ALONG a river-side, I know not where, 1 Lowell wrote to Professor Charles Eliot Norton, October 12, 1861: I had just two days allowed me by Fields for the November Atlantic, and I got it done. It had been in my head some time, and when you see it you will remember my having spoken to you about it. Indeed, I owe it to you, for the hint came from one of those books of Souvestre's you lent me - the Breton legends. The writing took hold of me enough to leave me tired out and to satisfy me entirely as to what was the original of my head and back pains. But whether it is good or not, I am not yet far enough off to say. But do like it, if you can. Fields says it is "splendid," with tears in his eyes- but then I read it to him, which is half the battle. I began it as a lyric, but it would be too aphoristic for that, and finally flatly refused to sing at any price. So I submitted, took to pentameters, and only hope the thoughts are good enough to be preserved in the ice of the colder and almost glacier-slow measure. I think I have done well-in some stanzas at least and not wasted words. It is about present matters.' (Lowell's Letters, vol. i, p. 318. Quoted by permission of Messrs. Harper and Brothers.) |