This I did at Hunt's at his request--perhaps I should have done something better alone and at home.--I have sent my first Book to the press, and this afternoon shall begin preparing the Second--my visit to you will be a great spur to quicken the proceeding.--I have not had your Sermon returned--I long to make it the Subject of a Letter to you--What do they say at Oxford? I trust you and Gleig pass much fine time together. Remember me to him and Whitehead. My Brother Tom is getting stronger, but his spitting of Blood continues. I sat down to read King Lear yesterday, and felt the greatness of the thing up to the Writing of a Sonnet preparatory thereto--in my next you shall have it.--There were some miserable reports of Rice's health--I went, and lo! Master Jemmy had been to the play the night before, and was out at the time--he always comes on his legs like a Cat. I have seen a good deal of Wordsworth. Hazlitt is lecturing on Poetry at the Surrey Institution--I shall be there next Tuesday. Your most affectionate friend JOHN KEATS. XXXII.--TO JOHN TAYLOR. [Hampstead, January 30, 1818.] My dear Taylor--These lines as they now stand about "happiness," have rung in my ears like "a chime a mending"--See here, "Behold Wherein lies happiness, Peona? fold, etc." It appears to me the very contrary of blessed. I hope this will appear to you more eligible. "Wherein lies Happiness? In that which becks Our ready minds to fellowship divine, A fellowship with Essence till we shine Full alchemised, and free of space--Behold The clear religion of Heaven--fold, etc." You must indulge me by putting this in, for setting aside the badness of the other, such a preface is necessary to the subject. The whole thing must, I think, have appeared to you, who are a consecutive man, as a thing almost of mere words, but I assure you that, when I wrote it, it was a regular stepping of the Imagination towards a truth. My having written that argument will perhaps be of the greatest service to me of anything I ever did. It set before me the gradations of happiness, even like a kind of pleasure thermometer, and is my first step towards the chief attempt in the drama. The playing of different natures with joy and Sorrow--Do me this favour, and believe me Your sincere friend J. KEATS. I hope your next work will be of a more general Interest. I suppose you cogitate a little about it, now and then. XXXIII.--TO JOHN HAMILTON REYNOLDS. Hampstead, Saturday [January 31, 1818]. My dear Reynolds--I have parcelled out this day for Letter Writing--more resolved thereon because your Letter will come as a refreshment and will have (sic parvis etc.) the same effect as a Kiss in certain situations where people become over-generous. I have read this first sentence over, and think it savours rather; however an inward innocence is like a nested dove, as the old song says....