The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-28
GOSSIP OF A LIBRARY
Edmund Gosse Discourses on
John Hopkins Poems.
A SEVENTEENTH CENTURY BEAU.
Poverty Stricken Poets Jared No Better
In Love zoo Years Ago Than
They Do Nowadays.

"Amasia; or the Works of the Muses. Col
lection OF poems. by Mr.. John Hopkins. London.
by Thomas Warren, for Bennett Banbury, Lower
Walk of the New Exchange, 100.
LONDON. June 15.-[Special Correspond
ence. lit has often been remarked that if
the author of the poorest collection of
minor verse would accurately relate in his
quavering numbers what his personal
observations and adventures have been,
his book would not be entirely without
value. But ninety-nine times out of
hundred this is precisely what he cannot
do. His rhymes carry him whittier he
would not, and he is lost in a fog of imi-
tated phrases and spurious sensations.
The very odd and very rare set of three lit
tie volumes, which form my text today,
offers curious exception to this rule.
The author of ''Amasa" was no
poet, but he possessed the faculty
of writing with exactitude about himself
He prattled on in heroic couplets from
hour to hour, recording the tiny incidents
of his life. At first sight his voluble mis-
cellany seems mere wilderness of tame
verses, but when we examine it closely,
story gradually evolves We come to know
John Hopkins and live in the intimacy of
his circle. His poems contain novelette,
in solution. So far as l discover, nothing
whatever is known of him save what he
reveals OF himself, and no one, think, has
ever searched his three uninviting
volumes. In the following paragraphs I
have put together his story as it is to be
found in the pages of "Amasia"
BY single allusion to the "Epistolary
Poems" of Charles Hopkins, every well
performed by my brother" in 1894, we are
able to identify the author of "Amasia"
with certainty. He was the second son of
the Rt. Rev. Ezekial Hopkins, lord bishop
of Derry. The elder brother, whom we
have mentioned, Charles. was consider
ably his senior; for six years he occupied
tolerably prominent place in London's lit
erary society, was the intimate friend of
Dryden and Congreve, published three or
four plays without success, and possessed
name which is pretty frequently met
with in books of the time. But of John
Hopkins / have discovered no mention.
He does not seem to have moved in his
brothers. circle, and his society was prob
ably more courtly than literary. If we
may trust his own account, the author of
"Amasia" was born, doubtless, at London
derry on the first of January, 1915. He
was, therefore, only % when his poems
were published, and the exquisitely af-
fected portrait which adorns the first vol
ume must represent him as younger still,
since it was executed by the Dutch en-
graver, F. II. Van Hove, who was found
murdered in October, 1898.
Pause a moment, dear reader. and OBJ
serve Mr.. John Hopkins, alias Sylvius, set
out with all the artillery of ornament to
storm the heart of Amasia. Notice his
embroidered silken coat, his splendid lace
cravat, the languishment of his large fool
ish eyes, the indubitable touch of Spanish
red on those smooth cheeks. But, above
all, contemplate the wonders of his vast
peruke. He has name, be sure, for every
portion of that killing structure. Those
sausage-shaped curls, close to the ears, are
cOayfddnts; those that dangle around the
temples, fdrorites; the sparkling lock that
descends over the right eyebrow is the
pdssGgere; and, above all, the gorgeous
knot that unites the curls and descends on
the left breast is aptly named the meurtri-
ere. If he would but turn his head, we
| should see his crere-coeurs the two delicate
curled locks at the nape of his neck. Such
was Sylvius, conquering, but, alas (! not to
conquer.
The youth of John Hopkins was passed
IN the best Irish society. His father, the
bishop, married-apparently in second
] nuptiais, for John speaks not of her as a
| man speaks of a mother-the daughter of
| the Earl of Radnor Lady Araminta
| Hopkins seems to have been friend of Is
abella, Duchess of Grafton, the exquisite
girl who, at the age of 5, had married a
| bridegroom of9, and at % was left widow.
| to be the first toast of the English society.
The poems of John Hopkins are dedicated
| to this dowager duchess, who. when thew
were publish ed, had already for two wears
been the wife OF Sir Thomas Hammer. At
the age Of II, and probably in Dublin.
Hopkins met the mysterious lady who an
imates these volumes under the name of
| Amasia. Who was Amasia? That, alas,
even the volubility of her lover does not
reveal. But she was Irish, the daughter
of wealthy and perhaps titled person.
age, and the intimate companion for
many years of the beautiful Duchess of
| Grafton.
Love did not begin at first sight Sylvius
| played with Amasia when they both were
children, and neither thought of love.
Later on. in early youth. the poet was de-
| voted only to n male friend. one Martin.
| To him ecstatic verses are incribed:
40 Martini Martin! let the grateful sound
| Reach to that heav'n which has our friendship
| crownd.
And, like our endless friendship, meet no bound.
But, alasl one day Martin came back, after
long absence. and although he still with
generous, kind, continual friendship
hurn'd, he found Sylvius entirely absorbed
| by Amasia. Martin knew better than to
show temper; he accepted the situation,
and
| The iov'd Amssia's health flow round,
Amasias health the golden goblets crownd
Now began the first and happiest por
| ton of the story. Amasia had no sus-
| picion of the feelings of the poet, and he
was only too delighted TO watch her move
ments. He records, in successive copies
| of verses. the various things she did He
seems to have been on terms of delightful
| intimacy with the lady. and he calls all
sorts of people of the highest position to
witness how he suffered. To Lady Sand
wich are dedicated poems on "Amasia.
| Drawing Her Own Picture" on "Amasis.
| Playing with a Clouded Fan. "on'' Amasis,
| Singing and Sticking Pins in Red SILK
| Pincushion." We are told how Amasia
Looked at Ne Through a Multiplying
! Glass. p" how she was troubled with a red
ness in her eyes, how she danced before
| looking-glass, how her lowered muslin
| nightgown took fire. and how, though she
| promised 20 sing, yet she never performed.
| We have 4 poem on the circumstance that
Amasia, "haviIfg prickd me with a pin.
| accidentally scratch'd herself with il -
| and another on her asking me IL | silent
| well after so tempestuous night" But
perhaps the most intimate of all is poem
| ITO Amasia, Tickling Gentleman" Ii
! WAS no uerfunctOry tickling that Amasia