With those bright languid segments green, and Of many a maid has given thee many a maul, Still is that fur as soft as when the lists In youth thou enter'dst on glass-bottled wall, LETTERS OF JOHN KEATS 1. TO CHARLES COWDEN CLARKE [London, October 31, 1816.] 3. TO JOHN HAMILTON REYNOLDS [London,] Sunday Evening [March 2, 1817?]. MY DEAR REYNOLDS Your kindness & affects me so sensibly that I can merely put down a few mono-sentences. Your Criticism only makes me extremely anxious that I should not deceive you. It's the finest thing by God as Hazlitt would say. However I hope I may not. deceive you. There are some acquaintances of mine who will scratch their Beards. and although I have, I hope, some Charity, I wish their Nails may be long. I will be ready at the time you mention in all Happiness. There is a report that a young Lady of 16 has written the new Tragedy, God bless. her I will know her by Hook or by Crook in less than a week. My Brothers" and my Remembrances to your kind Sis [London,] Tuesday [December 17, 1816]. MY DEAR CHARLES You may now look at Minerva's Ægis with impunity, seeing that my awful Visage 2 did not turn you into a John Doree. You have accordingly a legitimate title to a Copy- I will use my interest to procure it for you. I'll tell you what — I met Reynolds at Haydon's a few mornings since ters. he promised to be with me this Evening and Yesterday I had the same promise from Severn and I must put you in mind that on last All hallowmas' day you gave me your word that you would spend this Evening with me putting off. I have done little to Endymion lately 2 - I hope to finish it in one more attack. I believe you I went to Richards's it was so whoreson a Night that I stopped there all the next day. His Remembrances to you. (Ext. from the common place Book of my Mind - Mem. Wednesday Hampstead call in Warner Street- a sketch of Mr. Hunt.) - I will ever consider you my sincere and affectionate friend - you will not doubt that I am yours. God bless you - - so no JOHN KEATS. Yours most sincerely JOHN KEATS. 4. TO THE SAME [London, March 17, 1817.] MY DEAR REYNOLDS My Brothers are anxious that I should go by myself into the country they have always been extremely fond of me, and now that Haydon has pointed out how necessary it is that I should be alone to improve myself, they give up the temporary pleasure of living with me continually for a great good which I hope will follow. So I shall soon be out of Town. You must soon bring all your present troubles to a close, and so must I, but we must, like the Fox, prepare for a fresh swarm of flies. Banish money Banish then a little Wood with trees look you like Launce's Sister as white as a Lily and as small as a Wand'- then came houses which died away into a few straggling Barns then came hedge trees aforesaid again. As the Lamplight crept along the following things were discovered -long heath broom furze' - Hurdles here and there half a Mile - Park palings when the Windows of a House were always discovered by reflection One Nymph of Fountain N. B. Stone lopped Trees Cow ruminating - ditto Donkey Man and Woman going gingerly along-William seeing his Sisters over the Heath-John waiting with a Lanthorn for his Mistress - Barber's Pole Doctor's Shop - However after having had my fill of these I popped my Head out just as it began to Dawn- N. B. this Tuesday Morn saw the Sun rise of which I shall say nothing at present. I felt rather lonely this Morning at Breakfast so I went and unbox'd a Shakspeare 'There's my Comfort.' I went immediately after Breakfast to Southampton Water where I enquired for the Boat to the Isle of Wight as I intend seeing that place before I settle it will go at 3, so shall I after having taken a Chop. I know nothing of this place but that it is long-tolerably broad has bye streets - two or three Churches -a very respectable old Gate with two Lions to guard it. The Men and Women do not materially differ from those I have been in the Habit of seeing. I forgot to say that from dawn till half-past six I went through a most delightful Country - some open Down but for the most part thickly wooded. What surprised me most was an immense quantity of blooming Furze on each side the road cutting a most rural dash. The Southampton water when I saw it just now was no better than a low water Water which did no more than answer my expectations — it will have mended its Manners by 3. From the Wharf are seen the shores on each side stretching to the Isle of Wight. You, Haydon, Reynolds, etc. have been pushing each other out of my Brain by turns. I have conned over every Head in Haydon's Picture you must warn them not to be afraid should my Ghost visit them on Wednesday tell Haydon to Kiss his Hand at Betty over the Way for me yea and to spy at her for me. I hope one of you will be competent to take part in a Trio while I am away- you need only aggravate your voices a little and mind not to speak Cues and all when you have said Rum-ti-ti you must not be rum any more or else another will take up the ti-ti alone and then he might be taken God shield us for little better than a Titmouse. By the by talking of Titmouse Remember me particularly to all my Friends-give my Love to the Miss Reynoldses and to Fanny who I hope you will soon see. Write to me soon about them all- and you George particularly how you get on with Wilkinson's plan. What could I have done without my Plaid? I don't feel inclined to write any more at present for I feel rather muzzy - you must be con |