ankind is a higher or
a more assiduous intellectual culture needful than to the poet. It is
true, he possesses this advantage over others who use the 'instrument
of words', that, of the truths which he utters, a larger proportion
are derived from personal consciousness, and a smaller from
philosophic investigation. But the power itself of discriminating
between what really is consciousness, and what is only a process of
inference completed in a single instant--and the capacity of
distinguishing whether that of which the mind is conscious be an
eternal truth, or but a dream--are among the last results of the most
matured and perfect intellect. Not to mention, that the poet, no more
than any other person who writes, confines himself altogether to
intuitive truths, nor has any means of communicating even these but by
words, every one of which derives all its power of conveying a
meaning, from a whole host of acquired notions, and facts learnt by
study and experience.

Nevertheless, it seems undeniable in point of fact, and consistent
with the principles of a sound metaphysics, that there are poetic
_natures_. There is a mental and physical constitution or temperament,
peculiarly fitted for poetry. This temperament will not of itself make
a poet, no more than the soil will the fruit; and as good fruit may be
raised by culture from indifferent soils, so may good poetry from
naturally unpoetical minds. But the poetry of one who is a poet by
nature, will be clearly and broadly distinguishable from the poetry of
mere culture. It may not be truer; it may not be more useful; but it
will be different: fewer will appreciate it, even though many should
affect to do so; but in those few it will find a keener sympathy, and
will yield them a deeper enjoyment.

One may write genuine poetry, and not be a poet; for whosoever writes
out truly any human feeling, writes poetry. All persons, even the most
unimaginative, in moments of strong emotion, speak poetry; and hence
the drama is poetry, which else were always prose, except when a poet
is one of the characters. What _is_ poetry, but the thoughts and words
in which emotion spontaneously embodies itself? As there are few who
are not, at least for some moments and in some situations, capable of
some strong feeling, poetry is natural to most persons at some period
of their lives. And any one whose feelings are genuine, though but of
the average strength,--if he be not diverted by uncongen