Yet he that can endure To follow with allegiance a fallen Lord, Does conquer him that did his Master conquer, But how differently does Buonaparte bear his fate from 'Tis good, too, that the Duke of Wellington has a good Word or so in the Examiner. A Man ought to have the Fame he deserves—and I begin to think that detracting from him as well as from Wordsworth is the same thing. I wish he had a little more taste-and did not in that respect "deal in Lieutenantry." You should have heard from me before this-but in the first place I did not like to do so before I had got a little way in the First Book, and in the next as G. told me you were going to write I delayed till I had heard from you. Give my Respects the next time you write to the North and also to John Hunt. Remember me to Reynolds and tell him to write. Ay, and when you send Westward tell your Sister that I mentioned her in this. So now in the name of Shakespeare, Raphael and all our Saints, I commend you to the care of heaven! Your everlasting friend XI. To MESSRS. TAYLOR AND HESSEY. My dear Sirs, Margate, 16 May 1817. I am extremely indebted to you for your liberality in the shape of manufactured rag, valued £20,' and shall immediately proceed to destroy some of the minor heads of that hydra the Dun; to conquer which the knight need have no Sword, Shield, Cuirass, Cuisses, Herbadgeon, Spear, Casque, Greaves, Paldrons, spurs, Chevron, or any other scaly commodity, but he need only take the Bank-note of Faith and Cash of Salvation, and set out against the monster, invoking the aid of no Archimago or Urganda, but finger me the paper, light as the Sybil's leaves in Virgil, whereat the fiend skulks off with his tail between his legs. Touch him with this enchanted paper, and he whips you his head away as fast as a snail's horn-but then the horrid propensity he has to put it up again has discouraged many very valiant Knights. He is such a never-ending still-beginning sort of a body, like my landlady of the Bell. I should conjecture that the very spright that "the green sour ringlets makes Whereof the ewe not bites" had manufactured it of the dew fallen on said sour ringlets. I think I could make a nice little allegorical poem, called "The Dun," where we would have the Castle of Carelessness, the Drawbridge of Credit, Sir Novelty Fashion's expedition against the City of Tailors, &c., &c. I went day by day at my poem for a Month-at the end of 'An advance on account of Endymion. which time the other day I found my Brain so overwrought that I had neither rhyme nor reason in it-so was obliged to give up for a few days. I hope soon to be able to resume my work-I have endeavoured to do so once or twice; but to no purpose. Instead of Poetry, I have a swimming in my head and feel all the effects of a Mental debauch, lowness of Spirits, anxiety to go on without the power to do so, which does not at all tend to my ultimate progression. However to-morrow I will begin my next month. This evening I go to Canterbury, having got tired of Margate. I was not right in my head when I came. At Canterbury I hope the remembrance of Chaucer will set me forward like a Billiard Ball. I am glad to hear of Mr. T.'s health, and of the welfare of the "In-town-stayers," and think Reynolds will like his Trip-I have some idea of seeing the Continent some time this summer. In repeating how sensible I am of your kindness, I remain Your obed serv1 and friend, John Keats. I shall be happy to hear any little intelligence in the literary or friendly way when you have time to scribble. XII. To MESSRS. TAYLOR AND HESSEY. My Dear Sirs, 10 July 1817. I must endeavour to lose my maidenhead with respect to money Matters as soon as possible—and I will too-so, here goes! A couple of Duns that I thought would be silent till the beginning, at least, of |