a visit to the non-catholic cemetery in Testaccio, friendly cats and the final resting place of John Keats

THE. THE THEM. THE HIM.

Keats, in a letter to Fanny Brawne.

[source]

John Aitken to John Keats

17 August 1820

East Lothian Bank

Dunbar 17th Augt 1820

Sir,

One, so enthusiastically fond as you are, of the early poets, and poetry of your country, can pardon enthusiasm in another, whether it be directed to those old worthies, who have made us what we are, - or towards our bright con[s]tellation of contemporary talent, which shall never put to shame immortal verse. - If I should express what I feel, of the rank which I consider you to hold among your illustrious compeers, I might perhaps be suspected of an intention to flatter, than which, nothing is more distant from my nature. - It is enough for me to testify my most earnest disapprobation, of the treatment you have experienced, and to express my unfeigned sorrow, that, a Scotch publication should have borne away the bell, in such manifest baseness of conduct. - I am a Scotsman, and proud of my country - and proud, too, of many parts of that magazine, which has always been the vehicle of much unjustifiable abuse, but some that are {c}onnected with it, know well, how much, by every means in my power, I have endeavoured to soften its illiberality - to make it more worthy of them and more useful to the world. - But these things are not the main object of this letter. - My design in writing you is to bear evidence of my real interest in your welfare, which I learn by [the] last Indicator, is not what your friends would wish it to be. I have watched over your dawning genius as warmly as if you had been my brother, and I hailed the appearance of your late interesting publication, with as much real gladness, as if it had freed me from all the sorrows which bad luck has hung about me. - I guessed that all was not well with you - and that I heard about the parting beauty of the Swan’s adieus in your numbers; but like every thing which gives us pain, I hoped that I was mistaken. - Would that it were in my power to yield you one real feeling of pleasure, - that aught within the reach of my influence could be welcome to you, - that I were a brother or a bosom friend to you, that by participation, any of your cares might be lessened. - But, alas, you will think that I am placed in a cold inhospitable clime where kind-hearts, and sunshine and loveliness and sympathy are equally rare - and how can I assure you that such is not the case. I may attempt to describe all the enjoyments which surround me, with partial language and which probably might have the effect of bringing you here - but how much would it mortify me if I had disappointed you. - But still I must endeavour to bring you to Scotland - although a land which you cannot love. - I must tell you that I am a young man; and that a younger, amiable sister, is my housekeeper; and that within these islands there is not a spot better calculated to renovate a weakened frame. - Will you be persuaded to make the experiment? - I will meet you with open arms and with a kinder heart than beats between us; and if soothing affection, real sterling, Scottish kindness, and hospitality, can have any real effect on your state of health you shall soon return happier and better if anything can make you so - Nor shall your studies be interrupted - My Library is select and extensive, and I can command numbers of other. - I have upwards of [a] thousand volumes - amon{g} which are the best productions of your cotemporaries [sic] - and many choice morceaux of the days that are gone. - Need I say more? - but more I cannot say than this that there is nothing selfish in my request. - It is prompted as much by the amiable qualities of your heart, which are so abundantly apparent in your productions as by the e{min}ence which you have attained - and may yet attain by your talents. In short I love you - (as you <will> must of necessity do me) - for yourself alone. - I may add that if you wish it you can be unknown to any one, as an author - and my house is large enough to afford you any accommodation. - You can leave as a hermit when you wish it - and something very different when your inclination desires it.-

Between London & Leith, there is now, pr the Smacks, such princely convenience, that you will feel yourself perfectly at home in one of them. - The expense is but trifling - and the rapidity of their sailing is such that within three or four days after your leaving London you may count on feeling my warm shake of the hand in Dunbar. - There is the Mail too, and another excellent Coach, but during this excellent weather, by sea is by far the pleasantest. - If, by any of the Land conveyances, you pass through our ancient Town - and you will find me on the watch, as impatient to meet with you as if you were a young Lady. - I trust you will write me, and that you letter shall not, at least, state decisively that you will not come; as I have almost persuaded myself that you will in earnest visit me. - And now I am forced to conclude; assuring you that with rule truth and sincerity I am