6 lair: For I am brimful of the friendliness Published in the 1817 volume. Lord Hough- Or of the distance from home's pleasant ton states that this sonnet was the means of introducing Keats to Mr. Leigh Hunt's society. Mr. Cowden Clarke had brought some of his young friend's verses and read them aloud. Mr. Horace Smith, who happened to be there, was struck with the last six lines, especially the penultimate, saying "what a well condensed expression!" and Keats was shortly after introduced to the literary circle.' This would appear to fix the date as not later than the summer of 1815. That in a little cottage I have found; SPENSERIAN STANZA WRITTEN AT THE CLOSE OF CANTO II. Given by Lord Houghton in Life, Letters and Literary Remains, who comments as follows. 'His sympathies were very much on the side of the revolutionary Giant, who "undertook for to repair" the "realms and nations run awry." and to suppress "tyrants that make men subject to their law," "and lordings curbe that commons over-aw," while he grudged the legitimate victory, as he rejected the conservative philosophy, of the "righteous Artegall' and his comrade, the fierce defender of privilege and order. And he expressed in this ex post facto prophecy, his conviction of the ultimate triumph of freedom and equality by IN after-time, a sage of mickle lore And into many a lively legend look; ON FIRST LOOKING INTO It was Charles Cowden Clarke who was with Keats when the friends made the acquaintance of this translation of Homer by the Elizabethan poet. The two young men had sat up nearly all one night in the summer of 1815 in Clarke's lodging, reading from a folio volume of the book which they had borrowed. Keats left for his own lodgings at dawn, and when Clarke came down to breakfast the next morn Thereby in goodly themes so training ing, he found this sonnet which Keats had him, That all his brutishness he quite forsook, When, meeting Artegall and Talus grim, The one be struck stone-blind, the other's eyes wox dim. ON LEAVING SOME FRIENDS Written, as Clarke intimates, in connection with Keats's visits to Leigh Hunt in the Vale of Health. Published in the 1817 volume. GIVE me a golden pen, and let me lean Bring me a tablet whiter than a star, car, Pink robes, and wavy hair, and diamond jar, And half-discover'd wings, and glances The while let music wander round my ears, "Tis not content so soon to be alone. sent him. self with Keats: Keats and I, though about the same age, and both inclined to literature, were in many respects as different as two individuals could be. He enjoyed good health a fine flow of animal spirits was fond of company - could amuse himself admirably with the frivolities of life-and had great confidence in himself. I, on the other hand, was languid and melancholy-fond of repose thoughtful beyond my years - and diffident to the last degree.' The epistle is dated November, 1815, in the volume of 1817, where it is the first of a group of three epistles with the motto from Browne's Britannia's Pastorals: - Among the rest a shepherd (though but young SWEET are the pleasures that to verse belong, And doubly sweet a brotherhood in song; Nor can remembrance, Mathew! bring to view A fate more pleasing, a delight more true Than that in which the brother Poets joy'd, Who, with combined powers, their wit employ'd To raise a trophy to the drama's muses. The thought of this great partnership diffuses Over the genius-loving heart, a feeling Of all that's high, and great, and good, and healing. 10 Too partial friend! fain would I follow thee Past each horizon of fine poesy; Fain would I echo back each pleasant note As o'er Sicilian seas, clear anthems float 'Mong the light skimming gondolas far parted, Just when the sun his farewell beam has darted: But 't is impossible; far different cares 20 |