He has also, to the best of my remembrance, degraded her still more, by making her love absolute sensuality and appetite; Dryden had no other notion of the passion.  With all these defects, and they are very gross ones, it is a noble poem.  Guiscard’s answer, when first reproached by Tancred, is noble in Boccace, nothing but this:  Amor pua molto piu che ne roi ne io possiamo.  This, Dryden has spoiled.  He says first very well, ’The faults of love by love are justified,’ and then come four lines of miserable rant, quite a la Maximin.  Farewell, and believe me ever,

Your affectionate friend,
WILLIAM WORDSWORTH.

31. Of Marmion.

EXTRACT OF LETTER TO SIR WALTER SCOTT (1808).

Thank you for ‘Marmion.’  I think your end has been attained.  That it is not the end which I should wish you to propose to yourself, you will be well aware, from what you know of my notions of composition, both as to matter and manner.  In the circle of my acquaintance it seems as well liked as the ‘Lay,’ though I have heard that in the world it is not so.  Had the Poem been much better than the Lay, it could scarcely have satisfied the public, which has too much of the monster, the moral monster, in its composition.  The Spring has burst out upon us all at once, and the vale is now in exquisite beauty; a gentle shower has fallen this morning, and I hear the thrush, who has built in my orchard, singing amain.  How happy we should be to see you here again!  Ever, my dear Scott, your sincere friend,

W. W.[56]

32. Topographical History, &_c_.

LETTER TO REV.  FRANCIS WRANGHAM, HUNMANBY, NEAR BRIDLINGTON, YORKSHIRE.

Grasmere, Oct. 2. 1808.

MY DEAR WRANGHAM,

In what are you employed—­I mean by way of amusement and relaxation from your professional duties?  Is there any topographical history of your neighbourhood?  I remember reading White’s Natural History and Antiquities of Selbourne with great pleasure, when a boy at school, and I have lately read Dr. Whitaker’s History of Craven and Whalley, both with profit and pleasure.  Would it not be worth your while to give some of your leisure hours to a work of this kind, making those works partly your model, and adding thereto from the originality of your own mind?

With your activity you might produce something of this kind of general interest, taking for your limit any division in your neighbourhood, natural, ecclesiastical, or civil:  suppose, for example, the coast from the borders of Cleveland, or from Scarborough, to Spurnhead; and inward into the country to any boundary that you might approve of.  Pray think of this.  I am induced to mention it from belief that you are admirably qualified for such a work; that it would pleasantly employ your leisure hours; and from a regret in seeing works of this kind, which might be made so very interesting, utterly marred by falling into the hands of wretched bunglers, e.g. the History of Cleveland, which I have just read, by a Clergyman of ——­, the most heavy performance I ever encountered; and what an interesting district!  Pray let me hear from you soon.