Browning was a mere boy, it is recorded that he debated within himself whether he should not become a painter or a musician as well as a
poet. Finally, though not, I believe, for a good many years, he decided in the negative.
"Against the subtleties which would make poetry a study-not a passion-it becomes the metaphysician to reason-but the
poet to protest.
I could not rest satisfied with "Maud"; I sent the same summer to Cleveland for the little volume which then held all the
poet's work, and abandoned myself so wholly to it, that for a year I read no other verse that I can remember.
"To Art the best prize!" said the First
Poet, triumphantly, and endeavouring to devour his award broke all his teeth.
For a poet-laureate is the King's
poet, and it is his duty to make poems on all the great things that may happen to the King.
the comedians of the Hotel de Bourgogne, would have nothing to do with it," said the
poet, with a smile, the receipt for which certain sorts of pride alone knew the secret.
This little coterie of friends was composed of seven famous men, who possessed many talents in common, being
poets and musicians, alchemists, philosophers, and mostly hard drinkers as well.
Wordsworth, more than any other great English
poet, is a
poet for mature and thoughtful appreciation; except for a very small part of his work many readers must gradually acquire the taste for him.
But, leaving these victims of vanity, let us, with new hope, observe how nature, by worthier impulses, has ensured the
poet's fidelity to his office of announcement and affirming, namely by the beauty of things, which becomes a new and higher beauty when expressed.
Along time ago, there lived an old
poet, a thoroughly kind old
poet.
"Well, of course, there are
poets and
poets,
poets sociable and
poets very unsociable.
"So have I heard thee say once before," answered the disciple, "and then thou addedst: 'But the
poets lie too much.' Why didst thou say that the
poets lie too much?"