The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-30

mont Of speaking TIT 10 mono at ala mos,
lamentable mistake indeed. italian. indeed
would sound most unsteady from Lips which
had began to pronounce 1t as early as French
10 crammed down our Mouths a. II We were
young Jaokdaws at the mercy OF an overfeed.
ing Schoolboy." We do not say. of course. that
the preference expresssd by Keats for the
italian may not be reasonable in itself; We
simply moan that in his case it was not
founded on direct observation. 1t is true
enough that the Ellzabethans drew their in
SEPARATION In some measure from italian
sources; whereas II Is to French models that
We owe the unsavory dramatic literature OF
Congrevs. Wyrherley, and Farquhar.
1t will be remembered that the first collec-
ton OF poems published by Keats was failure.
and deservedly so. although It contained one
Rom. the fine sonnet on Chapmans Homer. 1t
was not until Endymion" was published that
Keas began to be credited with genius. While
he was composing this poem. Leigh Hunt nd.
vised him not TO make it 80 long. Keats
alludes to his friends congratulations In tho
following letter TO Ills brother George: AS to
what you sny about my being Poet. I can re-
turn no Answer but BY saying that the high
Idea have OF poetical fame makes the think
sec IL towering too high above mo. At any
rate. have no right to talk until Endymion
is inished-it will DO test a trial OF my
Powers Of Imagination. and chiefly OF
my invention. which 10 rare thing
indeed-by which l must make 1000 lines
OF one bare Circumstance. and Ill Thorn with
poetry: and whom l consider that this is o
great task. and that whom done It will take me
but dozen paces toward the temple Of fame
1t makes me say-God forbid that should bs
without such task: have hoard Hunt say.
and may be asked-why endsavor aftor =
long Poem Towhich Ishould answer: Do not
the Lovers OF Poetry like to have little Region
to wander in. where they may pick and choose.
and In which the images are 80 numerous that
many ale forgotten and found new In u second
Reading: which may b. food for a Weeks stroll
In the Summer? Do not they like this better
than what thev can read through before Mrs.
Williams comes down. stairsi A Mornings
work at most.
Besides. a long poem Ia q test OF invention.
which take to be the Polar stnr OF Poetry as
Fancy Is the Sails. and I'm aGin alton the rudder.
Did our great Poets over write short PIecss2 I
moan In the shape OF Tales-this same invsn.
ton seems indeed OF late years to have been
forgotten as Poe,ical excellonoe. But nouRh
OF this. I put on no Laurels till shall havo
finished Endymion.' and l hope Apollo Ia not
aneered at my having made Mockory OF him
ut Hunts"
In n letter written to BENJAMIN Bailey in
November. 1917. we see Keats beginning to
form philosophy OF life. L WISH" he tolls
his correspondent. you knew all that think
about genius and the heart. In passing. how
ever. must say ono thing that has pressed
upon mo ately. and increased my humility anil
capability Of submlsson-and that Is this truth
n NJ IN ttnoo ant lott
chemicals operating on tho mass OF neutral
intellect. but they have not any indi-
any determined character. would
call tho top and head OF those who have a
proper self. men OF power." Later in the Same
letter We read: 90 am certain OF nothing but
OF tho holiness OF the hearts affection and the
truth OF imagination. What the Imagination
sees rs heauty must be truth-whether 1t ex.
list before or not-for have the same idea OF
all our passions rs OF love they are all in their
sublime creative OF a sensual beauty" And
again: As was saying. the Simple imaeina-
tive Mind may have its rewards in tho repeti-
ton OF Its own silent Working coming con-
tinually on tho Split with fne sud-
dennsss-to compare great things with small
have you never by being surprised with
an old Melody. in delicious place
by q delicious voice. felt over again your
worry speculatiohs and surmses Mt tho time
1t first operated on your soul? Do you not re-
member forming to yourself the Singers face.
moro beautiful than 1t 6as possible. and Yet.
with the elevation Of the Moment. you did not
th!nk SO? Even then you were mounted on
tho Wings OF Imagin alton. so high that tho pro-
totype must be hereafter-that delicious face
YOU will see." In another letter penned about
the Same period there are some kindred specu-
lntions. 81 had not dispute. but a disqui-
sition. with Dixie upon va ious subjects; sew
sral things dovetailej In my mind. and at
once it struck mo what quality went
to form q Man OF Achievement especi-
ally In Literature. and which Shakespeare
possessed so enormously-I moan Negative
Capabilty. that Is whom q man is capable OF
being in uncertainties. mysteries. doubts.
without my irritable reaching after fact and
reason. Colerldge. for instance. would lot 20
by q fine isolated verisimilitude caught from
tho Penetralium Of mystery. from being in
OF remaining content with half. knowl-
edge. This pur.ued through volumes woulI
perhaps take us no further than this. that
with great post the sense Of Beauty over
comes every other consideration. or rather OBJ
literates all consideration"
Tho Waverley Novels were coming out at
tHlo tIIles uuu VIC Huu q reference 10 tn0m IN
ono Of Keats's letters to his brother under date
OF Jan. 5. 1918: You ask mo what dsgroes
thsrs are bstween Scott's novels and those OF
Smollett They appear to me to be unite dis
tinct In every particular. moro especially in
their aims. Scott sndeavors to throw so In
and romantic coloring into com.
mon and low characters as to give them q
touch OF the sublime. Smollett. on the con-
trHry. pulls down and levels what with other
mon would continue romance. The grand
parts Of Scott are wi hin this reach Of moro
minds than the finest humors In Humphrey
Cllnker. l forget whether that fine thing OF
the Sergeant is Fielding or Smollet'. but it
gives mo moro pleasure than tho whole
novel OF Tho AntiIuary.' You must
what l mean. Some one says
to tho Sergeant. That's . non .scquitur'
II you como 10 that replies the Sergeant.
you're another" An extract from another
letter written about the same date, is worth
making because 1t shows. first. that Keats's
critical sense was far from Trustworthy. and.
hat ho,