longing to that
profession.]
[Footnote 4: Hitherto printed "life"; it seems to me clear that "lips"
is the right word.]
[Footnote 5: In Medwin's "Life of Shelley," vol. ii. pp. 89 to 92, are
some interesting remarks upon Keats's character and demeanour, written
in a warm and sympathetic tone. Some of them were certainly penned by
Miss Brawne (Mrs. Lindon), and possibly all of them. Mr. Colvin (p. 233
of his book) has called special attention to these remarks: I forbear
from quoting them. A leading point is to vindicate Keats from the
imputation of "violence of temper."]
[Footnote 6: This passage is taken from Lord Houghton's "Life, &c., of
Keats," first published in 1848, and by "home" he certainly means
Wentworth Place, Hampstead. Yet in his Aldine Edition of Keats, his
lordship says that the poet "was at that time, very much against Mr.
Brown's desire and advice, living alone in London." This latter
statement may possibly be correct--I question it. The passage, as
written by Lord Houghton, is condensed from the narrative of Brown. The
latter is given verbatim in Mr. Colvin's "Keats," and is, of course, the
more important and interesting of the two. I abstain from quoting it,
solely out of regard to Mr. Colvin's rights of priority.]
[Footnote 7: Apparently Miss Brawne had remonstrated against the
imputation of "flirting with Brown," and much else to like effect in a
recent letter from Keats.]
[Footnote 8: I observe this name occurring once elsewhere in relation to
Keats, but am not clear whose house it represents.]
[Footnote 9: It has been suggested (by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, as
printed in Mr. Forman's edition of Keats) that the poem here referred to
is "The Eve of St. Mark." Keats had begun it fully a year and a half
before the date of this letter, but, not having continued it, he might
have spoken of "having it in his head."]
[Footnote 10: This may require a word of explanation. Keats, detained at
Portsmouth by stress of weather, had landed for a day, and seen his
friend Mr. Snook, at Bedhampton. Brown was then in Chichester, only ten
miles off, but of this Keats had not at the time been aware.]
[Footnote 11: The -- before "you" appears in the letter, as printed in
Mr. Forman's edition of Keats. It might seem that Keats hesitated a
moment whether to write "you" or "Miss Brawne."]
[Footnote 12: No such letter is known. It has been stated that Keats,
after leaving home, could never summon up resolu
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