account of Miss M's ten Suitors-how the first tried the effect of swearing; the second of stammering; the third of whispering ;-the fourth of sonnets-the fifth of Spanish leather boots; the sixth of flattering her body -the seventh of flattering her mind-the eighth of flattering himself the ninth stuck to the Mother-the tenth kissed the Chambermaid and told her to tell her Mistress -But he was soon discharged, his reading lead him into an error-he could not sport the Sir Lucius to any advantage. And now for this time I bid you good bye-I have been thinking of these sheets so long that I appear in closing them to take my leave of you-but that is not it-I shall immediately as I send this off begin my journal-when some days I shall write no more than 10 lines and others 10 times as much. Mrs. Dilke is knocking at the wall for Tea is ready-I will tell you what sort of a tea it is and then bid you-Good bye. This is monday morning '—nothing particular happened yesterday evening, except that when the tray came up Mrs. Dilke and I had a battle with celery stalks-she sends her love to you. I shall close this and send it immediately to Haslam-remaining ever My dearest brother and sister 1 The 4th of January 1819. XC. To BENJAMIN ROBERT HAYDON. My dear Haydon, Wentworth Place [Monday Aft [11 January 1819?] I have been out this morning, and did not therefore see your note till this minute, or I would have gone to town directly-it is now too late for to-day. I will be in town early to-morrow, and trust I shall be able to lend you assistance noon or night. I was struck with the improvement in the architectural part of your Picture— and, now I think on it, I cannot help wondering you should have had it so poor, especially after the Solomon. Excuse this dry bones of a note: for though my pen may grow cold, I should be sorry my Life should freezeYour affectionate friend XCI. To FANNY KEATS. John Keats Wentworth Place [January 1819?] My dear Fanny, I send this to Walthamstow for fear you should not be at Pancras Lane when I call to-morrow-before going into Hampshire for a few days-I will not be more I assure you-You may think how disappointed I am in not being able to see you more and spend more time with you than I do-but how can it be helped? The thought is a continual vexation to me-and often hinders me from reading and composing-Write to me as often as you can—and believe me We are very unlucky-I should have stopped to dine with you, but I knew I should not have been able to leave you in time for my plaguy sore throat; which is getting well. I shall have a little trouble in procuring the Money and a great ordeal to go through—no trouble indeed to any one else—or ordeal either. I mean I shall have to go to town some thrice, and stand in the Bank an hour or two-to me worse than any thing in Dante-I should have less chance with the people around me than Orpheus had with the Stones. I have been writing a little now and then lately: but nothing to speak of-being discontented and as it were moulting. Yet I do not think I shall ever come to the rope or the Pistol, for after a day or two's melancholy, although I smoke more and more my own insufficiency-I see by little and little more of what is to be done, and how it is to be done, should I ever be able to do it. On my soul, there should be some reward for that continual "agonie ennuyeuse." I was thinking of going into Hampshire for a few days. I have been delaying it longer than I intended. You shall see me soon; and do not be at all anxious, for this time I really will do, what I never did before in my life, business in good time, and properly. With respect to the Bond-it may be a satisfaction to you to let me have it but as you love me do not let there be any mention of interest, although we are mortal men-and bind ourselves for fear of death. My throat has not suffered me yet to expose myself to the night air: however I have been to town in the day time-have had several interviews with my guardian-have written him rather a plain-spoken Letter -which has had its effect; and he now seems inclined to put no stumbling block in my way: so that I see a good prospect of performing my promise. What I should have lent you ere this if I could have got it, was belonging to poor Tom-and the difficulty is whether I am to inherit it before my Sister is of age; a period of six years. Should it be so I must incontinently take to Corderoy Trowsers. But I am nearly confident 'tis all a Bam. I shall see you soon-but do let me have a line to-day or to-morrow concerning your health and spirits. Your sincere friend John Keats XCIV. To CHARLES WENTWORTH DILKE from Charles Armitage Brown and Keats.1 Dear Dilke, Bedhampton, 24 January 1819. This letter is for your Wife, and if you are a Gentleman, you will deliver it to her, without reading one word further. 'read thou Squire. depending on this. My charming dear Mrs. Dilke, There is a wager It was delightful to receive a letter from you, but such a letter! what presumption in me to attempt to answer it! Where shall I find, in my poor brain, sucli gibes, such jeers, such flashes of merriment? Alas! you will say, as you read me, Alas! poor Brown! quite chop fallen! But that's not true; my chops have been beautifully plumped out since I came here: my dinners have been good & nourishing, & my inside never washed by a red herring broth. Then my mind has been so happy! I have been smiled on by the fair ones, the Lacy's, the Prices, & the Mullings's, but not by the Richards's; Old Dicky has not called here during my visit,—I have not seen him; the whole of the family are shuffling to carriage folks for acquaintances, cutting their old friends, and dealing out pride & folly, while we allow they have got the odd trick, but dispute their honours. I was determined to be beforehand with them, & behaved cavalierly & neglectingly to the family, & passed the girls in Of this joint composition Keats's portion is printed in ordinary black ink-Brown's portion in red, |