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National Library of Wales, MS 4811D. Previously published: Kenneth Curry (ed.), New Letters of Robert Southey, 2 vols (London and New York, 1965), I, pp. 136–138.
These letters were edited with the assistance of Carol Bolton, Tim Fulford and Ian Packer
For permission to publish the text of MSS in their possession, the editor wishes to thank the Beinecke Rare Books and Manuscript Library, Yale University; Berg Collection of English and American Literature, The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations; the Bodleian Library Oxford University; the British Library; Boston Public Library; the Syndics of Cambridge University Library; the Syndics of the Fitzwilliam Museum Cambridge; Haverford College, Connecticut; the Historical Society of Pennsylvania; the Hornby Library, Liverpool Libraries and Information Services; the Houghton Library, Harvard University; the John Rylands Library, Manchester; the Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas; Luton Museum (Bedfordshire County Council); Massachusetts Historical Society; McGill University Library; the National Library of Scotland; the Newberry Library, Chicago; the New York Public Library (Pforzheimer Collections); the Pierpont Morgan Library, New York; the Public Record Offices of Bedford, Suffolk (Bury St Edmunds) and Northumberland, the Master and Fellows of Trinity College, Cambridge; the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne; the Trustees of the William Salt Library, Stafford, the Wisbech and Fenland Museum; the University of Virginia Library.
A research grant from the British Academy made much of the archival work possible, as did support from the English Department of Nottingham Trent University.
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Your letter arrived yesterday by the return of the Mail, consequently too late for an answer. this was owing to the direction which I thought you had known. “Burton near Ringwood.” my letters thus directed are taken out of the Ringwood bag & left at the door as the Post Boy passes; if sent to Ch. Ch. he brings them as he returns.
I shall soon I think be master of Blackstone.
The ninth book of Joan of Arc will be omitted, &
published seperately, with some enlargement.x for they have not a solitary excuse. The
outline of my alterations is briefly this — to make the Maid relate her
knowledge of her own death to Conrade Book 4th. to alter the
discovery of the arms, so as to reduce the story as much as possible to a moral
miracle, there is too much clock-work in it now. I would therefore if possible
omit the miraculous healing of Dunois but I have no idea yet how to alter the
beginning if this be done. the new ninth book will be the detachment of Burgundy
from the English interest by the Maid, which of course will be made xx essential to the success of the whole. I
annihilate all Isabels similies, because country girls are not addicted to them.
my verbal alterations will be numberless. Will you transcribe for me a few lines
from Hallanec— anecdotes of
Joan that may have escaped me, I will make good use of them.
My Tragedy would advance rapidly if I stole time enough, for I
have both brain & back-bone full of ideas for it. it comes on very
slowly. of the three acts one is about three parts finished. One fortnight given
heartily to it would be enough & then three months correction would make
it better than a seven years writing. The Maids martyrdom seems almost a
necessary supplement to the poem, & the subject suits me. but if I had
not other employment than poetry I should scarcely venture upon the drama. I can
manage the Epic better, & that has every dramatic advantage if well
handled. perhaps Tassosunequalable merit. But I will
<not> allow this to Virgil. his story never can interest,
& this is a grievous fault. I read all the obscure epic writers I can
lay my hands on. there is one advantage which a dull book possesses, no good
thing is lost — like the dunghill diamond you are sure to see it shine — or more
like a farthing candle in a dark night. These writers are sad imitators — I
might say thieves, for I believe privately borrowing would be interpreted theft
at the old Bailey. Did I tell you I had got Chapelain?how bad he was?
I have prohibited in Madoc & Joan all long speeches,
catalogues of armies or navies, geographical descriptions, shield paintings,
lists of killed & wounded, prophecies, compliments, lions wolves tygers
& all other wild beasts, Auroras, & all the getting up &
going to bed of Phoebus. Tempests too are forbidden — you will be pleased to see
how I have managed one in Madoc. item all Devils & Angels — Gods
& Goddesses — in brief the whole stock in trade of Chapelain Bla[MS
torn]more & fifty more. all allegorical personages are included. the
subject of Joan is miraculous — but I have no miracle in Madoc. he is landed
now. I wish you would pick me out from the Royal Commentaries of Perund.
The old Lady Strathmore
God bless you. if you can get me any poetical information about
the River of Amazons I shall be glad — but I must have no Amazons as Madoc was
buried long before Orellana learnt to tell lies.