HIS HATRED OF MAWKISH POPULARITY John Keats to J. H. Reynolds MY DEAR REYNOLDS, Teignmouth, April 9, 1818. 1 Since you all agree that the thing is bad, it must be so1though I am not aware that there is anything like Hunt in it (and if there is, it is my natural way, and I have something in common with Hunt). Look over it again, and examine into the motives, the seeds, from which every one sentence sprang. I have not the slightest feeling of humility towards the public, or to anything in existence but the Eternal Being, the Principle of Beauty, and the Memory of great Men. When I am writing for myself, for the mere sake of the moment's enjoyment, perhaps nature has its course with but a Preface is written to the public-a thing I cannot help looking upon as an enemy, and which I cannot address without feelings of hostility. If I write a Preface in a supple or subdued style, it will not be in character with me as a public speaker. me; I would be subdued before my friends, and thank them for subduing me; but among multitudes of men I have no feel of stooping; I hate the idea of humility to them. I never wrote one single line of poetry with the least shadow of public thought. Forgive me for vexing you, and making a Trojan horse 1 The first preface to Endymion. Within twenty-four hours he had reconsidered the matter here discussed, and had written the beautiful apology which now stands as preface. of such a trifle, both with respect to the matter in question, and myself; but it eases me to tell you: I could not live without the love of my friends; I would jump down Ætna for any great public good, but I hate a mawkish popularity. I cannot be subdued before them. My glory would be to daunt and dazzle the thousand jabberers about pictures and books. I see swarms of porcupines with their quills erect "like lime-twigs set to catch my winged book," and I would fright them away with a touch. You will say my Preface is not much of a touch. It would have been too insulting "to begin from Jove," and I could not (set) a golden head upon a thing of clay. If there is any fault in the Preface, it is not affection, but an undersong of disrespect to the public. If I write another Preface, it must be done without a thought of those people. I will think about it. If it should not reach you in four or five days, tell Taylor to publish it without a Preface, and let the Dedication simply stand-"Inscribed to the Memory of Thomas Chatterton." CONCERNING THE SCANDALOUS CRITIQUES OF ENDYMION IN BLACKWOOD AND THE QUARTERLY REVIEW John Keats to James Augustus Hessey MY DEAR HESSEY, 9 October, 1818. You are very good in sending me the letters from the Chronicle-and I am very bad in not acknowledging such a kindness sooner-pray forgive me. It has so chanced that I have had that paper every day-I have seen to-day's. I cannot but feel indebted to those gentlemen who have taken my part. As for the rest, I begin to get a little acquainted with my own strength and weakness.-Praise or |