Itisstrange——itseemstomedeplorable——thatDickenshimselfwasnotcontenttoleavehiswonderfulhypocrite——onewhoshouldstandimperishableincomedy——inthetwodimensionsofhisownadmirableart。AfterhehadenjoyedhisownPecksniff，tastinghimwiththe\"strenuoustongue\"ofKeats’svoluptuarybursting\"joy’sgrapesagainsthispalatefine，\"DickensmostunfairlygiveshimselftheotherandincompatiblejoyofgraspinghisPecksniffinthethirddimension，seizeshim\"intheround，\"horsewhipshimoutofallkeeping，andfinallykickshimoutofasplendidartoffictionintoasorryartof\"poeticaljustice，\"aPecksniffnotonlydefeatedbutundone。
AndyetDickens’sretributionuponsinnersisalessfaultthanhisreformingthem。Itistrulyanactdenotingexcessivesimplicityofmindinhim。Heneververitablyallowshisresponsibilityasamantolapse。Menoughttobegood，orelsetobecomegood，andhedoesviolencetohisownexcellentart，andyieldsituptohissenseofmorality。Ah，canwemeasurebyyearsthetimebetweenthatdayandthis？Isthefastidious，theimpartial，thenon-moralnovelistonlythegrandchild，andnottheremoteposterity，ofDickens，whowouldnotleaveScroogetohisegoism，orGradgrindtohisfacts，orMercyPecksnifftoherabsurdity，orDombeytohispride？Nay，whomakesMicawberfinallytoprosper？Truly，themostunpardonablethingDickensdidinthosedeplorablelastchaptersofhiswastheprosperityofMr。Micawber。\"Ofason，indifficulties\"——theperfectMicawbernatureisrespectedastohisorigin，andthenpervertedastohisend。ItisapitythatMr。PeggottyevercamebacktoEnglandwithsuchtidings。AndourlastglimpseoftheemigrantshadbeenmadejoyousbythesightoftheyoungMicawbersontheeveofemigration；\"everychildhaditsownwoodenspoonattachedtoitsbodybyastrongline，\"inpreparationforColoniallife。AndthenDickensmustneedsgobehindthegayscenes，andtellusthatthelonganduntiringdelightofthebookwasover。
Mr。Micawber，intheColonies，wasneveragaintomakepunchwithlemons，inacrisisofhisfortunes，and\"resumehispeelingwithadesperateair\"；nortoobservetheexpressionofhisfriends’facesduringMrs。Micawber’smasterlyexpositionofthefinancialsituationorofthepossibilitiesofthecoaltrade；nortoeatwalnutsoutofapaperbagwhattimethediewascastandallwasover。Alas！nothingwasoveruntilMr。Micawber’specuniaryliabilitieswereover，andtheperfectcomedyturnedintodulness，thejoyousimpossibilityofafigureofimmortalfunintocoldimprobability。
Thereareseveralsuchlateorlastchaptersthatonewouldgladlycutaway：thatofMercyPecksniff’spathos，forexample；thatofMr。Dombey’sinstallationinhisdaughter’shome；thatwhichundeceivesusastoMr。Boffin’santicdisposition。Buthowtrueandhowwholeaheartitwasthaturgedtheseunluckyconclusions！
Howshallweventuretocomplain？ThehandthatmadeitsPecksniffinpurewit，hasitnottherighttobelabourhiminearnest——albeitakindofearnestthatdisappointsus？AndMr。DombeyisDickens’sownDombey，andhemustdowhathewillwiththatfinelywroughtfigureofpride。ButthereisalittleironyinthefactthatDickensleavesmorethanonevillaintohisorderlyfateforwhomwecarelittleeitherway；itisnothingtous，whomCarkerneverconvinced，thatthetrainshouldcatchhim，northatthemanwiththemoustacheandthenose，whodidbutwearyus，shouldbecrushedbythefallinghouse。Heretheendholdsgoodinart，buttheartwasnotgoodfromthefirst。Butthen，again，neitherdoesBillSikesexperienceachangeofheart，norJonasChuzzlewit；andtheendofeachismostexcellentlytold。
GeorgeMeredithsaidthatthemostdifficultthingtowriteinfictionwasdialogue。Butthereissurelyonethingatleastasdifficult——athingsorarelywelldonethatamerereadermightthinkittobemoredifficultthandialogue；andthatisthetellingWHATHAPPENED。Somethingofthefatallanguorandpreoccupationthatpersistbeneathalltheviolenceofourstage——ournationalundramaticcharacter——isperceptibleinthenarrativeofourliterature。Thethingstheusualmodernauthorsaysareproportionatelymoreenergeticallyproducedthanthosehetells。
ButDickens，beingsimpleanddramaticandcapableofonethingatatime，andthatthingwhole，tellsuswhathappenedwithaperfectspeedwhichhasneitherhurrynordelays。Thosewhosawhimactfoundhimafineactor，andthiswemightknowbyreadingthemurderinOliverTwist，themurderinMartinChuzzlewit，thecomingofthetrainuponCarker，thelongmomentofrecognitionwhenPipseeshisguest，theconvict，revealhimselfinhischambersatnight。Theswiftspirit，thehammeringblowofhisnarrative，drivethegreatstorminDavidCopperfieldthroughthepoorestpartofthebook——
Steerforth’sstory。Thereissurelynogreatergaletobereadofthanthis：fromthefirstwords，\"’Don’tyouthinkthat，’Isaidtothecoachman，’averyremarkablesky？’\"totheendofamagnificentchapter。\"Flyingcloudstossedupintomostremarkableheaps，suggestinggreaterheightsinthecloudsthanthereweredepthsbelowthem……Therehadbeenawindallday；anditwasrisingthenwithanextraordinarygreatsound……Longbeforewesawthesea，itsspraywasonourlips……Thewaterwasoutovertheflatcountry，andeverysheetandpuddlelasheditsbanks，andhaditsstressoflittlebreakers。Whenwecamewithinsightofthesea，thewavesonthehorizon，caughtatintervalsabovetheboilingabyss，werelikeglimpsesofanothershore，withtowersandbuildings……Thepeoplecametotheirdoorsallaslant，andwithstreaminghair。\"Daviddreamsofacannonade，whenatlasthe\"fell——offatoweranddownaprecipice——intothedepthsofsleep。\"
Inthemorning，\"thewindmighthavelulledalittle，thoughnotmoresensiblythanifthecannonadingIhaddreamedofhadbeendiminishedbythesilencingofhalfadozengunsoutofhundreds。\"
\"Itwentfrommewithashock，likeaballfromarifle，\"saysDavidinanotherplace，afterthevisitofadeliriousimpulse；hereisthevolleyofdeparture，theshockofpassionvanishingmoreperceptiblythanitcame。
ThetempestinDavidCopperfieldcombinesDickens’sdramatictragedyofnarrativewithhiswonderfulsenseofseaandland。Butherearelandscapesinquietness：\"Therehasbeenrainthisafternoon，andawintryshuddergoesamongthelittlepoolsinthecracked，unevenflag-stones……Someoftheleaves，inatimidrush，seeksanctuarywithinthelow-archedcathedraldoor；buttwomencomingoutresistthem，andcastthemoutwiththeirfeet：\"Theautumnleavesfallthick，\"butneverfast，fortheycomecirclingdownwithadeadlightness。\"Again，\"Nowthewoodssettleintogreatmassesasiftheywereoneprofoundtree。\"Andyetagain，\"Iheldmymotherinmyembrace，andsheheldmeinhers；andamongthestillwoodsinthesilenceofthesummerdaythereseemedtobenothingbutourtwotroubledmindsthatwasnotatpeace。\"Yet，withathousandgreatfelicitiesofdiction，DickenshadnoBODYofstyle。
Dickens，havingthesingleandsimpleheartofamoralist，hadalsothesimpleeyesofafreeintelligence，andthelightheart。Hegavehissensestheirway，andwelldidtheyservehim。Thushiseyes——andnomoremodernmaninanxioussearchof\"impressions\"waseversosimpleandsomasterly：\"Mr。Vholesgauntlystalkedtothefire，andwarmedhisfunerealgloves。\"\"’Ithankyou，’saidMr。
Vholes，puttingouthislongblacksleeve，tochecktheringingofthebell，’notany。’\"Mr。andMrs。Tope\"aredaintilystickingsprigsofhollyintothecarvingsandsconcesofthecathedralstalls，asiftheywerestickingthemintothebutton-holesoftheDean&Chapter。\"ThetwoyoungEurasians，brotherandsister，\"hadacertainairuponthemofhunterandhuntress；yetwithalacertainairofbeingtheobjectsofthechaseratherthanthefollowers。\"
Thisphraselackselegance——andDickensisnotofteninelegant，asthosewhodonotreadhimmaybesurprisedtolearn——buttheimpressionisadmirable；soisthatwhichfollows：\"Anindefinablekindofpausecomingandgoingontheirwholeexpression，bothoffaceandform。\"Hereispure，mereimpressionagain：\"MissMurdstone，whowasbusyatherwriting-desk，gavemehercoldfinger-nails。\"LadyTippins’shandis\"richinknuckles。\"Andhereisvisionwithgreatdignity：\"Allbeyondhisfigurewasavastdarkcurtain，insolemnmovementtowardsonequarteroftheheavens。\"
Withthatsinglenessofsight——andhiswholebodywasfullofthelightofit——hehadalsothesinglehearing；thesceneisintheCourtofChanceryonaLondonNovemberday：\"Leavingthisaddressringingintheraftersoftheroof，theverylittlecounseldrops，andthefogknowshimnomore。\"\"Mr。Vholesemergedintothesilencehecouldscarcelybesaidtohavebroken，sostifledwashistone。\"\"Withinthegrill-gateofthechancel，upthestepssurmountedloominglybythefast-darkeningorgan，whiterobescouldbedimlyseen，andonefeeblevoice，risingandfallinginacrackedmonotonousmutter，couldatintervalsbefaintlyheard……untiltheorganandthechoirburstforthanddrowneditinaseaofmusic。Thentheseafell，andthedyingvoicemadeanotherfeebleeffort；andthenthesearosehighandbeatitslifeout，andlashedtheroof，andsurgedamongthearches，andpiercedtheheightsofthegreattower；andthentheseawasdryandallwasstill。Andthisishowalisteneroverheardmentalkinginthecathedralhollows：\"Theword’confidence，’shatteredbytheechoes，butstillcapableofbeingpiecedtogether，isuttered。\"
Wit，humour，derision——toeachofthesewordsweassignbycustomapartinthecomedyofliterature；and（again）thosewhodonotreadDickens——perhapseventhosewhoreadhimalittle——mayacclaimhimasahumouristandnotknowhimasawit。Butthatwriterisawit，whateverhishumour，whotellsusofamemberoftheTiteBarnaclefamilywhohadheldasinecureofficeagainstallprotest，that\"hediedwithhisdrawnsalaryinhishand。\"ButletitbegrantedthatDickensthehumouristisforemostandmostprecious。ForwemightwellsparethephraseofwitjustquotedratherthantheonedescribingTraddles（whosehairstoodup），asonewholooked\"asthoughhehadseenacheerfulghost。\"Orratherthanthis：-
Hewassowoodenamanthatheseemedtohavetakenhiswoodenlegnaturally，andrathersuggestedtothefancifulobserverthathemightbeexpected——ifhisdevelopmentreceivednountimelycheck——tobecompletelysetupwithapairofwoodenlegsinaboutsixmonths。
Orratherthantheincidentofthebutcherandthebeef-steak。Hegentlypressesit，inacabbageleaf，intoTomPinch’spocket。
\"’Formeat，’hesaidwithsomeemotion，’mustbehumoured，notdrove。’\"
Ageneration，betweenhisownandthepresent，thoughtDickenstobevulgar；ifthecauseofthatjudgementwasthathewroteaboutpeopleinshops，thecauseisdiscreditednowthatshopsarethescenesofthenovelist’sresearch。\"Highlife\"andmostwretchedlifehavenowgivenplacetothelittleshopanditsparlour，duringayearortwo。ButDr。Brown，theauthorofRabandHisFriends，thoughtthatDickenscommittedvulgaritiesinhisdiction。\"AgoodmanwasRobin\"isrightenough；but\"Hewasagoodman，wasRobin\"
isnotsowell，andwemustownthatitisDickensian；butassuredlyDickenswritessuchphrasesasitweredramatically，playingthecockney。IknowofbuttwowordsthatDickenshabituallymisuses，andCharlesLambmisusesoneofthempreciselyinDickens’smanner；
itisnotworthwhiletoquotethem。ButforthesehisEnglishisadmirable；hechooseswhatisgoodandknowswhatisnot。AlittlerepresentativecollectionofthebadorfoolishEnglishofhisdaymightbemadebygatheringupwhatDickensforboreandwhathederided；forinstance，Mr。Micawber’sportlyphrase，\"gratifyingemotionsofnocommondescription，\"andLittimer’sreportthat\"theyoungwomanwaspartialtothesea。\"Thiswasthepolitelanguageofthattime，asweconcludewhenwefindittobethelanguagethatCharlotteBronteshookoff；butbeforesheshookitoffsheusedit。
Dickens，too，hadsomethingtothrowoff；inhisearlierbooksthereisaninflation——roundedwordsfilltheinappropriatemouthofBillSikeshimself——buthediscardedthemwithasplendidlaugh。TheyarechargeduponMr。Micawberinhisowncharacterasauthor。SeehimashesitsbytohearCaptainHopkinsreadthepetitioninthedebtors’prison\"fromHisMostGraciousMajesty’sunfortunatesubjects。\"Mr。Micawberlistened，weread，\"withalittleofanauthor’svanity，contemplating（notseverely）thespikesupontheoppositewall。\"ItshouldberememberedthatwhenDickensshookhimselffreeofeverythingthathamperedhisgeniushewasnotsomuchbelovedorsomuchapplaudedaswhenhegavetohiscordialreadersmatterforfacilesentimentandforhumourofthesecondorder。Hispublicwereeagertobemovedandtolaugh，andhegavethemLittleNellandSamWeller；helovedtopleasethem，anditisevidentthathepleasedhimselfalso。Mr。Micawber，Mr。Pecksniff，Mrs。Nickleby，Mrs。Chick，Mrs。Pipchin，Mr。AugustusModdle，Mrs。
Jellyby，Mrs。Plornish，arenotsofamousasSamWellerandLittleNell，norisTraddles，whosehairlookedasthoughhehadseenacheerfulghost。
WearetoldofthedelightoftheJapanesemaninachancefindingofsomethingstrange-shaped，anasymmetrythathasanaccidentalfelicity，aninterest。Ifhefindssuchagraceordisproportion——
whatevertheinterestmaybe——inastoneoratwigthathascaughthisambiguouseyeattheroadside，hecarriesittohishometoplaceitinitsirregularlyhappyplace。Dickensseemstohavehadalikejoyinthingsmisshapenorstrangelyshapen，uncommonorgrotesque。Hesaddledevenhisheroes——thoseheroesare，perhaps，hisworstwork，youngmenatonceconventionalandimprobable——withwhimsicallyuglynames；whilehisinventednamesarewhimsicallyperfect：thatofVholesforthepredatorysilentmaninblack，andthatofTopeforthecathedralverger。AsuggestionofdarkandvagueflightinVholes；somethingofoldfloors，somethingrespectablyfurtiveandmusty，inTope。InDickens，theloveoflurking，unusualthings，humanandinanimate——hewroteofhisdiscoveriesdelightedlyinhisletters——washypertrophied；andithasitspartinthesimplestandthemostfantasticofhishumours，especiallythosethatareduetohischild-likeeyesight；letusread，forexample，oftherooksthatseemedtoattenduponDr。
Strong（lateofCanterbury）inhisHighgategarden，\"asiftheyhadbeenwrittentoabouthimbytheCanterburyrooksandwereobservinghimcloselyinconsequence\"；andofMasterMicawber，whohadaremarkableheadvoice——\"OnlookingatMasterMicawberagainIsawthathehadacertainexpressionoffaceasifhisvoicewerebehindhiseyebrows\"；andofJoeinhisSundayclothes，\"ascarecrowingoodcircumstances\"；andofthecook’scousinintheLifeGuards，withsuchlonglegsthat\"helookedliketheafternoonshadowofsomebodyelse\"；andofMrs。Markleham，\"whostaredmorelikeafigure-headintendedforashiptobecalledtheAstonishment，thananythingelseIcanthinkof。\"Butthereisnoreaderwhohasnotathousandsuchexhilaratinglittlesightsinhismemoryofthesepages。FromthegentlygrotesquetothefantasticrunDickens’senchantedeyes，andinQuilpandMissMowcherhetakeshisjoyintheextremeofdeformity；andaspontaneouscombustionwasanaccidentmuchtohismind。
Dickenswroteforaworldthateitherwasexceedinglyexcitableandsentimental，orhadtheconventionortraditionofgreatsentimentalexcitability。Allhispeople，suddenlysurprised，losetheirpresenceofmind。Evenwhenthesurpriseisnotextraordinarytheiractionsarewild。WhenTomPinchcallsuponJohnWestlockinLondon，afternoverylongseparation，John，welcominghimatbreakfast，putstherollsintohisboots，andsoforth。Andthiskindofdistractioncomesuponmenandwomeneverywhereinhisbooks——distractionsoflaughteraswell。Allthisseemsartificialto-day，whereasDickensinhisbestmomentsisthesimplest，asheisthemostvigilant，ofmen。Buthispublicwasaspresenttohimasanactor’saudienceistotheactor，andIcannotthinkthatthisimmediateresponsewasgoodforhisart。Assuredlyheisnotsolitary。Weshouldnotwishhimtobesolitaryasapoetis，butwemaywishthatnowandagain，evenwhilestandingapplaudedandacclaimed，hehadappraisedtheapplausemorecoollyandmorejustly，andwithinhisinnermind。
ThosecriticswhofindwhattheycallvulgarismsthinktheymaysafelygoontoaccuseDickensofbadgrammar。Thetruthisthathisgrammarisnotonlygoodbutstrong；itisfarbetterinconstructionthanThackeray’s，theeaseofwhosephrasesometimesexceedsandisslack。Lately，duringtherecentcentenarytime，awriteraverredthatDickens\"mightnotalwaysbeparsed，\"butthatwelovedhimforhis，etc。，etc。Dickens’spageistobeparsedasstrictlyasanyman’s。Itis，apartfromthematterofgrammar，awonderfulthingthathe，withhislittleeducation，shouldhavesoexcellentadiction。Inaletterthatrecordshisreluctancetoworkduringaholiday，theword\"wave\"seemstomeperfect：
\"Imaginarybutchersandbakerswavemetomydesk。\"Inhisexquisiteuseoftheword\"establishment\"inthefollowingphrase，wefindhisownperfectsenseoftheuseofwordsinhisownday；
butinthesecondquotationgiventhereisamostbeautifulsignofeducation。\"Undertheweightofmywickedsecret\"（thelittleboyPiphadsuccouredhisconvictwithhisbrother-in-law’sprovisions）
\"IponderedwhethertheChurchwouldbepowerfulenoughtoshieldme……ifIdivulgedtothatestablishment。\"Andthisisthephrasethatmayremindusoftheeighteenth-centurywritersofprose，andamongthosewritersofnonesoreadilyasofBolingbroke：itoccursinthatpassageofEsther’slifeinwhich，havinglostherbeauty，sheresolvestoforegoaloveunavowed。\"Therewasnothingtobeundone；nochainforhimtodragorformetobreak。\"
IfDickenshadhadtheeducationwhichhehadnot，hisEnglishcouldnothavebeenbetter；butifhehadhadtheusagedumondewhichasayoungmanhehadnot，therewouldhavebeenadifference。Hewouldnot，forinstance，havegivenusthepreposterousscenesinNicholasNicklebyinwhichpartsareplayedbyLordFrederickVerisopht，SirMulberryHawke，andtheirfriends；thesceneofthehero’sluncheonatarestaurantandthedreadfuldescriptionofthemirrorsandothersplendourswouldnothavebeenwritten。Itisaverylittlethingtoforgivetohimwhomwehavetothankfor——well，notperhapsforthe\"housefulloffriends\"forthegiftofwhomastranger，oftenquoted，onceblessedhiminthestreet；wemaynotwishforMr。Feeder，orMajorBagstock，orMrs。Chick，orMrs。
Pipchin，orMr。AugustusModdle，orMr。F。’saunt，orMr。Wopsle，orMr。Pumblechook，asaninmateofourhomes。Lackofknowledgeofthepoliteworldis，Isay，averylittlethingtoforgivetohimwhomwethankmostchieflyforshowingustheseinterestingpeoplejustnamedasinmatesofthecomedyhomesthatarenotours。Wethankhimbecausetheyarecomedyhomes，andcouldnotbeoursoranyman’s；thatis，wethankhimforhisadmirableart。
SWINBURNE’SLYRICALPOETRY
Themakersofepigrams，ofphrases，ofpages——ofallmoreorlessbriefjudgements——assuredlywastetheirtimewhentheysumupanyoneofallmankind；andhowdotheysquanderitwhentheirmatterisapoet！Theymayhardlydescribehim；norshallanystudent’scare，orpsychologist’sformula，orman-of-letters’summary，orwit’ssentencedefinehim。Definitions，becausetheymustnotbeinexactorincomprehensive，sweeptoowide，andthepoetisnotheldwithinthem；andoutofthemeredescriber’srangeandcapturehemayescapebyasmanydoorsasthereareoutletsfromaforest。Butmuchready-madeplatitudebringsabouttheworld’sguessesatapoet，andfalseandflatthoughtliesbehinditsepigrams。Itisnotlongsincethegeneralguess-workassignedmelancholy，withoutauthority，toapoetlatelydeceased。Realpoets，itwassaid，areunhappy，andthiswasoneexceptionallyreal。Howunhappymusthe，then，certainlyhavebeen！AndtheblessedBlakehimselfwasincidentallycitedasoneofthecompanyofdepressionanddespair！
Itis，perhaps，alikingforsymmetrythatpromptsthesefutilesyllogisms；perhaps，also，itisthefearofhumanmystery。Thebiographerusedtosee\"thefingerofGod\"patinthehistoryofaman；heinsistsnowthatheshallatanyrateseethefingerofalaw，orratherofarule，acustom，agenerality。LawIwillnotcallit；thereisnointelligiblelawthat，forexample，atruepoetshouldbeanunhappyman；buttheobserverthinkshehasnoticedacustomorhabittothateffect，andBlake，wholivedanddiedinbliss，isnamedatignorantrandom，ratherthanthatanexampleofthecustomshouldbelost。
Butitisnotonlysuchaplatitudeofobservation，suchacheapgenerality，thatissilencedinthepresenceofthepoetwhosenameisattheheadofthesepages。ForifeverNatureshowedusapoetinwhomourphrases，andthejudgementstheyrecord，shouldbedenied，defeated，andconfused，Swinburneishe。Wepredicateofapoetagreatsincerity，agreatimagination，agreatpassion，agreatintellect；thesearethemasterqualities，andyetwearecompelledtoseehere——ifwewouldnotwilfullybeblindorblindfold——apoet，yes，atruepoet，withaperfervidfancyratherthananimagination，apoetwithpunypassions，apoetwithnomorethanthemomentaryandimpulsivesincerityofaninfirmsoul，apoetwithsmallintellect——andthriceapoet。
And，assuredly，ifthecreativeartsaredulyhumbledintheuniversalcontemplationofNature，iftheyareaccused，iftheyareweighed，iftheyarefoundwanting；iftheyareexcusedbynothingbutourintimatehumansympathywithdearandinterestingimperfection；ifpoetrystandsoutdonebythepassionandexperienceofaninarticulatesoul，andpaintingbythesplendouroftheday，andbuildingbytheforestandthecloud，thereisanotherartalsothathastobehumiliated，andthisistheartandscienceofcriticism，confoundedbyitscontemplationofsuchapoet。Poorlittleartofexaminationandformula！Themiracleofdayandnightandimmortalityareneededtorebukethenoblerarts；butourart，thecritic’s，mineto-day，isbroughttobook，anditsheartisbroken，anditssinceritydisgraced，bytheparadoxesofthetruth。
Notintheheavensnorinthesub-celestiallandscapedoesthisminorartfinditsrefutation，butinthepuzzlebetweenamanandhisgift；andinpartthemanisignobleandleadsusbydistastefulpaths，andcompelsustoareluctantworkofliterarydetection。
Usefulisthecriticalspirit，butitlosesheartwhen（totakeaverydefiniteinstance）ithastoaskwhatliterarysincerity——whatvalueforartandletters——livedinSwinburne，whohailedacertainoldfriend，inadedication，as\"poetandpainter\"whenhewaspleasedwithhim，anddeclaredhim\"poetasteranddauber\"whensomethinginthatdeadman’sposthumousautobiographyoffendedhisownself-love；when，Isay，criticismfindsitselfcalledupon，amiditsadmiration，todosuchscavengerwork，itlosesheartaswellastheclue，andwouldgladlygooutintothefreeairofgreaterarts，and，withthem，takeexteriorNature’snoblerreprobation。
Ihavetocitethisinstanceofachangeofmind，oroftermsandtitles，inSwinburne’sestimateofartandletters，becauseitisall-importanttomyargument。Itisachangehemakesinpublishedprint，and，therefore，noprivatematter。AndIciteit，notasasignofmoralfault，withwhichIhavenobusiness，butasasignofamostsignificantliteraryinsensibility——insensibility，whethertothequalityofapoetasterwhenhewrote\"poet；’ortothatofapoetwhenhewrote\"poetaster，\"isofnomatter。
RatherthanjustifythethingsIhaveventuredtoaffirmastoSwinburne’slittleintellect，andpaltrydegreeofsincerity，andrachiticpassion，andtumidfancy——judgement-confoundingthingstopredicateofapoet——Iturntothehappiertaskofpraise。AvividwriterofEnglishwashe，andwouldhavebeenoneoftherecurringrenewersofouroften-renewedandincomparablelanguage，hadhiswordsnotbecomehabitualtohimself，sothattheyquicklylostthelight，thebreeze，thebreath；onewhosefondnessforbeautydeservedtheseriousnameoflove；onewhombeautyattimesfavouredandfilledsovisibly，bysuchobviousvisitsandpossessions，favourssomanifest，thatinevitablyweforgetwearespeakingfictionsandallegories，andimagineheravisitingpowerexteriortoherpoet；aman，moreover，ofaless，notmore，thanmanlyreceptivenessandappreciation，sothathewasentirelyandeasilypossessedbyadmirations。Lessthanmanlywemustcallhisextraordinaryrecklessnessofappreciation；itis，asitwere，ideallyfeminine；itispossible，however，thatnowomanhasyetbeencapableofsoentireanemotionalimpulseandimpetus；morethanmanlyitmighthavebeenbutforthelackofaresponsibleintellectinthatimpulse；haditpossessedsuchanintellectualsanction，Swinburne’sadmirationofVictorHugo，Mazzini，Dickens，Baudelaire，andTheophileGautiermighthaveaddedonetothegreatgenerositiesoftheworld。
WeareinclinedtocomplainofsuchanobjectiontoSwinburne’spoetryaswasprevalentathisearlierappearanceandmaybefoundincriticismsofthetime，beforethelaterfashionofpraisesetin——theobviousobjectionthatitwasasindigentinthoughtasaffluentinwords；for，thoughatruth，itisaninadequatetruth。
Itmightbeaffirmedofmanyaverse-writerofnotunusualtalentandinsignificance，whoseaffluenceofwordswasinselectiveandmerelyabundant，andwhosepovertyofthoughtwassomethinglessthananationaldisaster。Swinburne’sfailureofintellectwas，inthefullestandmostserioussense，anationaldisaster，andhisinstinctforwordswasanationalsurprise。ItisintheirbeautythatSwinburne’sartfindsitsabsolutionfromtheobligationsofmeaning，accordingtothevulgarjudgement；andwecanhardlywonder。
Iwishitwerenotcustomarytowriteofoneartinthetermsofanother，andIusethewords\"music\"and\"musical\"underprotest，becausetheworldhasbeensodelightedtocallanyversepleasanttotheear\"musical，\"thatithasnotsupplieduswithanotherandmorespecialisedandappropriateword。Swinburneisacompletemasteroftherhythmandrhyme，thetimeandaccent，thepause，thebalance，theflowofvowelandclashofconsonant，thatmakethe\"music\"forwhichverseispopularandprized。Weneednotcomplainthatitisforthetuneratherthanforthemelody——ifwemustusethosealienterms——thatheischieflyadmired，andevenforthejingleratherthanforthetune：hegavehisreadersallthree，andallthreeinperfection。NineteenoutoftwentywhotakepleasureinthisartofhiswillquoteyoufirstWhenthehoundsofSpringareonwinter’stracesTheMotherofmonths，inmeadowandplain，andtherestofthebuoyantfamiliarlines。Iconfessthereissomethingtooobvious，insistent，emphatic，toodapper，togivememorethanaslightpleasure；butitispossiblethatIamprejudicedbyadislikeofEnglishanapaests（IamawarethattheclassictermsarenotreallyapplicabletoourEnglishmetres，butthereaderwillunderhandthatImeanthemetreofthelinesjustquoted。）IdonotfindtheseanapaestsintheElizabethanorintheseventeenth-
centurypoets，ormostrarely。Theyweredeartotheeighteenthcentury，and，muchmorethantheheroiccouplet，arethedistinctivemetreofthatage。Theyswagger——or，worse，theystrut——initslighterverse，fromitsfirstyeartoitslast。Swinburne’sanapaestsarefartoodelicateforswaggerorstrut；butforalltheirdance，alltheirspring，alltheirflight，alltheirflutter，wearecompelledtoperceivethat，asitwere，theyPERFORM。IlovetoseeEnglishpoetrymovetomanymeasures，tomanynumbers，butchieflywiththesimpleiambicandthesimpletrochaicfoot。Thosetwoareenoughfortheinfinitevariety，theepic，thedrama，thelyric，ofourpoetry。Itis，accordingly，intheseoldtraditionalandprovedmetresthatSwinburne’smusicseemstomemostworthy，mostcontrolled，andmostlovely。THEREishisbestdignity，andthereforehisbestbeauty。Forevenbeautyisnottobethrustuponus；sheisnottosolicitusorofferherselfthustothefirstcomer；andinthemostadmiredofthoseflyinglyricssheisthusimmoderatelylavishofherself。\"Helayshimselfout，\"wroteFrancisThompsoninananonymouscriticism，\"todelightandseduce。
Thegreatpoetsenticebyagloriousaccident……butallurement，inMr。Swinburne’spoetry，isthealphaandomega。\"Thisistrueofallthathehaswritten，butitistrue，inamorefatalsense，ofthesefamoustunesofhis\"music。\"Nay，delicateastheyare，weareconvincedthatitisthelessdelicateearthatmostsurelytakesmuchpleasureinthem，thedullearthatchieflytheydelight。
Comparewithsuchluxuriouscanteringsthegravermovementofthis\"VisionofSpringinWinter\"：
Sunriseitseesnot，neithersetofstar，Largenightfall，norimperialplenilune，Norstrongsweetshapeofthefull-breastednoon；
Butwherethesilver-sandalledshadowsare，Toosoftforarrowsofthesuntomar，Moveswiththemildgaitofanungrownmoon。
EvenmorevaluablethanthisexquisiterhymedstanzaistheblankversewhichSwinburnereleasedintonewenergies，newliberties，andnewmovements。Milton，itneedhardlybesaid，isthemasterofthosewhoknowhowtoplaceanddisplacethestressandaccentoftheEnglishheroiclineinepicpoetry。Hismostmajestichandundidthemechanicalbondsofthenationallineandmadeitobeytheunwrittenlawsofhisgenius。Hisblankversemarches，pauses，lingers，andcharges。Itfeelsthestrain，ityields，itresists；
itisall-expressive。Butifthepracticeofsomeofthepoetssucceedinghimhadtendedtomakeitrigidandtameagain，Swinburnewasanewliberator。Hewrites，whenheought，withafinelyappropriateregularity，asinthelovelylineontheforestgladesThatfearthefaun’sandknowthedryad’sfoot，inwhichtheruleiscompletelykept，everystepofthefivesteppingfromtheunaccentedplacetotheaccentedwithoutatremor。
（ImustagainprotestthatIusetheword\"accent\"inasensethathascometobeadaptedtoEnglishprosody，becauseitissousedbyallwritersonEnglishmetre，andisthereforeunderstoodbythereader，butIthink\"stress\"thebetterword。）ButhavingwrittenthisperfectEnglish-iambiclinesowonderfullyfitforthesensitivequietofthewoods，heturnsthepagetotheonslaughtofsuchlines——heroiclineswithadifference——asreporttheshort-
breathedmessenger’sreplytoAlthea’squestionbywhosehandstheboarofCalydonhaddied：
Amaiden’sandaprophet’sandthyson’s。
ItislamentablethatinhislatestblankverseSwinburneshouldhavemadeatrickandamannerofthatmostenergeticdeviceofhisbywhichheleadsthelineatarushfromthefirstsyllabletothetenth，andontothefirstofthelinesucceeding，withagreatrecoiltofollow，asthoughariderbroughtahorsetohishaunches。
Itisinthesameboarhunt：
Andfierywithinvasiveeyes，Andbristlingwithintolerablehair，Plunged；-
SometimeswemaybetroubledwithamisgivingthatSwinburne’sfinenarrative，aswellashisdescriptivewritingofotherkinds，hasacounterpartintheprogramme-musicofsomenowby-gonecomposers。
Itiseventoodescriptive，tooimitativeofthings，andseemstoout-runtheprovinceofwords，somewhatasthatdidtheprovinceofnotes。But，thoughthishunting，andchecking，andfloating，andflyinginmetremaybetostraintheartsofprosodyanddiction，withhowmasterlyahandisthestrainingaccomplished！Thespear，thearrow，theattack，thecharge，thefootfall，thepinion，nay，theverysteppingofthemoon，thewalkofthewind，aremimickedinthisenchantingverse。Liketoprogramme-musicwemustcallit，butIwishtheconcert-platformhadeverjustifiedthisslightperversionofaim，thisexcess——almostcorruption——ofonekindofskill，thusmiraculouslywell。
Now，ifSwinburne’sexceptionalfacultyofdictionledhimtoimmoderateexpressiveness，toimmodestsweetness，toajugglery，andprestidigitation，andconjuringofwords，totransformationsandtransmutationsofsound——if，Isay，hisextraordinarygiftofdictionbroughthimtothisexaggerationofthemanner，whatapartdoesitnotplayinthematterofhispoetry！Sooverweeningaplacedoesittakeinthisman’sartthatIbelievethewordstoholdandusehismeaning，ratherthanthemeaningtocompassandgraspandusetheword。IbelievethatSwinburne’sthoughtshavetheirsource，theirhome，theirorigin，theirauthorityandmissioninthosetwoplaces——hisownvocabularyandthepassionofothermen。Thisisagravecharge。
First，then，inregardtothepassionofothermen。IhavegiventohisownemotionthepuniestnameIcouldfindforit；Ihavenonoblernameforhisintellect。Butothermenhadthoughts，othermenhadpassions；political，sexual，natural，noble，vile，ideal，gross，rebellious，agonising，imperial，republican，cruel，compassionate；andwiththesehefedhisverses。Upontheseandtheirlifehesustained，hefattened，heenrichedhispoetry。
MazziniinItaly，GautierandBaudelaireinFrance，ShelleyinEngland，madeforhimabaseofpassionateandintellectualsupplies。Withthemhekepttheall-necessarylineofcommunication。Wecease，asweseetheiractiveheartspossesshisactiveart，tothinkaquestionastohissincerityseriouslyworthasking；whatsincerityhehasissoabsorbedintheoneexcitedactofreceptivity。That，indeed，heperformswithallthewill，alltheprecipitation，alltherush，allthesurrender，allthewholeheartedweaknessofhissubservientandimpetuousnature。I
havenotnamedtheGreeks，northeEnglishBible，norMilton，ashisinspirers。Thesehewouldclaim；theyarenothis。Hereceivedtoopartial，toofragmentary，tooarbitraryaninheritanceoftheGreekspirit，tooillusoryanideaofMilton，oftheEnglishBiblelittlemorethanatone；——thispoetofeager，opencapacity，thispoetwhoislittlemore，intellectually，thanatoo-ready，too-vacantcapacity，forthosethreeaugustseventieshasnotroomenough。
Charged，then，withothermen’spurposes——thisman’sItalianpatriotism；thisman’sloveofsin（bythatname，forsinhasbeendenied，asafiction，butSwinburne，followingBaudelaire，acknowledgesittoloveit）；thisman’sdespiteagainsttheThirdEmpireorwhatnot；thisman’scryforapoliticallibertygrantedorgainedlongago——acrygrownvain；thisman’scontemptfortheBoers——nay，wasitsomuchasaman，withaman’seviltoanswerfor，thatfurnishedhimhere；wasitnotratherthatlessguiltyjudge，thecrowd？——thisman’s——nay，thisboy’s——eroticsickness，orhiscruelty——chargedwithallthese，Swinburne’spoetryisprimed；
itexplodeswiththunderandfire。Butsuchsharingissomewhattoofamiliarfordignity；suchcommunityofgoodsparodiestheFranciscans。Asonefriargoesdarnedforanother’srending，havingnopropertyincassockorcowl，sodoesmanyapoet，notinhumility，butinaparadoxofpride，boastofthepastofothers。
Andyetonemightratherchoosetomakeuseofone’sfellow-men’soldshoesthantoputtheiroldsecretstousufruct，anddresspoetryinamotleyofshedpassions，twicecorrupt。Promiscuityoflovewehaveheardof；Popewasaccused，byLordHervey’sindignationandwit，ofpromiscuityofhatred，andofscatteringhisdisfavoursinthestewsofanindiscriminatemalignity；andhereisanotherpromiscuity——thatofmemories，andofalicencepartaken。
Butbytheunanimouspoets’splendidloveofthelandscapeandtheskies，bythisalsowasSwinburnepossessed，andinthishetriumphed。Bythis，indeed，heprofited；herehejoinedaninnumerablecompanyofthatheavenlyhostofearth。Letusacknowledgethenhishonourablealacrityhere，hisquickfellowship，hisagileadoption，andhisfilialtenderness——nay，hisfraternalunionwithhispoets。Notourist’sadmirationforallthingsFrench，notourist’spoliticsinItaly——andSwinburne’sFrenchandItalianadmirationshavethetouristmannerofenthusiasm——promptshimhere。HereheaspirestobrotherhoodwiththesupremepoetsofsupremeEngland，withthesixteenthcentury，theseventeenth，andthenineteenth，theimpassionedcenturiesofsong。Happyishetobeadmittedamongthese，happyishetomeritbyhiswonderfulvoicetosingtheirraptures。Hereisnohumiliationinready-madelendings；theirecstasybecomeshim。Heisgloriouswiththem，andwecanimaginethisbenignandindulgentNatureconfoundingtogetherthesonssheembraces，andmakingherpoets——theprimaryandthesecondary，thegreaterandthelesser——allequalsinherarms。Letusseehiminthatcompanywherehelooksnobleamongstthenoble；
letusnotlookuponhiminthecompanyoftheignoble，wherehelooksignoblerstill，beingserviletothem；letuslookuponhimwiththelyricalShakespeare，withVaughan，Blake，Wordsworth，Patmore，Meredith；notwithBaudelaireandGautier；withthepoetsoftheforestandthesun，andnotwiththoseofthealcove。Wecanmakepeacewithhimforloveofthem；wecanimaginethemthankfultohimwho，poorandperverseinthoughtinsomanypages，couldyetjointheminsuchasongasthis：
AndherheartspranginIseult，andshedrewWithallherspiritandlifethesunrisethrough，AndthroughherlipsthekeentriumphantairSea-scented，sweeterthanland-roseswere，AndthroughhereyesthewholerejoicingeastSun-satisfied，andalltheheavenatfeastSpreadforthemorning；andtheimperiousmirthOfwindandlightthatmovedupontheearth，Makingthespring，andallthefruitfulmightAndstrongregenerationofdelightThatswellstheseedlingleafandsaplingman。
He，nevertheless，whowasable，inhighcompany，tohailtheseawithsuchfineverse，wasnotashamed，inlowcompany，tosingthefamousabsurditiesabout\"theliliesandlanguorsofvirtueandtherosesandrapturesofvice，\"withmanyandmanyapassageoflikecharacter。Ithinkitmoregenerous，seeingIhavedifferedsomuchfromtheNineteenthCentury’schorusofexcessivepraise，toquotelittlefromthevacant，thepaltry，thesilly——nowordissofitasthatlastlittleword——amonghispages。Therefore，Ihavejustifiedmypraise，butnotmyblame。Itisforthereadertoturntothejustifyingpages：to\"ASongofItaly，\"\"LesNoyades，\"
\"Hermaphroditus，\"\"SatiateSanguine，\"\"KissingherHair，\"\"AnInterlude，\"\"InaGarden，\"orsuchastanzaastheonebeginningOthoughtillimitableandinfiniteheartWhosebloodislifeinlimbsindissoluteThatallkeepheartlessthineinvisiblepartAndinextirpablethyviewlessrootWhenceallsweetshaftsofgreenandeachthydartOfsharpeningleafandbudresunderingshoot。
Itisforthereaderwhohaspreservedrectitudeofintellect，sincerityofheart，dignityofnerves，unhurriedthoughts，anunexcitedheart，andanardourforpoetry，tojudgebetweensuchpoemsandanauthenticpassion，betweensuchpoemsandtruth，Iwilladdbetweensuchpoemsandbeauty。
Imageryisagreatpartofpoetry；butout，alas！vocabularyhasheretootheupperhand。Forinwhatisstillsometimescalledthemagnificentchorusin\"Atalanta\"thewordshaveswallowednotthethoughtonlybuttheimagery。Thepoet’sgrievanceisthatthepleasantstreamsflowintothesea。Whatwouldhehave？Thestreamsturnedlooseallovertheunfortunatecountry？Thereis，itistrue，theriverMoleinSurrey。ButIamnotsurethatsomefoolishimageryagainstthepeaceoftheburrowingrivermightnotbeduefromapoetoffacility。Iamnotcensuringanyinsincerityofthought；Iamcomplainingoftheinsincerityofapaltry，shaky，andunvisionaryimage。
Havinghadrecoursetothepassionofstrongermindsforhisprovisionofemotions，Swinburnehaddirectrecoursetohisownvocabularyasakindof\"safe\"whereinhestoredwhatheneededforasong。Claudiusstolethepreciousdiademofthekingdomfromashelfandputitinhispocket；Swinburnetookfromtheshelfofliterature——tookwithwhatart，whattouch，whatcunning，whatcompleteskill！——thetreasureofthelanguage，andputitinhispocket。
Heisurgentwithhisbootyofwords，forhehasnoothertreasure。
Intohispockethethrustsahandgropingforhatred，anddrawsforth\"blood\"or\"Hell\"——generally\"Hell，\"forIhavecountedmany\"Hells\"inaquiteshortpoem。Insearchofwrathhetakesholdof\"fire\"；anxiousforwildnesshetakes\"foam，\"forsweetnesshebringsout\"flower，\"muchlinked，sothat\"flower-soft\"hasalmostbecomehis，andnotShakespeare’s。ForinthatcompoundhelabourstoexaggerateShakespeare，andbyhisinsistenceanditerationgoesabouttospoilforusthe\"flower-softhands\"ofCleopatra’srudder-
maiden；butheshallnotspoilShakespeare’sphraseforus。Andbehold，inallthisfundamentalfumblingSwinburne’scriticssawonlya\"mannerism，\"iftheysaweventhusmuchoffence。
Oneofthechiefpocket-wordswas\"Liberty。\"OLiberty！whatverseiscommittedinthyname！Or，tociteMadameRolandmoreaccurately，OLiberty，howhavethey\"run\"thee！
Who，ithasbeenwellaskedbyacitizenofamodernfreecountry，isthoroughlyfreeexceptafish？Etencore——eventhe\"silentandfootlessherds\"mayhavemoreinter-accommodationthanweareaware。
Butinthepocketofthesecondarypoethoweasyandhowreadyawordisthis，awordimplyingoldandtrueheroisms，butsignificanthereofanexcitablepoet’seconomies。Yes，economiesofthoughtandpassion。Thispoet，whoisconspicuouslythepoetofexcess，isindeepertruththepoetofpenuryanddefect。
Andhereisapocket-wordwhichmighthaveastonishedushadwenotknownhowlittleanywayitsignified。ItoccursinsomethingcustomaryaboutItaly：
Hearestthou，Italia？Tho’deafslothhathsealedthineears，Theworldhasheardthychildren——andGodhears。
Waseverthoughtsopouched，soproduced，sosurelyahandfulofloot，asthelastthoughtofthisverse？
What，finally，ishisinfluenceuponthelanguagehehasransacked？
Atemporarylaying-waste，undoubtedly。Thatis，thecontemporaryuseofhisvocabularyisspoilt，hisbeautifulwordsarewasted，spent，squandered，gaspilles。Thecontemporaryuse——Iwillnotsaythefutureuse，fornocriticshouldprophesy。Butthepasthehasnotbeenabletoviolate。Hehashadnopowertoroboftheirfreshnessthesixteenth-centuryflower，theseventeenth-centuryfruit，orbyhisviolencetoshakefromeitheradropoftheirdews。
AttheoutsetIwarnedthejudgesandthepronouncersofsentenceshowthispoet，withotherpoetsofquitedifferentcharacter，wouldescapetheirsummaries，andhehasindeedrefutedthatmaximwhichI
hadlearnedatillustriousknees，\"Youmaynotdissociatethematterandmannerofanyofthegreatestpoets；thetwoaresofusedbyintegrityoffire，whetherintragedyorepicorinthesimplestsong，thatthesunderingisthevainesttaskofcriticism。\"ButI
cannotreadSwinburneandnotbecompelledtodividehissecondhandandenfeebledandexcitedmatterfromthesuccessfulartofhisword。OfthatwordFrancisThompsonhassaidagain，\"Itimposesalawonthesense。\"Therefore，hetooperceivedthatfataldivision。
Is，then，thewisdomofthemaximconfounded？OrisSwinburne’sa\"singleandexceptedcase\"？Exceptedbyathousanddegreesoftalentfromanygeneralityfittingtheobviouslylesserpoets，but，possibly，alsoexceptedbyanessentialinferiorityfromthisgreatmaximfittingonlythegreatest？
CHARLOTTEANDEMILYBRONTE
ThecontroversyhereiswiththosewhoadmireCharlotteBrontethroughouthercareer。Shealteredgreatly。Shedid，infact，inheritamannerofEnglishthathadbeenstrainedbeyondrestoration，fatiguedbeyondrecovery，bythe\"corruptfollowing\"ofGibbon；andtherewaswithinherasenseofproprietythatcausedhertoconform。Straitenedandseriouselderdaughterofhertime，shekeptthehouseofliterature。Shepractisedthoseverbs，toevince，toreside，tointimate，toperuse。Shewrote\"communicatinginstruction\"forteaching；\"anextensiveandeligibleconnexion\"；\"asmallcompetency\"；\"anestablishmentontheContinent\"；\"Itoperatedasabarriertofurtherintercourse\"；andofachild（withasingularunfitnesswithchildhood）\"Forthetoyshepossessesheseemstohavecontractedapartialityamountingtoaffection。\"I
havebeenalreadyreproachedforawordonGibbonwrittenbywayofparenthesisinthecourseofanappreciationofsomeotherauthor。
Letme，therefore，repeatthatIamwritingofthecorruptfollowingofthatapostleandnotofhisownstyle。Gibbon’sgrammarisfrequentlyweak，butthecorruptfollowershavesomethingworsethanpoorgrammar。Gibbonsetthefashionof\"thelatter\"and\"theformer。\"OurliteraturewasforatleasthalfacenturystrewnwiththewreckageofGibbon。\"AftersuppressingacompetitorwhohadassumedthepurpleatMentz，herefusedtogratifyhistroopswiththeplunderoftherebelliouscity，\"writesthegreathistorian。
WhenMr。Micawberconfesses\"gratifyingemotionsofnocommondescription\"heconformstoaloftyandadistantGibbon。SodoesMr。Pecksniffwhenhesaysofthecopper-founder’sdaughterthatshe\"hasshedavisiononmypathrefulgentinitsnature。\"Andwhenanauthor，inaworkon\"TheDivineComedy，\"recentlytoldusthatPaoloandFrancescaweretoreceivefromDante\"suchalleviationascircumstanceswouldallow，\"thatalsoisashattered，awasteGibbon，awaifofGibbon。ForJohnsonlessthanGibboninflatedtheEnglishourfathersinherited；becauseJohnsondidnothabituallyoroftenuseimagery，whereasGibbondidusehabitualimagery，andsuchuseiswhatdeprivesalanguageofelasticity，andleavesiteitherrigidorlanguid，oftenerlanguid。EncumberedbythisdriftandrefuseofEnglish，CharlotteBronteyetachievedthemiracleofhervocabulary。Itislesswonderfulthatsheshouldhaveappearedoutofsuchaparsonagethanthatsheshouldhavearisenoutofsuchalanguage。
Are-readingofherworksisalwaysanewamazingofherreaderwhoturnsbacktoreviewtheharvestofherEnglish。Itmusthavebeenwithrapturethatsheclaimedherownsimplicity。Andwithwhatamoderation，howtemperately，andhowseldomsheusedhermastery！
Tothelastshehasanoccasionalattachmenttoherbonds；forshewasnotonlyfireandair。Inonepassageofherlifeshemayremindusofthelittlecolourlessandthriftyhen-birdthatLowellwatchednest-buildingwithhermate，andcuttingshorttheflutteringsandbillingswherewithhewouldjoyouslyinterruptthebusiness；Charlotte’snestingbirdwasaclergyman。Hecame，latelyaffianced，foraweek’svisittoherparsonage，andshewrotetoherfriendbeforehisarrival：\"MylittleplanshavebeendisarrangedbyanintimationthatMr。——iscomingonMonday\"；andafterwards，inreferencetohersewing，\"hehinderedmeforafullweek。\"
InalternatepagesVilletteisabookofspiritandfire，andanovelofilliberalrancour，ofungenerous，uneducatedanger，ungentle，ignoble。Inordertoforgiveitsoffences，wehavetorememberinitsauthor’sfavournotherpurestylesetfree，nothersplendourinliterature，butrathertheimmeasurablesorrowofherlife。Toreadofthatsorrowagainistoopenoncemoreawoundwhichmostmenperhaps，certainlymostwomen，receivedintotheirheartsinchildhood。FortheLifeofCharlotteBronteisoneofthefirstbooksofbiographyputintothehandsofachild，towhomJaneEyreisallowedonlyinpassages。Weareyoungwhenwefirsthearinwhatnarrowbeds\"thethreearelaid\"——thetwosistersandthebrother——andinwhatabedoflivinginsufferablememoriestheoneleftlayalone，reviewingthehoursoftheirdeath——aloneinthesealedhousethatwasonlylessnarrowthantheirgraves。Therichmaysetapartanddedicatearoom，thepoorchangetheirstreet，butCharlotteBronte，intheclosecaptivityofthefortunesofmediocrity，restedinthechairthathadbeenherdyingsister’s，andheldhermelancholybridalsinthediningroomthathadbeenthesceneofterribleandreluctantdeath。
Butcloserthantheconscioushousewastheconsciousmind。Lockedwithintricatewardswithintheunrelaxingandunlapsingthoughtsofthislonelysister，dweltasorrowinconsolable。Itiswellfortheperpetualfellowshipofmankindthatnochildshouldreadthislifeandnottaketherefromaperdurablescar，albeitherheartwassomewhatfrigidtowardschildhood，andshediedbeforehermotherhoodcouldbeborn。
Mistressofsomeofthebestproseofhercentury，CharlotteBrontewassubjecttoaLewes，aChorley，aMissMartineau：thatis，shesufferedwhatinItalianiscalledSOGGEZIONEintheirpresence。
Whenshehadmetsixminorcontemporarywriters——by-productsofliterature——atdinner，shehadaheadacheandasleeplessnight。