CHAPTER XV.

THE TALE OF TROY DIVINE.

(June, 1785-November, 1786.)

114. The Reception of the "Task."

A

S on the publication of his former volume,
Cowper ordered copies of his book to his

various friends. But this time he made twoexceptions. Both Thurlow and Colman had treated. him with discourtesy on the former occasion, and he now allowed himself "to be a little pleased with an opportunity of showing them that he resented their treatment, and sent the book to neither." Like most authors, Cowper was less troubled on account of the reception of his second book than his first. The flutter of excitement, the fear of what the world might say, the feeling-fallacious enough-that the eyes of all Christendom were upon him, were not now present. One's "feelings on the occasion soon become obtuse." Says Cowper: "I am even so indifferent to the matter, that I can truly assert myself guiltless of the very idea of my book sometimes whole days together. God knows that, my mind having been occupied more than

twelve years in the contemplation of the most distressing subjects; the world, and its opinion of what I write, is become as unimportant to me as the whistling of a bird in a bush."

Cowper was soon, however, to learn that his book was well received. Lord Dartmouth had begun to read it, and hastened to say that "the specimen has made him impatient for the whole." Bacon, the sculptor, in one of the few letters to Cowper which have escaped destruction, had nothing but praise for it. To this letter, and one received from another friend, Cowper alludes thus in a letter to Unwin: "I have received, since you went, two very flattering letters of thanks, one from Mr. Bacon, and one from Mr. Barham, such as might make a lean poet plump and an humble poet proud. But, being myself neither lean nor humble, I know of no other effect they had than that they pleased me; and I communicate the intelligence to you not without an assured hope that you will be pleased also."

In the same letter he says: "Mr. Teedon has just left us. He has read my book, and, as if fearful that I had overlooked some of them myself, has pointed out to me all its beauties. I do assure you the man has a very acute discernment, and a taste that I have no fault to find with. I hope that you are of the same opinion."

Newton also liked it, and no praise gave Cowper more pleasure than that of his old friend. Writing to him on the 10th of December, 1785, the poet says: "What you say of my last volume gives me the sincerest pleasure. I have heard a like favourable report

of it from several different quarters, but never any (for obvious reasons) that has gratified me more than yours. I have a relish for moderate praise, because it bids fair to be judicious; but praise excessive, such as our poor friend Teedon's (I have an uncle also who celebrates me exactly in the same language),—such praise is rather too big for an ordinary swallow. I set down nine-tenths of it to the account of family partiality."

Another admirer at Olney was the Rev. Thomas Scott, and the public were as pleased with the volume as were Cowper's friends. Its popularity, thanks in some measure to the pioneering of "John Gilpin," was instantaneous; and as long as there are men who love nature, as long as there are men who prefer the delights of the country to the fascination of the crowded city, as long as religion and virtue have their votaries, the "Task" will continue to be one of the most cherished of our classics.

115. The Renewal of his Correspondence with Lady Hesketh.-October, 1785.

Of the many pleasures the publication of Cowper's second volume brought him, none gratified him more than the effect it had of renewing his correspondence with his relatives. For nearly twenty years he had heard little or nothing from them. His uncle Ashley, his cousin the Major (now General), his cousin Harriet, all had been silent, and Cowper himself had taken no pains to resume intercourse with them. The silence of the first two originated, doubtless, in his obstinacy respecting his pecuniary affairs. During this time they

had continued the stipulated allowance, but it was not likely they would take great interest in a man who, while he was the recipient of their favours, disregarded their wishes. It is probable, too, that they regarded him as little better than a madman, their opinion being corroborated by the tidings of his twelve months' derangement at Olney. Lady Hesketh, as we have seen, had been repelled by the religious tone of his letters at Huntingdon. Then, again, though he had sent copies of his first volume to Hill and other friends, he had not sent any to his relatives. Cowper, therefore, could scarcely blame his relations for not resuming intercourse with him before. And as a matter of fact he did not blame them. The neglect was reciprocal. The publication of the "Task" however, put matters in another light. Cowper's kinsfolk discovered that he whom they had regarded as a wayward, morbid recluse, and possibly a madman, was the writer of a book of poetry pronounced on all sides to be a work of genius. The man was not what they took him to be, or he was greatly changed for the better. They were proud to renew their acquaintance with him, and the poet, now that the ice was once broken, was as delighted as they. But agreeable as he felt it to be to correspond with his other relations, it was the renewal of acquaintance with Lady Hesketh that gave him most delight. This lady had now been a widow seven years. The perusal of Cowper's book, and especially of "John Gilpin," brought to her recollection all the merry days of time gone by, and she found it impossible to refrain from writing to the cousin whom she had once loved so dearly; so she wrote, and we may judge how her letter