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be evinced； yet the picking of pockets is an unw orthy act； pockets have
been picked time immemorial； and Barrington； the pickpocket； in point of
genius； would have thought hard of a comparison with William Wordsworth；
the poet。
〃Again； in estimating the merit of certain poems； whether they be Ossian's
or Macpherson's can surely be of little consequence； yet； in order to
prove their worthlessness； Mr。 W。 has expended many pages in the
controversy。 _Tantaene animis？ _Can great minds descend to such absurdity？
But worse still： that he may bear down every argument in favor of these
poems； he triumphantly drags forward a passage； in his abomination with
which he expects the reader to sympathize。 It is the beginning of the epic
poem 'Temora。' 'The blue waves of Ullin roll in light； the green hills are
covered with day； trees shake their dusty heads in the breeze。' And this
this gorgeous； yet simple imagery； where all is alive and panting with
immortality…this； William Wordsworth； the author of 'Peter Bell；' has
_selected _for his contempt。 We shall see what better he； in his own
person； has to offer。 Imprimis：
〃'And now she's at the pony's tail；
And now she's at the pony's head；
On that side now； and now on this；
And； almost stifled with her bliss；
A few sad tears does Betty shed。 。 。 。
She pats the pony； where or when
She knows not 。 。 。 。 happy Betty Foy！
Oh； Johnny； never mind the doctor！'
Secondly：
〃'The dew was falling fast； the…stars began to blink；
I heard a voice： it said…〃Drink； pretty creature； drink！〃
And； looking o'er the hedge； be…fore me I espied
A snow…white mountain lamb； with a…maiden at its side。
No other sheep was near；the lamb was all alone；
And by a slender cord was…tether'd to a stone。'
〃Now； we have no doubt this is all true： we will believe it； indeed we
will； Mr。 W。 Is it sympathy for the sheep you wish to excite？ I love a
sheep from the bottom of my heart。
〃But there are occasions； dear B…； there are occasions when even
Wordsworth is reasonable。 Even Stamboul； it is said； shall have an end；
and the most unlucky blunders must come to a conclusion。 Here is an
extract from his preface ：…
〃'Those who have been accustomed to the phraseology of modem writers； if
they persist in reading this book to a conclusion _（impossible！） will； _no
doubt； have to struggle with feelings of awkwardness； （ha！ ha！ ha！） they
will look round for poetry （ha！ ha！ ha！ ha！）； and will be induced to
inquire by what species of courtesy these attempts have been permitted to
assume that title。' Ha！ ha！ ha！ ha！ ha！
〃Yet； let not Mr。 W。 despair； he has given immortality to a wagon； and the
bee Sophocles has transmitted to eternity a sore toe； and dignified a
tragedy with a chorus of turkeys。
〃Of Coleridge； I can not speak but with reverence。 His towering intellect！
his gigantic power！ To use an author quoted by himself； _'Tai trouv？
souvent que la plupart des sectes ont raison dans une bonne partie de ce
qu'elles avancent； mais non pas en ce qu'elles nient ； ' and _to employ
his own language； he has imprisoned his own conceptions by the barrier he
has erected against those of others。 It is lamentable to think that such a
mind should be buried in metaphysics； and； like the Nyctanthes； waste its
perfume upon the night alone。 In reading that man's poetry； I tremble like
one who stands upon a volcano； conscious from the very darkness bursting
from the crater； of the fire and the light that are weltering below。
〃What is poetry？…Poetry！ that Proteus…like idea； with as many appellations
as the nine…titled Corcyra！ 'Give me；' I demanded of a scholar some time
ago； 'give me a definition of poetry。' _'Tr鑣volontiers；' _and he
proceeded to his library； brought me a Dr。 Johnson； and overwhelmed me
with a definition。 Shade of the immortal Shakespeare！ I imagine to myself
the scowl of your spiritual eye upon the profanity of that scurrilous Ursa
Major。 Think of poetry； dear B…； think of poetry； and then think of Dr。
Samuel Johnson！ Think of all that is airy and fairy…like； and then of all
that is hideous and unwieldy； think of his huge bulk； the Elephant！ and
then…and then think of the 'Tempest' …the 'Midsummer…Night's Dream'…
Prospero Oberon…and Titania！
〃A poem； in my opinion； is opposed to a work of science by having； for its
_immediate _object； pleasure； not truth； to romance； by having； for its
object； an _indefinite _instead of a _definite _pleasure； being a poem
only so far as this object is attained； romance presenting perceptible
images with definite； poetry with indefinite sensations； to which end
music is an _essential； since _the comprehension of sweet sound is our
most indefinite conception。 Music； when combined with a pleasurable idea；
is poetry； music； without the idea； is simply music； the idea； wi thout
the music； is prose； from its very definitiveness。
〃What was meant by the invective against him who had no music in his soul？
〃To sum up this long rigmarole； I have； dear B…； what you； no doubt；
perceive； for the metaphysical poets as poets； the most sovereign
contempt。 That they have followers proves nothing…
〃'No Indian prince has to his palace
More followers than a thief to the gallows。
* GJL*4@J〃J@《 6〃4 N48@F@M46@J〃J@《 （；