words, whatever subject is chosen must give scope for representing some general idea of Nature in one of the well-established forms of the art of poetry. Execution must be natural; that is to say, all parts of the poem must conspire to reproduce this idea of Nature as a rational and intelligible whole. Language must be natural, in the sense that it must reflect the ideal nature of the subject in metre, without any appearance of mannerism and affectation. Where these conditions are satisfied the poem, whatever be its particular order, will be a good and legitimate poem, and will exemplify the truth of Coleridge's aphorism: "Finally, good sense is the Body of poetic genius, Fancy its drapery, Motion its life, and Imagination the soul that is everywhere and in each; and forms all into one graceful and intelligent whole." 1 1 Biographia Literaria' (Edition of 1817), chapter xiv. MY GREAT LITTLE FRIEND,-I have Receiv'd yours of the 17th Instant yesterday, being the 21 and your letter was the best and most Wellcome thing I have Receiv'd since I came down, tho' I have receiv'd some Monny. But I must confess, you try my patience (as you say) in the beginning of your Letter; not by the many Lines in it, but the too many Compliments you make me for nothing; in which you prove yourselfe (tho' a sincere Friend) a man of too much fiction; for I have not seen so much Poetry in Prose a great while, since your Letter is filled with so many fine words and acknowledgments of your Obligations to me (the only asseverations of yours I dare contradict) for I must tell you your Letter is like an Author's Epistle before his Book, written more to shew his wit to the World that [than] his Sincerety, or gratitude to his Friend, whom he Libells with Praise, so that you have provok'd my modesty ev'n whilst you have soôth'd my Vanity for I know not whether I am more Complimented than abused; since too much praise turns Irony, as too great thanks for smal favors turns ingratitude, or too much Cerimony in Re 1 Transcribed from the MSS. in the possession of the Marquis of Bath at Longleat. |