Book Description

Excerpt from Fidelis and Other Poems The motive of this book is the poem of "Fidelis." If could have placed that poem in a high-class magazine this little volume would probably never have seen the light. Failing to do so, and having survived nearly every friend and relative of my own generation, literary or otherwise, likely to welcome, or forward the fortunes of my little work, I trust I may be excused if 1 make a few quotations from letters received from some of our most distinguished recent poets, (whether known or unknown to me personally) who have all since then "Crossed the Bar." I will begin with the opinion of the late Mr. Robert Browning, at whose door, 19 Warwick Crescent, I left "Fidelis," at the suggestion of my friend, the late Mr. Coventry Patmore, who said the poem would be a sufficient introduction. In a few days I received a letter, in which after apologising for delay, Mr. Browning writes Feb. 29th, 1882: - "This morning, however, I read your poem of 'Fidelis, ' and I can truly say with great pleasure indeed. The subject of it would excuse even indifferent poetical treatment, but you seem to me to have written a really beautiful poem, quite independently of the circumstance which occasioned it, touching as that assuredly is. I am happy to associate myself with two such eminent poets as the friends you mention, in a sincere appreciation of the beauty as well as the feeling of 'Fidelis.' "Believe me, dear Madam, "Yours very faithfully, "Robert Browning." Mr. Patmore himself wrote characteristically, concluding his remarks by - "The fault of the poem is that it is too good, what have you left for higher shrines?" About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.