1866. Robert Southey to Ebenezer Elliott, 7 February 1811 ⁠* 

Keswick. Feb^y. 7. 1811.

I will willingly find fault with your play [1]  when you can find means of sending it me. – that is, I will gladly, if it be in my power, point out in what manner it may be fitted for representation, should it require alteration & appear capable of being so altered. Of managers & green rooms I know nothing. Old Cumberland [2]  once said to me in his characteristic way – “whatever you do Sir, never write a play! the torments of the damned are nothing to it.” – I myself suspect that if a man suffers any thing like purgatory from <in> a green room, it must be his own fault. I would send my play then, – if it were accepted, they might mutilate it as they pleased, – because the actors (generally speaking) must be the best judge of what will tell on the stage, – & because the author can always restore the piece to its original state when he prints it.

I am sorry you should have suspected any thing like a reproach upon female “single-blessedness’ in women, – in what is said of Lorrinite. Nothing could be farther from my thoughts. The passage has nothing beyond in an individual reference to the Witch herself, therein described as a ‘cankerd rose’. [3]  You may find abundant proofs in my writings, – & would require none if you knew me, – that no man can be more innocent of such opinions as you seem to have suspected, – So far <am I> from not regarding continence as a virtue.

Those unaccountable clinks, as you call them, in the middle of the lines, are as you must have seen too frequent to be accidental. [4]  I went upon the system of rhyming to the ear, regardless of the [MS obscured] have throughout the poem availed myself of the power which this gave me. The verse was no bondage to me. If I do not greatly deceive myself it unites the advantages of rhyme with the strength & freedom of blank verse – in a manner peculiar to itself. – As far as I can judge (which is of course must be from very imperfect & partial means) the story seems not to have shocked people as much as I expected; Scott tells me he has reviewed it for the next Quarterly [5]  – this will have some effect upon its sale & immediate estimation, but that it should become popular is impossible. Many years must elapse before the opinion of the few can become the law of the many.

I have fallen in love with the American subject which did not strike your fancy – & have half moulded it into a story of which a primitive Quaker is the hero, – a curious character you will say for heroic poetry, – certainly an original one. [6] 

If you ever think upon political subjects I beseech you read Capt Pasleys Essay on Military Policy, – a book which ought to be not only in the hands but in the heart of every Englishman. [7] 

farewell

yrs very truly

R Southey.

– Respecting Jornandes [8]  I said nothing more than I meant. The accounts of those times are so short & unsatisfactory, that it could not possibly be the employment of more than half an hour to translate every thing relating to this point of history in that author, – if he were at hand. Nothing (I am sure) would be to be found but the naked fact without detail of circumstances