“I have sometimes thought of publishing translations
from the Spanish and Portuguese, with the originals annexed, but there was no
prospect of profit to tempt me; and as certainly, if I live, it is my intention
to enter fully into the literary history of both countries. That made me lay
aside the
| 178 | LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE | Ætat. 34. |
“I am planning something of great importance, a poem upon Pelayo, the first
restorer of Spain: it has long been one of my chosen subjects; and those late
| Ætat. 34. | OF ROBERT SOUTHEY. | 179 |
“It gives me great pleasure to hear that you have done with the Edinburgh Review. Of their article respecting Spain, I heard from Coleridge. That subject is a fair touchstone whether a man has any generous sympathies in his nature. There is not in history such another instance of national regeneration and redemption. I have been a true prophet upon this subject, and am not a little proud of the prophecy. Of the eventual issue I have never felt a moment’s doubt. Such a nation, such a spirit, are invincible. But what a cruel business has this convention of Cintra been. Junot clearly expressed his own feelings of our commander-in-chief when he recommended him to take up his quarters at Quintella’s house as he had done: “the man,” he said, “kept a very good table, and he had seldom had reason to find fault with it.” My blood boils to think that there should be an English general to whom this rascal could venture to say this! In one of the Frenchmen’s knapsacks, among other articles of that property which they bargained to take away with them, was a delicate female hand with rings upon the fingers.
“Our ministers do not avail themselves as they might
do of their strong cause. They should throw away the scabbard and publish a
manifesto, stating why this country never will make peace with Bona-
| 180 | LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE | Ætat. 34. |
“A reviewal of my Cid by you will be the best aid that it can possibly receive. Five hundred only were printed, and in spite of the temporary feeling and the wonderful beauty of the book, I dare say they will hang upon hand.
“It will rejoice me to see you here, and show you my treasures, and talk of the days of the shield and the lance. We have a bed at your service, and shall expect you to be our guest. Wordsworth, who left me to-day, desires his remembrances. He is about to write a pamphlet upon this precious convention, which he will place in a more philosophical point of view than any body has yet done. I go to press in a few weeks with my History of Brazil, and have Thalaba at present in Ballantyne’s hands—that poem having just reached the end of its seven years’ apprenticeship. And I have got half way through my Hindoo poem, which, it is to be hoped, will please myself, inasmuch as it is not likely to please anybody else. It is too strange, too much beyond all human sympathies; but I shall go on, and as, in such a case, I have usually little but my labour for my pains, the certainty that it never can be popular will not deter me from gratifying my own fancy.
“Mrs. Southey joins me in remembrances to Mrs. Scott.
