ThereismoretruthinalineofTennyson’sabout\"Thepraiseofthosewelove，Dearertotrueyoungheartsthantheirownpraise。\"
Iventuretothinkweneednotbeyoungtoprefertohearthepraiseofothersratherthanourown。Itisnotembarrassinginthefirstplace，asallpraiseofourselvesmustbe。Idoubtifanymanorwomancanflattersodiscreetlyasnottomakeusuncomfortable。
Besides，ifourownperformancesbelauded，weareuneasyastowhetherthehonourisdeserved。Anartisthasusuallyhisowndoubtsabouthisowndoings，orratherhehashisowncertainties。
Aboutourfriends’workweneedhavenosuchmisgivings。Andourself—loveismoredelicatelycaressedbythesuccessofourfriendsthanbyourown。Itisstillself—love，butitisfiltered，sotospeak，throughouraffectionforanother。
Whatarehumanmotives，accordingtoRochefoucauld？Temperament，vanity，fear，indolence，self—love，andagrainofnaturalperversity，whichsomehowdelightsinevilforitself。Heneglectsthatotherelement，agrainofnaturalworth，whichsomehowdelightsingoodforitself。Thistaste，Ithink，isquiteasinnate，andasactiveinus，asthatothertasteforevilwhichcausestheretobesomethingnotwhollydispleasinginthemisfortunesofourfriends。
Thereisastorywhichalwaysappearstomeatouchingproofofthisgrainofgoodness，asinvoluntary，asfatalasitsopposite。IdonotrememberinwhatbookoftravelsIfoundthistraitofnativeexcellence。TheblackfellowsofAustraliaareveryfondofsugar，andnowonder，ifitbetruethatithasonthemanintoxicatingeffect。Well，acertainblackfellowhadasmallparcelofbrownsugarwhichwaspilferedfromhislairinthecamp。Hedetectedthethief，whowascondemnedtobepunishedaccordingtotriballaw；
thatistosay，theinjuredmanwasallowedtohaveawhackathisenemy’sheadwithawaddy，ashortclubofheavyhardwood。Thewhackwasdulygiven，andthentheblackwhohadsufferedthelossthrewdownhisclub，burstintotears，embracedthethiefanddisplayedeverysignofalivelyregretforhisrevenge。
ThatseemstomeanexampleofthehumantouchthatRochefoucauldneverallowsfor，thenaturalgoodness，pity，kindness，whichcanassertitselfincontemptoftheloveofself，andtheloveofrevenge。Thisisthattrueclemencywhichisarealvirtue，andnot\"thechildofVanity，Fear，Indolence，orofallthreetogether。\"
Norisitsotruethat\"wehaveallfortitudeenoughtoendurethemisfortunesofothers。\"Everybodyhaswitnessedanother’sgriefthatcameasnearhimashisown。
Howmuchmoretrue，andhowgreatlypoeticalisthatfamousmaxim：
\"DeathandtheSunaretwothingsnottobelookedonwithasteadyeye。\"ThisversionisfromtheearliestEnglishtranslationof1698。TheMaximeswerefirstpublishedinParisin1665。{8}\"Ourtardyapishnation\"tookthirty—threeyearsinfindingthemoutandappropriatingthem。This，too，isgood：\"Ifwewerefaultless，wewouldobservewithlesspleasurethefaultsofothers。\"Indeed，toobservethesewithpleasureisnottheleastofourfaults。Again，\"Weareneversohappy，norsowretched，aswesuppose。\"Itisourvanity，perhaps，thatmakesusthinkourselvesmiserrimi。
Doyouremember——no，youdon’t——thatmeetingin\"Candide\"oftheunfortunateCunegondeandthestillmoreunfortunateoldladywhowasthedaughterofaPope？\"Youlamentyourfate，\"saidtheoldlady；\"alas，youhaveknownnosuchsorrowsasmine!\"\"What!mygoodwoman!\"saysCunegonde。\"UnlessyouhavebeenmaltreatedbytwoBulgarians，receivedtwostabsfromaknife，hadtwoofyourcastlesburnedoveryourhead，seentwofathersandtwomothersmurderedbeforeyoureyes，andtwoofyourloversfloggedattwoautos—da—fe，Idon’tfancythatyoucanhavetheadvantageofme。
Besides，Iwasbornabaronessofseventy—twoquarterings，andI
havebeenacook。\"ButthedaughterofaPopehad，indeed，beenstillmoreunlucky，assheproved，thanCunegonde；andtheoldladywasnotalittleproudofit。
Butcanyoucallthistrue：\"Thereisnobodybutisashamedofhavinglovedwhenoncehelovesnolonger\"？Ifitbetrueatall，I
don’tthinkthelovewasmuchworthhavingorgiving。Ifonereallylovesonce，onecanneverbeashamedofit；forweneverceasetolove。However，thisistheveryhighwaterofsentiment，youwillsay；butIblushnomoreforitthanM。leDucdeRochefoucauldforhisownopinion。PerhapsIamthinkingofthatkindofloveaboutwhichhesays：\"Trueloveislikeghosts；whicheverybodytalksaboutandfewhaveseen。\"\"Manybethethyrsus—bearers，fewtheMystics，\"astheGreekproverbruns。\"Manyarecalled，fewarechosen。\"
Astofriendshipbeing\"areciprocityofinterests，\"thesayingisbutoneofthosewhichRochefoucauld’svanityimposedonhiswit。
Verywittyitisnot，anditisemphaticallyuntrue。\"Oldmenconsolethemselvesbygivinggoodadviceforbeingnolongerabletosetbadexamples。\"Capital；butthepooroldmenareoftengoodexamplesoftheresultsofnottakingtheirowngoodadvice。\"Manyaningrateislesstoblamethanhisbenefactor。\"Onemightadd，atleastIwill，\"Everymanwholooksforgratitudedeservestogetnoneofit。\"\"Tosaythatoneneverflirts——isflirting。\"Iratherliketheoldtranslator’sversionof\"Ilyadebonsmariages；maisiln’yenapointdedelicieux\"——\"Marriageissometimesconvenient，butneverdelightful。\"
Howtrueisthisofauthorswithabriefpopularity：\"Ilyadesgensquiressemblentauxvaudevilles，qu’onnechantequ’uncertaintemps。\"Again，\"tobeinhastetorepayakindnessisasortofingratitude，\"andaratherinsultingsorttoo。\"Almosteverybodylikestorepaysmallfavours；manypeoplecanbegratefulforfavoursnottooweighty，butforfavourstrulygreatthereisscarceanythingbutingratitude。\"TheymusthavebeensmallfavoursthatWordsworthhadconferredwhen\"thegratitudeofmenhadoftenerlefthimmourning。\"Indeed，theverypettinessoftheaidwecangenerallyrendereachother，makesgratitudethetouchingthingitis。Somuchisrepaidforsolittle，andfewcaneverhavethechanceofincurringthethanklessnessthatRochefoucauldfoundallbutuniversal。
\"Loversandladiesneverboreeachother，becausetheyneverspeakofanythingbutthemselves。\"Dohusbandsandwivesoftenboreeachotherforthesamereason？Whosaid：\"Toknowallistoforgiveall\"？Itisratherlike\"Onpardonnetantquel’onaime\"——\"Aslongaswelovewecanforgive，\"acomfortablesaying，andthesearerareinRochefoucauld。\"Womendonotquiteknowwhatflirtstheyare\"isalso，letushope，notincorrect。Themaximthat\"Thereisalovesoexcessivethatitkillsjealousy\"isonlyacorollaryfrom\"aslongaswelove，weforgive。\"Youremembertheclassicalexample，ManonLescautandtheChevalierdesGrieux；notanhonourableprecedent。
\"Theaccentofourowncountrydwellsinourheartsaswellasonourtongues。\"Ah!nevermayIlosetheBorderaccent!\"Love’sMiracle!Tocureacoquette。\"\"Mosthonestwomenaretiredoftheirtask，\"saysthisunbeliever。Andtheothers？Aretheyneveraweary？TheDukeishisownbestcriticafterall，whenhesays：
\"Thegreatestfaultofapenetratingwitisgoingbeyondthemark。\"
Beyondthemarkhefrequentlygoes，butnotwhenhesaysthatwecomeasfreshhandstoeachnewepochoflife，andoftenwantexperienceforallouryears。Howharditwastobegintobemiddle—aged!Shallwefindoldageeasierifeverwecometoitsthreshold？Perhaps，andDeathperhapstheeasiestofall。Norletmeforget，itwillbelongbeforeyouhaveoccasiontoremember，that\"vivacitywhichgrowswithageisnotfarfromfolly。\"
OFVERSDESOCIETE
ToMr。GiftedHopkins。
MyDearHopkins，——Theverseswhichyouhavesentme，witharequest\"togetpublishedinsomemagazine，\"Inowreturntoyou。Ifyouareanxiousthattheyshouldbepublished，sendthemtoaneditoryourself。Ifhelikesthemhewillacceptthemfromyou。Ifhedoesnotlikethem，whyshouldhelikethembecausetheyareforwardedbyme？Hisonlymotivewouldbeanaversiontodisobligingaconfrere，andwhyshouldIputhiminsuchanunpleasantposition？
Butthisisaveryboorishwayofthankingyouforthepremiererepresentationofyourlittlepoem。\"ToDeliainGirton\"youcallit，\"recommendinghertoavoidtheMuses，andseekthesocietyoftheGracesandLoves。\"Anold—fashionedpreamble，andofthelengthiest，andhowdoyougoon？—
Goldenhairisfairygold，Fairygoldthatcannotstay，Turnstoleafletsgreenandcold，Attheendingoftheday!
Laurel—leavestheMusesmayTwineaboutyourgoldenhead。
Willthecrownrewardyou，say，Whenthefairygoldisfled？
Daphnewasamaidunwise—
Shunthelaurel，seektherose；
Azure，lovelyintheskies，Shineslessgraciousinthehose!
Don’tyouthink，dearHopkins，thatthisallusiontobas—bleus，ifnotindelicate，isalittlerococo，andoutofdate？Editorswillthinkso，Ifear。Besides，Idon’tlike\"Fairygoldthatcannotstay。\"IfFairyGoldwereahorse，itwouldbeallverywelltowritethatit\"cannotstay。\"’Tisthestyleofthestable，unsuitedtosongsofthesalon。
Thisisaverydifficultkindofversethatyouareessaying，youwhomthelaurelsofMr。Lockerdonotsuffertosleepforenvy。Youkindlyaskmyopiniononversdesocieteingeneral。Well，Ithinkthemaverydifficultsortofthingtowritewell，asonemayinferfromthis，thattheancients，ourmasters，couldhardlywritethematall。InGreekpoetryofthegreatagesIonlyrememberonepiecewhichcanbecalledamodel——theAEolicversesthatTheocrituswrotetoaccompanythegiftoftheivorydistaff。Itwasapresent，youremember，tothewifeofhisfriendNicias，thephysicianofMiletus。TheGreeksofthatagekepttheirwomeninalmostOrientalreserve。OnemaydoubtwhetherNiciaswouldhavelikeditifTheocritushadsent，insteadofadistaff，afanorajewel。Butthereissafetyinaspinninginstrument，andallthecomplimentstothelady，\"thedainty—ankledTheugenis，\"turnonherskill，andindustry，andhousewifery。SoLouisXIV。，nomeanauthority，calledthispieceofversdesociete\"amodelofhonourablegallantry。\"
IhavejustlookedallthroughPomtow’sprettylittlepocketvolumesoftheminorGreekpoets，andfoundnothingmoreofthenatureofthelighterversethanthisofAlcman’s——[Greektextwhichcannotbereproduced]。Doyouremembertheprettyparaphraseofitin\"LoveinIdleness\"？
\"Maidenswithvoiceslikehoneyforsweetnessthatbreathedesire，WouldthatIwereaseabirdwithwingsthatcouldnevertire，Overthefoam—flowersflying，withhalcyonseveronwing，Keepingacarelessheart，asea—bluebirdofthespring。\"
ItdoesnotquitegivethesenseAlcmanintended，thelamentforhislimbswearywitholdage——witholdagesadderforthesightofthehoney—voicedgirls。
TheGreekshadnotthekindofsocietythatisthehomeof\"SocietyVerses，\"where，asMr。Lockersays，\"aboudoirdecorumis，oroughtalwaystobe，preserved，wheresentimentneversurgesintopassion，andwherehumourneveroverflowsintoboisterousmerriment。\"Honestwomenwereestrangedfromtheirmirthandtheirmelancholy。
TheRomanswerelittlemorefortunate。YoucannotexpectthegeniusofCatullusnotto\"surgeintopassion，\"eveninhishoursofgayersong，composedwhenMultumlusimusinmeistabellis，Utconveneratessedelicatos，Scribensversiculosuterquenostrum。
ThusthelighterpiecesofCatullus，likethededicationofhisbook，areaddressedtomen，hisfriends，andthustheyscarcelycomeintothecategoryofwhatwecall\"SocietyVerses。\"GiventhecharacterofRomansociety，perhapswemightsaythatplentyofthiskindofversewaswrittenbyHoraceandbyMartial。ThefamousodetoPyrrhadoesnotexceedthedecorumofaRomanboudoir，and，asfaraslovewasconcerned，itdoesnotseemtohavebeeninthenatureofHoraceto\"surgeintopassion。\"Sohisbestsongsinthiskindareaddressedtomen，withwhomhedrinksalittle，andtalksofpoliticsandliteratureagreatdeal，andmusesovertheshortnessoflife，andthezestthatsnow—cladSoractegivestothewintryfire。
PerhapstheodetoLeuconoe，whichMr。AustinDobsonhasrenderedsoprettilyinavillanelle，maycomewithinthescopeofthisMuse，forithasaplayfulnessmingledwithitsmelancholy，asadnessinitsplay。Perhaps，too，ifHoraceistobedoneintoverse，theseoldFrenchformsseemasfitvehiclesasanyforLatinpoetrythatwaswrittenintheexoticmeasuresofGreece。ThereisaforeigngraceandalittletechnicaldifficultyovercomeintheEnglishballadeandvillanelle，asintheHoratiansapphicsandalcaics。I
wouldnotsaysomuch，onmyownresponsibility，nortrespasssofaronthedomainofscholarship，butthisopinionwascommunicatedtomebyalearnedprofessorofLatin。Ithink，too，thatsomeofthelyricmeasuresoftheoldFrenchPleiad，ofRonsardandDuBellay，wouldbewellweddedwiththeverseofHorace。Butperhapsnotranslatorwilleverpleaseanyonebuthimself，andofHoraceeverymanmustbehisowntranslator。
ItmaybethatOvidnowandthencomesneartowritingversdesociete，onlyhenevertroubleshimselfforamomentaboutthe\"decorumoftheboudoir。\"Doyourememberthelinesontheringwhichhegavehislady？Theyaretheoriginandpatternofalltheverseswrittenbyloversonthatprettymetempsychosiswhichshallmakethemslippers，orfans，orgirdles，likeWaller’s，andlikethatwhichbound\"thedainty，daintywaist\"oftheMiller’sDaughter。
\"RingthatshaltbindthefingerfairOfmysweetmaid，thouartnotrare；
ThouhastnotanypriceaboveThetokenofherpoet’slove；
Herfingermay’stthoumateassheIsmatedeverywisewithme!\"
Andthepoetgoeson，aspoetswill，towishhewerethisfavoured，thisfortunatejewel：
\"InvainIwish!So，ring，depart，Andsay’withmethouhasthisheart’!\"
OncemoreOvid’sversesonhiscatholicaffectionforallladies，thebrownandtheblonde，theshortandthetall，mayhavesuggestedCowley’shumorousconfession，\"TheChronicle\"：
\"Margaritafirstpossessed，IfIrememberwell，mybreast，Margarita，firstofall；\"
andthenfollowsalistaslongasLeporello’s。
WhatdisqualifiesOvidasawriterofversdesocieteisnotsomuchhislackof\"decorum\"asthemonotonoussingsongofhiseternalelegiacs。Thelightestoflightthings，thepoetofsociety，shouldpossessmorevariedstrains；likeHorace，Martial，Thackeray，notlikeOvidand（hereisaheresy）Praed。InimitablywellasPraeddoeshistrickofantithesis，Istillfeelthatitisatrick，andthatmostrhymerscouldfollowhiminameremechanicart。ButherethejudgmentofMr。Lockerwouldbeopposedtothismodestopinion，andtherewouldbeoppositionagainwhereMr。LockercallsDr。O。W。
Holmes\"perhapsthebestlivingwriterofthisspeciesofverse。\"
Butherewearestrayingamongthemodernsbeforeexhaustingtheancients，ofwhomIfancythatMartial，athisbest，approachesmostneartheideal。
OfcourseitistruethatmanyofMartial’slyricswouldbethoughtdisgustinginanywell—regulatedconvictestablishment。Hisgallantryisrarely\"honourable。\"ScaligerusedtoburnacopyofMartial，onceayear，onthealtarofCatullus，whohimselfwasfarfromprudish。ButMartial，somehow，kepthisheartundepraved，andhistasteinbookswasexcellent。Howoftenhewritesversesforthebibliophile，delightinginthedetailsofpurpleandgold，theillustrationsandornamentsforhisnewvolume!Thesepiecesareforthefew——foramateurs，butwemayallbetouchedbyhisgriefforthelittlelass，Erotion。HecommendsherinHadestohisownfatherandmothergonebeforehim，thatthechildmaynotbefrightenedinthedark，friendlessamongtheshades\"ParvulanenigrashorrescatErotionumbrasOraqueTartareiprodigiosacanis。\"
Thereisakindofplayfulnessinthesorrow，andthepityofamanforachild；pitythatshowsitselfinasmile。ItrytorenderthatotherinscriptionforthetomboflittleErotion：
HereliesthebodyofthelittlemaidErotion；
Fromhersixthwinter’ssnowshereagershadeHathfleetedon!
Whoe’erthoubethataftermeshaltswayMyscantyfarm，Toherslightshadetheyearlyofferingpay，So——safefromharm—
ShallthouandthinereverethekindlyLar，AndthisaloneBe，throughthybriefdominion，nearorfar，Amournfulstone!
Certainlyhehadaheart，thisfoul—mouthedMartial，whoclaimedforthestudyofhisbooknoserioushours，butmomentsofmirth，whenmenaregladwithwine，\"inthereignoftheRose：\"{9}
\"Haechoraesttua，cumfuritLyaeus，Cumregnatrosa，cummadentcapilli；
TuncmevelrigidilegantCatones。\"
Butenoughofthepoetsofold；anotherdaywemayturntoCarewandSuckling，PraedandLocker，poetsofourownspeech，lighterlyristsofourowntime。{10}
ONVERSDESOCIETE
ToMr。GiftedHopkins。
DearGifted，——IfyouwillpermitmetouseyourChristian，andprophetic，name——weimprovedtheoccasionlatelywiththewritersoflightverseinancienttimes。Wedecidedthattheancientswerenotgreatinversesofsociety，becausetheyhad，properlyspeaking，nosocietytowriteversesfor。WomendidnotliveintheChristianfreedomandsocialequalitywithmen，eitherinGreeceorRome——atleastnot\"modestwomen，\"asMr。HarryFokercallsthemin\"Pendennis。\"AbouttheothersthereisplentyofprettyverseintheAnthology。Whatyouneedforversesofsocietyisaperiodinwhichthesocialequalityisrecognized，andinwhichpeoplearepeaceableenoughandcomfortableenoughto\"playwithlightlovesintheportal\"oftheTempleofHymen，withoutanyverydefiniteintentions，oneitherpart，ofgoinginsideandgettingmarried。
PerhapsweshouldnotexpectversdesocietefromtheCrusaders，whowerenotpeaceable，andwhowereveryearnestindeed，inloveorwar。ButassoonasyougetaCourt，andCourtlife，inFrance，eventhoughthetimeswerewarlike，thenladiesarelaudedinartfulstrains，andthelyreisstrucklevioreplectro。Charlesd’Orleans，thatcaptiveandcaptivatingprince，wrotethousandsofrondeaux；
evenbeforehistimeagallantcompanyofgentlemencomposedtheLivredesCentBallades，onehundredballades，practicallyunreadablebymodernmen。ThencameClementMarot，withhisgayandratheremptyfluency，andRonsard，withhismythologicalcompliments，hissonnets，deckedwithroses，andledlikelambstothealtarofHelenorCassandra。Afew，hereandthere，ofhispiecesarelighter，morepleasant，and，inaquietway，immortal，suchastheversestohis\"fairflowerofAnjou，\"abeautyoffifteen。Sotheyranon，inFrance，tillVoiture’stime，andSarrazin’swithhismerryballadeofanelopement，andCorneille’sproudandgracefulstanzastoMarquisedeGorla。
ButversesintheEnglishtonguearemoreworthyofourattention。
Mr。Lockerbeginshiscollectionofthem，LyraElegantiarum（nolongeraveryrarebookinEngland），asfarbackasSkelton’sage，andasThomasWyat’s，andSidney’s；butthosethings，thelighterlyricsofthatday，arerathersongsthanpoems，andprobablywereallmeanttobesungtothevirginalsbyourmusicalancestors。
\"Drinktomeonlywiththineeyes，\"saysthegreatBenJonson，orsingsitrather。Thewords，thatheversifiedoutoftheGreekproseofPhilostratus，cannotbethoughtofwithoutthetune。ItisthesamewithCarew’s\"Hethatlovesarosycheek，\"orwith\"Roses，theirsharpspinesbeinggone。\"ThelighterpoetryofCarew’sdayisallpowderedwithgolddust，likethecourtladies’hair，andiscrownedanddiaperedwithroses，andheavywithfabulousscentsfromtheArabianphoenix’snest。LittleCupidsflutterandtwitterhereandthereamongtheboughs，asinthatfeastofAdoniswhichPtolemy’ssistergaveinAlexandria，orasinEisen’svignettesforDorat’sBaisers：
\"AskmenomorewhitherdostrayThegoldenatomsoftheday；
ForinpurelovedidHeavenprepareThesepowderstoenrichyourhair。\"
Itwouldbeaffectation，Gifted，ifyourhymedinthatfashionfortheladyofyourlove，andpresentedher，asitwere，withcosmicalcosmetics，andcomplimentsdrawnfromthestarryspacesanddeserts，fromskies，phoenixes，andangels。ButitwasanaturalandprettywayofwritingwhenThomasCarewwasyoung。IpreferHerricktheinexhaustibleindainties；Herrick，thatparson—pagan，withthesoulofaGreekoftheAnthology，andacureofsouls（Heavenhelpthem!）
inDevonshire。HisJuliaistheleastmortalofthese\"daughtersofdreamsandofstories，\"whompoetscelebrate；shehasacertainopulenceoffleshandblood，acheeklikeadamaskrose，and\"richeyes，\"likeKeats’slady；novaporousBeatrice，she；butahandsomeEnglishwench，with\"AcuffneglectfulandtherebyRibbonstoflowconfusedly；
Awinningwave，deservingnoteInthetempestuouspetticoat。\"
ThenSucklingstrikesuparecklessmilitaryair；awarriorheiswhohasseenmanyasiegeofhearts——heartsthatcapitulated，orheldoutlikeTroy—town，andtheimpatientassailantwhistles：
\"Quit，quit，forshame：thiswillnotmove，Thiscannottakeher。
Ifofherselfshewillnotlove，Nothingcanmakeher—
Thedeviltakeher。\"
Soheridesaway，curlinghismoustache，hidinghisdefeatinabiginimitableswagger。ItisapleasanterpieceinwhichSuckling，afteralongleaguerofalady’sheart，findsthatCaptainhonourisgovernoroftheplace，andsurrenderhopeless。Sohedepartswithasalute：
\"March，march（quothI），thewordstraightgive，Let’slosenotimebutleaveher：
Thatgiantuponairwilllive，Andholditoutforever。\"
Lovelaceisevenabettertypeinhisraregoodthingsofthemilitaryamoristandpoet。WhatapologyofLauzun’s，orBussyRabutin’sforfaithlessnesscouldequalthis？—
\"WhydostthousayIamforsworn，SincethineIvowedtobe？
Lady，itisalreadymorn；
ItwaslastnightIsworetotheeThatfondimpossibility。\"
Has\"InMemoriam\"noblernumbersthanthepoem，fromexile，toLucasta？—
\"OurFaithandtrothAlltimeandspacecontrols，Abovethehighestspherewemeet，Unseen，unknown，andgreetasangelsgreet。\"
Howcomesitthatinthefiercefightingdaysthesoldiersweresotuneful，andsuchscholars？InthefirsteditionofLovelace’s\"Lucasta\"thereisaflockofrecommendatoryverses，English，Latin，evenGreek，bythegallantColonel’smess—matesandcomrades。WhatguardsmannowwriteslikeLovelace，andhowmanyofhisfriendscouldapplaudhiminGreek？You，myGifted，arehappilyofapacificdisposition，andtuneagentlelyre。Isitnotluckyforswainslikeyouthatthesoldiershavequiteforswornsonneting？
Whenamanwasarake，apoet，awarrior，allinone，whatchancehadapeacefulminorpoetlikeyouorme，Gifted，againsthischarms？Sedley，whensober，musthavebeenaninvinciblerival——
invincible，aboveall，whenhepretendedconstancy：
\"WhythenshouldIseekfurtherstore，Andstillmakeloveanew？
Whenchangeitselfcangivenomore’Tiseasytobetrue。\"
Howinfinitelymoredelightful，musical，andcaptivatingarethoseCavaliersingers——theirnumbersflowingfair，liketheirscentedlovelocks——thantheprudishsocietypoetsofPope’sday。\"TheRapeoftheLock\"isverywitty，butthroughitalldon’tyoumarkthesneerofthecontemptuous，unmanlylittlewit，thecrookeddandy？
Hejibesamonghiscompliments；andIdonotwonderthatMistressArabellaFermorwasnotconciliatedbyhislong—drawnclevernessandpolishedlines。IpreferSackville’sverses\"writtenatseathenightbeforeanengagement\"：
\"ToallyouladiesnowonlandWemenatseaindite。\"
Theyareallalike，thewitsofQueenAnne；andevenMattPrior，whenhewritesofladiesoccasionally，writesdowntothem，oratleastglancesupverysaucilyfromhispositiononhisknees。ButPrioristhebestofthem，andthemostcandid：
\"Icourtothersinverse——butIlovetheeinprose；
Andtheyhavemywhimsies，butthouhastmyheart。\"
Yes，PriorisprobablythegreatestofallwhodallywiththelightlyrewhichthrillstothewingsoffleetingLoves——thegreatestEnglishwriterofversdesociete；themostgay，frank，good—
humoured，tunefulandengaging。
Landorisgreat，too，butinanotherkind；thebeesthathummedoverPlato’scradlehavelefttheirhoneyonhislips；nonebutLandor，oraGreek，couldhavewrittenthisonCatullus：
\"TellmenotwhattoowellIknowAbouttheBardofSirmio—
Yes，inThalia’ssonSuchstainsthereareaswhenaGraceSprinklesanother’slaughingfaceWithnectar，andrunson!\"
ThatispoetrydeservingofaplaceamongtherarestthingsintheAnthology。ItisasorrowtomethatIcannotquiteplacePraedwithPriorinmyaffections。Withallhisgaietyandwit，heweariesoneatlastwiththatclever，punningantithesis。Idon’twanttoknowhow\"CaptainHazardwinsabet，OrBeaulieuspoilsacurry\"—
andIpreferhissombre\"RedFisherman，\"theideaofwhichisborrowed，wittinglyorunwittingly，fromLucian。
Thackeray，toocarelessinhismeasures，yetcomesnearerPriorinbreadthofhumourandinunaffectedtenderness。Whocanequalthatsong，\"OnceyoucometoFortyYear，\"orthelinesontheVeniceLove—lamp，orthe\"Cane—bottomedChair\"？OflivingEnglishwritersofverseinthe\"familiarstyle，\"asCowperhasit，IpreferMr。
Lockerwhenheistenderandnotuntouchedwithmelancholy，asin\"ThePortraitofaLady，\"andMr。AustinDobson，whenheisnotflirting，butinearnest，asinthe\"SongofFourSeasons\"and\"TheDeadLetter。\"Hehasingenuity，pathos，masteryofhisart，and，thoughtheleastpedanticofpoets，is\"convenientlylearned。\"
OfcontemporaryAmericans，ifImaybefrank，IprefertheverseofMr。BretHarte，versewithsomanytunesandturns，ascomicasthe\"HeathenChinee，\"astenderasthelayoftheshipwithitscrewofchildrenthatslippeditsmooringsinthefog。TomeitseemsthatMr。BretHarte’spoemshavenever（atleastinthiscountry）beensufficientlyesteemed。Mr。Lowellhaswritten（\"TheBiglowPapers\"
apart）butlittleinthisvein。Mr。WendellHolmes，yourdelightfulgodfather，Gifted，haswrittenmuchwithperhapssomelossfromtheveryquantity。Alittleofversdesociete，mydearGifted，goesalongway，asyouwillthink，ifeveryousitdownsteadilytoreadrightthroughanycollectionofpoemsinthismanner。Sodonotaddtoorapidlytoyourownstore；letthembe\"few，butroses\"allofthem。
ONBOOKSABOUTREDMEN
ToRichardWilby，Esq。，EtonCollege，Windsor。
MyDearDick，——Itisverygoodofyou，amongyourseverestudiesatEton，towritetoyourUncle。Iamextremelypleasedtohearthatyourfootballisappreciatedinthehighestcircles，andshallbehappytohaveasgoodanaccountofyourskillinmakingLatinverses。
Iamgladyoulike\"She，\"Mr。RiderHaggard’sbookwhichIsentyou。
Itis\"somethinglike，\"asyousay，andIquiteagreewithyou，bothinbeinginlovewiththeheroine，andinthinkingthatshepreachesrathertoomuch。But，then，asshewasovertwothousandyearsold，andhadlivedformostofthattimeamongcannibals，whodidnotunderstandher，onemayexcuseherfor\"jawing，\"asyousay，agooddeal，whenshemetwhitemen。Youwanttoknowif\"She\"isatruestory。Ofcourseitis!
Butyouhaveread\"She，\"andyouhavereadallCooper’s，andMarryat’s，andMr。Stevenson’sbooks，and\"TomSawyer，\"and\"HuckleberryFinn，\"severaltimes。SohaveI，andamquitereadytobeginagain。But，tomymind，booksabout\"RedIndians\"havealwaysseemedmuchthemostinteresting。Atyourage，Iremember，Iboughtatomahawk，and，aswehadalsolotsofspearsandboomerangsfromAustralia，thepoultryusedtohaveratheraroughtimeofit。
Inevercoulddoverymuchwithaboomerang；butIcouldthrowaspeartoahair’sbreadth，asmanyachickenhadoccasiontodiscover。WhenyougohomeforChristmasIhopeyouwillrememberthatallthiswasverywrong，andthatyouwillconsiderwearecivilizedpeople，notMohicans，norPawnees。Ialsomadeastonepipe，likeHiawatha’s，butInevercoulddrillaholeinthestem，soitdidnot\"draw\"likeacivilizedpipe。
Bywayofanawfulwarningtoyouonthisscore，andalso，asyousayyouwantatruebookaboutRedIndians，letmerecommendtoyouthebestbookaboutthemIevercameacross。Itiscalled\"A
NarrativeoftheCaptivityandAdventuresofJohnTanner，duringThirtyYears’ResidenceamongtheIndians，\"anditwaspublishedatNewYorkbyMessrs。Carvill，in1830。
IfIwereanAmericanpublisher，insteadofaBritishauthor（howI
wishIwas!）I’dpublish\"JohnTanner\"again，orperhapscutagooddealout，andmakeaboy’sbookofit。Youarenotlikelytogetittobuy，butMr。Steevens，theAmericanbookseller，hasfoundmeacopy。IfIlendyouit，willyoubekindenoughtoillustrateitonseparatesheetsofpaper，andnotmakedrawingsonthepagesofthebook？Thiswill，inthelongrun，bemoresatisfactorytoyourself，asyouwillbeabletokeepyourpictures；forIwant\"JohnTanner\"
backagain：anddon’tlendhimtoyourfag—master。
Tannerwasbornabout1780；helivedinKentucky。Don’tyouwishyouhadlivedinKentuckyinColonelBoone’stime？TheShawneeswereroamingabouttheneighbourhoodwhenTannerwasalittleboy。
Hisunclescalpedoneofthem。ThismadebadfeelingbetweentheTannersandtheShawnees；butJohn，likeanyboyofspirit，wishednevertolearnlessons，andwantedtobeanIndianbrave。Hesoonhadmoreofbeingabravethanheliked；butheneverlearnedanymorelessons，andcouldnotevenreadorwrite。
OnedayJohn’sfathertoldhimnottoleavethehouse，becausefromthemovementsofthehorses，heknewthatIndianswereinthewoods。
SoJohnseizedthefirstchanceandnippedout，andrantoawalnuttreeinoneofthefields，wherehebeganfillinghisstrawhatwithwalnuts。AtthatverymomenthewascaughtbytwoIndians，whospilledthenuts，puthishatonhishead，andboltedwithhim。Oneoftheoldwomenofthetribehadlostherson，andwantedtoadoptaboy，andsotheyadoptedJohnnyTanner。Theyranwithhimtillhewasoutofbreath，tilltheyreachedtheOhio，wheretheythrewhimintoacanoe，paddledacross，andsetoffrunningagain。
Intendays’hardmarchingtheyreachedthecamp，anditwasworsethangoingtoanewschool，foralltheIndianskickedJohnTannerabout，and\"theirdance，\"hesays，\"wasbriskandcheerful，afterthemannerofthescalpdance!\"CheerfulforJohn!Hehadtoliebetweenthefireandthedoorofthelodge，andeveryonewhopassedgavehimakick。Oneoldmanwasparticularlycruel。WhenTannerwasgrownup，hecamebacktothatneighbourhood，andthefirstthingheaskedwas，\"WhereisManito—o—geezhik？\"
\"Dead，twomonthssince。\"
\"Itiswellthatheisdead，\"saidJohnTanner。Butanoldfemalechief，Net—ko—kua，adoptedhim，andnowitbegantobefun。Forhewassenttoshootgameforthefamily。Couldanythingbemoredelightful？Hisfirstshotwasatpigeons，withapistol。ThepistolknockeddownTanner；butitalsoknockeddownthepigeon。Hethencaughtmartins——andmeasles，whichwaslessentertaining。EvenIndianshavemeasles!Butevenhuntingisnotaltogetherfun，whenyoustartwithnobreakfastandhavenochanceofsupperunlessyoukillgame。
TheotherRedIndianbooks，especiallythecheapones，don’ttellyouthatveryoftentheIndiansaremorethanhalf—starved。Thensomeonebuildsamagiclodge，andpraystotheGreatSpirit。
Tanneroftendidthis，andhewouldthendreamhowtheGreatSpiritappearedtohimasabeautifulyoungman，andtoldhimwherehewouldfindgame，andprophesiedothereventsinhislife。ItiscurioustoseeawhitemantakingtotheIndianreligion，andhavingexactlythesamesortofvisionsastheirredconvertsdescribedtotheJesuitfathersnearlytwohundredyearsbefore。
TannersawsomeIndianghosts，too，whenhegrewup。OnthebankoftheLittleSaskawjewuntherewasacapitalcamping—placewheretheIndiansnevercamped。ItwascalledJebingneezh—o—shin—naut——\"theplaceoftwoDeadMen。\"TwoIndiansofthesametotemhadkilledeachotherthere。Now，theirtotemwasthatwhichTannerbore，thetotemofhisadoptedIndianmother。Thestorywasthatifanymancampedthere，theghostswouldcomeoutoftheirgraves；andthatwasjustwhathappened。Tannermadetheexperiment；hecampedandfellasleep。\"VerysoonIsawthetwodeadmencomeandsitdownbymyfireoppositeme。Igotupandsatoppositethembythefire，andinthispositionIawoke。\"Perhapshefellasleepagain，forhenowsawthetwodeadmen，whosatoppositetohim，andlaughedandpokedfunandsticksathim。Hecouldneitherspeaknorrunaway。
Oneofthemshowedhimahorseonahill，andsaid，\"There，mybrother，isahorseIgiveyoutorideonyourjourneyhome，andonyourwayyoucancallandleavethehorse，andspendanothernightwithus。\"So，nextmorning，hefoundthehorseandrodeit，buthedidnotspendanothernightwiththeghostsofhisowntotem。Hehadseenenoughofthem。
ThoughTannerbelievedinhisowndreamsoftheGreatSpirit，hedidnotbelieveinthoseofhisIndianmother。Hethoughtsheusedtoprowlaboutinthedaytime，findtracksofabearordeer，watchwheretheywentto，andthensaythebeast’slairhadbeenrevealedtoherinadream。ButTanner’sownvisionswere\"honestInjun。\"
Once，inahardwinter，Tannerplayedatrickontheoldwoman。Allthefoodtheyhadwasaquartoffrozenbears’grease，keptinakettlewithaskinfastenedoverit。ButTannercaughtarabbitaliveandpoppedhimundertheskin。Sowhentheoldwomanwentforthebears’greaseinthemorning，andfounditalive，shewasnotalittlealarmed。
ButdoesnotthenotionoflivingonfrozenpomatumrathertakethegiltoffthedelightofbeinganIndian？Theoldwomanwasasbraveandresoluteasaman，butinonedayshesoldahundredandtwentybeaverskinsandmanybuffalorobesforrum。ShealwaysentertainedalltheneighbouringIndiansaslongastherumlasted，andTannerhadanarrowescapeofgrowingupadrunkard。HebecamesuchasavagethatwhenanIndiangirlcarelesslyallowedhiswigwamtobeburned，hestrippedherofherblanketandturnedheroutforthenightinthesnow。
SoTannergrewupinspiteofhungeranddrink。Once，whenstarving，andwithoutbullets，hemetabuckmoose。Ifhekilledthemoosehewouldbesaved，ifhedidnothewoulddie。Sohetookthescrewsoutofthelockofhisrifle，loadedwiththeminplaceofbullets，tiedthelockonwithstring，fired，andkilledthemoose。
Tannerwasworriedintomarryingayoungsquaw（atleasthesayshediditbecausethegirlwantedit），andthisledtoallhissorrows—
—thisandaquarrelwithamedicine—man。Themedicine—manaccusedhimofbeingawizard，andhiswifegotanotherIndiantoshoothim。
Tannerwasfarfromsurgeons，andheactuallyhackedoutthebullethimselfwithanoldrazor。AnotherwoundedIndianonceamputatedhisownarm。TheancientSpartanscouldnothavebeenpluckier。
TheIndianshadothervirtuesaswellaspluck。Theywerehonestandsohospitable，beforetheyknewwhitemen’sways，thattheywouldgivepoorstrangersnewmocassinsandnewbuffalocloaks。
Willitboreyou，mydearDick，ifItellyouofanoldIndian’sdeath？Itseemsaprettyandtouchingstory。OldPe—shau—bawasafriendofTanner。Onedayhefellviolentlyill。HesentforTannerandsaidtohim：\"IrememberbeforeIcametoliveinthisworld，IwaswiththeGreatSpiritabove。Isawmanygoodanddesirablethings，andamongothersabeautifulwoman。AndtheGreatSpiritsaid：’Pe—shau—ba，doyoulovethewoman？’ItoldhimI
did。Thenhesaid，’Godownandspendafewwintersonearth。Youcannotstaylong，andyoumustremembertobealwayskindandgoodtomychildrenwhomyouseebelow。’SoIcamedown，butIhaveneverforgottenwhatwassaidtome。
\"Ihavealwaysstoodinthesmokebetweenthetwobandswhenmypeoplefoughtwiththeirenemies……InowhearthesamevoicethattalkedtomebeforeIcameintotheworld。IttellsmeIcanremainherenolonger。\"Hethenwalkedout，lookedatthesun，thesky，thelake，andthedistanthills；thencamein，laydowncomposedlyinhisplace，andinafewminutesceasedtobreathe。
IfwewouldhardlycaretolivelikeIndians，afterall（andTannertiredofitandcameback，anoldman，totheStates），wemightdesiretodielikePe—shau—ba，if，likehim，wehadbeen\"goodandkindtoGod’schildrenwhomwemeetbelow。\"SohereisaChristmasmoralforyou，outofaRedIndianbook，andIwishyouamerryChristmasandahappyNewYear。
APPENDIXI
Reynolds’sPeterBell。
WhenthearticleonJohnHamiltonReynolds（\"AFriendofKeats\"）waswritten，Ihadnotseenhis\"PeterBell\"（TaylorandHessey，London，1888）。This\"LyricalBallad\"isdescribedinaletterofKeats’spublishedbyMr。SidneyColvininMacmillan’sMagazine，August，1888。ThepointofReynolds’sjokewastoproduceaparodybeforetheoriginal。ReynoldswasannoyedbywhatHoodcalled\"TheBettyFoybles\"ofWordsworth，andbythedemeanourofapoetwhowasserious，notonlyinseason，butoutofseason。Moreover，Wordsworthhaddamned\"aprettypieceofheathenism\"byKeats，withpraisewhichwasfaintevenfromWordsworthtoacontemporary。Inthecircumstances，asWordsworthwasnotyetakindofsolemnshade，whomweseehauntingthehills，andhearchantingtheswansongofthedyingEngland，perhapsReynolds’sparodyscarceneedsexcuse。
Mr。Aingercallsit\"insolent，\"meaningthatithasanunkindtoneofpersonalattack。Thatis，unluckily，true，buttomyselftheparodyappearsremarkablyfunny，andquiteworthyof\"thesneeringbrothers，thevileSmiths，\"asLambcallstheauthorsof\"RejectedAddresses。\"LambwrotetotellWordsworththathedidnotseethefunoftheparody——perhapsitisaswellthatweshouldfailtoseethefunofjestsbrokenonourfriends。ButwillanyWordsworthiandenyto—daythehumourofthis？—
\"Heisrurallyrelated；
PeterBellhathcountrycousins，（Hehadonceaworthymother），BellsandPetersbythedozens，ButPeterBellhehathnobrothers，Notabrotherownethhe，PeterBellhehathnobrother；
Hismotherhadnootherson，Noothersone’ercalledher’mother，’
PeterBellhathbrothernone。\"
AsKeatssaysinareviewhewroteforTheExaminer，\"thereisapestilenthumourintherhymes，andaninveteratecadenceinsomeofthestanzasthatmustbelamented。\"InhisreviewKeatstriedtohurtneitherside，buthisheartwaswithReynolds；\"itwouldbejustaswelltotrounceLordByroninthesamemanner。\"
PeoplestillmakeanoutcryoverthetrouncingofKeats。Itwasbludgeonlydone，butonlypartofagame，akindofhorseplayatwhichmostmenoflettersoftheagewereplaying。Whobutregretsthat，inhis\"LifeofKeats，\"Mr。ColvinshouldspeakasifSirWalterScotthad，perhaps，aguiltyknowledgeofthereviewofKeatsinBlackwood!Thereisbutatittleofpublishedevidencetothetruthofatheoryinitselfutterlydetestable，and，toeveryonewhounderstandsthecharacterofScott，whollybeyondpossibilityofbelief。EvenifLockhartwasthereviewer，andifScottcametoknowit，wasScottresponsibleforwhatLockhartdidin1819or1820，theverytimewhenMrs。ShelleythoughthewasdefendingShelleyinBlackwood（wherehehadpraisedherFrankenstein），andwhenshespokeofSirWalteras\"theonlyliberalmaninthefaction\"？UnluckilyKeatsdied，andhisdeathwasabsurdlyattributedtoapairofreviewswhichmayhaveirritatedhim，andwhichwerecoarse，andcruelevenforthatperiodofrobustreviewing。ButKeatsknewverywellthevalueofthesecritiques，andprobablyresentedthemnotmuchmorethanafootballplayerresentsbeing\"hacked\"inthecourseofthegame。HewasverywillingtoseeByronandWordsworth\"trounced，\"andasreadyasPeterCorcoraninhisfriend’spoemto\"takepunishment\"himself。
ThecharacterofKeatswasplucky，andhisestimateofhisowngeniuswasperfectlysane。Heknewthathewasinthethickofaliterary\"scrimmage，\"andhewasnotthemantoflinchortorepineattheconsequences。
APPENDIXII
PortraitsofVirgilandLucretius。
IntheLetteronVirgilsomeremarksaremadeonabustofthepoet。
Itiswhollyfanciful。OuronlyvestigesofaportraitofVirgilareintwoMSS。；thebetterofthetwoisintheVatican。Thedesignrepresentsayouth，withdarkhairandapleasantface，seatedreading。Adeskisbesidehim，andacaseformanuscript，inshapelikeaband—box。（SeeVisconti，\"Icon。Rom。\"i。179，plate13。）MartialtellsusthatportraitsofVirgilwereilluminatedoncopiesofhis\"AEneid。\"TheVaticanMS。isofthetwelfthcentury。
Buteveryonewhohasfollowedthefortunesofbooksknowsthatakindoftraditionoftenpreservestheillustrations，whicharecopiedandrecopiedwithoutmaterialchange。（SeeMr。Jacobs’s\"FablesofBidpai，\"Nutt，1888。）ThustheVaticanMS。maypreserveatleastashadowofVirgil。
IftherebeanyportraitofLucretius，itisaprofileonasard，publishedbyMr。Munroinhisfamouseditionofthepoet。ThelettersLVCRareinscribedonthestone，andappeartobecontemporarywiththegem。This，atleast，istheopinionofMr。A。
S。Murray，ofthelateMr。C。W。King，Braun，andMuller。Ontheotherhand，Bernouilli（\"Rom。Icon。\"i。247）regardsthis，andapparentlymostotherRomangemswithinscriptions，as\"apocryphal。\"
Thering，whichwasintheNottcollection，isnowinmypossession。
IfLucretiusweretheratherpedanticandsharp—nosedRomanofthegem，hiswifehadlittlereasonforthejealousywhichtooksodeplorableaform。ColdthisLucretiusmayhavebeen，volatile——
never!{11}
Footnotes：
{1}ThiswaswrittenduringthelifetimeofMr。ArnoldandMr。
Browning。
{2}Sincethiswaswritten，Mr。Bridgeshasmadehislyricsaccessiblein\"ShorterPoems。\"（G。BellandSons：1890）
{3}Macmillans。
{4}Reynoldswas，perhaps，alittleirreverent。HeanticipatedWordsworth’s\"PeterBell\"byaprematureparody，\"PeterBelltheFirst。\"
{5}AppendixonReynolds’s\"PeterBell。\"
{6}\"AucassinandNicolette\"hasnowbeenedited，annotated，andequippedwithatranslationbyMr。F。W。Bourdillon（KeganPaul&
Trench，1887）。
{7}Edinburgh，1862。
{8}TheElzevirpiracywasratherearlier。
{9}Pindar，perhaps，inoneofhisfragments，suggestedthatprettyCumregnatRosa。
{10}Seenextletter。
{11}Mr。Munrocallsthestone\"ablackagate，\"anddoesnotmentionitsprovenance。Theengravinginhisbookdoesnojusticetotheportrait。ThereisanothergemrepresentingLucretiusintheVatican：ofolditbelongedtoLeoX。Thetwogemsareinallrespectssimilar。Asealwiththishead，oroneverylikeit，belongedtoEvelyn，thefriendofMr。Pepys。