754. Robert Southey to William Taylor, 23 January 1803*

Henrys brother does not cease to sympathize with Henrys gratitude to Burnett. Burnett has quarrelled with me – not I with him; & one motive of my writing about it to you was that he might understand no angry feeling existed in me, & that whenever he recovers his common sense he may know I have never lost mine. Mimosa Sensibility is not among the seeds that have thriven in me. there has not been hot-house nurture enough for such weeds, such parlour-window exotics.

Harry will never be an oeconomist that I have long known. I am so by principle & by necessity, − I hope he will never have such lessons as I had, being sure that he would never profit by them so well. it is not the virtue of any of my relations, except my Uncle – to whom in spite of such different views & opinions, I my feelings & character bear a very strong family likeness. but this vexes me in Harry & always did, & always will while I care any thing about him. if he be ever wealthy he will be lavish – not liberal. if he be poor God help him!

Your Prospectus¹ has the mark of the beast. I should have known it had <it> been for a York or an Exeter paper to be yours: & excellently good it is. Success to you. I wish I had advertisements to send you – or any thing else.² But in plain truth all this poor brain can spin must go to market. I am reviewing for Longman – reviewing for Hamilton.³ translating⁴ – perhaps about again to versify for the Morning Post⁵ – drudge – drudge – drudge. Do you know Quarles Emblem of the Soul⁶ that tries to fly but is chained by the leg to Earth? for myself I could do easily. but not easily for others – & there are more claims than one upon me. But in spite of your Prospectus & all the possible advantages of a party newspaper in a county where parties are nearly equal I cannot be satisfied that William Taylor should be a newspaper editor – that he who should be employed in preparing dishes for the daintiest palates – should be making wash for the swine. few men have his talents, fewer still his learning, & perhaps no other his leisure joined to these advantages. from him an opus magnum might – ought to be expected. Coleridge & I must drudge for newspapers from necessity – but it should not be your choice. I remember Edward Taylor⁷ as a fine open-faced boy – Stephen Weever Browne⁸ as one who had always a good humourd laugh ready on demand. – Pray send me your Iris – I care so little about news that to have it regularly once a week will be adding to my stock of knowledge, besides I would have your amber-stones gnat in my cabinet.

Thalaba⁹ shall be severely corrected. yet am I a dull dog if the story be obscure & can only say with Coleridge intelligibilia – non intellectum adfero.¹⁰ – which I pray you quote for me to those who do not understand it. metrical faults I confess in all abundance – but my “ands” my ‘μεrs & δεs’¹¹ have their use – they soften the abruptness of lyrical transition & connect the parts. the Garden of Irem history has been long condemned – so has all in Book 9 after the chain of Thalaba is loosed.¹²

I will endeavour to find leisure from so many employments of will or of want to send you Madoc¹³ book by book as it proceeds, that you may find faults in time. it is now fourteen years since I fixd upon the subject. in 1792 I began to collect materials – in 94 began the poem – recommenced it 97 – finishd it 99 – & am now pulling it down & building a better edifice on the same ground. I am ambitious of your praise & of that of men like you who judge feelingly & knowingly. & of the praise of those who judge feelingly without knowledge – but for the tiers etat the middle class who want feeling & only pretend to knowledge, it would not be easy to express the xxxxxx xxxxx xxxxxxx <indifference with> which their praise or their censure can excite in <effects> me.

Your letter gave me the first intimation of Dr Sayers book.¹⁴ thank him for me. it is now just ten years since I bought the dramatic Sketches – the first book I was ever master of money enough to order at a boo country booksellers. the Runic Mythology will come under my hands in its turn. of the Celtic there is not enough recoverable to afford materials.¹⁵ perhaps Dr Sayer has not chosen his subjects well. the tale of Moina¹⁶ would have done equally well for a Hindoo-drama – or a Peruvian one.

farewell. the other half the note is inclosed – & you may tell Harry that the five shillings have been paid to Burnett. we are still house-hunting – “foxes have holes &c – you know the text¹⁷ – but I cannot find a den. my child is well: we are obliged – sorely against all inclination, to wean her for her mothers sake, who I am afraid has suffered materially by suckling her longer than she had strength. this vexes me & hangs upon my spirits. however the rising & falling of my spirits is never very perceptible to others. I can keep the equal countenance – & almost the equal mind.

God bless you Robert Southey.
Sunday 23 Jany. 1803.

I expect Coleridge here this week on his way to France & Italy with Thomas Wedgewood – that is if W. lives to go – or keeps his mind till March.