no little
amazement that one so devoid of a perception of the true function of the
sonnet should have been considered a proper person to introduce a great
sonnet-writer; and Mr. Watts (who, however, made no mention of the
writer) clearly demonstrated that the true sonnet has the foundation
of its structure in a fixed metrical law, and hence, that as it is
impossible (as Keats found out for himself) to improve upon the accepted
form, that model--known as the Petrarchian--should, with little or no
variation, be worked upon. Rossetti took fire, however, from a mistaken
notion that Mr. Watts's canons, as given in the letter in question,
and merely reported by me, were much more inflexible than they really
proved.

Sonnets of mine _could not appear_ in any book which
contained such rigid rules as to rhyme, as are contained in
Watts's letter. I neither follow them, nor agree with them
as regards the English language. Every sonnet-writer should
show full capability of conforming to them in many
instances, but never to deviate from them in English must
pinion both thought and diction, and, (mastery once proved)
a series gains rather than loses by such varieties as do not
lessen the only absolute aim--that of beauty. The English
sonnet too much tampered with becomes a sort of bastard
madrigal. Too much, invariably restricted, it degenerates
into a Shibboleth.

Dante's sonnets (in reply to your question--not as part of
the above point) vary in arrangement. I never for a moment
thought of following in my book the rhymes of each
individual sonnet.

If sonnets of mine remain admissible, I should prefer
printing the two _On Cassandra to The Monochord_ and _Wine
of Circe_.

I would not be too anxious, were I you, about anything in
choice of sonnets except the brains and the music.

Again he wrote:

I talked to Watts about his letter. He seems to agree with
me as to advisable variation of form in preference to
transmuting valuable thought. It would not be afc all found
that my best sonnets are always in the mere form which I
think the best. The question with me is regulated by what I
have to say. But in truth, if I have a distinction as a
sonnet-writer, it is that I never admit a sonnet which is
not fully on the level of every other.... Again, as to this
blessed question, thou