LAZ. About the time that mortals whet their knives On thresholds, on their shoe-soles, and on stairs. Now bread is grating, and the testy cook Hath much to do now: now the tables all DUKE. 'Tis almost dinner-time? LAZ. Your Grace doth apprehend me very rightly. [The letters given under the head "Miscellaneous" include all Keats's letters published by Lord Houghton, and all outlying letters, whether published or hitherto unpublished, which I have been able to collect, excepting only the letters to Fanny Brawne; and these appear to me to be more appropriately placed in a separate section.-H. B. F.] MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS. I. To CHARLES COWDEN CLarke. My daintie Davie, [31 October 1816] I will be as punctual as the Bee to the Clover. Very glad am I at the thoughts of seeing so soon this glorious Haydon and all his creation. I pray thee let me know when you go to Ollier's and where he resides -this I forgot to ask you-and tell me also when you will help me waste a sullen day-God 'ield you J K This note, addressed to "Mr. C. C. Clarke, Mr. Towers, Warner Street, Clerkenwell", seems to have been written before Keats's introduction to Haydon-which apparently took place at Leigh Hunt's, for in Haydon's Autobiography (1853, Volume I, page 331) we read-" About this time I met John Keats, at Leigh Hunt's, and was amazingly interested by his prematurity of intellectual and poetical power. . . After a short time I liked him so much that a general invitation on my part followed, and we became extremely intimate. He visited my painting-room at all times, and at all times was welcome." In a hurried inspection of the manuscript of Keats's note, I observed no date; but in a sale catalogue of autographs it is assigned to the 31st of October 1816. |