Life of John Keats: His Life and Poetry, His Friends, Critics and After-FameColvin, Sidney
General
Life of John Keats: His Life and Poetry, His Friends, Critics and After-Fame
Colvin, Sidney
Keats, John, 1795-1821; Poets, English -- 19th century -- Biography
Having a taste and liking for poetry myself, though at that time but
little cultivated, he regarded me as something a little superior to
the rest, and would gratify himself frequently by showing me some
lines of his writing, or some new idea which he had struck out. We had
frequent conversation on the merits of particular poets, but our
tastes did not agree. He was a great admirer of Spenser, his _Faerie
Queene_ was a great favourite with him. Byron was also in favour, Pope
he maintained was no poet, only a versifier. He was fond of imagery,
the most trifling similes appeared to please him. Sometimes I ventured
to show him some lines which I had written, but I always had the
mortification of hearing them condemned, indeed he seemed to think it
presumption in me to attempt to tread along the same pathway as
himself at however humble a distance.
He had two brothers, who visited him frequently, and they worshipped
him. They seemed to think their brother John was to be exalted, and
to exalt the family name. I remember a student from St Bartholomew's
Hospital who came often to see him, as they had formerly been
intimate, but though old friends they did not cordially agree.
Newmarsh or Newmarch (I forget which was his name) was a classical
scholar, as was Keats, and therefore they scanned freely the
respective merits of the Poets of Greece and Rome. Whenever Keats
showed Newmarch any of his poetry it was sure to be ridiculed and
severely handled.
Newmarch was a light-hearted and merry fellow, but I thought he was
rather too fond of mortifying Keats, but more particularly his
brothers, as their praise of their brother John amounted almost to
idolatry, and Newmarch and they frequently quarrelled. Whilst
attending lectures he would sit and instead of copying out the
lecture, would often scribble some doggrel rhymes among the notes of
Lecture, particularly if he got hold of another student's syllabus. In
my syllabus of chemical lectures he scribbled many lines on the paper
cover. This cover has been long torn off, except one small piece on
which is the following fragment of doggrel rhyme:--
Give me women, wine and snuff
Until I cry out, 'hold! enough'
You may do so, sans objection
Until the day of resurrection.
This is all that remains, and is the only piece of his writing which
is now in my possession. He was gentlemanly in his manners and when he
condescended to talk upon other subjects he was agreeable and
intelligent. He was quick and apt at learning, when he chose to give
his attention to any subject. He was a steady quiet and well behaved
person, never inclined to pursuits of a low or vicious character.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account