Delphi Complete Works of William Wordsworth

by William Wordsworth

  Adieu, yours,

  W.W.

  69. Works of Webster, &c.: Elder Poets: Dr. Darwin: ‘Excursion:’ Collins, &c.

  LETTER TO REV. ALEXANDER DYCE.

  [No date, but Postmark, 1830.]

  I am truly obliged, my dear Sir, by your valuable present of Webster’s Dramatic Works and the ‘Specimens.’ Your publisher was right in insisting upon the whole of Webster, otherwise the book might have been superseded, either by an entire edition separately given to the world, or in some corpus of the dramatic writers. The poetic genius of England, with the exception of Chaucer, Spenser, Milton, Dryden, Pope, and a very few more, is to be sought in her drama. How it grieves one that there is so little probability of those valuable authors being read except by the curious! I questioned my friend Charles Lamb whether it would answer for some person of real taste to undertake abridging the plays that are not likely to be read as wholes, and telling such parts of the story in brief abstract as were ill managed in the drama. He thought it would not. I, however, am inclined to think it would.

  The account of your indisposition gives me much concern. It pleases me, however, to see that, though you may suffer, your industry does not relax; and I hope that your pursuits are rather friendly than injurious to your health.

  You are quite correct in your notice of my obligation to Dr. Darwin. In the first edition of the poem it was acknowledged in a note, which slipped out of its place in the last, along with some others. In putting together that edition, I was obliged to cut up several copies; and, as several of the poems also changed their places, some confusion and omission, and, in one instance, a repetition, was the consequence. Nothing, however, so bad as in the edition of 1820, where a long poem, ‘The Lament of Mary Queen of Scots,’ was by mistake altogether omitted. Another unpleasantness arose from the same cause; for, in some instances, notwithstanding repeated charges to the printer, you have only two Spenserian stanzas in a page (I speak now of the last edition) instead of three; and there is the same irregularity in printing other forms of stanza.

  You must indeed have been fond of that ponderous quarto, ‘The Excursion,’ to lug it about as you did. In the edition of 1827 it was diligently revised, and the sense in several instances got into less room; yet still it is a long poem for these feeble and fastidious times. You would honour me much by accepting a copy of my poetical works; but I think it better to defer offering it to you till a new edition is called for, which will be ere long, as I understand the present is getting low.

  A word or two about Collins. You know what importance I attach to following strictly the last copy of the text of an author; and I do not blame you for printing in the ‘Ode to Evening’ ‘brawling’ spring; but surely the epithet is most unsuitable to the time, the very worst, I think, that could have been chosen.

  I now come to Lady Winchelsea. First, however, let me say a few words upon one or two other authoresses of your ‘Specimens.’ British poetesses make but a poor figure in the ‘Poems by Eminent Ladies.’

  But observing how injudicious that selection is in the case of Lady Winchelsea, and of Mrs. Aphra Behn (from whose attempts they are miserably copious), I have thought something better might have been chosen by more competent persons who had access to the volumes of the several writers. In selecting from Mrs. Pilkington, I regret that you omitted (look at p. 255) ‘Sorrow,’ or at least that you did not abridge it. The first and third paragraph are very affecting. See also ‘Expostulation,’ p. 258: it reminds me strongly of one of the Penitential Hymns of Burns. The few lines upon St. John the Baptist, by Mrs. Killigrew (vol. ii. p. 6), are pleasing. A beautiful Elegy of Miss Warton (sister to the poets of that name) upon the death of her father, has escaped your notice; nor can I refer you to it. Has the Duchess of Newcastle written much verse? her Life of her Lord, and the extracts in your book, and in the ‘Eminent Ladies,’ are all that I have seen of hers. The ‘Mirth and Melancholy’ has so many fine strokes of imagination, that I cannot but think there must be merit in many parts of her writings. How beautiful those lines, from ‘I dwell in groves,’ to the conclusion, ‘Yet better loved, the more that I am known,’ excepting the four verses after ‘Walk up the hills.’ And surely the latter verse of the couplet,

  ‘The tolling bell which for the dead rings out; A mill where rushing waters run about;’

  is very noticeable: no person could have hit upon that union of images without being possessed of true poetic feeling. Could you tell me anything of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu more than is to be learned from Pope’s letters and her own? She seems to have been destined for something much higher and better than she became. A parallel between her genius and character and that of Lady Winchelsea her contemporary (though somewhat prior to her) would be well worth drawing.

  And now at last for the poems of Lady Winchelsea. I will transcribe a note from a blank leaf of my own edition, written by me before I saw the scanty notice of her in Walpole. (By the by, that book has always disappointed me when I have consulted it upon any particular occasion.) The note runs thus: ‘The “Fragment,” p. 280, seems to prove that she was attached to James II., as does p. 42, and that she suffered by the Revolution. The most celebrated of these poems, but far from the best, is “The Spleen.” “The Petition for an absolute Retreat,” and the “Nocturnal Reverie,” are of much superior merit. See also for favourable specimens, p. 156; “On the Death of Mr. Thynne,” p. 263; and p. 280, “Fragment.” The Fable of “Love, Death, and Reputation,” p. 29, is ingeniously told.’ Thus far my own note. I will now be more particular. P. 3, ‘Our Vanity,’ &c., and p. 163 are noticeable as giving some account from herself of her authorship. See also p. 148, where she alludes to ‘The Spleen.’ She was unlucky in her models, Pindaric Odes and French Fables. But see p. 70, ‘The Blindness of Elymas,’ for proof that she could write with powers of a high order when her own individual character and personal feelings were not concerned. For less striking proofs of this power, see p. 4, ‘All is Vanity,’ omitting verses 5 and 6, and reading ‘clouds that are lost and gone,’ &c. There is merit in the two next stanzas; and the last stanza towards the close contains a fine reproof for the ostentation of Louis XIV., and one magnificent verse,

  ‘Spent the astonished hours, forgetful to adore.’

  But my paper is nearly out. As far as ‘For my garments,’ p. 36, the poem is charming; it then falls off; revives at p. 39, ‘Give me there;’ p. 41, &c., reminds me of Dyer’s ‘Grongar Hill;’ it revives p. 47, towards the bottom, and concludes with sentiments worthy of the writer, though not quite so happily expressed as other parts of the poem. See pages 82, 92, ‘Whilst in the Muses’ paths I stray;’ p. 113. ‘The Cautious Lovers,’ p. 118, has little poetic merit, but is worth reading as characteristic of the author. P. 143, ‘Deep lines of honour,’ &c., to ‘maturer age.’ P. 151, if shortened, would be striking; p. 154, characteristic; p. 159, from ‘Meanwhile, ye living parents,’ to the close, omitting ‘Nor could we hope,’ and the five following verses; p. 217, last paragraph; p. 259, that you have; pp. 262, 263; p. 280, Was Lady W. a R. Catholic? p. 290, ‘And to the clouds proclaim thy fall;’ p. 291, omit ‘When scatter’d glow-worms,’ and the next couplet. I have no more room. Pray, excuse this vile scrawl.

  Ever faithfully yours,

  W.W.

  P.S. I have inconsiderately sent your letter to my daughter (now absent), without copying the address. I knew the letter would interest her. I shall direct to your publisher.

  Rydal Mount.

  70. French Revolution, 1830.

  LETTERS TO G. HUNTLY GORDON, ESQ.

  MY DEAR MR. GORDON,

  I cannot but deeply regret that the late King of France and his ministers should have been so infatuated. Their stupidity, not to say their crimes, has given an impulse to the revolutionary and democratic spirit throughout Europe which is premature, and from which much immediate evil may be apprehended, whatever things may settle into at last. Whereas had the Government conformed to the increasing knowledge
of the people, and not surrendered itself to the counsels of the priests and the bigoted Royalists, things might have been kept in an even course, to the mutual improvement and benefit of both governed and governors.

  In France incompatible things are aimed at — a monarchy and democracy to be united without an intervening aristocracy to constitute a graduated scale of power and influence. I cannot conceive how an hereditary monarchy can exist without an hereditary peerage in a country so large as France, nor how either can maintain their ground if the law of the Napoleon Code, compelling equal division of property by will, be not repealed. And I understand that a vast majority of the French are decidedly adverse to the repeal of that law, which, I cannot but think, will ere long be found injurious both to France and, in its collateral effects, to the rest of Europe.

  Ever, dear Mr. Gordon,

  Cordially and faithfully yours,

  WM. WORDSWORTH.

  MY DEAR MR. GORDON,

  Thanks for your hint about Rhenish: strength from wine is good, from water still better.

  One is glad to see tyranny baffled and foolishness put to shame; but the French King and his ministers will be unfairly judged by all those who take not into consideration the difficulties of their position. It is not to be doubted that there has long existed a determination, and that plans have been laid, to destroy the Government which the French received, as they felt, at the hands of the Allies, and their pride could not bear. Moreover, the Constitution, had it been their own choice, would by this time have lost favour in the eyes of the French, as not sufficiently democratic for the high notion that people entertain of their fitness to govern themselves; but, for my own part, I’d rather fill the office of a parish beadle than sit on the throne where the Duke of Orleans has suffered himself to be placed.

  The heat is gone, and but that we have too much rain again the country would be enchanting.

  With a thousand thanks,

  I remain ever yours,

  WM. WORDSWORTH.

  71. Nonsense: Rotten Boroughs: Sonnets: Pegasus: Kenelm Digby: Tennysons.

  LETTERS TO PROFESSOR HAMILTON.

  Trinity Lodge, Cambridge, November 26. 1830.

  MY DEAR MR. HAMILTON,

  I reached this place nine days ago, where I should have found your letter of the 23d ult., but that it had been forwarded to Coleorton Hall, Leicestershire, where we stopped a week on our road. I am truly glad to find that your good spirits put you upon writing what you call nonsense, and so much of it; but I assure you it all passed with me for very agreeable sense, or something better, and continues to do so even in this learned spot; which you will not be surprised to hear, when I tell you that at a dinner-party the other day, I heard a Head of a House, a clergyman also, gravely declare, that the rotten boroughs, as they are called, should instantly be abolished without compensation to their owners; that slavery should be destroyed with like disregard of the claims (for rights he would allow none) of the proprietors, and a multitude of extravagances of the same sort. Therefore say I, Vive la Bagatelle; motley is your only wear.

  You tell me kindly that you have often asked yourself where is Mr. Wordsworth, and the question has readily been solved for you. He is at Cambridge: a great mistake! So late as the 5th of November, I will tell you where I was, a solitary equestrian entering the romantic little town of Ashford in the Waters, on the edge of Wilds of Derbyshire, at the close of day, when guns were beginning to be left [let?] off and squibs to be fired on every side. So that I thought it prudent to dismount and lead my horse through the place, and so on to Bakewell, two miles farther. You must know how I happened to be riding through these wild regions. It was my wish that Dora should have the benefit of her pony while at Cambridge, and very valiantly and economically I determined, unused as I am to horsemanship, to ride the creature myself. I sent James with it to Lancaster; there mounted; stopped a day at Manchester, a week at Coleorton, and so reached the end of my journey safe and sound, not, however, without encountering two days of tempestuous rain. Thirty-seven miles did I ride in one day through the worse of these storms. And what was my resource? guess again: writing verses to the memory of my departed friend Sir George Beaumont, whose house I had left the day before. While buffetting the other storm I composed a Sonnet upon the splendid domain at Chatsworth, which I had seen in the morning, as contrasted with the secluded habitations of the narrow dells in the Park; and as I passed through the tame and manufacture-disfigured country of Lancashire I was reminded by the faded leaves, of Spring, and threw off a few stanzas of an ode to May.

  But too much of self and my own performances upon my steed — a descendant no doubt of Pegasus, though his owner and present rider knew nothing of it. Now for a word about Professor Airey. I have seen him twice; but I did not communicate your message. It was at dinner and at an evening party, and I thought it best not to speak of it till I saw him, which I mean to do, upon a morning call.

  There is a great deal of intellectual activity within the walls of this College, and in the University at large; but conversation turns mainly upon the state of the country and the late change in the administration. The fires have extended to within 8 miles of this place; from which I saw one of the worst, if not absolutely the worst, indicated by a redness in the sky — a few nights ago.

  I am glad when I fall in with a member of Parliament, as it puts me upon writing to my friends, which I am always disposed to defer, without such a determining advantage. At present we have two members, Mr. Cavendish, one of the representatives of the University, and Lord Morpeth, under the Master’s roof. We have also here Lady Blanche, wife of Mr. Cavendish, and sister of Lord Morpeth. She is a great admirer of Mrs. Hemans’ poetry. There is an interesting person in this University for a day or two, whom I have not yet seen — Kenelm Digby, author of the ‘Broadstone of Honor,’ a book of chivalry, which I think was put into your hands at Rydal Mount. We have also a respectable show of blossom in poetry. Two brothers of the name of Tennison, in particular, are not a little promising. Of science I can give you no account; though perhaps I may pick up something for a future letter, which may be long in coming for reasons before mentioned. Mrs. W. and my daughter, of whom you inquire, are both well; the latter rides as often as weather and regard for the age of her pony will allow. She has resumed her German labours, and is not easily drawn from what she takes to. Therefore I hope Miss Hamilton will not find fault if she does not write for some time, as she will readily conceive that with this passion upon her, and many engagements, she will be rather averse to writing. In fact she owes a long letter to her brother in Germany, who, by the bye, tells us that he will not cease to look out for the Book of Kant you wished for. Farewell, with a thousand kind remembrances to yourself and sister, and the rest of your amiable family, in which Mrs. W. and Dora join.

  Believe me most faithfully yours,

  WM. WORDSWORTH.

  72. Verses: ‘Reform Bill:’ Francis Edgeworth: Eagles: ‘Yarrow Revisited.’

  Rydal Mount, Oct. 27 .

  MY DEAR MR. HAMILTON,

  A day or two before my return from Scotland arrived your letter and verses; for both of which I thank you, as they exhibit your mind under those varied phases which I have great pleasure in contemplating. My reply is earlier than it would have been, but for the opportunity of a frank from one of the Members for the University of Oxford — a friend of Mr. Southey’s and mine, who by way of recreating himself after the fatigues of the last Session, had taken a trip to see the Manchester railway, and kindly and most unexpectedly came on to give a day apiece to Southey and me. He is, like myself, in poor heart at the aspect of public affairs. In his opinion the Ministers when they brought in the Bill neither expected nor wished it to be carried. All they wanted was an opportunity of saying to the people, ‘Behold what great things we would have done for you had it been in our power: we must now content ourselves with the best we can get.’ But, to return to your letter. To speak frankly, you appear to be at least three-fourths go
ne in love; therefore, think about the last quarter in the journey. The picture you give of the lady makes one wish to see her more familiarly than I had an opportunity of doing, were it only to ascertain whether, as you astronomers have in your observatories magnifying glasses for the stars, you do not carry about with you also, when you descend to common life, coloured glasses and Claude Loraine mirrors for throwing upon objects that interest you enough for the purpose, such lights and hues as may be most to the taste of the intellectual vision. In a former letter you mention Francis Edgeworth. He is a person not to be forgotten. If you be in communication with him pray present him my very kind respects, and say that he was not unfrequently in my thoughts during my late poetic rambles; and particularly when I saw the objects which called forth a Sonnet that I shall send you. He was struck with my mention of a sound in the eagle’s notes, much and frequently resembling the yelping and barking of a dog, and quoted a passage in Eschylus where the eagle is called the flying hound of the air, and he suggested that Eschylus might not only allude by that term to his being a bird of chase or prey, but also to this barking voice, which I do not recollect ever hearing noticed. The other day I was forcibly reminded of the circumstances under which the pair of eagles were seen that I described in the letter to Mr. Edgeworth, his brother. It was the promontory of Fairhead, on the coast of Antrim, and no spectacle could be grander. At Dunally Castle, a ruin seated at the tip of one of the horns of the bay of Oban, I saw the other day one of these noble creatures cooped up among the ruins, and was incited to give vent to my feelings as you shall now see:

  ‘Dishonoured Rock and Ruin! that by law Tyrannic, keep the Bird of Jove imbarred, Like a lone criminal whose life is spared. Vexed is he and screams loud: — The last I saw Was on the wing, and struck my soul with awe, Now wheeling low, then with a consort paired, From a bold headland their loved aery’s guard, Flying, above Atlantic waves, — to draw Light from the fountain of the setting sun. Such was this prisoner once; and, when his plumes The sea-blast ruffles as the storm comes on, In spirit, for a moment he resumes His rank ‘mong free-born creatures that live free; His power, his beauty, and his majesty.’