoestimateeithertheeighteenofEnglandorthesixtyoftheStates。Itisenoughtospeakaboutthreelivingpoets，inadditiontothosemasterstreatedofinmylastletter。Twoofthethreeyouwillhaveguessedat——
Mr。SwinburneandMr。WilliamMorris。Thethird，Idaresay，youdonotknowevenbyname。IthinkheisnotoneoftheEnglisheighteen——Mr。RobertBridges。Hismusehasfollowedtheepicureanmaxim，andchosentheshadowypath，fallentissemitavitae，wherethedewlieslongestonthegrass，andtheredrowanberriesdroopinautumnabovetheyellowSt。John’swort。Butyouwillfindherallthefresherforhercountryways。
MyknowledgeofMr。WilliamMorris’spoetrybeginsinyearssofarawaythattheyseemlikereminiscencesofanotherexistence。I
remembersittingbeneathCardinalBeaton’sruinedcastleatSt。
Andrews，lookingacrossthebaytothesunset，whilesomeonerepeated\"TwoRedRosesacrosstheMoon。\"AndIrememberthinkingthatthepoemwasnonsense。WithMr。Morris’sotherearlyverses，\"TheDefenceofGuinevere，\"thissongofthemoonandtheroseswaspublishedin1858。Probablythelittlebookwonnoattention；itisnotpopularevennow。Yetthelyricsremaininmemorieswhichforgetallbutageneralimpressionofthevast\"EarthlyParadise，\"
thathugedecorativepoem，inwhichslimmaidensandgreen—cladmen，andwaterswan，andfloweringappletrees，andrichpalacesareallmingledasonsomelongancienttapestry，shakenalittlebythewindofdeath。Theyarenotlivingandbreathingpeople，thesepersonsofthefables；theyarebutshadows，beautifulandfaint，andtheirpoemisfitreadingforsleepysummerafternoons。Butthecharactersinthelyricsin\"TheDefenceofGuinevere\"arepeopleoffleshandblood，undertheirchainarmourandtheirvelvet，andthetrappingsoftheirtabards。
ThereisnobookintheworldquitelikethisofMr。Morris’soldOxforddayswhenthespiritoftheMiddleAgesenteredintohim，withallitscontradictionsoffaithanddoubt，anditsearnestdesiretoenjoythislifetothefullinwarandlove，ortomakecertainofafutureinwhichwarisnot，andallloveispureheavenly。Ifoneweretochoosefavouritesfrom\"TheDefenceofGuinevere，\"theywouldbetheballadsof\"ShamefulDeath，\"andof\"TheSailingoftheSword，\"and\"TheWind，\"whichhasthewind’swailinitsvoice，andallthemadregretof\"Porphyria’sLover\"initsburden。
Theuseof\"colour—words，\"inallthesepieces，isverycuriousandhappy。Theredruby，thebrownfalcon，thewhitemaids，\"thescarletroofsofthegoodtown，\"in\"TheSailingoftheSword，\"makethepoemavividpicture。Thenlookatthemad，remorsefulsea—
rover，theslayerofhislady，in\"TheWind\"：
\"Formychairisheavyandcarved，andwithsweepinggreenbehindItishung，andthedragonsthereongrinoutinthegustsofthewind；
Onitsfoldsanorangelieswithadeepgashcutintherind；
IfImovemychairitwillscream，andtheorangewillrolloutfar，Andthefaintyellowjuiceoozeoutlikebloodfromawizard’sjar，Andthedogswillhowlforthosewhowentlastmonththewar。\"
\"TheBlueCloset，\"whichissaidtohavebeenwrittenforsomedrawingsofMr。Rossetti，isalsoamasterpieceinthisromanticmanner。OurbriefEnglishageofromanticism，our1830，was1856—
60，whenMr。Morris，Mr。BurneJones，andMr。Swinburnewereundergraduates。Perhapsitwantsapeculiarturnoftastetoadmirethesestrangethings，though\"TheHaystackintheFloods，\"withitstragedy，mustsurelyappealtoallwhoreadpoetry。
Fortherest，astimegoeson，ImoreandmorefeelasifMr。
Morris’slonglaterpoems，\"TheEarthlyParadise\"especially，werelessartthan\"artmanufacture。\"Thismaybeanungratefulanderroneoussentiment。\"TheEarthlyParadise，\"andstillmorecertainly\"Jason，\"arefullofsuchpleasureasonlypoetrycangive。Assomeonesaidofacontemporarypolitician，theyare\"good，butcopious。\"EvenfromnarrativepoetryMr。Morrishaslongabstained。He，too，illustratesMr。MatthewArnold’sparableof\"TheProgressofPoetry。\"
\"TheMountismute，thechanneldry。\"
Euripideshasbeencalled\"themeteoricpoet，\"andthesametitleseemsveryappropriatetoMr。Swinburne。Probablyfewreadershadheardhisname——Ionlyknewitasthatoftheauthorofastrangemediaevaltaleinprose——whenhepublished\"AtalantainCalydon\"in1865。Iremembertakingupthequartoinwhitecloth，attheOxfordUnion，andbeinginstantlyledcaptivebythebeautyandoriginalityoftheverse。
Therewasthisnovel\"meteoric\"characterinthepoem：thewriterseemedtorejoiceinsnowandfire，andstars，andstorm，\"thebluecoldfieldsandfoldsofair，\"inalltheprimitiveforceswhichwerealivebeforethisearthwas；thenakedvastpowersthatcircletheplanetsandfarthestconstellations。Thisquality，andhisvariedandsonorousverse，andhispessimism，putintothemouthofaGreekchorus，werethethingsthatstruckonemostinMr。
Swinburne。Hewas，aboveall，\"amighty—mouthedinventerofharmonies，\"andonelookedeagerlyforhisnextpoems。Theycamewithdisappointmentandtrouble。
Thefamous\"PoemsandBallads\"havebecomesowellknownthatpeoplecanhardlyunderstandthenoisetheymade。Idon’twonderatthescandal，evennow。Idon’tseethefunofseveralofthepieces，exceptthemischievousfunofshockingyouraudience。However，\"TheLeper\"andhiscompanyarechieflyboyish，intheleastfavourablesenseoftheword。Theydonotdestroytheimperishablemeritofthe\"HymntoProserpine\"andthe\"GardenofProserpine\"andthe\"TriumphofTime\"and\"Itylus。\"
Manyyearshavepassedsince1866，andyetone’soldopinion，thatEnglishpoetrycontainsnoverbalmusicmoreoriginal，sonorous，andsweetthanMr。Swinburnewroteinthesepieceswhenstillveryyoung，remainsanopinionunshaken。Twentyyearsago，then，hehadenabledtheworldtotakehismeasure；hehadgivenproofsofatruepoet；hewaslearnedtooinliteratureasfewpoetshavebeensinceMilton，and，likeMilton，skilledtomakeverseinthelanguagesoftheancientworldandinmoderntongues。HisFrenchsongsandGreekelegiacsareofgreatexcellence；probablynoscholarwhowasnotalsoapoetcouldmatchhisGreeklinesonLandor。
What，then，islackingtomakeMr。Swinburneapoetofarankevenhigherthanthatwhichheoccupies？Whocantell？Thereisnosciencethatcanmasterthischemistryofthebrain。Heistoocopious。\"Bothwell\"islongenoughforsixplays，and\"TristramofLyonesse\"isprolixbeyondevenmediaevalnarrative。Heistoopertinacious；childrenarethejoyoftheworldandVictorHugoisagreatpoet；butMr。SwinburnealmostmakesusexcuseHerodandNapoleonIII。byhisendlessodestoHugo，androndelstosmallboysandgirls。Nequidnimis，thatisthegoldenrulewhichheconstantlyspurns，beingtooluxuriant，tooemphatic，andasfondofrepeatinghimselfasProfessorFreeman。Sucharethedefectsofsonobleagenius；thusperverseNaturehasdecidedthatitshallbe，Naturewhichmakesnorubywithoutaflaw。
ThenameofMr。RobertBridgesisprobablystrangetomanyloversofpoetrywhowouldlikenothingbetterthantomakeacquaintancewithhisverse。Buthisverseisnotsoeasilyfound。Thispoetneverwritesinmagazines；hisbookshavenotappealedtothepublicbyanysortofadvertisement，onlytwoorthreeofthemhavecomeforthintheregularway。Thefirstwas\"Poems，byRobertBridges，BatchelorofArtsintheUniversityofOxford。Parvasegessatisest。London：Pickering，1873。\"
Thisvolumewaspresently，Ifancy，withdrawn，andtheauthorhasdistributedsomeportionsofitinsucceedingpamphlets，orinbooksprintedatMr。Daniel’sprivatepressinOxford。Inthese，asinallMr。Bridges’spoems，thereisacertainaustereandindifferentbeautyofdictionandamemoryoftheoldEnglishpoets，Miltonandtheearlierlyrists。Irememberbeinggreatlypleasedwiththe\"ElegyonaLadywhomGrieffortheDeathofHerBetrothedKilled。\"
\"Letthepriestsgobefore，arrayedinwhite，Andletthedark—stoledminstrelsfollowslowNexttheythatbearher，honouredonthisnight，Andthenthemaidensinadoublerow，Eachsingingsoftandlow，Andeachonhighatorchupstaying：
Untoherloverleadherforthwithlight，Withmusicandwithsinging，andwithpraying。\"
Thisisastatelystanza。
InhisfirstvolumeMr。Bridgesofferedafewrondeauxandtriolets，turninghisbackonallthesethingsassoonastheybecamepopular。
InspiteoftheirpopularityIhavetheaudacitytolikethemstill，intheirhumbletwitteringway。Muchmoreinhistrueveinwerethelines，\"ClearandGentleStream，\"andalltheotherversesinwhich，likeatrueEtonian，hecelebratesthebeautifulThames：
\"ThereisahillbesidethesilverThames，Shadywithbirchandbeechandodorouspine，AndbrilliantunderfootwiththousandgemsSteeplythethicketstohisfloodsdecline。
StraighttreesineveryplaceTheirthicktopsinterlace，AndpendentbranchestrailtheirfoliagefineUponhiswateryface。
***
AreedyislandguardsthesacredbowerAndhidesitfromthemeadow，whereinpeaceThelazycowswrenchmanyascentedflower，Robbingthegoldenmarketofthebees。
AndladenbranchesfloatBybanksofmyosote；
Andscentedflagandgoldenfleur—de—lysDelaytheloiteringboat。\"
IcannotsayhowoftenIhavereadthatpoem，andhowdelightfullyitcarriesthebreathofourRiverthroughtheLondonsmoke。Norlesswelcomearethetwopoemsonspring，the\"InvitationtotheCountry，\"andthe\"Reply。\"Inthese，besidestheirverbalbeautyandtheircharmingpictures，isamanlyphilosophyofLife，whichanimatesMr。Bridges’smoreimportantpieces——his\"PrometheustheFirebringer，\"andhis\"Nero，\"atragedyremarkablefortherepresentationofNerohimself，theluxurioushumantiger。From\"Prometheus\"Imakeashortextract，toshowthequalityofMr。
Bridges’sblankverse：
\"Noristhereanyspiritonearthastir，Nor’neaththeairyvault，noryetbeyondInanydwellerinfar—reachingspaceNoblerordearerthanthespiritofman：
Thatspiritwhichlivesineachandwillnotdie，Thatwooethbeauty，andforallgoodthingsUrgethavoice，orstillinpassionsigheth，Andwhereheloveth，draweththeheartwithhim。\"
Mr。Bridges’slatestbookishis\"ErosandPsyche\"（Bell&Sons，whopublishthe\"Prometheus\"）。Itistheoldstoryverycloselyfollowed，andbeautifullyretold，withahundredmemoriesofancientpoets：Homer，Dante，Theocritus，aswellasofApuleius。
IhavenamedMr。BridgesherebecausehispoemsareprobablyallbutunknowntoreaderswellacquaintedwithmanyotherEnglishwritersoflatedays。Onthem，especiallyonactualcontemporariesorjuniorsinage，itwouldbealmostimpertinentformetospeaktoyou；but，evenatthatrisk，ItakethechanceofdirectingyoutothepoetryofMr。Bridges。Iowesomuchpleasuretoitsdelicateair，that，ifspeechbeimpertinence，silencewereingratitude。{2}
FIELDING
ToMrs。Goodhart，intheUpperMississippiValley。
DearMadam，——ManythanksfortheNewYorknewspaperyouhavekindlysentme，withthestatisticsofbook—buyingintheUpperMississippiValley。Thoseareinterestingparticularswhichtellonesomuchaboutthetasteofacommunity。
SotheRev。E。P。Roeisyourfavouritenovelistthere；athousandofhisbooksaresoldforeverytwocopiesoftheworksofHenryFielding？ThisappearstometospeakbutoddlyfortasteintheUpperMississippiValley。OnMr。Roe’sworksIhavenocriticismtopass，forIhavenotreadthemcarefully。
ButIdothinkyourneighboursloseagreatdealbyneglectingHenryFielding。Youwilltellmeheiscoarse（whichIcannotdeny）；youwillremindmeofwhatDr。Johnsonsaid，rebukingMrs。HannahMore。
\"IneversawJohnsonreallyangrywithmebutonce，\"writesthatsaintedmaidenlady。\"Ialludedtosomewittypassagein’TomJones。’\"Hereplied：\"Iamshockedtohearyouquotefromsoviciousabook。Iamsorrytohearyouhavereadit；aconfessionwhichnomodestladyshouldevermake。\"
Youremindmeofthis，andthatJohnsonwasnoprude，andthathisagewastolerant。YouaddthattheliterarytasteoftheUpperMississippiValleyismuchmorepurethanthewatersofhermajesticriver，andthatyouonlywishyouknewwhothetwoculpritswerethatboughtbooksofFielding’s。
Ah，madam，howshallIansweryou？RememberthatifyouhaveJohnsononyourside，onmineIhaveMrs。Moreherself，acharacterpurerthan\"theconsecratedsnowthatliesonDian’slap。\"Again，wecannotbelieveJohnsonwasfairtoFielding，whohadmadehisfriend，theauthorof\"Pamela，\"veryuncomfortablebyhisjests。
Johnsonownedthathereadall\"Amelia\"atonesitting。Couldsoworthyamanhavebeensoabsorbedbyanunworthybook？
Oncemore，IamnotrecommendingFieldingtoboysandgirls。\"TomJones\"wasoneoftheworksthatLydiaLanguishhidunderthesofa；
evenMissLanguishdidnotcaretobecaughtwiththathumorousfoundling。\"Fieldingwasthelastofourwriterswhodrewaman，\"
Mr。Thackeraysaid，\"andhecertainlydidnotstudyfromadrapedmodel。\"
Forthesereasons，andbecausehislanguageisoftenunpolished，andbecausehismorality（thatheisalwayspreaching）isnotfor\"thosethateddyroundandround，\"IdonotdesiretoseeFieldingpopularamongMissAlcott’sreaders。Butnomanwhocaresforbookscanneglecthim，andmanywomenarequitemanlyenough，havegoodsenseandgoodtasteenough，tobenefitby\"Amelia，\"bymuchof\"TomJones。\"Idon’tsayby\"JosephAndrews。\"NomaneverrespectedyoursexmorethanHenryFielding。Whatsayshisreformedrake，Mr。
Wilson，in\"JosephAndrews\"？
\"TosaytheTruth，IdonotperceivethatInferiorityofUnderstandingwhichtheLevityofRakes，theDulnessofMenofBusiness，andtheAusterityoftheLearnedwouldpersuadeusofinWomen。AsformyWife，IdeclareIhavefoundnoneofmyownSexcapableofmakingjusterObservationsonLife，orofdeliveringthemmoreagreeably，nordoIbelieveanyonepossessedofafaithfullerorbraverFriend。\"
Hehasnoothervoicewhereintospeakofahappymarriage。Canyoufindamongourgenteelwritersofthisage，afiguremorebeautiful，tender，devoted，andinallgoodwayswomanlythanSophiaWestern’s？
\"Yes，\"youwillsay；\"butthemanmusthavebeenabrutewhocouldgivehertoTomJones，to’thatfellowwhosoldhimself，’asColonelNewcomesaid。\"\"Thereyouhavemeatanavail，\"inthelanguageoftheoldromancers。TherewetouchthecentreofFielding’smorality，asubjectilltodiscuss，amoralitynotforeverydaypreaching。
Fieldingdistinctlytakeshimselfforamoralist。HepreachesascontinuallyasThackeray。Andhismoralisthis：\"Letamanbekind，generous，charitable，tolerant，brave，honest——andwemaypardonhimvicesofyoungblood，andthestainsofadventurousliving。\"Fieldinghasnomercyonaseducer。LovelacewouldhavefaredworsewithhimthanwithRichardson，who，Iverilybelieve，admiredthatinfernal（excuseme）cowardandvillain。ThecaseofyoungNightingale，in\"TomJones，\"willshowyouwhatFieldingthoughtofsuchgallants。Why，TomhimselfpreachestoNightingale。
\"MissNancy’sInterestalone，andnotyours，oughttobeyoursoleConsideration，\"criedThomas，……\"andtheverybestandtruestHonour，whichisGoodness，requiresitofyou，\"thatis，requiresthatNightingaleshallmarryMissNancy。
HowTomJonescombinedthesesentiments，whichwereperfectlyhonest，withhisownastonishinglackofretenue，andwithLadyBellaston，isjustthepuzzle。Wecannotverywellargueaboutit。
IonlyaskyoutoletJonesinhisrightmindpartlyexcuseJonesinanumberofverydelicatesituations。IfyouaskmewhetherSophiahadnot，afterhermarriage，tobeasforgivingasAmelia，IfearI
mustadmitthatprobablyitwasso。ButDr。Johnsonhimselfthoughtlittleofthat。
IamafraidouronlywayofdealingwithFielding’smoralityistotakethebestofitandleavetheremainderalone。HereIfindthatIhaveunconsciouslyagreedwiththatwell—knownphilosopher，Mr。
JamesBoswell，theyounger，ofAuchinleck：
\"ThemoraltendencyofFielding’swritings……iseverfavourabletohonourandhonesty，andcherishesthebenevolentandgenerousaffections。HewhoisasgoodasFieldingwouldmakehimisanamiablememberofsociety，andmaybeledonbymoreregulatedinstructionstoahigherstateofethicalperfection。\"
LetusbeasgoodandsimpleasAdams，withouthisvanityandhisoddity，asbraveandgenerousasJones，withoutJones’sfaults，andwhataworldofmenandwomenitwillbecome!Fieldingdidnotpaintthatunbornworld，hesketchedtheworldheknewverywell。
Hefoundthatrespectablepeoplewereoftenperfectlyblindtothedutiesofcharityineverysenseoftheword。HefoundthattheonlymaninawholecompanywhopitiedJosephAndrews，whenstrippedandbeatenbyrobberswasapostilionwithdefectsinhismoralcharacter。Inshort，heknewthatrespectabilityoftenpractisednonebutthestrictlyself—regardingvirtues，andthatpovertyandrecklessnessdidnotalwaysextinguishanativegoodnessofheart。
Perhapsthisdiscoverymadehimlenientlydisposedto\"charactersandsituationssowretchedlylowanddirty，thatI，\"saytheauthorof\"Pamela，\"\"couldnotbeinterestedforanyoneofthem。\"
HowamusingRichardsonalwayswasaboutFielding!Howjealousy，spite，andtheconfusionofmindthatbefogsaprigwhenheisnottakenseriously，dodarkentheeyesoftheauthorof\"thosedeplorablytediouslamentations，’Clarissa’and’SirCharlesGrandison，’\"asHoraceWalpolecallsthem!
FieldingaskshisMusetogivehim\"humourandgoodhumour。\"Whatnovelistwaseversorichinboth？Whoeverlaughedatmankindwithsomuchaffectionformankindinhisheart？Thisloveshinesineverybookofhis。Thepoorhaveallhisgood—will，andinhimanuntiredadvocateandfriend。WhatalifethepoorledintheEnglandof1742!Thereneverbeforewassuchtyrannywithoutaservileinsurrection。Irememberadreadfulpassagein\"JosephAndrews，\"whereLadyBoobyistryingtohaveFanny，Joseph’ssweetheart，lockedupinprison：—
\"ItwoulddoaMangood，\"saysheraccomplice，Scout，\"toseehisWorship，ourJustice，commitaFellowtoBridewell；hetakessomuchpleasureinit。Andwhenonceweha’’umthere，weseldomhearanymoreo’’um。He’seitherstarvedoreatupbyVermininaMonth’sTime。\"
ThisEngland，withitsdominantSquires，whobehavedmuchlikerobberbaronsontheRhine，wasthemerryEnglandFieldingtriedtoturnfromsomeofitsways。Iseriouslydobelievethat，withallitsfaults，itwasabetterplace，withabetterbreedofmen，thanourEnglandofto—day。ButFieldingsatirizedintolerableinjustice。
HewouldbeaReformer，adidacticwriter。Ifwearetohavenothingbut\"ArtforArt’ssake，\"thatburlybodyofHarryFielding’smustevengotothewall。ThefirstBeauDidapperofacriticthatpassescanshovehimaside。HepreacheslikeThackeray；
hewrites\"withapurpose\"likeDickens——obsoleteoldauthors。Hiscauseisjudged，andintoBridewellhegoes，ifl’Artpourl’Artisalltheliterarylawandtheprophets。
ButFieldingcannotbekeptinprisonlong。HisnobleEnglish，hissonorousvoicemustbeheard。Thereissomewhatinexpressiblyheartening，tome，inthestyleofFielding。Oneseemstobecarriedalong，likeaswimmerinastrong，clearstream，trustingone’sselftoeverywhirlandeddy，withafeelingofsafety，ofcomfort，ofdelightfuleaseinthemotionoftheelasticwater。Heisascholar，naymore，asAdamshadhisinnocentvanity，Fieldinghashisinnocentpedantry。HelikestoquoteGreek（fancyquotingGreekinanovelofto—day!）andtomaketheroguesofprinterssetitupcorrectly。HelikestoairhisideasonHomer，tobringinapieceofAristotle——nothackneyed——toshowyouthatifheiswritingabout\"charactersandsituationssowretchedlylowanddirty，\"heisyetastudentandacritic。
Mr。SamuelRichardson，amanoflittlereading，accordingtoJohnson，was，Idoubt，sadlyputtoittounderstandBooth’sconversationswiththeauthorwhoremarkedthat\"PerhapsMr。PopefollowedtheFrenchTranslations。Iobserve，indeed，hetalksmuchintheNotesofMadameDacierandMonsieurEustathius。\"WhatknewSamuelofEustathius？InotonlycanforgiveFieldinghispedantry；
Ilikeit!Ilikeamanofletterstobeascholar，andhislittlepardonabledisplayandostentationofhisGreekonlybringshimnearertous，whohavenoneofhisgenius，anddonotapproachhimbutinhisfaults。Theymakehimmorehuman；oneloveshimforthemashelovesSquireWestern，withallhisfailings。Delightful，immortalSquire!
Itwasnothe，itwasanotherTorySquirethatcalledout\"HurrayforoldEngland!TwentythousandhonestFrenchmenarelandedinSussex。\"ButitwasWesternthattalkedof\"OneActon，thattheStoryBooksayswasturnedintoaHare，andhisownDogskill’d’un，andeat’un。\"Andhaveyouforgottenthepopulardiscussion（duringtheForty—five）oftheaffairsoftheNation，which，asSquireWesternsaid，\"allofusunderstand\"？SaidthePuppet—Man，\"Idon’tcarewhatReligioncomes，providedthePresbyteriansarenotuppermost，fortheyareenemiestoPuppet—Shows。\"ButthePuppet—
Manhadnovotein1745。Now，toourcomfort，hecananddoesexercisethegloriousprivilegeofthefranchise。
ThereisnoroominthisepistleforFielding’sgloriousgalleryofcharacters——forLadyBellaston，whoremainsaladyinherdebaucheries，andisthereforesounlikeourmodernrepresentativeofherclass，LadyBetty，inMissBroughton’s\"DoctorCupid；\"forSquare，andThwackum，andTrulliber，andthejealousspiteofLadyBooby，andHonour，thatundyinglady’smaid，andPartridge，andCaptainBlifilandAmelia，thefairandkindandgood!
ItislikethewholeworldofthatoldEngland——themaidsoftheInn，theparishclerk，thetwosportsmen，thehostsofthetaverns，thebeaux，thestarvelingauthors——allalive；all（savetheauthors）
fullofbeefandbeer；acudgelineveryfist，everymanreadyforabrotherlyboutatfisticuffs。Whathasbecomeofit，thelustyoldmilitantworld？Whatwillbecomeofus，andwhydoweprefertoFielding——anumberofmeritoriousmoderns？Whoknows？ButdonotletuspreferanythingtoourEnglishfollowerofCervantes，ourwise，merry，learnedSancho，trudgingonEnglishroads，likeDonQuixoteonthepathsofSpain。
ButIcannotconvertyou。Youwillturntosomestoryaboutstore—
clerksandsummervisitors。Suchishisfatewhoargueswiththefair。
LONGFELLOW
ToWalterMainwaring，Esq。，LothianCollege，Oxford。
MydearMainwaring，——Youareverygoodtoaskmetocomeupandlistentoadiscussion，bytheCollegeBrowningSociety，oftheminorcharactersin\"Sordello；\"butIthinkitwouldsuitmebetter，ifyoudidn’tmind，tocomeupwhentheMayracesareon。Iamnotdeeplyconcernedabouttheminorcharactersin\"Sordello，\"andhavelongreconciledmyselftotheconvictionthatImustpassthroughthispilgrimagewithouthearingSordello’sstorytoldinanintelligiblemanner。Yourletter，however，setmea—voyagingaboutmybookshelves，takingupavolumeofpoetryhereandthere。
Whataninterestingtractmightbewrittenbyanyonewhocouldremember，andhonestlydescribe，theimpressionsthatthesamebookshavemadeonhimatdifferentages!ThereisLongfellow，forexample。Ihavenotreadmuchinhimfortwentyyears。Itakehimupto—day，andwhatafloodofmemorieshismusicbringswithit!
Tomeitislikeasadautumnwindblowingoverthewoods，blowingovertheemptyfields，bringingthescentsofOctober，thesongofabelatedbird，andhereandtherearedleaffromthetree。Thereisthatautumnalsenseofthingsfairandfarbehind，inhispoetry，or，ifitisnotthere，hispoetrystirsitinourforsakenlodgesofthepast。Yes，itcomestooneoutofone’sboyhood；itbreathesofaworldveryvaguelyrealized——aworldofimitativesentimentsandforebodingsofhourstocome。PerhapsLongfellowfirstwokemetothatlatersenseofwhatpoetrymeans，whichcomeswithearlymanhood。
Before，onehadbeencontent，Iamstillcontent，withScottinhisbattlepieces；withtheballadsoftheBorder。Longfellowhadatouchofreflectionyoudonotfind，ofcourse，inbattlepoems，inaboy’sfavourites，suchas\"OfNelsonandtheNorth，\"or\"YeMarinersofEngland。\"
Hismoralreflectionsmayseemobviousnow，andtrite；theywereneitherwhenonewasfifteen。Toreadthe\"VoicesoftheNight，\"inparticular——thoseearlypieces——istobebackatschoolagain，onaSunday，readingallaloneonasummer’sday，highinsometree，withawideprospectofgardensandfields。
ThereisthatmysteriousnoteinthetoneandmeasurewhichonefirstfoundinLongfellow，whichhassincereachedourearsmorerichlyandfullyinKeats，inColeridge，inTennyson。Take，forexample，\"Thewelcome，thethriceprayedfor，themostfair，Thebest—belovedNight!\"
IsnotthatversionofEuripidesexquisite——doesitnotseemexquisitestill，thoughthisisnotthequalityyouexpectchieflyfromLongfellow，thoughyouratherlooktohimforhonesthumanmatterthanforanindefinablebeautyofmanner？
Ibelieveitisthemanner，afterall，ofthe\"PsalmofLife\"thathasmadeitsostrangelypopular。Peopletellus，excellentpeople，thatitis\"asgoodasasermon，\"thattheyvalueitforthisreason，thatitslessonhasstrengthenedtheheartsofmeninourdifficultlife。Theysayso，andtheythinkso：butthepoemisnotnearlyasgoodasasermon；itisnotevencoherent。Butitreallyhasanoriginalcadenceofitsown，withitsdoublerhymes；
andthepleasureofthiscadencehascombined，withabeliefthattheyarebeingedified，tomakereadersoutofnumberconsiderthe\"PsalmsofLife\"amasterpiece。You——mylearnedprosodistandstudentofBrowningandShelley——willagreewithmethatitisnotamasterpiece。ButIdoubtifyouhaveenoughoftheexperiencebroughtbyyearstotoleratetheoppositeopinion，asyourelderscan。
HowmanyotherpoemsofLongfellow’stherearethatremindusofyouth，andofthosekind，vanishedfaceswhichwerearounduswhenweread\"TheReaperandtheFlowers\"!Ireadagain，and，asthepoetsays，\"ThentheformsofthedepartedEnterattheopendoor，Thebeloved，thetrue—heartedCometovisitmeoncemore。\"
Comparethatsimplestrain，youloverofTheophileGautier，withTheo’sown\"ChateaudeSouvenir\"in\"EmauxetCamees，\"andconfessthetruth，whichpoetbringsthebreakintothereader’svoice？Itisnotthedainty，accomplishedFrenchman，thejewellerinwords；itisthesimplerspeakerofourEnglishtonguewhostirsyouasaballadmovesyou。IfindonecomesbacktoLongfellow，andtoone’soldselfoftheoldyears。Idon’tknowapoem\"oftheaffections，\"
asSirBarnesNewcomewouldhavecalledit，thatIlikebetterthanThackeray’s\"Cane—bottomedChair。\"Well，\"TheFireofDriftwood\"
andthisotherofLongfellow’swithitsabsolutelackofpretence，itsartfulavoidanceofart，isnotlesstenderandtrue。
\"AndshesitsandgazesatmeWiththosedeepandtendereyes，Likethestars，sostillandsaintlike，Lookingdownwardfromtheskies。\"
Itisfromtheskiesthattheylookdown，thoseeyeswhichoncereadthe\"VoicesoftheNight\"fromthesamebookwithus，howlongago!
Solongagothatonewashalf—frightenedbythelegendofthe\"BeleagueredCity。\"IknowtheballadbroughtthescenetomesovividlythatIexpected，anyfrostynight，toseehow\"ThewhitepavilionsroseandfellOnthealarmedair；\"
anditwasdownthevalleyofEttrick，beneaththedark\"ThreeBrethren’sCairn，\"thatIhalf—hopedtowatchwhen\"thetroubledarmyfled\"——fledwithbatteredbannersofmistdriftingthroughthepines，downtotheTweedandthesea。The\"SkeletoninArmour\"
comesoutoncemoreasterrificasever，andthe\"WreckoftheHesperus\"touchesoneintheold，simplewayaftersomany，manydaysofverse—readingandevenverse—writing。
Inbrief，Longfellow’squalitiesaresomixedwithwhatthereaderbrings，withsomanykindliestassociationsofmemory，thatonecannoteasilycriticizehimincoldblood。EveninspiteofthisfriendlinessandaffectionwhichLongfellowwins，Icansee，ofcourse，thathedoesmoralizetoomuch。Thefirstpartofhislyricsisalwaysthebest；thepartwhereheisdealingdirectlywithhissubject。Thencomesthe\"practicalapplication\"aspreacherssay，andIfeelnowthatitissometimesuncalledfor，disenchanting，andevenmanufactured。
Lookathis\"Endymion。\"Itistheearlierversesthatwinyou：
\"AndsilverwhitetherivergleamsAsifDianainherdreamsHaddropthersilverbowUponthemeadowslow。\"
ThatisasgoodasRonsard，andverylikehiminmannerandmatter。
Butthemoralandconsolatoryapplicationistoolong——toomuchdwelton：
\"LikeDian’skiss，unasked，unsought，Lovegivesitself，butisnotbought。\"
Excellent；buttherearefourweak，moralizingstanzasattheclose，andnotonlydoesthepoet\"moralizehissong，\"butthemoralisfeeble，andfantastic，anduntrue。Thereare，thoughhedeniesit，myriadsofpersonsnowofwhomitcannotbesaidthat\"Someheart，thoughunknown，Respondsuntohisown。\"
Ifitweretrue，thereflectioncouldonlyconsoleaschool—girl。
Apoemlike\"MyLostYouth\"isneededtoremindoneofwhattheauthorreallywas，\"simple，sensuous，passionate。\"Whatalovelyversethisis，aversesomehowinspiredbythebreathofLongfellow’sfavouriteFinnish\"Kalevala，\"\"averseofaLaplandsong，\"likeawindoverpinesandsaltcoasts：
\"Iremembertheblackwharvesandtheslips，Andthesea—tide，tossingfree，AndSpanishsailorswithbeardedlips，Andthebeautyandthemysteryoftheships，Andthemagicofthesea。\"
ThusLongfellow，thoughnotaverygreatmagicianandmasteroflanguage——notaKeatsbyanymeans——hasoften，bysheerforceofplainsincerity，struckexactlytherightnote，andmatchedhisthoughtwithmusicthathauntsusandwillnotbeforgotten：
\"Yeopentheeasternwindows，Thatlooktowardsthesun，Wherethoughtsaresingingswallows，Andthebrooksofmorningrun。\"
ThereisapictureofSandroBotticelli’s，theVirginseatedwiththeChildbyahedgeofroses，inafaintblueair，asofdawninParadise。ThispoemofLongfellow’s，\"TheChildren’sHour，\"seems，likeBotticelli’spainting，toopenadoorintotheparadiseofchildren，wheretheirangelsdoeverbeholdthatwhichishiddenfrommen——whatnomanhathseenatanytime。
LongfellowisexactlytheantithesisofPoe，who，withallhisscienceofverseandghostlyskill，hasnohumanity，orputsnoneofitintohislines。OneisthepoetofLife，andeverydaylife；theotheristhepoetofDeath，andofbizarreshapesofdeath，fromwhichHeavendeliverus!
NeitherofthemshowsanysignofbeingparticularlyAmerican，thoughLongfellow，in\"Evangeline\"and\"Hiawatha，\"andthe\"NewEnglandTragedies，\"soughthistopicsinthehistoryandtraditionsoftheNewWorld。
Tome\"Hiawatha\"seemsbyfarthebestofhislongerefforts；itisquitefullofsympathywithmenandwomen，nature，beasts，birds，weather，andwindandsnow。Everythingliveswithahumanbreath，aseverythingshouldliveinapoemconcernedwiththesewildfolk，towhomalltheworld，andallinit，ispersonalasthemselves。Ofcoursetherearelapsesofstyleinsolongapiece。ItjarsonusinthelayofthemysticChibiabos，theboyPersephoneoftheIndianEleusinia，tobetoldthat\"thegentleChibiabosSangintonesofdeepemotion!\"
\"Tonesofdeepemotion\"maypassinanovel，butnotinthisepicofthewildwoodandthewildkindreds，anepicinallwaysaworthyrecordofthosedim，mournfulraceswhichhaveleftnostoryoftheirown，onlyhereandtherearuinedwigwambeneaththeforestleaves。
Apoet’slifeisnoaffair，perhaps，ofours。WhodoesnotwishheknewaslittleofBurn’sasofShakespeare’s？OfLongfellow’sthereisnothingtoknowbutgood，andhispoetrytestifiestoit——hispoetry，thevoiceofthekindestandgentlestheartthatpoeteverbore。Ithinktherearenotmanythingsinpoets’livesmoretouchingthanhissilence，inverse，astohisownchiefsorrow。A
strangerintermeddlesnotwithit，andhekeptsecrethisbrieflayonthatinsuperableandincommunicableregret。Muchwouldhavebeenlosthadallpoetsbeenasreticent，yetonelikeshimbetterforitthanifhehadgivenusanew\"VitaNuova。\"
WhatanimmenselongwayIhavewanderedfrom\"Sordello，\"mydearMainwaring，butwhenamanturnstohisbooks，histhoughts，likethoseofaboy，\"arelong，longthoughts。\"IhavenotwrittenonLongfellow’ssonnets，forevenyou，impeccablesonneteer，admitthatyouadmirethemasmuchasIdo。
AFRIENDOFKEATS
ToThomasEgerton，Esq。，LothianCollege，Oxford。
DearEgerton，——Yes，asyousay，Mr。SidneyColvin’snew\"LifeofKeats\"{3}hasonlyonefault，it’stooshort。Perhaps，also，itisalmosttoostudiouslyfreefromenthusiasm。ButwhenoneconsidershowKeats（likeShelley）hasbeengushedabout，andhoweasyitistogushaboutKeats，onecanonlythankMr。Colvinforhisexampleofreserve。WhatagoodfellowKeatswas!Howreallymanlyand，inthebestsense，moralheseems，whenonecompareshislifeandhisletterswiththevagariesofcontemporarypoetswholivedlongerthanhe，thoughthey，too，diedyoung，andwholeftmorework，thoughnotbetter，neversogood，perhaps，asKeats’sbest。
However，itwasnotofKeatsthatIwishedtowrite，butofhisfriend，JohnHamiltonReynolds。Nosciturasociis——amanisknownbythecompanyhekeeps。Reynolds，Ithink，musthavebeenexcellentcompany，ifwemayjudgehimbyhiswritings。HecomesintoLordHoughton’s\"LifeandLettersofKeats\"veryearly（vol。i。
p。30）。WefindthepoetwritingtohimintheAprilof1817，fromtheIsleofWight。\"Ishallforthwithbeginmy’Endymion，’whichI
hopeIshallhavegotsomewaywithbeforeyoucome，whenwewillreadourversesinadelightfulplaceIhavesetmyheartupon，nearthecastle。\"Keatsends\"yoursincerefriend，\"andamantowhomKeatswasasincerefriendhadsomeoccasionforpride。
AboutReynolds’slifeneithertimenorspacepermitsmetosayverymuch，ifIknewverymuch，whichIdon’t。Hewasthesonofamasterinoneofourlargeschools。HewenttotheBar。HemarriedasisterofThomasHood。Hewrote，likeHood，intheLondonMagazine。WithHoodforally，hepublished\"OdesandAddressestoGreatPeople；\"thethirdedition，whichIhavehere，isof1826。
Thelaterelationsofthebrothers—in—lawwerelesshappy；possiblytheladiesoftheirfamiliesquarrelled；thatisusuallythewayofthebelligerentsex。
ReynoldsdiedintheenjoymentofajudicialofficeintheIsleofWight，somethirtyyearslaterthanhisfamousfriend，theauthorof\"Endymion。\"\"Itistobelamented，\"saysLordHoughton，\"thatMr。