Devonshire concerning a cheap Lodging and they have been very kind in letting me know all I wanted. They have described a pleasant place which I think I shall eventually retire to. How came you on with my young Master Yorkshire Man? Did not Mrs. A. sport her Carriage and one? They really surprised me with super civility-how did Mrs. A. manage it? How is the old tadpole gardener and little' Master next door? it is to be hop'd they will both die some of these days. Not having been to Town I have not heard whether Mr. A. purposes to retire from business. Do let me know if you have heard any thing more about it. If he should not I shall be very disappointed. If any one deserves to be put to his shifts it is that Hodgkinson-as for the other he would live a long time upon his fat and be none the worse for a good long lent. How came miledi to give one Lisbon wine-had she drained the Gooseberry? Truly I cannot delay making another visit-asked to take Lunch, whether I will have ale, wine, take sugar,objection to green-like cream-thin bread and butter -another cup-agreeable-enough sugar-little more cream-too weak-12 shillin &c &c &c-Lord I must come again. We are just going to Dinner-I must must' with this to the Post Your affectionate Brother John 1 Doubtless wrongly written for run, rush, or some such word. Sir, CXI. To JAMES ELMES. Wentworth Place, Hampstead [Saturday Evening, 12 June 1819]. I did not see your Note till this Saturday evening, or I should have answered it sooner-However as it happens I have but just received the Book which contains the only copy of the verses in question.' I have asked for it repeatedly ever since I promised Mr. Haydon and could not help the delay; which I regret. The verses can be struck out in no time, and will I hope be quite in time. If you think it at all necessary a proof may be forwarded; but as I shall transcribe it fairly perhaps there may be no need. I am Sir Your obed'. Serv John Keats My dear Fanny, CXII. To FANNY KEATS. Wentworth Place [Postmark, Lombard Street, 14 June 1819.] I cannot be with you to-day for two reasons—1st I have my sore-throat coming again to prevent my walk 1 No doubt the reference is to the Ode to a Nightingale, which appeared in the Annals of the Fine Arts, under the editorship of James Elmes, in July 1819. ing. 21y I do not not happen just at present to be flush of silver so that I might ride. To-morrow I am engaged -but the day after you shall see me. Mr. Brown is waiting for me as we are going to Town together, so good bye. Your affectionate Brother CXIII. To FANNY KEATS. John Wentworth Place My dear Fanny, Still I cannot afford to spend money by Coachhire and still my throat is not well enough to warrant my walking. I went yesterday to ask Mr. Abbey for some money; but I could not on account of a Letter he showed me from my Aunt's solicitor. You do not understand the business. I trust it will not in the end be detrimental to you. I am going to try the Press once more, and to that end shall retire to live cheaply in the country and compose myself and verses as well as I can. I have very good friends ready to help me—and I am the more bound to be careful of the money they lend me. It will all be well in the course of a year I hope. I am confident of it, so do not let it trouble you at all. Mr. Abbey showed me a Letter he had received from George containing the news of the birth of a Niece for us—and all doing well-he said he would take it to you-so I suppose to day you will see it. I was preparing to enquire for a situation with an apothecary, but Mr. Brown persuades me to try the press once more; so I will with all my industry and ability. Mr. Rice a friend of mine in ill health has proposed ret[i]ring to the back of the Isle of Wight-which I hope will be cheap in the summerI am sure it will in the winter. Thence you shall frequently hear from me and in the Letters I will copy those lines I may write which will be most pleasing to you in the confidence you will show them to no one. I have not run quite aground yet I hope, having written this morning to several people to whom I have lent money requesting repayment. I shall henceforth shake off my indolent fits, and among other reformation be more diligent in writing to you, and mind you always answer me. I shall be obliged to go out of town on Saturday and shall have no money till to-morrow, so I am very sorry to think I shall not be able to come to Walthamstow. The Head Mr. Severn did of me is now too dear, but here inclosed is a very capital Profile done by Mr. Brown. I will write again on Monday or Tuesday-Mr. and Mrs. Dilke are well. I know you will not be prepared for this, because your Pocket must needs be very low having been at ebb tide so long: but what can I do? mine is lower. I was the day before yesterday much in want of Money: but some news I had yesterday has driven me into necessity. I went to Abbey's for some Cash, and he put into my hand a letter from my Aunt's Solicitor containing the pleasant information that she was about to file a Bill in Chancery against us. Now in case of a defeat Abbey will be very undeservedly in the wrong box; so I could not ask him for any more money, nor can I till the affair is decided; and if it goes against him I must in conscience make over to him what little he may have remaining. My purpose is now to make one more attempt in the Press-if that fail, "ye hear no more of me" as Chaucer says. Brown has lent me some money for the present. Do borrow or beg some how what you can for Do not suppose I am at all uncomfortable about the matter in any other way than as it forces me to apply to the needy. I could not send you those lines, for I could not get the only copy of them before last Saturday evening. I sent them Mr. Elmes on Monday. I saw Monkhouse on Sunday-he told me you were getting on with the Picture. I would have come over to you to-day, but I am fully employed me. Yours ever sincerely John Keats CXV. To FANNY BRAWNE. Shanklin, Isle of Wight, Thursday [1 July 1819.] My dearest Lady, I am glad I had not an opportunity of sending off a Letter which I wrote for you on Tuesday night'twas too much like one out of Rousseau's Heloise. I |