F. G.
ORIGINAL LETTER OF THE COUNTESS OF BLESSINGTON TO SIR WILLIAM DRUMMOND.
My dear Sir William Drummond.—The perusal of your beautiful poem Odin has delighted me so much, that I cannot deny myself the gratification of expressing my thanks to its author; and at the same time demanding, why so exquisite a poem remains unfinished?
It is cruel to your readers, and unjust to England, to leave such a work incomplete; it is like the unfinished statues of Michael Angelo, which no hand has ever been found hardy enough to touch, for I am persuaded that we have no living poet who could write a sequel to Odin.
Do not think me presumptuous for venturing to give my opinion on poetry; I have studied it from my infancy, and my admiration for it is so enthusiastic, that I feel more strongly than I can reason on the subject. With this passion for poetry, you can more easily imagine than I can describe, the delight that Odin gave me. I have copied many passages from it in my Album under different heads: such as Contemplation; Love of Country; Liberty; Winter; Morning; Meditation on a Future State; Immortality of the Soul; Superstition; Vanity of Life; Jealousy; and many others too numerous to mention. And they are of such transcendent merit, as to be above all comparison, except with Shakspeare or
Milton. In the sublimity and harmony of your verses, you have equalled, if not surpassed, the latter; and in originality of ideas and variety, you strikingly resemble the former; but neither call boast of anything superior to your beautiful episode of "Skiold and Nora."
Hitherto, my dear Sir William Drummond, I have looked on you as one of the first scholars and most elegant prose writers of the age; but, at present, permit me to say that I regard you as the first poet.
When I have been charmed with the productions of writers, who were either personally unknown to me, or unhappily dead, how have I regretted not being able to pour out my thanks for the pleasure they had afforded me: in this instance I rejoice that I have the happiness of knowing you, and of being able to express, though feebly, the admiration with which your genius inspires me; and of offering up my fervent prayers that you may be long spared to adorn and do honour to the age which is, and ought to be, proud to claim you. In writing to you I abandon my pen to the guidance of my heart, which feels with all the warmth for which Irish hearts are so remarkable. A poet can understand and pardon this Irish warmth, though a philosopher might condemn it; but in addressing you, I forget that I am writing to one of the most eminent of the last class, and only remember that I am talking of Odin to the most admirable of the first.
I am at present reading Academical Questions, which, if I dare take possession of, should not again find their way to Chiaja; Odin I shall most unwillingly resign, as I find it belongs to Lady Drummond; but if you have any other of your works by you, will you have the goodness to lend them to me? Pray name what day you will dine with us, accompanied by Mr. Stewart, to whom I owe my best acknowledgments for having lent me Odin.