* * * * *
["Prince Otto" had been published in the October of this year; and the
following refers to two reviews of it—one of them by Mr. Henley, which
to the writer's displeasure had been pruned by the editor before it was
printed—the other by a critic in the _Saturday Review_, who had declared
Otto to be "a fool and a wittol," and seen nothing but false style in
the flight of Seraphina through the forest.]
October 1885.
DEAR LAD,—If there was any more praise in what you wrote, I think [the
editor] has done us both a service; some of it stops my throat. What,
it would not have been the same if Dumas or Musset had done it, would
it not? Well, no, I do not think it would, do you know, now; I am really
of opinion it would not; and a dam good job too. Why, think what Musset
would have made of Otto! Think how gallantly Dumas would have carried
his crowd through! And whatever you do, don't quarrel with ——. It
gives me much pleasure to see your work there; I think you do yourself
great justice in that field; and I would let no annoyance, petty or
justifiable, debar me from such a market. I think you do good there.
Whether (considering our intimate relations) you would not do better to
refrain from reviewing me, I will leave to yourself: were it all on my
side, you could foresee my answer; but there is your side also, where
you must be the judge.
As for the _Saturday_. Otto is no 'fool,' the reader is left in no doubt
as to whether or not Seraphina was a Messalina (though much it would
matter, if you come to that); and therefore on both these points the
reviewer has been unjust. Secondly, the romance lies precisely in the
freeing of two spirits from these court intrigues; and here I think the
reviewer showed himself dull. Lastly, if Otto's speech is offensive to
him, he is one of the large class of unmanly and ungenerous dogs who
arrogate and defile the name of manly. As for the passages quoted, I do
confess that some of them reek Gorgonically; they are excessive, but they
are not inelegant after all. However, had he attacked me only there, he
would have scored.
Your criticism on _Gondremark_ is, I fancy, right. I thought all your
criticisms were indeed; only your praise—chokes me.—Yours ever,