To me for my part it appears that of the other poets, both those before and after, no one, as the saying is, can hold a two-penny torch to Homerus. He, in the language of the Far-Western people, whips cosmos. But of those that write things not to be mentioned, no Then Man dwelling in the nether world can surpass the Now Woman. So at least they that are over the book-market tell me; but them I cannot easily believe. Further, to speak of such as collect history, but, being unworthy indeed of neglect do yet escape the notice of those that appoint to office, I give the front row to Mr. Oscar Browning.
Shakspeare sends an occasional Sonnet.
Had I survived my well-contented age
And lived to see the bettering of the times,
And witnessed Henry Arthur on the stage,
Or read the latest confidential rhymes;
Small marvel were it that my tragic art
Should lapse among a race of larger build;
Or that the sonnet-echoes of my heart
Should fail before the booming Bodley guild.
Yet have I lovers still, a faithful few;
And here I take occasion for observing
How greatly I have been indebted to
The Cambridge Locals and to Mr. Irving.
Post-script.—The Temple Shakspeare for the pocket
Is selling now; I know of none to knock it.
Lord Verulam kindly quotes himself.
You shall not ask better from me than that I should distil you these two extracts from my Standard Essays, amended to date.
1. Of Studies.—Reading, and namely of the kitchen ware of Autolycus, maketh a full man; reviewing maketh a puffy man; and my New Organ, now old and strangely unpopular, maketh an harmonious man.
2. Of Gardens.—Very delightful for sweetness is the Wallflower; likewise the Bonny Briar-Patch. But of those flowers such as the Aster and the Carnation, of which the perfume is such that they are best trodden upon and bruised, there is yet another that you shall take heed of. It is the Sweet Earl Lavender. You shall pass by a whole alley of them and find nothing of their sweetness: they are like precocious odours, most desirable when incensed or crushed.