A bright torch and a casement ope at night To let the warm Love in. Here endethe ye Ode to Psyche. I have been endeavouring to discover a better Sonnet Stanza than we have. The legitimate does not suit the language over well from the pouncing rhymes-the other appears too elegiac-and the couplet at the end of it has seldom a pleasing effect-I do not pretend to have succeeded-it will explain itself. If by dull rhymes our English must be chained, Let us inspect the Lyre, and weigh the stress She will be bound with Garlands of her own. This is the third of May, and everything is in delightful forwardness; the violets are not withered before the peeping of the first rose. You must let me know everything-how parcels go and come—what papers you have, and what newspapers you want, and other things. God bless you, my dear brother and sister, Your ever affectionate brother, I have a Letter from George at last—and it contains, considering all things, good news-I have been with it to day to Mrs. Wylie's, with whom I have left it. I shall have it again as soon as possible and then I will walk over and read it to you. They are quite well and settled tolerably in comfort after a great deal of fatigue and harrass. They had the good chance to meet at Louisville with a Schoolfellow of ours. You may expect me within three days. I am writing to night several notes concerning this to many of my friends.' Good night! god bless you. John Keats TH CVI. To WILLIAM HASLAM. My dear Haslam, [Postmark, Hampstead, 13 May 1819.] We have news at last-and tolerably good-they have not gone to the Settlement-they are both in good Health—I read the letter to Mrs. Wylie to day and 1 As far as I am aware, this and the next are all of the "several notes" which have as yet come to the surface; but it is quite likely that others may be extant, and will be brought to light sooner or later. requested her after her Sons had read it-they would enclose it to you immediately which was faithfully promised. Send it me like Lightning that I may take it to Walthamstow. Yours ever and amen John Keats My dear Fanny, CVII. To FANNY KEATS. [Postmark, Hampstead, 26 May 1819.] I have been looking for a fine day to pass at Walthamstow there has not been one Morning (except Sunday and then I was obliged to stay at home) that I could depend upon. I have I am sorry to say had an accident with the Letter-I sent it to Haslam and he returned it torn into a thousand pieces. So I shall be obliged to tell you all I can remember from Memory. You would have heard from me before this but that I was in continual expectation of a fine Morning-I want also to speak to you concerning myself. Mind I do not purpose to quit England, as George [h]as done; but I am afraid I shall be forced to take a voyage or two. However we will not think of that for some Months. Should it be a fine morning tomorrow you will see me. Your affectionate Brother John I was making a day or two ago a general conflagration of all old Letters and Memorandums, which had become of no interest to me-I made however, like the Barber-inquisitor in Don Quixote some reservations -among the rest your and your Sister's Letters. I assure you you had not entirely vanished from my Mind, or even become shadows in my remembrance: it only needed such a memento as your Letters to bring you back to me. Why have I not written before? Why did I not answer your Honiton Letter? I had no good news for you-every concern of ours, (ours I wish I could say) and still I must say ours-though George is in America and I have no Brother left. Though in the midst of my troubles I had no relation except my young sister-1 have had excellent friends. Mr B. at whose house I now am, invited me,-I have been with him ever since. I could not make up my mind to let you know these things. Nor should I now-but see what a little interest will do -I want you to do me a Favor; which I will first ask and then tell you the reasons. Enquire in the Villages round Teignmouth if there is any Lodging commodious for its cheapness; and let me know where it is and what price. I have the choice as it were of two Poisons (yet I ought not to call this a Poison) the one is voyaging to and from India for a few years; the other is leading a fevrous life alone with Poetry-This latter will suit me best; for I cannot resolve to give up my Studies. It strikes me it would not be quite so proper for you to make such inquiries—so give my love to your Mother and ask her to do it. Yes, I would rather conquer my indolence and strain my nerves at some grand Poem— than be in a dunderheaded indiaman. Pray let no one in Teignmouth know any thing of this. Fanny must by this time have altered her name-perhaps you have also—are you all alive? Give my Comp's to Mrs your Sister. I have had good news, (tho' 'tis a queerish world in which such things are call'd good) from George -he and his wife are well. I will tell you more soon, Especially don't let the Newfoundland fishermen know it-and especially no one else. I have been always till now almost as careless of the world as a fly-my troubles were all of the Imagination-My Brother George always stood between me and any dealings with the world. Now I find I must buffet it-I must take my stand upon some vantage ground and begin to fight -I must choose between despair and Energy-I choose the latter-though the world has taken on a quakerish look with me, which I once thought was impossible 'Nothing can bring back the hour Of splendour in the grass and glory in the flower.' I once thought this a Melancholist's dream But why do I speak to you in this manner? No believe me I do not write for a mere selfish purpose-the manner in which I have written of myself will convince you. I do not do so to Strangers. I have not quite made up my mind. Write me on the receipt of this-and again at your Leisure; between whiles you shall hear from me again |