say nothing. The subject is well chosen. It opens well. To become more
particular, I will notice in their order a few passages that chiefly
struck me on perusal. Page 26 "Fierce and terrible Benevolence!" is a
phrase full of grandeur and originality. The whole context made me feel
_possess'd_, even like Joan herself. Page 28, "it is most horrible with
the keen sword to gore the finely fibred human frame" and what follows
pleased me mightily. In the 2d Book the first forty lines, in
particular, are majestic and high-sounding. Indeed the whole vision of
the palace of Ambition and what follows are supremely excellent. Your
simile of the Laplander "by Niemi's lake Or Balda Zhiok, or the mossy
stone Of Solfar Kapper"--will bear comparison with any in Milton for
fullness of circumstance and lofty-pacedness of Versification. Southey's
similes, tho' many of 'em are capital, are all inferior. In one of his
books the simile of the Oak in the Storm occurs I think four times! To
return, the light in which you view the heathen deities is accurate and
beautiful. Southey's personifications in this book are so many fine and
faultless pictures. I was much pleased with your manner of accounting
for the reason why Monarchs take delight in War. At the 447th line you
have placed Prophets and Enthusiasts cheek by jowl, on too intimate a
footing for the dignity of the former. Necessarian-like-speaking it is
correct. Page 98 "Dead is the Douglas, cold thy warrior frame,
illustrious Buchan" &c are of kindred excellence with Gray's "Cold is
Cadwallo's tongue" &c. How famously the Maid baffles the Doctors,
Seraphic and Irrefragable, "with all their trumpery!" 126 page, the
procession, the appearances of the Maid, of the Bastard son of Orleans
and of Tremouille, are full of fire and fancy, and exquisite melody of
versification. The personifications from line 303 to 309 in the heat of
the battle had better been omitted, they are not very striking and only
encumber. The converse which Joan and Conrade hold on the Banks of the
Loire is altogether beautiful. Page 313, the conjecture that in Dreams