New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-03-20
GENUS And METHOD.
From Temple Bar.

Goodwin wrote Caleb Williams backward, be-
ginning on principle. with the last chapter and
many poets have clothed their thoughts first in
prose. This, D0natus tells as, WIS YrgPs custom.
The original form which the 'Eneid' took was q
prose narrative. This narrative was then gradually
yersifed the poet writing at first huenty. and then
laborously polishing his lines till he had brought
them as near perfection a. ne could: lhGS GGld-
serted Village Thus johnson composed Irene
Butler 'Hudibras,! BOileau his 'Satires' Racine
aud Ben J0nson their dramas, and Pope the Essay
on Man. When Balzac was engaged on his novels,
he sent of the skeleton Of the story to the printers
with huge nterstices for the introduction of con-
versatons. descriptions and the like, and on recey-
ing the printed sketch shut himself up In his room,
drank nothing but water, ate nothing but trut and
bread till he had completed the work by 6lling up
the blank spaces. SOutheY usually employed him
self in passing three, or even four, works through
the press az the same time, giving each its allotted
space in the tWenty-four hours Richardson pro
duced his romanees by painfully working out differ
ent portions different times, sometimes while en-
gagged in his shop. sometimes while sitting sur
FOUNDED by friends in his snug parlor at Hampstead
Pope always carried q notebook with him, and
never hesltated TO jot down anything which struck
him IN conversation, A great deal OF his Homer,
was executed in bed on odd scraps of paper and
many of hts beautiful couplets were rounded on
while taking the air in his bathchar or driving IN
Prideaux's great work was written to while
away the time while the authOr was recovering
from the effects OF an sgonzing operation Shelley
composed the Revolt of Islam while lying In
boat on the Thames 1t MARROW; Keats, his Ode
TO the Nightingale in lane at Hampstead. Almost
all WOrdswOrth's poetry was meditated In tho open
air. and committed to paper on his return home:
Burns composed his magnificent lyric Scots wh9
Ia WI Wallace bled' while RAloping on horseback
over q wild moor in Scotland, and Tam OShanter'
In tho woods overhanginR the Doom. Washington
lrYngs fayOrite studio was Btlle IN some pleasant
meadow, where, with his portfolio on his knees, he
used to mould his graceful periods The greater part
of Arnold's Roman History written IN his
drawng.room with his children playing abOnt him,
aud lively conversation. IN which 10 frequently
uscript rested. Prlestly aud Beddoes were fond of
writing under similar circumstances. What would
10 niue men out Of ten be IN int0lerabe distraction
was 20 them a gentle ana welcome stimulus. john
sons Vanity of Human Wishes was composed as
aud Tom Paine usually clothed his thoughts In ex.
preston while walking In the streets. Hooker
often meditated the Ecclslastical Polity' when
rocking the cradle Of his child, and SpinoZa his
'Tracatus' while grinding glasses. Robert Stephens
thought out many OF his works on horseback. Some
OF FeldingS comedies were scrawed IN taverns. Des
cares Bern the Italian poet, aud B0yse the author
OF the once celebrated Deity usually wrote while
living bed. Byron tells us that he CO 1posed the
greater part OF Lara at the toilet table and the
prologue on the opening OF Drury Lane Theatre In q
stage coach. Mooros splendid Eastern romance,
Lallah ROokh.' was written in cottage blocked
up by snow. with an English winter bowling round.
Tasso indted some Of his loveliest sOnnets on the
walls OF the cell in which no was confined luna
tic and Christopher Smart his Song TO the Deity
OF the best sacred lyrics we have, IN madhonse
Burns tells MS that he dreamed one OF his poems
it may DO found IN his works-and that he wrote il
down inst as be dreamed 1t; Votare informed bis
friend Waguiere that tho whole Of the second canto
of tho Henrade' was composed By him Ia has sleep.
Coeridge always said that he dreamed Tuba Kahn
and Campbell that he was indebted to the same
source for tho best line in 'L0chiIePs War ming!
One Of the most extraordinary Inducements 70 hit
erary activity is that recorded by Captain Bell the
translator of Luthers Table Talk, whose task was
imposed on him by ghost and very importunate
ghost, too. We will give the story in the good cap
tain's own words. After abiding to the discovery
Of Luthers work. which had for many years been
lost he goes on 10 say that a friend had told him
he would bestow great and substantial service by
traaslating VI into English. He accordingly began
it but after WHILE firing OF his task, laid IL aside
"Then about six weeks after had received the
said book IL fell out that being in bed with my wife
one night between IL and of the clock, she being
asleep, but myself yet awake, there appeared unto
me ancient man, standing at my bedside, atrsyed
all In white, having n long aud broad white beard
hanging down to his grdle, who, taking mo by tho
right ear, spake these words following unto me
'Sirrahl will not you take time to translate that
book whieH is sent unto you ont of Germany l
will shortly provide for you both place and time 70
do IT, and then he vanished away out OF my nght"