My dear Pollock,
I am wondering in what Idiom you will one day answer my last. [163a] Meanwhile, I have to thank you for Lady Pollock’s Article on American Literature: which I like, as all of hers. Only, I cannot understand her Admiration of Emerson’s ‘Humble Bee’; which, without her Comment, I should have taken for a Burlesque on Barry Cornwall, or some of that London School. Surely, that ‘Animated Torrid Zone’ without which ‘All is Martyrdom,’ etc., is rather out of Proportion. I wish she had been able to tell us that ten copies of Crabbe sold in America for one in England: rather than Philip of Artevelde. Perhaps Crabbe does too. What do you and Miladi think of these two Lines of his which returned to me the other day? Talking of poor Vagrants, etc.,
Whom Law condemns, and Justice with a Sigh
Pursuing, shakes her Sword, and passes by. [163b]
There are heaps of such things lying hid in the tangle of Crabbe’s careless verse; and yet such things, you know, are not the best of him, the distressing Old Man! Who would expect such a Prettyness as this of him?
As of fair Virgins dancing in a round,
Each binds the others, and herself is bound—[163c]
so the several Callings and Duties of Men in Civilized Life, etc. Come! If Lady Pollock will write the Reason of all this, I will supply her with a Lot of it without her having the trouble of looking through all the eight volumes for it. I really can do little more than like, or dislike, Dr. Fell, without a further Reason: which is none at all, though it may be a very good one. So I distinguish Phil-osophers, and Fell-osophers; which is rather a small piece of Wit. And I don’t like the Humble Bee; and won’t like the Humble Bee, in spite of all the good reasons Miladi gives why I should; and so tell her: and tell her to forgive hers and yours always,
E. F. G.
To W. B. Donne.
Alde Cottage, Aldeburgh.
August 18, [1873].
My dear Donne,