We had been in
Hampshire, with the Barings, where we were last year;--some four
weeks or more; totally idle: our winter had been, and indeed
still is, unusually severe; my Wife's health in consequence was
sadly deranged; but this idleness, these Isle-of-Wight sea-
breezes, have brought matters well round again; so we cannot
grudge the visit or the idleness, which otherwise too might have
its uses. Alas, at this time my normal state is to be altogether
_idle,_ to look out upon a very lonely universe, full of grim
sorrow, full of splendor too; and not to know at all, for the
moment, on what side I am to attack it again!--I read your Book
of Poems all faithfully, at Bay House (our Hampshire quarters);
where the obstinate people,--with whom you are otherwise, in
prose, a first favorite,--foolishly _refused_ to let me read
aloud; foolishly, for I would have made it mostly all plain by
commentary:--so I had to read for myself; and can say, in spite
of my hard-heartedness, I did gain, though under impediments, a
real satisfaction and some tone of the Eternal Melodies sounding,
afar off, ever and anon, in my ear! This is fact; a truth in
Natural History; from which you are welcome to draw inferences.
Pages:
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185