HUNT (J. H. Leigh). Essayist and Poet.
A.L.S. to "My dear Allingham.
A long, gossiping letter of the utmost interest, concerning his own and his corres-
pondent's works. Mentioning his Autobiography and criticising at length his own
work in a recently-published edition of his poems, including the "Story of Rimini,'
'Hero and Leander, The Gentle Answer," etc. Further as to the Indian Air,'
that he was to have "before long from the lady herself who furnished Shelley with it.'
Describing himself in conclusion as the old self-dissatisfied author.'
When you set about your Lyrical Book, you must see the collection of Songs from the Dramatists,' which forms one of the volumes of the new edition of the English Poets.'
"Half of my new volume, now that it is out, I do not like, especially the story of Rimini,
whether in its new or rather new-old, or its lately abridged shape. I am afraid, or hope, or
what should I say? that I have out-grown the sort of poetry in it altogether (if poetry it can
be called), and that I had not courage enough to tell myself so:
neither shall
I cease to think that there are two veritable little bits of corners of poetry in one or two different
quarters of my otherwise prosaical self; to wit, in my heart and in my animal spirits.
the former, indeed, I believe my own countrymen recognize it. In the latter I must come
for corroborators to my livelier cousins of Ireland. The story of Rimini is not absolutely
destitute of either: there are lines in it here and there which I could willingly see in any
poem which I am capable of writing,
but the general treatment displeases me us
conventional, not rich and aromatic, and as tending to prose. Hero and Leander is a
little better, because perhaps it is shorter, and the Gentle Answer better still, more vigorous,
but still of too like a kind.' Etc., etc.