-North-South. I have not seen many specimens of Ruins-I don't think however I shall ever see one to surpass Carisbrooke Castle. The trench is overgrown with the smoothest turf, and the Walls with ivy. The Keep within side is one Bower of ivy-a colony of Jackdaws have been there for many years. I dare say I have seen many a descendant of some old cawer who peeped through the bars at Charles the First, when he was there in Confinement. On the road from Cowes to Newport I saw some extensive Barracks, which disgusted me extremely with the Government for placing such a Nest of Debauchery in so beautiful a place. I asked a man on the coach about this-and he said that the people had been spoiled. In the room where I slept at Newport, I found this on the Window-" O Isle spoilt by the Milatary!" I must in honesty however confess that I did not feel very sorry at the idea of the Women being a little profligate. The wind is in a sulky fit, and I feel that it would be no bad thing to be the favourite of some Fairy, who would give one the power of seeing how our Friends got on at a Distance. I should like, of all Loves, a sketch of you and Tom and George in ink which Haydon will do if you tell him how I want them. From want of regular rest I have been rather narvus-and the passage in Lear-"Do you not hear the sea?"-has haunted me intensely. It keeps eternal whisperings around. Desolate shores, and with its mighty swell Gluts twice ten thousand Caverns, till the spell Of Hecate leaves them their old shadowy sound. Often 'tis in such gentle temper found, That scarcely will the very smallest shell Be mov'd for days from whence it sometime fell, When last the winds of Heaven were unbound. O ye! whose Ears are dinn'd with uproar rude, Or fed too much with cloying melody Sit ye near some old Cavern's Mouth, and brood Until ye start, as if the sea-nymphs quired. April 18th [1817]. Will you have the goodness to do this? Borrow a Botanical Dictionary-turn to the words Laurel and Prunus, show the explanations to your sisters and Mrs. Dilke and without more ado let them send me the Cups, Basket and Books they trifled and put off and off while I was in Town. Ask them what they can say for themselves ask Mrs. Dilke wherefore she does so distress me -let me know how Jane has her health-the Weather is unfavourable for her.-Tell George and Tom to write. I'll tell you what-on the 23d was Shakespeare born. Now if I should receive a letter from you, and another from my Brothers on that day 'twould be a parlous good thing. Whenever you write say a word or two on some Passage in Shakespeare that may have come rather new to you, which must be continually happening, notwithstanding that we read the same Play forty times-for instance, the following from the Tempest never struck me so forcibly as at present, "Urchins Shall, for the vast of night that they may work, How can I help bringing to your mind the line "In the dark backward and abysm of time." I find I cannot exist without Poetry-without eternal Poetry-half the day will not do the whole of it-I began with a little, but habit has made me a Leviathan. I had become all in a Tremble from not having written anything of late-the Sonnet over-leaf did me good. I slept the better last night for it-this Morning, however, I am nearly as bad again. Just now I opened Spenser, and the first Lines I saw were these— "The noble heart that harbours virtuous thought, Let me know particularly about Haydon, ask him to write to me about Hunt, if it be only ten lines-I hope all is well-I shall forthwith begin my Endymion,' which I hope I shall have got some way with by the time you come, when we will read our verses in a delightful place I have set my heart upon, near the Castle. Give my Love to your Sisters severally-to George and Tom. Remember me to Rice, Mr. and Mrs. Dilke and all we know. Your sincere friend Direct J. Keats, Mrs. Cook's, New Village, Carisbrooke. 1 This refers to the real Endymion, to be published in the following year. |