t-mark February 1880), was the sonnet
on the sonnet. It is throughout beautiful and in two of its
lines (those depicting the dark wharf and the black Styx)
truly magnificent. It appears most to be valued, however, as
affording a clue to the attitude of mind adopted towards
this form of verse by the greatest master of it in modern
poetry. I think it is Mr. Pater who says that a fine poem in
manuscript carries an aroma with it, and a sensation of
music. I must have enjoyed the pleasure of such a presence
somewhat frequently about this period, for many of the poems
that afterwards found places in the second volume of ballads
and sonnets were sent to me from time to time.

I should like to know what were the three or four vols. on
Italian poetry which you mentioned in a former letter, and
which my book somewhat recalled to your mind. I was not
aware of any such extensive _English_ work on the subject.
Or do you perhaps mean Trucchi's Italian _Dugento Poesie
inedite?_ I am sincerely delighted at your rare interest in
what I have sent you--both the translations, story, etc.--I
enclose three printed pieces meant for my volume but
omitted:--the ballad, because it deals trivially with a base
amour (it was written _very_ early) and is therefore really
reprehensible to some extent; the Shakspeare sonnet, because
of its incongruity with the rest of the poems, and also
because of the insult (however jocose) to the worshipful
body of tailors; and the political sonnet for reasons which
are plain enough, though the date at which I wrote it (not
without feeling) involves now a prophetic value. In a MS.
vol. I have a sonnet (1871) _After the German Subjugation of
France_, which enforces the prophecy by its fulfilment. In
this MS. vol. are a few pieces which were the only ones I
copied in doubt as to their admission when I printed the
poems, but none of which did I admit. One day I 'll send it
for you to look at. It contains a few sonnets bearing on
public matters, but only a few. Tell me what you think on
reading my things. All you said in your letter of this
morning was very grateful to me. I have a fair amount by me
in the way of later MS. which I may shew you some day when
we meet. Meanwhile I feel that your energies are already in
full swi