THE RANDALL FAMILY 35
say of my poems in general : there is no poetry about them, and the whole might have been as well, or better, expressed in prose ! A reproach which I wish I could re- taliate upon some of their favorites, whose verses, when I undertake to reduce them to prose, evaporate, leaving no residuum. I would always excejDt the works of the admi- rable Bryant.
As for the above image of "Nuptials," I think that, when one studies out its variety of analogies, he is struck with their number. Among others, this one strikes me, namely, that the " Beautiful " is easily conceived as the feminine element in all good, by which its essence becomes refined ; by which Honesty becomes Honor, Hope becomes Trust, Love becomes Benevolence, Patriotism becomes Phi- lanthropy, and so forth.
But I would not grow tedious, and will merely say that if in two years I shall find fifty affectionate readers, in per- sons disposed to look as kindly on these little pieces as you yourself have done, it will amply reward me for the labor and expense of this and such succeeding volumes as I propose to publish, if health, leisure, and means permit. I believe that the engraving cabinet alone will have any just cause of offence against the poems, which I do not ex- pect will become popular ; nor do I indeed wish this any farther than a real sympathy may exist. On the contrary^ I like extremely the way in which such a book as " Friends in Council," by A. Helps, travels : namely, very slowly, from hand to hand, and among friends. Or like some books which the world of fashion cares little about, but which some old woman has picked up and causes to be read to her while she sits knitting at the chimney corner, or which, perhaps, some Uncle Joseph or Aunt Dorothy carries gladly back, when, having newly come down from
1159C82
�� �
