1737. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 29 January 1810
1737. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 29 January 1810 *
My dear Grosvenor
The halves [1] are arrived, – moon-bending is bending like the moon – but may as well be struck out altogether. I do not admit the validity of your other objections. [2] The rhymes are purposely reiterated in the one instance, & the redundant syllable <in the other> justified by the action which it describes. As for the Criticks – there are so many Camels for them in this poem, that a few gnats more or less will make no difference. [3] This I can tell you that in transcribing for the press I correct it with infinite care, – over & over & over again. Still it will be condemned as careless – because ordinary readers do not understand what carelessness is. I know very few persons will like it, & that there will be a great outcry against it. Had I in fact predetermined to write something which should be as offensive to common taste as possible I could not have succeeded better. Yet God knows this was not my intention.
The first proof is now before me, & I am very happy over it. How it will astonish you by & by to find Kehama in eight places at once. [4] I pride myself upon having (in this portion) managed the thousand and one arms of the Hindoo Gods skilfully. [5]
Tom is in the Lyra [6] at present.
God bless you
RS.
Jany 29. 1810.
Notes
* Address: To/ G. C. Bedford Esqr./ [in another hand] Exchequer/
J.C. Herries
Endorsement: 29 Jany 1810
MS: Bodleian Library, MS Eng. Lett. c. 24. ALS; 2p.
Unpublished. BACK
[1] i. e. half-banknotes – a secure way of sending money in the post, by tearing banknotes in half and sending the two halves separately. BACK
[2] Southey is replying to Bedford’s critique of a MS of The Curse of Kehama, published later in 1810. ‘Moon-bending’ did not appear in the final version of the book. It was originally intended for a deleted passage in Book 16, describing Ladurlad’s battle with a serpent. BACK
